LEGO Minifigure: A Visual History published by DK has been updated and expanded, now brimming with even with even more historical treasures!
This tome be a grand resource for all LEGO enthusiasts, charting the iconic minifigures’ voyage from their birth in 1978, all the way to 2025.
Updated and expanded, it boasts the documentation of more than 2,500 minifigures, including the most popular and rarest minfigs in history…
A Visual History
The book’s presentation be a true spectacle, with high-quality photographs and detailed captions bringing the minifigures chronology to life.
The compendium be packed with 256 pages of anecdotes, facts, and tales about these legendary figures, organised by the year they set sail on the market.
Go back to where it all started with Castle, Space and Town
Starting in the late 70s with the classic themes; Castle, Space and Town… before progressing to LEGO Pirates a decade later.
2016 – almost a decade ago
Then progressing to the dawn of licensing with Star Wars and Harry Potter, through modern themes lie NINJAGO, Minecraft and Animal Crossing…
Fresh new innovations and fresh new hair colours
Bonus Minifigure
The original edition of LEGO Minifigure: A Visual History, released during 2020, included an Classic Orange Astronaut minifigure.
Also included: a physical minifigure
Not to be outdone by its predecessor, the 2025 updated and expanded edition offers an exclusive Blacktron minifigure, sporting new printing on the torso and legs.
Now wouldn’t it be nice if exclusive minifigures for Castle, Town and Pirates were included too?
Release
This new version will be unleashed upon 2 September, 2025, and retail for US$40 / AU $75
It be a visual feast, honoring the legacy of the LEGO minifigure and they’re impact on the world of toys and beyond!
The LEGO Pirates theme marked a significant turning point for minifigures
Here be an excerpt:
Heads up, everyone!
The first heads always smiled, but in 1989, LEGO Pirates introduced new face prints that included beards, eyepatches, and a range of of difference facial expressions.
Which LEGO theme also had sets released in 2009?
The book offers:
Historical Timeline: A chronological chart of the LEGO minifigure, marking key moments and the birth of iconic characters.
Rare and Popular Minifigures: Showcases some of the rarest and most beloved minifigures, revealing their design secrets.
Behind-the-Scenes: Peek behind the curtain to see how these tiny figures be crafted.
Trivia and Facts: Scattered throughout be fascinating trivia and fun facts, keeping both casual fans and serious collectors engaged.
What Do Yer Think?
Are yer excited for the new version? Or does the 2020 edition do just fine?
1992 from the 2020 edition – will it be updated for 2025?
Be a Blacktron minifigure the rightful booty to include? Or should they flog it with a LEGO Pirate minifigure instead?
Brace yerself for BrickLink Designer Program Series 7!
Fans who ordered Ominous Isle from Series 2 should have received the goods by now.
So while we wait for Crowd Funding to commence for The Thieves of Tortuga, let’s see if we can position another pirate-themed creation for production during 2026.
We’re accepting submissions from January 20th – January 31st 2025. The best designs have the chance to be Series 7 sets, so get those ideas flowing! Learn more
This seemingly coincided with the retirement of 10320 Eldorado Fortress; now that the Soldier stronghold has ceased production, there be no need to keep producing parts for them.
If yer got a spot o’ time, the Series 7 webinar be ready to educate on the marvels of the BrickLink Designer Program, in all its splendid glory!
Or listen to it in the background while you build yer Series 7BrickLink Design.
LEGO® BrickLink YouTube Channel writes:
Learn about the Submission Guidelines for BrickLink Designer Program: Series 7 as Alex, BDP Project Manager, covers updates and common questions. Aspiring fan designers ask questions and get clarification to some of the nuances of various guidelines. T
This is a recording of a live webinar held December 9, 2024.
BrickLink members are invited to vote for the LEGO Pirate submissions. Your vote weighs in alongside the Brick Designer Team’s internal selection criteria and influences the designs selected for crowdfunding.
The BrickLink Designer Team reviews the designs for building experience, brand fit, and crowd favorites. I.e. yer votes!
5 Finalists Announced
17 Mar, 2025
The BrickLink Designer Team reveals the five Series 7 designs that will proceed to Crowdfunding. Then team then collaborates with fan designers to prepare their submissions for to be churned out by the factory.
Refinement
31 Mar, 2025 —
02 Jan, 2026
The finalist designers work with the official LEGOModel Governance and Building Instructions team to make necessary adjustments to their designs before locking them in for pre-production.
Crowdfunding
Mar 2026
You (if you be a BrickLink member) may pre-order your favorite BrickLink Pirate sets, with a limit of 2 of each set per household.
All sets which receive more than 3,000 pre-orders will be produced, and a maximum of 30,000 of each set will be manufactured during a limited, one-time production run.
Production and Shipping
July 2026
The LEGO Group will produce the sets in their factory and yer order will be fulfilled approximately 6 months after pre-ordering. Final dates and shipping times may vary.
Submissions Open
Open Submission for Series 7 is between January 20 and 31.
You have until the timer reaches 00:00:00:00 to submit yer design!
The BrickLink Designer Program was off to a precarious start when it first launched back in July 2021.
Nary a single pirated-themed creation was selected for Crowdfunding! Compounding the frustration, four pirate-themed designs submitted to LEGO Ideas around the time were rejected during review.
The whispers tell of an entireLEGO theme inspired by manga, turned anime, turned live-action Netflix series, One Piece.
So let’s whip out our trusty shovel and start digging into the details…
The Rumour
Slated for August 2025, The LEGO Group will release five sets based upon the One Piece franchise, specifically the recent Netflix series.
Promotional image for the live-action Netflix One Piece series
Aye One Piece, a near 30 year old pirate-themed franchise with the most fanciful assortment of ships and scallywags ye ever laid yer eyes upon!
Precisely which aspects of the series will be immortalised in LEGO form remains shrouded in mystery, but talented graphic designer Bennie Bricks offers a few potential concepts:
Going Merry
Zorro vs Mihawk
Treasure Stash
The rumour does however, state possible set numbers, piece counts and prices:
75636 – 301 pieces / $30
75637 – 573 pieces / $50
76638 – 926 pieces / $80
75639 – 1376 pieces $100
75640 – 3,402 pieces / 18+
But how could there be a One Piece LEGO theme without a set based on the Going Merry or Thousand Sunny, the two flagship vessel of the Straw Pirates?
And what other treasures could The LEGO Group pluck from the franchise and fashion into sets?
Where did this rumour originate?
Like the Black Pearl rumour, these murmuring were dredged up from the same thread wallowing in the depths of 4Chan:
This is where it all started
Another user observed One Piece themed builds are now permitted on LEGO Ideas, suggesting The LEGO Group has acquired a licence to produce sets based on the franchise.
Is this observation accurate?
While another suggested this move is tied to The LEGO Group’s wider business strategy:
Speculation or imagination?
Yarrr, but like any tale told on 4chan, none should be taken as official word, or proof of anything, whatsoever.
All details are subject to evolve… or vanish into the abyss forever!
The 4chan thread contains flagrant dialogue, far too spicy for the average connoisseur, so consume at your own peril.
It seems the Classic Pirates have takin’ their sweet time hoistin’ their sails on this one, as the rumor had been makin’ waves in other waters for almost two weeks.
Well, craftin’ a blog post packed with comprehensive details requires more time than a swift social media post – like these:
Also, Classic-Pirates.com can’t be revealin’ secrets that might risk exposin’ The LEGO Group’s future treasures to rival manufacturers or counterfeiters!
And should we dare, LEGO’s legal crew would be bearin’ down upon us with cease and desist orders faster than a ship in full sail!
Moreover, not every AFOL has the time to stay afloat amidst the constant flow of leaks, so this may be their first glimpse of the rumor.
What be One Piece?
One Piece be a Japanese manga tale spun by Eiichiro Oda, both the writer and illustrator.
An assortment of One Piece manga covers
It set sail in July 1997 onboard the weekly manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump, published by Shueisha, and has since been adapted into an anime series, live action TV series, and various other forms of loot.
Ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, Thousand Sunny
The tale charts the course of Monkey D. Luffy, an aspiring young pirate who can stretch his body like rubber after chompin’ on a mysterious Devil Fruit. He and his motley crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, be on the hunt for the ultimate treasure, the “One Piece“.
Once belonging to the Pirate King Roger, it now be sought by the Straw Hat Pirates to crown Luffy as the new Pirate King.
Here be Monkey D. Luffy of the Straw Hat Pirates
The tale be famous for its rich storytelling, complex characters, and a world as intricate as a cryptic treasure map. It’s one of the best-selling manga series of all time, and boasts a massive crew of dedicated fans.
The perfect storm for a new LEGO theme!
The Animated TV Series
The animated series left the foundry under the Toei Animation flag and premiered on Fuji Television during October 1999.
The logo of the anime series
In the quarter decade since, it has since captured the hearts of many, with a narrative spanning more than 1,100 episodes.
Here be a colourful assortment of characters drawn by Toei Animation
The anime has been dubbed and subtitled in multiple languages, and be available on various streaming platforms, making it accessible to fans worldwide.
Here be a DVD trailer for “season 1″…
Problems watching embedded videos? Watch the trailer on YouTube.
In this modern age of live-action TV adaptations, the grand adventure is brought to life by writer/producers Matt Owens and Steven Maeda for Netflix, with creator Oda Eiichiro Oda actin’ as a creative consultant.
A promotional image for the live-action series with the intensity of one thousand suns
The 8 episode series hoisted anchor upon 31 August, 2023 and follows a Monkey D. Luffy played by Iñaki Godoy.
Here’s what the characters look like with real people!
It was filmed in the ports of Cape Town, South Africa, with a cast that also includes Emily Rudd as Nami, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji.
A second season containing is currently under construction in the shipyard, and anticipated to hit the seas in December 2025.
Gremlins preventing the embedded video from playing? Watch the trailer on YouTube.
Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and even ugly Christmas sweaters featuring your favorite characters like Luffy, Zoro, and Nami.
Figures: Collectible figures, including Pop! Vinyls, S.H.Figuarts, and Figuarts Zero figures of the Straw Hat Pirates and other memorable characters.
Accessories: Hats, mugs, keychains, and even necklaces adorned with symbols and logos from the series.
Home Decor: Posters, 3D lamps, and night lights to bring the world of One Piece into your living space.
Trading Cards: One Piece Trading Card Game sets and booster packs for fans who love collecting and battling with cards.
Fan Builds
Like any successful franchise, One Piece has inspired AFOLs to depict their favourite aspects in LEGO form.
Here be a sampling of notable fan creations…
“Going Merry” by Genecyst
The Going Merry be the crew’s maiden vessel, with a one-of-a-kind and heartwarming appearance, sportin’ a sheepish figurehead.
“Going Merry” is the original flagship of the One Piece franchise
This fine ship becomes a beloved part of the crew, almost like a livin’ soul. It plays a mighty role in their voyages and holds many a dear memory for them.
Spoiler alert! The fate of the Going Merry be a tale filled with heartache and bravery. After many grand adventures and harrowing battles, the ship suffers extensive damage, too great for repairs.
But yer can’t keep good pirates down!
The Straw Hat Pirates flourish with their second ship, Thousand Sunny.
The Thousand Sunny be a grand and magnificent ship, boasting a lion figurehead that captures Luffy’s unyielding determination and fiery spirit.
Crafted by the master shipwright Franky, it be a top-notch vessel that outshines the Going Merry in both size and prowess.
We must also give acknowledgement and thanks to YouTuber, Bennie Bricks.
Bennie skillfully crafted the Going Merry using Photoshop and Blender, then wove together a vibrant animation exploring every facet of the ship. Complimented by stylishly professional box art, the presentation was too gorgeous not to employ as the Featured Imagery of this blog post.
Bennie’s YouTube video be well worth a gander, and if yer keen to explore the build in real-time 3D, cast yer eyes upon his Mecabricks.
I watched the entire thing of One Piece I’m all caught up.
Anyways, while I was watching this show I realized that there are a ridiculous amount of LEGO set ideas that have not been made before so I decided to take it upon myself and pour in a ton of time designing these custom Lego sets and I think they’re pretty quality so if you guys do enjoy them please drop a like and subscribe it helps me out a whole lot.
Also, give BennieBricksOfficial a follow on Instagram for more fantastic One Piece LEGO set concepts.
Competing manufacturers have attempted to cash in upon the One Piece craze with their own buildin’ sets, bartering them through online marketplaces like eBay,Amazon, and AliExpress.
An actual photo of the box produced by a clone brand
Whether they be officially licenced products, or skullduggery upon manufacturers’ behalf, we can’t tell yer.
But let’s assume their factories ought not be churning out LEGO’s trademark minifigures!
Here be a third-party “Going Merry” set
Regardless, these third-party sets perhaps demonstrate a market for One Piece brick-construction toys… a market The LEGO Group would do well to capture!
What Do Yer Think?
Be there any merit to this rumour? Or is it a boatload of bunkum?
Imagine holding an authentic LEGO Thousand Sunny – something this poor girl can’t do right now
Would an official One Piece LEGO theme pleasantly shiver yer timbers, matey?
If so, which aspects of the One Piece franchise would you like to own as sets?
Be there a ship? A character? Or scene from any One Piece media that would excite yer in official LEGO form?
As per tradition, when acquired via LEGO.com or retail outlets, Collectible LEGO Minifigures are “blind bagged” / “mystery boxed” meaning it’s a lucky dip as to which minifig yer get.
So maybe the aftermarket be a tad too pricey for yer.
Try a Brick Search, it be a trusty app for LEGO lovers which possesses a minifigure scanner that lets ye quickly and easily determine which minifigure be in the box.
Grown on the grapevine and processed in the rumour mill, they’re eventually churned out upon Classic-Pirates.com.
We’ve now intercepted a rumour regarding an upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean-themed LEGO® Icons set due for release during 2025.
The Rumour
During summer 2025, a new version of the Black Pearl will be released in the same scale as 10335 The Endurance.
The set will include a single Captain Jack Sparrow minifigure.
Variations of the Jack Sparrow minifigure photographed by Alex THELEGOFAN
No further details of the rumoured set are currently available, so no precise release date nor part count yet.
Where did this rumour originate?
It emerged from the murky depths of 4Chan, along with scuttlebutt concerning official One Piece sets.
There be a few posts, some with rather fiery language, but here are the core details:
Here be the origin
How much credence should we grant this claim? Best we take it with the largest grain of salt we can swallow!
Recent rumours like 2023’s10320 Eldorado Fortress and 2024’s10335 The Endurance proved to be true, but we’re bound to encounter a rumour that’s a complete load of bollocks, right?
The future shall reveal all…
The 4chan thread contains language some may consider offensive so proceed at your own digression.
Fans who diligently scour social media, Reddit and 4chan for leaks may feel a pang of disappointment upon discovering this blog post fails to serve any juicy details they haven’t already digested.
The truth be, Classic-Pirates.com can’t be sharin’ details that may compromise or expose The LEGO Group’s intellectual property to competitors, or worse… counterfeiters!
Not to mention LEGO’s legal crew’ll would be bearing down upon us with a cease and desist order faster than a cannonball!
Nonetheless, not every AFOL be havin’ time to remain atop of leaks, so for many, this may be their first brush with the rumour.
What is the Black Pearl?
More than two decades have passed since the Black Pearl’s debut, but on the off chance yer recently emerged from the dungeon and have no clue of this ship…
The Black Pearl be a legendary pirate ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
The Black Pearl as it appeared on screen
Once known as the Wicked Wench, she be captained by the likes of Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa.
With her black hull and sails, she truly be a sight to behold! Swift as the wind and filled with supernatural might, makin’ her nigh uncatchable on the high seas!
If this rumour be true, it won’t be the first official LEGO set inspired by The Black Pearl.
4184 The Black Pearl
The LEGO Group was late to the party releasing Pirates of the Caribbean sets, given the first movie was released during 2003.
Perhaps Megabloks had exclusive rights, so it wasn’t until 8 years later a wave of LEGO sets based on the franchise arrived.
A minifigure scale Black Pearl
Released during 2011, 4184 The Black Pearl includes 804 pieces and features six minifigures: Jack Sparrow, Davy Jones, Joshamee Gibbs, Will Turner, Bootstrap Bill, and Maccus… Wait! Maccus?
The set allows yer to build the iconic Black Pearl ship, complete with its distinctive black hull and sails.
30130 Black Pearl
This be a microscale version of the legendary ship that attempts to capture the essence of its larger counterpart in a pint-sized package.
A micro scale version
Also released during 2011, the set includes 50 pieces and be designed for kiddies aged 6-12.
This set was available as a promotional item at Target and be a treasure among collectors and fans of the series.
Hello there, She is my fourth completely MOC ship, not an upgrade or combined sets. For the time of making only speed build section, the ship is nearly completed, due to the virus situation cause the delay of parts order delivery, some ship sections may not be completed. And will skip some parts for shorten video duration. So pls understand that. Captain cabin, inclined window frames is the hardest section of the ship. She is fully equipped with 26 cannons on both side, lower and upper deck. Three masts, 10 sails.The rigging, sails will be the same technique as La Grenouille but the Black Pearl masts will be smaller. The upper deck floor can be lifted up and access to the lower deck only the frontal and middle section. For the rear lower section, cannon slider mechanisms as shown in video, will help to get the gun in fire position.
The design was heavily based on the real Black Pearl from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, which premiered in the theatres back in 2003 and thus making the release of this MOC (in 2023) a 20th year anniversary celebration of the highly successful and worldwide beloved franchise.
Yer can view more images of Marin’s design in our “The Pearl” blog post, or acquire building instructions via ReBrickable if yer interested into building this version yerself.
So this is Christmas… And what have you done? Another year over… And a new one just begun…
Wait a minute! New Year’s isn’t until next week! Stupid song!
It be that time of the year when the Classic Pirates explore the yuletide creations of LEGO Pirate fans…
“Advent Kah-islander Countdown” by ClassicStyleCastle
The highlight of Christmas 2024 is undoubtedly ClassicStyleCastle’s islander-themed advent calendar.
A series of small builds and minfigs beautifully presented in refreshed Indigo Islander style artwork.
Christmas sweaters in the tropics
A Kahuka kit
Putting pirates to good use
Volcano tender roast
Kaptien Kringle and the mojito
Most sought after gift
ClassicStyleCastle writes:
I’m posting every three days… (just in terms of practicality) so don’t swipe if you don’t want spoilers!! But I’ll post each day individually on my story as well. 👍
Continuing my 2024 Advent Calendar on the theme of Islanders, a subtheme of Lego Pirates that was released in 1994 and so is now 30 years old!
Be sure to follow ClassicStyleCastle on Instagram so yer don’t miss any part of this exciting calendar!
Santa Woodhouse and I wish you all a Merry Christmas! 🎄
In just a bit, the Redcoats will gather cozily by the fireplace 🔥 to unwrap their gifts 🎁.
The clever sock idea… no, Woodhouse isn’t hoardig pirate hook arms 😂… was inspired by @brick.happens_ . Such a fun and fitting touch for both pirates and Christmas that I couldn’t resist recreating it!
Also this is my contribution to the @classicpirates idea of creating a Christmas pirate 🎄🏴☠️!
Enjoy Christmas and see you soon!
When you say classic LEGO theme, you have to say: Pirates. And who would’ve thought pirates in the winter just before Christmas would be so fun? Captain Redbeard has betrayed his comrade and is now taking this newly found treasure chest for himself!
Some fans be fortunate enough to possess a magical Christmas moment upon which they were bestowed LEGO Pirates.
A couple of fans have kindly shared such moments with us…
Well, you’d be that excited too if you received a Black Seas Barracuda
That’s me on the right and my brother on the left, I think my face says it all as to how happy I was to receive this at Christmas 🎄this was an especially good day!
Above is James Kirwin and his brother on Christmas 1989, while below is Alex Ploration unleashing The Imperial Trading Post.
He’s surprised he received a LEGO set that big!
Je n’en croyais pas mes yeux 😅un des meilleurs set de l’époque pirate 🏴☠️
Épargnez moi les super commentaires liés aux coupes de cheveux années 90 car je suis certain que vous avez eu la même 😜
I couldn’t believe my eyes 😅one of the best set of the pirate era 🏴 ☠️
Spare me the super comments related to 90s haircuts because I’m sure you’ve had the same
I was interviewed by Beyond the Brick for my complete Pirates Timeline display covering the full history of the LEGO Pirates theme from 1989 until today as displayed at the Bricks Cascade convention in Portland, Oregon!
I will have more to post about this fantastic display soon, but for now, please enjoy this great video that Beyond the Brick shot.
And without further ado….
BeyondTheBrick Interview
Joshua Hanlon of Beyond the Brickhas a yarn with PxChris as he walks us through his magnificent LEGO Pirates collection displayed chronologically.
pXChris Writes:
Paul and I got interviewed by @beyondthebricktv today for our massive complete Pirates timeline display at Bricks Cascade, so that was exciting!
If yer can’t watch embedded videos, head over to YouTube.
Beyond the Brick conducted a mighty fine interview to be sure, but the Classic Pirates always keep digging for that bit extra.
So we bombarded the poor bugger heaps of questions…
How long does it take you to pack, transport, unpack and then setup that display at each convention?
PxChris responds:
Well, the packing process was spread out over a couple weeks. It took a total of 13 of the large/long bankers boxes, plus 1 regular sized box, and a number of additional containers to pack it all in.
Here is where things started:
Not all treasure chests be made from wood or contain gold!
PxChris continues:
The setup process took roughly 12 hours I would say in total, spread out over two days.
The display starts with Pirates and Soldiers sets released in 1989
How many Bricks Cascades have you presented this display at?
PxChris responds:
Technically this is the very first time I’ve done this display, at Bricks Cascade or at any other convention.
I had a quite different style of classic Pirates display at Bricks Cascade in 2022, which was of course brilliantly covered by a Classic-Pirates.com blog post.
But this was a very different style display with very different intents and purposes.
The purpose of this Timeline display was to cover the entirety of the LEGO Pirates theme in all of it’s incarnations from the beginning in 1989 until the present day. So in it we covered the complete classic Pirates theme of 1989-1997, as well as the main two reboots in 2009 and 2015 in full, and the most modern reboot of what is currently ongoing at this present time (PoBB, the Eldorado Fortress remake, etc.). We also covered some of the many incarnations of Pirates outside of those main iterations with the Juniors Pirates of 2004, a token nod to the 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean, and the many “pirate-adjacent” items of the 2010s-2020s such as MetalBeard’s Sea Cow from TLM, the Ninjago Sky Pirates, Mixels Pyrratz, Creator Pirates, and Vidiyo Punk Pirate.
Metal Beard’s Sea Cow is “pirate adjacent”
What year did you start presenting?
PxChris responds:
I’ve been presenting at Bricks Cascade in some form or another since 2019 (making this my sixth year) although not always Pirates related displays. Last year I didn’t do anything related to Pirates (I did a huge Western display) and I certainly won’t touch on Pirates again at all next year. Probably not for a couple years again at least. We try to keep things fresh and interesting every year at the convention and don’t like to recycle concept very much.
How has the display evolved over time? Is it the same every year? Or has it grown?
PxChris responds:
I first started going to Bricks Cascade as a public attendee on the public expo days in 2012 with my son. It took me until 2019 to finally make the jump over to attending the full convention as an AFOL attendee. I’ve attended every year since. I actually am more involved than ever as this year I was also a coordinator for our theme at the convention which is “Classics”. In the Classics section we focus on displaying and showcasing LEGO history and classic (which we loosely define as pre-2000) sets as well as classically-inspired MOCs.
I’m not a huge MOC builder (though I do dabble a little) so the Classic section is definitely where I feel most at home within the convention. Helping to showcase the awesomeness of classic LEGO (be it Pirates or other) is pretty awesome to me.
Look at all those pre-2000 sets
How did you get involved with Bricks Cascade?
PxChris responds:
My only advice to people who might be interested in participating in a LEGO convention, in any capacity, is to just put yourself out there and do it! My struggle (why it took me from 2012 until 2019 to make the jump) was always the feeling of not being “good enough” of a builder to participate. Frankly, that was just a huge bunch of B.S. and completely silly negative self-talk. It doesn’t matter what your supposed skill level is, just do it. Like I said, it was really important for me personally to find my “home” at the convention, which is in the Classics area, but whatever your interest is, you just need to do it. It doesn’t take some hugely elaborate MOC to be able to attend a convention and get a wonderful experience from it. I know lots and lots of people who only bring one or a few small MOCs, and some people who don’t even bring anything at all, just attend for the sake of community and hanging out with fellow AFOLs. In my experience, the LEGO community has always been incredibly friendly and inviting regardless of what type of a builder you are.
All those times classic LEGOPirates returned
How long have you been building your collection for? Are there any sets in there from childhood? Or has the bulk of them been acquired since you’ve been an AFOL?
PxChris responds:
I started building my Pirates collection in true earnest in early 2020 with the repurchase of a couple of my childhood sets (6274 and 6276) from some vendors at Bricks Cascade that year. This was right before the pandemic started. 6276 Eldorado Fortress was incomplete, so I worked on piecing the rest of that one together and started buying more and more sets. As with so many other folks, I didn’t have a whole lot else going on during the pandemic, so ramping up the collecting was how I filled a lot of time. By the time that the 2022 Bricks Cascade convention came around my Pirates collection was pretty big, but certainly not complete. But I was able to that year display the 1989-91 range of sets, the 1994 Islanders, and a scattering of other sets (mostly ships) from the remainder of the run.
The Eldorado Fortress is now complete
PxChris continues:
I purchased the last set I needed to complete the classic Pirates theme in around July of 2022. So it took me a little under two and a half years to complete the collection.
I did have some Pirates sets as a kid for sure, with 6274 Caribbean Clipper and 6276 Eldorado Fortress being my firsts which were gifts from my mom and grandma. But I never had a huge collection of Pirates sets back then, I think in total I may have had about 6 or so. Other than some of the pieces and figs, they mostly did not survive intact into my adult years. So pretty much my entire collection now is sets that I acquired as an AFOL.
The collection includes tie-in media such as the Lady Bird Books and German Audio Adventures
And where have you sourced this collection from? A variety of sources? Or just an online market place like eBay?
PxChris responds:
I did acquire the sets from quite a variety of sources, Bricklink and eBay probably being the biggest two. However I also purchased sets off of Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, Bricks and Minifigs stores, other in-person vendors at LEGO conventions, and other locations as well. I also pieced together a few of the sets.
The Skulls Eye Schooner… the prefect set for The LEGO Group to remake next
More Videos
PxChris commands his own YouTube Channel upon which yer will discover more great LEGO Pirate content.
He offers a couple of his own 2024 Bricks Cascade videos:
Bricks Cascade is an annual gathering of LEGO® lovers in Portland, Oregon. It’s where landlubbers and scallywags alike unite to display their brick-built treasures, join in buildin’ contests, attend workshops, and partake in all sorts o’ shenanigans. Ye’ll find grand displays of cities, castles, space stations, and more. It’s a fine chance for fans of all ages to share their passion for LEGO® and be inspired by the creativity of others.
Chris B is an accomplished collector of Classic LEGO themes; along with official sets, he acquires interesting, and often rare promotional media and tie-in memorabilia, otherwise lost to the sea of time.
Pencil case
Playing cards
Keyrings
So don’t miss future classic discoveries by connecting with him upon Instagram and Flickr – it’s definitely worth yer effort!
His YouTube Channel also provides fantastic visual overviews of his various classic collections.
PxChris ain’t been the only Bricks Cascade attendee over the years – so we’d love to hear from those who’ve offered other piratey contributions.
Pirate MOCs at Bricks Cascade photographed by Chris Christian
If you attended Bricks Cascade 2024 or any recent LEGO conventions, and have exciting pirate tales or photos to share, hoist yer sails and head to the LEGO Pirates Forum and introduce yerself, or contact the Classic Pirates via the Contribute Form.
One of the best features of 10320 is that it’s modular — that is, it can be reconfigured to be displayed in different ways. This means we can create custom components that seamlessly connect with the fortress.
This expansion includes 3 examples. First, a remake a Sabre Island (6265) using similar design language to Eldorado Fortress, which can be added to the right side of the set.
Eldorado Fortress is just the beginning – imagine continuing along this trajectory to construct an entire harbour layout!
Ido Modifications
Extending the original layout is one option, making little tweaks and refinements is another.
Ido provides us with a complete video overview of such enhancements.
Ido writes:
I summarized my mods in a video. I think the video shows them more clearly than the pictures I posted earlier, plus I’ve made extra mods since then. Please excuse the camera work, I’m really not experienced in making videos. Enjoy!
Trikus 2nd Floor Upgrade
The office, once occupied by Governor Broadside, is an integral component of Eldorado Fortress.
Some fans felt the updated office wasn’t executed to its fullest potential and incorporated their own revisions.
The governor’s office – the most important room in the entire fortress
Fortunately Trikus offers us a solution which is available on ReBrickable.
Trikus writes:
The Eldorado Fortress set is fantastic, until you get to the 2nd floor of the main building. The office looks stunted. My MOC makes the office look better scaled […] the original did have some living space for the Governor.
MightyThorngren’s Mods
MightyThorngren took a different approach to upgrading the officer.
New governor calls for a newly refurbished office
Cannon fire right this way
Then boom! Gunpowder magazine explodes… again
MightyThorngren writes:
So I checked all my “extras”. I had enough spare parts to fix the walkway to nowhere near the Governor’s office, but not enough to make a wall and finish the tower behind the office.
I took cue from this thread and made it into a lookout.
But the modifications need not stop there…
So much more robust
Welcome to the war room
View from the back
MightyThorngren continues:
I’ve actually changed the Admiral’s office since my last post and I turned it into a war room. I want to tweak it more before showing though. However, I like new ladder situation a lot more.
Another significant feature of Eldorado Fortress is the crane which underwent a robust upgrade from the 1989 original.
MightyThorngren decided it could be improved even more…
MightyThorngren continues:
I just today changed the crane and absolutely love it. The new remake crane was way too large and imposing, not even giving a figure room to operate it. It was my least favorite part of the new remake set. I tried to fix all that and give the crane a classic look.
Filibboo’s Classic Colour Scheme
Some fans were disappointed to discover the new Eldorado Fortress deviated from the colour scheme of the original 1989 version.
Most notably the yellow brickwork beneath the front cannon had been substituted with white.
Fillibbo addresses a primary palette concern
The structure beneath the cannon was originally yellow
I also decided to return to the 1989’s color scheme of the front cannon base. It’s worth it, in my opinion.
I ordered the replacement parts very early before I ordered the set itself!
Now, some folk may find this colour change trivial, buy devout fans immensely appreciate designs that remain as authentic as possible.
Capt.Dark.Shark’s Classic Colour Scheme
Filibboo was not the only AFOL who found it necessary to make this substitution.
Some fans insisted the cannon platform had to be yellow!
The second I saw this set I decided that having the white cannon turret was a mistake on lego’s part, so I ordered some yellow pieces once the instructions became available to the public. Shout out to @ace.of.bricks for being the only bricklink shop in the US that I could find at the time to have all of the pieces I needed.
TheOriginalVideono’s 2 X Combined
You could buy 10320 Eldorado Fortress purely for building purposes… or maybe two… or maybe even three…
TheOriginalVideono stitched two fortresses together for an even more imposing stronghold.
Eldorado Fortress was given a generous extension
It’s now a mighty power house
But why stop at two?
When asked if much modification was required…
TheOriginalVideono responded:
They actually fit together quite nicely! since the back of the governors office connects to the front in the “shelf-layout”, it means just connecting the two square fortress layouts via the same clips as the shelf layout. I may change the layout of the walls up there since it seems weird to section off the balcony in two.
The best part? I had about 5-6 people helping build while we marathoned Pirates of the Caribbean for the first film’s 20th anniversary. And yes, we were all dressed like pirates.
Building your Eldorado Fortress layout has potential to be a joyous social occasion – so buy a couple and invite yer maties around!
Darth Tool’s 2 X Combined
Your subsequent 10320 Eldorado Fortresses need not mirror the original, here be the opportunity to exercise creativity.
With a slight mod to the office, a 10 min job really and minor alterations.
Bricksonville 2x Combined
YouTuber Bricksonville considered the original 10320 Eldorado Fortress “a bit too small” so he acquired a second copy to beef it up. A process which he considered easy thanks to the modular design.
Bricksonville writes:
I bought the new LEGO Eldorado Fortress set twice to build a bigger one. The result can be seen in this video.
Ich habe das neue LEGO Eldorado Fortress Set zweimal gekauft, um eine größere Festung zu bauen. Das Ergebnis ist in diesem Video zu sehen.
And, if yer unable to watch embedded videos, head over to YouTube.
Cearthenndemonstrates by transforming the fortress into 6277 Imperial Trading Post, albeit with blue coat occupation.
Cearthenn writes:
Hello, I wanted to share my Imperial Trading Post remake from the new Eldorado Fortress and the island from PoBB.
This is my first adult MOC so as you can see I reused a lot of the design from Eldorado Fortress but adjusted it where it was needed/possible. I’m still reworking it and will probably add some islands since I have a lot of sand and stone left from PoBB, but this is the version that is the closest to the original. I had a lot of fun with it, I can definitely recommend this as an entry level MOC.
But don’t assume remastering official sets is mandatory!
Illumination
Third-party LED lighting kits are a popular customisation choice for many official LEGO sets and 10320 Eldorado Fortress is no exception!
This configuration be more subdued compared to the previous examples, but perhaps better suited to those who’d rather avoid the glitz and glamour of a radiating Christmas tree.
And, if yer unable to watch embedded video, head over to YouTube.
Meaning The LEGO Group will cease to manufacture the set and it will vanish from retail, limiting its availability to extortionary high prices on the aftermarket.
Well, you wouldn’t want to miss out the classic fun, would you?
The exact date has not been officially announced, so let’s assume 10320 Eldorado Fortress is available while stock lasts.
Nonetheless, various fan sources state 31 December, 2024, so let’s use that as an unofficial deadline.
If you were considering buying one, yer better act now or it might be too late!
If time permits, we may dig even deeper into the treasure trove of Eldorado Fortress custom builds to explore some layouts and dioramas born of the set.
Until then, swing by the LEGO Pirates Forum and let the Classic Pirates know how you’ve modified or used 10320 Eldorado Fortresses in your MOCing endeavours.
Or let us know if we’ve missed any noteworthy customisations you’ve seen floating around the interwebs.
Finally we have a vibrant female pirate design venturing into fresher waters!
Equipped with a cockatoo; an exotic bird to be sure, given they originate from Australia… but will offer an interesting backstory to explain how this feathered friend was acquired.
Let’s dance a jig for the cool new threads!
We also must praise the designers from navigating beyond the moulded tricone-ponytail piece, an element that’s persisted with the past three female minfigures (released independently of a set).
While all minfigs differ in torso design, they’re a bit similar from the head up.
Spot the similarities
Pirate Girl from series 20, and the pirate minifigs from 2022 and 2024Build a Minifigure selections.
Some may argue that BAM figs don’t count because you can choose your minfigure components and accessories at LEGO store..
Not so! Some regions lack such stores and these minfigs must be ordered online in their default configuration.
Boys and girls aged 5 and up can play out thrilling adventures with 1 of 12 collectible figures from the LEGO® Minifigures Series 27 (71048) mystery boxes for kids. These detailed minifigures can be added to an existing collection, proudly displayed or used to create fun-filled stories.
Each minifig is blind bagged and will retail for $5.00USD / 3,99 € / £3.49/ $5.99 CAD
Visit the official Series 27 webpage in LEGO.com for images of the other minifigs.
The set can be redeemed for 2400 Insider points and includes a instruction manual featuring a vibrantly decorated cover.
The chest measures 8cm/3.15in long, 5cm/2in wide and 6cm/2.35in high.
But it ain’t no suitcase!
It’s near impenetrable – a steel pipe is included to break it open
The lid includes a hinge, allowing it open and close; and legend has it, there is even a secret compartment… somewhere.
Imagine seeking this chest for years, wrenching it from the ground, only to discover it’s empty… but yer can still hear treasure rattling around on the inside!
Much creativity and ingenuity was injected into the name of this micro-build homage to 6285 Black Seas Barracuda, scheduled for release onBlack Friday, 2024LEGO Insiders Weekend which commences November 23.
Named to avoid confusion with its big brother, Brick Beard’s Bounty
6550800 Barracuda Seas contains 148 pieces and will be offered as a free Gift With Purchase which LEGO Insider members can redeem for 2,400 Insider points.
In the tradition of 70413 The Brick Bounty and 7075 Captain Redbeard’s Pirate Ship, Barracuda Seas is yet another brown hulled ship sporting red and white striped sails.
Unlike its predecessors, this diminutive vessel includes an ornate base bearing an eponymously labelled plaque.
At the time of writing 6550800 Barracuda Seas lacks a page on LEGO.com, but an image is included on the US 5009045 Chronometer page (only accessible to Insider Members).
Before satellites with GPS capability existed, sailors utilised sextants, then later chronometers were invented; and now these wondrous devices will be available in LEGO form on Black Friday.
Another brick-built wooden box with an opening lid, only this one contains a chronometer; a highly accurate timekeeping instrument, often used to determine longitude by means of celestial navigation.
The dial of destiny
Presumably designed to complement LEGO Icons 10355 The Endurance, released upon the same day… although this chronometer won’t fit on the ship’s deck!
At the time of writing, the 5009045 Chronometer is only available in select regions on LEGO.com… plus Insider Membership is required to access the webpage.
