Ever since the release of the LEGO Ideas Pirates of Barracuda Bay in 2020, LEGO Pirates fans around the world have been living and breathing the most notorious lie ever conceived by the human mind, the lie about Captain Redbeard current whereabouts.

Who is the mastermind behind this treachery we do not know, it may be the doing of the Captain himself. Either way it’s irrelevant now as the jig is up. Captain Redbeard is not helplessly stranded in his shipwreck on some unknown island in the Caribbean. NO! Cincinnati spotted him living comfortably in his cozy villa named conveniently The Readbeard’s House, somewhere along the beautiful rocky coastline of west Italy.

If me hears ‘Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest’ once more ye’ll be learning to play with peg-legs! Play us a theme song from Monkey Island! Arrr!

Cincinnati writes:

I want to present my MOC – The Captain Redbeard’s house, located on the Skull Island. It is a remake of the famous LEGO 6279 Skull Island set, where my idea was to grow the three levels on the original set, keeping some elements such as the skull carved in the rock, the pier for accessing the building, the secret passage in the back, the trap door on the upper floor for accessing into the cave, the palm on the left side and the revolving crane on top.

The difference between the final product and the approved 10K idea for the year 1995

And speaking about retaining some of the original elements, for the untrained eye the difference is almost nonexistent, this creation is everything else than a ‘remake’ of the original set as our beloved Governor pompously remarked “It’s a complete re-envisioning of the original idea!” Don’t you agree?

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The grand tour around the manor

To improve playability, and since this is a Pirate-themed set where we want nothing but playability and not some dust collecting unplayable LEGO Ideas set, the building consists of three levels in nowadays popular modular fashion. But wait! That’s not all. At the same time the whole building can be symmetrically opened in two vertical parts. How ingenious is that?

Any aspiring MOC designer can build in modular style, nothing breathtaking here, except the attention to details on the rock, the walls, the door, the cabin, the fence, the palm… but leaving all that aside, any amateur could build three levels of extraordinary good looking house

But here we see the difference between the amateur builder and the real professional. How cool is that! Just imagine mental power and foresight needed to build this. Amazing!

Second level of the manor

We shall continue our tour as a main guest (an Imperail guard disguised as a wench) coming for a Redbeard’s birthday tea rum party.

A woman or a man in disguise, it’s hard to remain unimpressed by the level of details of the exterior

Just look at the woodwork, the daring use of various colors, how it all blends in. If this is the exterior one can only guess what wonders are in store for us inside

Behind the wooden door we enter the second level of the Redbeard’s house. This is the main level of which most (if not all) was carved into the rock. We have everything what a good Captain needs: the hall, bedroom, kitchen and even the bathroom.

Here we see the overview of the second (main) level of the manor all carved into the rock

Wait what, a bathroom? A bathroom and the Captain with a hook!?

Not so long ago a rumor about the true nature of Captain Hook demise started a big trouble at the ‘Three Cannon Balls’ tavern. Allegedly, dear old Captain Hook found himself in great need to take a shit perform an act of excretion, and by the coincidence he also owned a luxurious bathroom (yes yes, very un-pirating we know). In any case, the rumor has it when he successfully took a shit removed his bowels, he was so much relived, almost in the state of nirvana thinking about nothing really, that he took the paper with the wrong hand.

A cheap lie or unbelievable truth, it’s no way to go for any man, yet alone Captain. So dear Pirate fans remember, no hooks in toilets!

Is that a tile poster with Captain Redbeard? Where? There, behind the pillar! Can you guess the set it comes from

Not only do the Italians design most beautiful cars, suits, shoes and pretty much everything else, but here we also see Cincinnati’s crafty furniture design. It must have cost Redbeard a fortune to get this made, but on the other hook, he is the person with a golden purse

Third level of the manor

After the extravagant party, and some good night sleep, breakfast is served up on the third level of the manor which can be accessed via outside ladder for sober guests, or by the crane for the drunken pirates. The third level also contains a small penthouse inhabited by the rest of the Redbeard’s crew.

Here we see yet again stunning use of colors and tiles. Mind you, this picture is the real physical set not a digital render

The third level contains everything a house pirate needs, a terrace with a view, a T-bone steak on a grill, a cannon for fending off those vegans and other grass lovers, a crane for hauling new supplies of red meat and rum, and a nice bunk bed

Remember how house can be easily split in two vertical halves to maximize playability? Here we see the right section of the second and the third floor

The left section of Redbeard’s house with a dangerous toilet and a drunken pirate wasting away a beautiful day in bed. If only he had a mother to receive some proper scolding

More of the Italian furniture design on the third level (ignore the cannon)

Hidden first level of the manor

At one point of the evening Captain Redbeard somehow got a whim of our poor disguise of an Imperail soldier trying to pass as a wench, and decided it’s time to split before other Imperials come barging in through door and windows. In pursuit we shall explore the hidden level of Redbeard’s house, the cave with the secret entrance and me gold.

The ground level of Redbeard’s house is a large cave with a rock that hides the stolen treasures and a secret exit at the back of the cave. Unlike the original set, the skull remains immovable

Here we see the secret trap door from the first level and the ladder leading down into the cave. Not so much spectacular entrance like the Batman would have in the Wayne manor, but good enough for our Captain in heat

Not only is this whole level hidden from the Imperials prying eyes, but also inside the secret cave there is another super-secret compartment just below the huge rock where gold is hidden. Let’s talk about a paranoia for a moment…

And so our sly old Captain escapes the hand of the law (with the gold) once again through the secret ‘sliding’ exit and sails into the sunset to plunder and fight another day

General information

• Parts: 5800 parts
• Dimensions: Width/Length 32x32cm (12.5×12.5″) | Height 35cm (13.8″) with the flag

Time consumed

• Digital design: approx. a month in BrickLink Studio 2.0
• Real build: 20 hours over the course of 5 days

Who was is Captain Redbeard?

Mirror mirror on the wall who is the most famous pirate captain of them all?

Captain Hook, Jack Sparrow, Long John Silver, Blackbeard, LeChuck, Bartholomew Roberts , One-Eyed Willy, Dread Pirate Roberts Westley, Captain Blood, Edward Kenway, or Guybrush Threepwood – a mighty pirate?

All good guesses, but unfortunately all wrong! So who was Captain Redbeard whose long shadow towers all over these pirate giants?

A partial answer can be found in LEGO naval library. Here is an excerpt from the book Pirates of Barracuda Bay

Captain Redbeard was once captain of the great ship Black Seas Barracuda. An infamous pirate. Redbeard and his crew sailed the seas from Rock Island Regfuge in search of treasures stolen by the mighty Imperials. Feared by his enemies and admired by his friends, Redbeard was a legend among all sea-faring folk. A pirate pioneer, Redbeard paved the way for the pirates who came after him. It was said that Long John Silver stoli his wodden leg idea, Captain Hook copied his missing hand and Blackbeard was inspired by his lustorus beard.

Yet this tells us nothing relevant, but luckily the LEGO Pirates forum member TalonCard provides us with the first Un-Arr-thorized biography of a LEGO Pirate: Captain Redbeard. On a side note, this motion picture received a golden parrot award for the best documentary at annual Tortuga film festival. Congrats TalonCard. So sit back, kick off your shoes (or peg-leg), and take a roller-coaster ride through life of one of the most exciting personas in fictional history of mankind.

A long time reader and first time contributor, Cincinnati emerged from the Davy Jones locker and took out the LEGO Pirates MOCs subforum by the storm. He is nowhere to be found on popular social networks as he fancies himself ‘vintage’, but that has not stopped him from setting up a YouTube channel only to showcase his prize MOC. (UPDATE: and now Instagram)

For building instructions you can visit his ReBrickable profile here, or check out his other image work on his Brickshelf account.

Regarding the theme of his future project we know nothing as he refused to give up any clue during our regular torture Q&A session down in the dungeon. One piece of information did manage to escape him as he ran for the door, we know his favorite theme is and always will be LEGO Friends ahem, LEGO Pirates.

Before we part our ways you should know that there is new discussion brewing inside the LEGO Pirates forum ‘Is Governor Broadside actually Admiral Woodhouse, a turncoat in disguise?’ Exciting isn’t it? No? You don’t care about Imperial guard or Soldiers; you are here only for Pirates. In that case click on the big red shiny button bellow and give us your two pieces of eight about MOC The Redbeard’s House.

Pirates have roamed seas for as long as we may remember ourselves. Most notable of them all has to be Captain Blackbeard and his crew Captain Redbeard, who for a time being was absent until making a comeback in 2020’s Pirates of Barracuda Bay! Newest brick film by Hamster Productions shows us what has happened to Redbeard, it is entitled as “Pirate Sea Battle – Barracuda Heist”. xxx

El Ladrillo Harbour sure seems like a lovely town, hopefully it has a pirate lovely pub too!

This is a once again well-crafted story by Hamster Productions, older fans of his brickfilms may notice few recurring characters from other works, I won’t list them, for ye have to find them yerself.

Look at this sailor! Why would anyone even think that he could be up to no good?

Now, why does this particular pub inn look familiar?

That goblet of rum apple juice surely looks lovely, I bet it tastes good too!

Be that Captain Redbeard and his crew? And be they imprisoned? What an outrage! Surely there must be someone out there coming to rescue them, right?

Mysterious sailor reveals himself to be Tattooga! And it seems he has come to rescue Captain Redbeard, whom he has stayed loyal to!

Hamster Productions writes:

A lone sailor enters an occupied harbour in the heart of the Caribbean. Can he rescue his friends?

That be indeed a good question – can he rescue his friends? I would not be so sure, ever since El Ladrillo Harbour is full of Imperial Guards, but this rescue mission could be worth a try. After rescuing Captain Redbeard and the crew, they all need better means of transportation than a small boat, that is where Black Seas Barracuda comes in.

The main prize of the whole rescue mission – Black Seas Barracuda. Magnificent, as always, only dry-docked in the wrong harbour!

It seems that Baron von Barron has made his way yet again in LEGO Pirates universe! This time he has made his way high in the ranks of Imperial Guards, at the moment, he is inspecting the vessel

Baron’s career is short-lived, Captain Redbeard with the crew has come to take back their vessel

Now Captain Redbeard may stand on poop deck once again

What is a brickfilm?

Brickfilm is a film made using LEGO bricks, it is usually created through stop motion, which consists of combining multiple photographs to make an object move in the said photographies. In this case, a LEGO minifigure is taken multiple photographs of, in order to walk, fight, visit pirate pub drink and do other activities. Now, mind ye, making a brickfilm takes some time, especially if ye want it to be of high quality. Think how long it must have taken for Hamster Productions to make this magnificent film.

At last, Black Seas Barracuda flies the Jolly Roger again!

Governor has caught wind of what is happening but it seems that an Officer has not!

A battle is brewing ‘tween pirates and Imperial Guards!

This can’t end well for at least one of the sides!

How on Earth did that happen? Ye wouldn’t expect me to tell ye, would you?

How I love the sound of a ship breaking in half in the morning!

And that is how it ends, for better details of how did we get to such point, ye have to watch this brickfilm yerself!

About the Builder…

If ye have watched brickfilms on YouTube, then there is a possibility that ye stumbled upon Hamster Productions, also known as Joshua Chawner. His brickfilms are well-known and as many have described, specifically his Police Chase Part 3 invokes nostalgic memories among the audience. His 2019 LEGO brickfilm The World’s ‘Coolest’ LEGO Set has won many International Science Film Festival nominations. All of Hamster Productions‘ amazing brickfilms can be found on his YouTube channel. Be sure to check it yerself and perhaps even subscribe for more great future content.

Be sure to head down to LEGO Pirates Forum on Eurobricks and see the advertising topic created for this film. And if ye want to see more Pirate-related content, have a look in the Pirate MOCs subforum, I can guarantee that ye won’t regret it!

Question: What do you get when you cross a Classic Castle set like 3739 Blacksmith Shop and the recent 3 in 1 Creator Set Pirate Ship?

You get this this fine Pirate Inn by Pantelis! Definitely not somewhere an honest law-abiding citizen would lodge for the night, but if you’re a LEGO Pirate, oh boy – what a great place to plot your next treasure voyage!

A complete view of the inn

Pantelis writes:

Hello to all mates, some old LEGO sets like 3739 gave me some inspiration to imagine how to build a Pirate Inn… it’s something that I wanted for my pirates friends!

The kitchen is well equipped and serves everything from steak to humble pie

Everyone gets their own room… after sharing bunks on a ship this luxury accommodation!

And now you may wonder… how did that chap in the bicorne get a hold of Captain Ironhook’s vest?

No Pirate Inn would be complete without a monkey and parrot.
Chickens are there because they’re tasty.

But what if it were a Castle MOC?

Pantelis also explores the Castle inspiration which influenced his build by simply swapping out the pirate-related elements. As you can see, this creation suits either theme well, and on that note, the same could possibly be said for some of the official Pirate and Castle sets.

An homepage to the original set or has the pub really been standing since medieval times?

Now it’s a Guarded Inn! Unfortunately, Pantelis hasn’t provided us with a render of the Imperial Guards or Soldiers paying the pub an inspection a visit.

If we remove the pirate-themed accoutrements, how does it look?
Absolutely fantastic, just with less pirate vibes…

Not familiar with 3739 Blacksmith Shop?

Maybe you’re youngin’ and lack knowledge of the dark times before LEGO Ideas… Well, they weren’t dark, but you know…   Back in the early 2000’s when the Blacksmith Shop was released, there weren’t any official platforms allowing AFOLs to submit their creations in the hope, that someday, these submissions would be produced as official LEGO sets.

A photo of the exterior of 3739 Blacksmith Shop

Nay, none of that convenience! LEGO Ideas was first launched under the name “CUUSOO” in 2008 but AFOL communities had began appearing as early as the late 90s.  Back in those frontier times, hopeful fans would send their set proposals to the LEGO Group and hope one of the LEGO representatives would take heed… and maybe if you pestered them enough, they’d pass details on to their commanding officers who says “Jolly good! We can make a buck off this!” (wishful thinking).

Now you can see where Pantelis got his inspiration from…

Blacksmith Shop was first released on 30th March, 2000 by Daniel Siskind, and during 2001, he negotiated a licensing agreement with the LEGO Group to produce it as an official set. It was the very first set in LEGO’s “My Own Creations” range which saw release in 2002. As typical with fan inspired sets, the product designers modified the interior furnishings, but kept the exterior true to Dan’s original concept.

If you’d like to learn more about the Blacksmith Shop, peruse this discussion in the LEGO History Themes Forum.

Also, the Classic Pirates would like to acknowledge we stole the above images from The Plastic Brick, who has performed admirably at providing the interwebs with fantastic LEGO set photography.

About the Builder…

Pantelis just loves to scare pirates… and AFOLs too! Seriously, he mainly focuses upon builds for the Pirates and Castle themes using REAL bricks. However, that may have changed lately because he’s dabbling more and more in the digital realm, check out his Eldorado Fortress modification for a fine example of this.

To indulge in even more Pantelis perfection, follow him on Flickr and Instagram, or you sail by the LEGO Pirates Forum to discuss this MOC with the Classic Pirates and Pantelis, himself.