Remember that rumour drifting around during February (2023) about an upcoming Pirate-themed LEGO set… which turned out to be true?

Well, the LEGO House exclusive Number 4, 40504 A Minifigure Tribute, aka, the Captain Redbeard maxifigure receives a full overview in Blocks Magazine Issue 102.  Along, with building instructions for an appropriately scaled parrot which you can perch atop his shoulder – apparently, he “looks lonely” without `ol Popsy.

And if yer assuming this is just a typical 2-3 page write up, assume again!  Redbeard and various LEGO Pirate references materialise throughout the issue… like a MISB 6286  Skulls Eye Schooner on page 25 as Daniel Konstanki asks us, “How are they still sealed?”

Here’s a tease of page 25

There’s also set review of 40504 A Minifigure Tribute and an interview with set designers Stuart Harris and Markus Rollbühler, along with LEGO Pirates creator, Niels Milan Pedersen who reveals how he conceived Captain Redbeard and the classic LEGO Pirates theme. Even Pirates of Barracuda Bay makes an appearance there, somewhere…

An interview with the legendary designers upon Page 28

Did you know Niels had to personally request permission from Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (the company owner during the 80s and son of founder Godtfred Kirk Christiansen) to use a skull on the original pirate flag?  Apparently Godtfred deemed a skull was too scary for LEGO!

Get the full story in issue #102, as well as, Redbeard concept art… there were several variations of this iconic minifigure and not all of them had beards!

Where to Acquire Blocks Magazine

Blocks Magazine is available in both hard copy and digital format, so you can download a copy right now for £4.00 / US$5.00.

But if you would like a physical copy for yer library or coffee table, here be the rates:

Because of exchange rate fluctuations the above pricing will fly out of the window faster than a parrot escaping!

Official Statement from Blocks Magazine

Captain Redbeard is back in Issue 102 of Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine. Find out how the LEGO House exclusive set was designed and learn how to build a LEGO Pirates parrot buddy for the upscaled minifigure. Ready for new Indiana Jones sets, Blocks look at how the theme began. Find out about Iron Builder, a contest more daunting than LEGO Masters. Subscribe before May 3, 2023 to be in with a chance of winning Technic 42154 2022 Ford GT!

Build a Parrot

Fans have been constructing over-scaled parrots to accompany the exclusively large Redbeard figures. 31136 Creator Exotic Parrot has been a source of inspiration, although some builders are concerned the bird is not correctly scaled with the figure.

Fear not!  Blocks Magazine #102 includes step-by-step building instructions for a classic parrot (affectionately known as Popsy) that is perfectly in scale with the House Exclusive Redbeard. Well, in the same proportions the original LEGO parrot is scaled to the original Captain Redbeard minifigure.

Here be a tease of the parrot based on the original LEGO parrot piece

Now, here be some brick built LEGO Parrots shared in the Classic Pirates Facebook Group.

Matthew Bockstael’s brick built parrot

Amedeo Pedata also didn’t stop at the parrot… he added a stand and accouterments as well

AJ Portugal StyLes built a perch for his parrot

Alex Jen not only built a parrot but an entire treasure scene

Have you built your own parrot for the 40504 A Minifigure Tribute Redbeard?

Blocks Magazine Official Description of Issue 102

What?  Captain Redbeard isn’t enough for ye?  This issue also features Indiana Jones, Star Wars, a retrospective on 1990s LEGO Police, and a Ford GT as well…

Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, is covering the return of Captain Redbeard, LEGO Indiana Jones, Iron Builder, building cameras for minifigures and much more in Issue 102.

All prices include delivery.

Captain Redbeard is back! The beloved LEGO Pirates character has been upscaled in the new LEGO House exclusive 40504 A Minifigure Tribute set – and Blocks has the inside scoop. The designers behind the model reveal all and the creator of LEGO Pirates, Niels Milan Pedersen, gives his verdict.

You can also build a classic parrot at the right scale for Redbeard using the exclusive instructions found in this issue – you just need to gather up the bricks!

• With LEGO Indiana Jones returning, Blocks looks back at the original theme that arrived 15 years ago and what it offered. It’s the perfect way to get ready for new LEGO Indy adventures.
• The LEGO Star Wars design team discusses what goes into making Clone Trooper helmets and Brickmaster Milan Reindl reveals how he carefully constructed 42154 2022 Ford GT.
• Learn how to build cameras for your minifigures so that they can snap their colourful world or use our guide to get some ideas for building a massive project.
• Read reviews of LEGO Star Wars helmets, 10316 The Lord of the Rings Rivendell, 21339 BTS Dynamite, Collectible Minifigures Series 24 and more.

There’s much more within the 116-page LEGO magazine, including how the LEGO Group expanded into Germany, the 10 best LEGO Disney sets and a retrospective on 1990s LEGO Police.

Blocks is giving away Technic 42154 2022 Ford GT! To be entered into the prize draw and to get Blocks magazine delivered every month – ahead of the shops – check out the money-saving subscription deals available.

Everyone who subscribes to the print edition by April 5 will be in with a chance of winning (existing subscribers will automatically be entered into the prize draw).

If all that doesn’t pique yer interest, nothing will!  Well, maybe a brand new classic-style LEGO Pirates set would…

Disclaimer

The links to the Blocks magazine website within this blog post are NOT affiliate links. Classic Pirates does not receive an ounce of gold for referring this publication, however we’ve chosen to do so because the magazine offers information valuable to LEGO Pirate fans.  Especially the interviews which provide fascinating insights into the history of LEGO Pirates which are not available elsewhere.

What Do Yer Think?

Will you be getting a copy of Blocks Magazine Issue 102? Or have you already got one?  Spill your thoughts on issue 102…

Clouds in the background are not included

Have you managed to get yer mitts on 40504 A Minifigure Tribute? And does your Captain Redbeard maxifigure be needin’ a feathered friend?

Tell us in the LEGO Pirates Forum or on the Facebook Post!

Have thee caught wind of the legendary Legostein… a Classic Pirate building machine! No longer does he build a single MOC, he now now builds entirely new LEGO Pirate sub themes! Often when I’m soaring high above the Brick Seas, before I swoop down upon a tasty morsel, I often spy one his creations sailing about. But for you to witness his amazing feats, you should observe his mighty Explorer Fleet!

Today chaps, we’ll be taking a sticky beak at one of Legostein‘s earlier MOCs, constructed during that primordial era when he shipwrighted petite renditions of Classic LEGO Pirate ship sets.

Ironhook’s new ship sails into action!

“Captain Ironhook’s Classic Pirate Junk” is a small, custom hulled ship inspired by the 1996 set, 6289 Red Beard Runner.  Perhaps not the most eponymously titled MOC, given that Legostein has generously reassigned it to Ironhook.  Nonetheless, the essence of Red Beard Runner is retained; the colour scheme, sail, flag and crew minifigures have all been seamlessly amalgamated into the smaller vessel.

This ship was also known as “The Marauder” is some regions

The main notable difference however, is Captain Readbeard’s absence… true to the MOCs name, Ironhook is the captain onboard this vessel! Oh, Spinoza is not included.

Perhaps liken Captain Ironhook’s Junk as the counterpart to the Red Beard Runner, similar to how the 6268 Renegade Runner shared various similarities with the 6286 Skulls Eye Schooner.

Did the Skulls Eye Schooner give birth to the Renegade Runner?

A classic pirate junk for Captain Iron Hook! Color scheme authentic to set 6289 Red Beard Runner to fit swiftly into the series.

Legostein writes:

Hello everybody,

it’s my pleasure to share this classic pirate ship moc with you. It’s built in the style of the classic pirates theme, 3rd wave from 1996, and is intended an additional playset for that series. The color scheme matches the larger 6289 Red Beard Runner, with a red/dk.gray hull, blue cabin with yellow/white window, and a skull as rear window.

Have a nice day, and see you soon!

---

Avast! The hatches are closed and they’re ALL facing the opposite direction – this is the side to flank them!

The stern even includes the Red Beard’s Runners signature skull design

Was thee aware that skull piece originated from the 4+ set, 7074 Pirates Skull Island?

Isn’t it grand that the classic LEGO Pirate sets have sails printed on both sides? Oh wait… the sail is just faded on the printed side!

Now let’s take flight to see what we can observe from above… oh look, she’s packing a nice pair of guns!

What’s that I spy near the entrance of the aft cabin? A treasure map and a limited edition 1592 world champion goblet?

The crew is lined up on the port side for that perfect photographic moment

Open those hatches and get them guns out! Now, if only there were some Imperial Guards around…

What the Devil!  This this is not a Junk, is it?

Blimey! You almost caught old Sea Eagle out!

Well, in the formal sense of the word, no, a junk is a Chinese ship (船, chuán) with fully battened sails. However, the term “junk” derived from the Portuguese “junco”, the Dutch “jonk” and the Spanish “junco” during the colonial period to refer to any medium-to-large ships found in Asian cultures.

For more a accurate depiction, acquaint yourself with “Dragone Cremisi” by SpaceBrick – perhaps we’ll blog that ship one day too!

This be closer to a junk – oh look at those silky red sails!

Because Captain Ironhook’s Classic Pirate Junk lacks a sail ahead of its foremast, it doesn’t classify as an authentic sailboat type.  Bah to that I say!  It evokes the nostalgia of a Classic LEGO Pirate set and that’s what counts!

About the Builder…

Legostein (alias Mini Wizardy) is an old hand at sharing spectacular submissions in the LEGO Pirates forum. Before his noble crusade to hatch new LEGO Pirates factions into the world,  he nested himself among smaller ship adaptions, such as the “Caribbean Ribbit”. From there he blossomed into conceptualising entirely new factions… yes, that’s right factions – plural – meaning more than just one faction!

So let this be your Legostein introduction! The seams of his “Pirates” Brickshelf folder and his Mini Wizardry Flickr account are bellowing with yet more classic style creations!

What Do Yer Think?

Has Legostein nailed it with Captain Ironhook’s Classic Pirate Junk?  Has he successfully built a ship that compliments the Red Beard Runner?  Or has he flown too far over the cuckoos nest?  If so, what would you have done differently with this build?

Tally ho! Let’s fly over to the LEGO Pirates Forum or the Facebook Post to discuss the possibilities…

The Classic Pirates have resurrected the Mailing List and we want YOUR feedback and suggestions for the type of exclusive Email content you’d like to receive.

Currently we have established Emails for News Updates and the Latest MOC featured on the Classic-Pirates.com blog. These are Emails are extremely useful if you’re busy and don’t have time to check social media or visit the LEGO Pirates Forum.

We designed nice, vibrant Emails templates just for YOU!

Now can you open up your inbox to discover the latest LEGO Pirates updates right in front of you!

We Want YOUR Feedback!

Updates are just beginning!  Eventually we want to offer you exclusive Email content to make subscribing even more valuable to you.

We’ve already brainstormed a few ideas like:

• FREE wallpapers for your phone, tablet and computer
• FREE media like a remastered version of the Guide to the LEGO Pirate Minifigures series
• FREE building instructions for MOC sets like The Warty Crab… or maybe something even bigger!

But maybe there’s something else you’d like to receive – if so, tell us!

What would make YOU excited to OPEN your inbox? What exclusive goodies would make your mailing list subscription more valuable?

Don’t hesitate to let us know your ideas in the LEGO Pirates Forum or on Facebook.

How do I Subscribe

You’ll find a Subscribe Form above the footer on most Classic-Pirates.com webpages.

Find this form and enter your details

We’ve also created a convenient link which takes you straight to the form:
https://www.classic-pirates.com/subscribe

Email?  Isn’t that a Bit Old Fashioned?

Undisputedly, Social Media has emerged as the predominate form of online communication for fan communities.

Nonetheless, Email has its place.  Not everyone wants to use or check Social Media daily, so content delivered straight to your inbox is a measure of convenience – it saves time.

And in the future, we want to give you the joy of receiving something special…  something to look forward to… something to warm the cockles of yer heart… something not available outside of the Mailing List.

So that’s why we’re taking YOUR feedback so you YOU can decide what that something special is.

Wait!  What Are the Contests, Prizes & Giveaways?

Remember the good old days (I.e. during the 2000’s and early 2010’s) when the LEGO Pirates Forum and Classic-Pirates.com hosted contests in which you could win LEGO sets as prizes?

This was the actual prize pool for the Seven Seas Contest of 2012

Nay?  Oh, well too bad then!  You missed out on a lot of fun!

Aye? Then you’ll be excited to know we have plans to bring these initiatives back sometime in the future…

Either way, it’s a great reason to subscribe to the mailing list so you can be well informed when the time comes.

What Are YOUR Mailing List Ideas?

Do have better ideas for Mailing List bonuses?  What kind of Email content would make you really excited to open Emails from the Classic Pirates?

Make your dreams come true and tell us your wishes in the LEGO Pirates Forum.

No matter who you are, or where you are, or under which flag you sail, since the dawn of time and the emergence of prehistoric people in Africa, our basic necessity for barter, trade or commerce has never really changed. So when brave explorers sailed across the treacherous Brick Seas, and discovered the New World, it was only natural to establish trading posts where the King’s loyal subjects could practice an honest exchange of goods… and pay their taxes to the King like obedient little peons. Yes, we all love the King. Hail to the King, baby!

Today we shall visit one such trading post, conveniently named “Imperial Trading Post” (good thing we don’t rate MOCs based on the originality of their names), made available to us by an emerging builder with immense talent, known as PopularBricks.

Welcome to the Imperial Trading Post, a place where all pirates merchants are welcomed to drink, trade and resupply, all under the protection of the or gullible well trained redcoat guards

PopularBricks writes:

The Imperial Soldier series apart of the pirate theme is one of my all-time favorite! For my MOC I wanted to create something that is both reminiscence of that classic theme yet updated into a more modern take.

The Imperial Trading Post is built with approximately 2,800 pieces. It is the place where all the sailors go to trade goods.

I had a lot of fun building this and if you would like to see this as a possible Ideas set please support on LEGO Ideas!

The Imperial Build

The trading post features a wide range of features to ensure maximum playability: loading docks, a fishing pier, watchtowers, fully functional crane, a storage area and market area

While the market is booming, the lookout remains ever vigilant in case those pesky pirates dare to disrupt the operations of honest trade

At the market you’ll find almost anything to meet yours need; fresh fish, razor sharp cutlasses, plump chickens, moldy bread… even wenches friendly town girls with delightful personas and exquisite social skills around weary sailors

Hey look, it’s the signfig of the builder, PopularBricks, who apparently enjoys at spot of fishing at the pier

Beware! By decree of Governor Happy, all soldiers, merchants and law abiding citizens must wear a smile and enthusiastically greet verybody. Violators will be hanged – with a smile, of course!

Admiral Woodhouse perhaps hasn’t seen fit to seek residence at this particular Trading Post, but no doubt it’s on his to-do list.

Kinda strange to wear chain mail armour and a thick hood in the middle of the stinking hot Caribbean… but at least he is making an effort to smile (regardless of how hideous it may look)

LEGO Ideas

By now you’ve probably accumulated sufficient knowledge of LEGO Ideas grasp how it operates. I.e. builders make an effort to design something spectacular (under 3,000 pieces), submit their humble idea, accumulate 10,000 votes, and against all odds, survive the dreaded review phase – currently, only Bricky Brick has achieved this with Pirates of Barracuda Bay.   Afterwards, the successful builders accumulate vast wealth and fame beyond their wildest dreams, as their massacred slightly refined concept becomes available at LEGO stores around the globe.

So let’s do our share and give PopularBricks support for this exciting journey and maybe, just maybe, bring back LEGO Pirates into retail!  Disclaimer: At the time of writing, 31109 Creator Pirate Ship is/was available at retail.

SUPPORT this submission on LEGO Ideas

6272 Imperial Trading Post

Yer may have noticed that the Classic Pirates take friendly gabs at builders who “borrow” the name of a official LEGO sets for their creation.  It’s all done in reasonably good humour, of course.

We appreciate that builders are often focused on the construction and presentation of their MOCs, and don’t always have the resources to determine unique name for their creations. But we’d hardly be a reliable information resource if we didn’t mention the significance on the MOC in relation to official LEGO sets.

The Imperial Trading Post… sometimes named “Port Royal” in English speaking territories

6272 Imperial Trading Post was released during 1992 to coincidence with the debut of the Imperial Guard sub theme, a then new faction inspired by the British “lobster’ red coat uniform, to act as as foil against both pirates and the blue coat Soldiers.

About the Builder…

Sometime ago, PopularBricks debuted in the LEGO Pirate Forum with this creation. He hails from the USA and considers LEGO Pirates as one of his all-time favourite LEGO themes.

Beyond that we know little of him, but we are certain he offers more interesting LEGO Ideas submissions. So dig deeper, explore his LEGO Ideas profile and discover further LEGO Pirate wonders which await you.

And for the social media savvy, occasionally he shares images of his work on Instagram and Flickr, so be sure to connect with him for future updates.

What Do Yer Think?

Now we turn the pen and ink over to you, dear reader!  Share your thoughts on this marvelous / not marvelous build…   Do you think it can be improved?  Dislike a particular aspect?  What is it? Missing a monkey? Does the this trading post need a prison cell to contain those pirates running rampant?  Perhaps a cannon or three to defend the darn place from those early bird pirates intent on ruining brunch?

Or do you absolutely love it, with an unstoppable eagerness to incorporate it into your LEGO Pirates collection? Fire your opinions away on the Facebook Post or  in the biggest, baddest LEGO Pirates forum on Earth (maybe even the universe) – the Classic Pirates are waiting for you!

While the Classic Pirates veered off course in the wake of the recent Eldorado Fortress Remake rumours, a brand NEW Skeleton Pirate minifig was released as part of the Quarter 2, 2023 LEGO Build-a-Minifigure (BaM) selection.

These minifigs are available in 3-pack blister cards which cost US$9.99 / AU$19.99 and can be found at at BaM Stations at LEGO Stores throughout the world, or ordered from the Certified LEGO AG Megastore website if you’re moored in Australia.

Mix and match! The minifigures can be customised allowing you to select a different hat/hairpiece, head, torso, legs, and one accessory.

It also appears the Pirate Skeleton has usurped Captain Redbeard in the available minifigure selection, with the only other pirate on deck (at the time of writing) is the Pirate Wench.

What Does the Skeleton Pirate Offer?

Here be the pieces the default Skeleton Pirate minifigure includes prior to any mix’n and match’n.

Skeleton Pirate includes everything you see here. Firearms not included… unless you customise

Overview of the pieces:

• A bicorne hat featuring the modern version of the Jolly Roger
• A head with the classic skeleton face print
• A new torso, with skeleton in a vest design printed on both front and back
• Standard minifigure arms in plain white
• Standard minifigure hands in plain white
• Dark red minifigure legs dual moulded black feet/boots
• A black gladius – that’s Roman for “sword”

Front and back – wouldn’t that satchel be more convenient at the front?

This be how LEGO Pirate minifigures actually ship – in Build A Minifigure blister cards rather than ships

The Original LEGO Skeleton

The very first LEGO skeleton reanimated during 1995 in the LEGO Pirate set 6254 Rocky Reef, along with three LEGO Castle sets; 6036 Skeleton Surprise, 6078 Royal Drawbridge and 6090 Royal Knight’s Castle.

Peek-a-boo – look who! It’s the very first LEGO Skeleton

A pristine, clean white skeleton with notably different anatomy from the latest release – rather than a printed torso, the original skeleton bares a torso and limbs moulded to depict bones.

This version would appear in five more LEGO Pirate sets during the final two years of the theme’s classic run (1996-97); 6204 Buccaneers, 6232 Skeleton Crew, 6248 Volcano Island, 6281 Pirates Perilous Pitfall and 6296 Shipwreck Island.

Old skelly would not be resurrected again until 2009 when it appeared in 6299 Pirates Advent Calendar, albeit with a more menacing face and new shoulder joints.

Skeletal Parts

Some LEGO Pirate fans have noted the standard minifgure torso is not as effective at depicting skeletal remains as previous incarnations, particularly because the standard torso doesn’t appear emancipated enough.

The three different skeletons associated with the LEGO Pirates theme

Lyichir suggested a coat with sleeves may help to disguise this shortcoming, but perhaps the minifigure could have included moulded skeletal arms, similar to its predecessors, Although, these bony appendages utilsed different shoulder joins to that of regular minifigures.

CAD Renders of the two previous LEGO Skeletons and their different arm joints.
Image sourced from Julia’s Docs.

Such arms may require a new torso mould with shoulder joints that enabled them to be connected, a caveat perhaps adding too much expense to figure’s production cost.

Read the Mega Lego Skeleton article on Julia’s Docs for a comprehensive breakdown of LEGO skeleton anatomy, complete with glorious Computer Generated renderings of every facet of the cadaverous fig imaginable!

MOCing Potential

It’s early days so MOCs featuring the new Skeleton Pirate are few, but here’s some we’ve sighted:

First Mate Rummy is building a skull island, Barracuda Bay style…

Pulp Bricktion used the Pirate Skeleton in an entry to #gbc_goesvignette held by Germanbrickscollab

Caspar CvS put this little scene together with the Black Seas Barracuda in the background…

But wait! What are those Imperial Guards doing?

Let’s make some slight adjustments… better or worse?

Leg Variants

Our Facebook Group Captain, PxChris reported in both the LEGO Pirates Forum and Facebook Group that his local Build A Minifigure tower also offered the legs in a tan and brown variant:

Which do you prefer?

My BAM tower had both of these dual moulded legs in stock, and while the red & black ones may have been the “intended” legs for this figure, I actually quite prefer the dark tan & brown ones.

It lives up to the hype!  I’m really loving this new pirate skeleton fig from the LEGO Stores BAM stations. While the red/black legs may have been the intended combo, I actually much prefer the dark tan/brown legs that were also available in my store.

What Do Yer Think?

Will you be recruiting the Pirate Skeleton to your crew? Or do you prefer a more lively folk on board?

Armed and ready to join your crew!

Share yer skeletal thoughts in the LEGO Pirates Forum or on the Facebook Post…

When we turn our thoughts to pirate ships, our minds fill with visions of mighty galleons… heavily armed war brigs… swift sloops… crewed by seasoned cutthroats and captained by nefarious, amoral Sea Dogs, who’s booming growl sends shivers into the hearts of trembling landlubbers. But alas, not all pirates slot nicely into that fearsome mould (i.e. Jack Sparrow) and many pirates wannabes are in dire need of a small, nimble vessels to evade troubling predicaments… or land them in new ones.

The Warty Crab is a ship for such occasion. Constructed from a useless row boat, this pint sized vessel still packs a punch, as we rightly noted when we first introduced the ship back in 2021.

Today, we leap a step further and in this Classic-Pirates Overview, we determine whether you, the devoted LEGO Pirates fan should buy commandeer one… and where from?

Marooned Marin writes:

Dear all,

It all began one night, I believe this summer (2021), as I roamed the vast oceans of Internet something small (simple) but utterly genius caught my eye on Classic-Pirates blog. I’m talking about “Caribbean Ribbit” by Legostein, a wonderful creation which immediately posed an old challenge for me: Can I Do More With Less?

I decided to put on hold work on two mayor vessels and go out and try to find the answer. I gave it my best, and so here I am.

Trivia: the original name of the ship during development phase was the Old Bucket, but as that name did not seem to have any hope of driving terror across the high seas, it eventually evolved into, Warty Crab

Specifications

You know how you feel sad when you need to throw away beautifully decorated official LEGO box? Well, no such thing here!

All parts are packed in unnumbered plastic bags, with no clear system of grouping, other than partial colour and part type

To cut costs and save the forest, the building manual is included digitally on a 4GB USB drive which we can later be re-used as a memory stick

Closer Inspection

A quick comparison reveals the pearl gold, bright light orange and black are on par with LEGO, while the reddish brown is extremely close but not identical

All parts were included in the correct quantity with no visible scratches or dents. Sails are not included at the time of writing (Second Quarter 2023) but during recent talks with their Head of Development, we gained confirmation that a laser-cutting machine has been acquired and production of sails is on the horizon.

Great news, but what about now and sails for the Warty Crab sets currently in production? For the time being, the building instructions contain a graphic template and instructions how-to make your own sails… more about this later.

One notable annoyance in regards to printed parts – to quote a line from the product description “Stickers and print parts are not included“. So instead of the valuable treasure map piece we’ve received a blank tan tile. ARRRG!

Luckily, old pirate fans like us always have a map or two floating around just in case.

Beware, stickers and print parts are not included… so no treasure map or Jolly Roger flag

Building Instructions

Small MOC equals small building instructions, which are simple, clean and straightforward

More of the same here, simple but not too simple

The Build

Like most MOCs, this little boat ship follows the bottom-up building approach

Plates and bricks easily connect and stay connected, which tells us a great deal about the quality of third-party manufacturers

It’s amazing how after only a few simple steps, the useless row boat begins to take the shape of a real ship

Out on its own, the taffrail on the quarterdeck looks and feels flimsy, but once connected to the quarterdeck it instantly becomes quite sturdy

In fact, the whole cabin is pretty tough, which is good news if you plan to engage in heavy duty playtime with your kids… or your better half (if they are into that)

More of the same goes for the forecastle railing, flimsy alone – sturdy and compact once attached

The simple combination of reddish brown with black and pearl gold works rather well, although few pieces of dark brown here and there would probably worked even better

And here be the main mast, the yard and the bowsprit, and one small but indispensable rudder

Aye, it’s coming along nicely… but to really come to life, every sailing ship needs set of sails, which are sadly not included at the present moment

But wait! The building instructions contain printable 1:1 scaled templates of the sails, along with the detailed instructions on how-to make them. Let’s first try the easy route, and simply use paper sails

Hmm… this just won’t do… guess it’s time to follow the tedious instructions to the letter

(Some Time Later…) The Finished Model

We made the sails from an old white cotton t-shirt, which was first soaked in the black tea, dried and then re-soaked in water & starch solution – an old trick to make it rigid

The white flag had to go! Have ye ever heard about a pirate ship sailing under the white? We notified the manufacturer about this and they assured us all the future ships will be sold with a black flag

Smaller issues aside, in a nutshell what we have here is a terrific little ship which can easily go along with every existing pirate set available out there

Conclusion

Captain Redbeard and the Warty Crab in the “Escape from Imperial Port”

About the Builder…

Marooned Marin was stranded on a desert island, isolated from the AFOL community until he finally managed to escape that desolate rock on a raft made out of several sea turtles (hmm… this story sounds awfully familiar). He is now based in Dubrovnik, Croatia where he enjoys stunning coastal scenery and a lovely view of a fortress that was incorporated into a popular pirate Medieval TV show a while back (GOT, you scallywags).

If you’d like to keep up with his work, take a peak at his Instagram account, where he regularly shares his impressive feats of writing, since he is a staff-writer for the Classic-Pirates. On rare occasions you will stumble upon an image or two of the new MOC in progress. But don’t get overexcited, because he regards himself as a one-MOC-per-year type of AFOL. He is slow but thorough.

You can acquire building instructions for all his creations via his ReBrickable account, or enjoy their imagery on his Flickr and BrickSafe.

What Do Yer Think?

Would you ever consider buying something outside beloved brick brand? If you already did, how was your experience? Or should MOCs only be built from authentic LEGO, or do non-authentic brands also have a place? Would you buy this MOC?

Sail by the LEGO Pirates Forum and let us know!

Disclaimer: This is a licensed MOC design, built from third-party bricks and elements. Anything written inside the post is solely expression of the author’s feelings. Parts and build photographs by Marooned Marin (© 2023 Classic-Pirates.com)

It seems like just last week the Classic Pirates were lamenting how the LEGO Group has been continually releasing pirate-themed novelty sets. Meanwhile, an entire fan base of LEGO Pirate enthusiasts await opportunities to open their treasure chests to new classic-style LEGO Pirate sets.

Well, today is a new day, and if true, this information could change everything…  Unless you’ve been marooned like Marin, you may have spied a social media post or two regarding an upcoming LEGO set based on the classic LEGO Pirate theme.

So here’s a round up of all the vital information we’ve intercepted, so far…

The Rumour: LEGO 10320 Pirates Vault

A D2C (Direct to Consumer) set aimed at the 18+ market, containing 2,509 pieces and based on the LEGO Pirates theme will be released in July 2023 and retail for around US$215 as part of the LEGO Icons series.* The set number is claimed to be 10320 with a tentative name of “Pirates Vault”.

An Instagram post by lego_express_news regarding the Eldorado Fortress Remake

Sources claim the set will be a modern remake of classic set 6276 Eldorado Fortress which is “fairly faithful recreation of the original”  and includes Pirate and blue coat Soldier minifigures in the same quantity as the original set.

Classic Space Man directly interviewed one of the sources, u/FluffySky6 via Reddit:

Q: “What colours were in the EF remake, and roughly how many (and what kind of) Minifigs were there?”

Minifigs in El Dorado were nearly identical to the original, in count / number of pirates vs imperials
And seemed to be a fairly faithful recreation of the original

Q: “Also, did either set have a sticker sheet?”

Both sets could’ve had sticker sheets but I didn’t go out of my way looking for them like I did the SWs sheets”

Q: “Did you see any large printed flag pieces in the EF?”

“I don’t recall honestly”

Q: “Do you remember the Eldorado Fortress colours at all? I am curious as to whether it will still be yellow or a more realistic tan.”

“I want to say it was fairly faithful, i remember there definitely being some amount of tan that seemed to be used for the beach part of the little island”

Q: “Also, just to confirm – Bluecoats, right?”

Yep!

How FluffySky6 was able to make these observations has not been revealed…

Via the Classic Pirates Facebook Group

Pura Vida Bricks claims an official announcement will be made:

Sometime in June I think, the official release will be July 4th for VIPs

July 4th?  Like in that documentary movie about aliens who invade earth?  Wonder if the blue coats have any significance to certain historical events concerning July 4 or is it purely coincidental?

Announcement Speculation

Perhaps some promotional material will emerge before July…

Those following the promotion for 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle during 2022 may have caught a few teases before an official announcement was made on 19 June, 2022 – also, that date may offer a clue for the June 2023 Eldorado Fortress announcement.

A glimpse of the Lion Knights’ Castle can be seen in the video announcement for 10300 Back to the Future Time Machine (aka the Delorean), which was shared via the official LEGO YouTube channel on 17 March, 2022.

Promobricks.de knew what to draw a month prior to Lion Knights’ Castle’s official announcement

A couple of months later, 20 May, 2022 to be precise, German LEGO blog promobricks.de published some sketches of the castle’s alleged appearance.  These sketches turned out to be rather accurate, but how the blogging team were able to compose such a sketch has been left to mystery…

Perhaps that strategy was reserved for exclusively for Lion Knights’ Castle and the LEGO Group is conjuring up something entirely new to tantilise fans. So keep yer eyes to the sea and yer ears to the wind!

Thank ye to Khargeust for bringing the above observations to our attention!

The Original 6276 Eldorado Fortress

Stalwarts of the LEGO Pirates theme be well aware that Eldorado Fortress was the first large Imperial Soldier set, released during the initial wave of Pirate Sets when the LEGO Pirates theme set sail during 1989.

But if you’ve been pressed-ganged into this fandom during recent times, let’s bring yer up to speed…

Who has the original Eldorado Fortress?  MISB condition anyone?

The original set contains 496 pieces and 8 minifigs; 4 blue coat soldiers (all with the same appearance),  a rare Governor Broadside minifig and the blue coat commander minifigure, known as Lieutenant de Martinet in the Golden Medallion comic and Ladybird Book series. No large classic Pirates set would be complete without a Captain Redbeard minifigure, who in this set, was accompanied by the original Starboard minifig.

The set was notable for being the first to utilse a raised base plate to bolster its foundations and afford limited piece count a more imposing structure.

Where Can I Buy an Eldorado Fortress?

Ahhhh… the age old question.  Where can classic LEGO sets be acquired?

Look at those Eldorado Fortress auctions on eBay – can you grab a bargain?

Bricklink is a popular choice for many, while eBay is another common market place. But can you seek out a favourable deal? Like any classic set, the price for an Eldorado Fortress may vary considerably depending upon the condition of the set, how many parts are missing, whether it includes the box, instructions, etc.

So to quote Pixel Dan, “Happy hunting my friends!”

Is that the Rumoured Set in the Featured Image?

Eagle-eyed observers may have spied the Eldorado Fortress used in the Featured Image is not the official 6276 Eldorado Fortress set released in 1989.

One of many fan interpretations of Eldorado Fortress

It’s actually MOC built by an AFOL who goes by the name of ArmoredBrick. The MOC was originally submitted as an entry in the LEGO Group’s 90th Anniversary Pirate Theme Celebration contest during 2022.

The Classic Pirates figured using a MOC rather than the official set would make more effective click bait. It was selected specifically because of AmoredBrick’s efforts in recreating the base plate as a brick-built structure, boulders and all.

How sneaky! And thank you for joining us!

YouTuber Commentary

These kind YouTubers shared their videos in the Classic Pirates Facebook Group so we’ll give them a mention.

Mikey J Productions

www.youtube.com/@MikeyJProductions

Just2good

www.youtube.com/@just2good

If you share your video in our Facebook Group or LEGO Pirates Forum we may add it to this blog post!

How Do I Stay Updated?

If you’d like to join the Classic Pirates on this voyage of discovery, here be various means of communication so you don’t miss any vital updates:

• Bookmark this webpage – we shall update it when new information becomes available.
• Follow the discussion in the LEGO Pirates Forum.
• Follow the Classic Pirates Facebook Page
• Join the Classic Pirates Facebook Group
• Follow the Classic Pirates Instagram
• Subscribe to the Classic Pirates Mailing List
• Subscribe to the Classic Pirates RSS Feed

Do all… or do none… the choice is YOURS!

What Do Yer Think?

Be this rumour a load of barnacle baloney?  Or should we heed its word?  Are you eager to see an updated version of Eldorado Fortress?  Or do you think a different classic set should be revitalised instead?  Or should the LEGO Group create an entirely new classic-style LEGO Pirates set, the likes of which has never been seen?

Be sure to keep up with the discussion in the LEGO Pirates Forum or Facebook Group in case someone posts more information…

Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is purely speculative as it has been provided to us by unofficial sources without verification.  The LEGO Group has not officially announced or confirmed an Eldorado Fortress Remake nor any upcoming classic-style LEGO Pirates set releases.  Therefore, Classic Pirates does not guarantee the accuracy or validity of the information provided within.

* Official affiliate link provided Rakuten advertising

6270 Forbidden Island (a.k.a. Pirate’s Nest), a beloved set released during the initial wave of the LEGO pirate-themed sets in the summer of `89, has sparked numerous mediocre remakes, alongside the sporadic outstanding remake in the decades since.

Maybe it’s easy for us to judge, since everyone’s a critic, but lest we forget it’s far easier to build something original than to improve a creation that was exemplary and make it yer better. The latter venture requires a healthy dose of artistic bravado.

Today, we shall examine one such bold rendition, pieced together by CaptainDarkNStormy, an avid LEGO Pirates enthusiast and a talented builder with a promising MOCing career ahead.

Welcome to the Forbidden Island! Your tropical slice of paradise where you can unwind from a dog-eat-dog everyday life, and plan your next high-risk business endeavour over one – or several mojitos

CaptainDarkNStormy writes:

Behold, Forbidden Island Remastered!

This is my most ambitious MOC to date and it took me a few months to construct.

Forbidden Island was one of my all time favorite sets as a child, and I have recreated it in more detail.

It pays homage to the original, with a rope bridge and a trap door to catch the Imperial Soldiers, but on a larger island teeming with flora and fauna. Captain Redbeard has a nice spot to enjoy his rum between stints at sea on the Barracuda, a small cave in which to hide his treasure, and a cannon for defence against those pesky Bluecoats.

Can you believe that the original 6270 set consisted of mere 182 pieces? Whereas CaptainDarkNStormy’s version is made of a whooping 2367 pieces… just look at the awesome difference those 2,185 parts make

The Forbidden Build

According to the Tales Upon the Box Art, sometime during the 18^th century, a peaceful colony of settlers were enjoying mojitos while polishing some extremely valuable treasure that just happened to lying about the island wence they arrived. Yes, whoops! Somebody had carelessly left a ton of jewels and gold behind – because nobody ever returns to collect their treasure. Finders keepers, hey?

All of a sudden their serenity was shattered like a looking glass tumbling onto some jagged rocks below! Some fearsome invaders, the self-named LEGO® Pirates of the Sea, had spent years seeking their ancestral treasure which those unsettling settlers had greedily claimed as their own, along with the island itself.

Forbidden Island was named as such by the settlers, for to them it was – wait for it – forbidden! T’was the island upon which only pirates could dwell, and it was right here where Captain Redbeard among other buccaneers devised cunning plans to pilfer the treasure from the settlers… and that odious Governor Broadside stationed at Eldorado Fortress.

High above the ground is the rum shack where weary pirates can enjoy piña coladas, mojitos… and after several rounds of those maybe even one good-old-fashion Sex on the Beach

Remember in the original Forbidden Island set you always had to stress over that resourceful Soldier escaping? Well, stress no more, as he is now dead… quite D.E.A.D!

Those hideous oversized stairs are thing of the past as we now have beautifully carved step constructed entirely by SNOT technique

Of course, the old one-piece rope bridge also had to give a way to more complex and stylish design

The island is teeming with flora, fauna and one ‘old’ but deadly cannon

We can assume which role Senior Bacon will play in the near time future when the rum runs dry and hunger takes charge

But for now Senior Bacon is safe as the pirates hunger for delicious roast chicken

Hey look! There’s Jojo the monkey which Guybrush literally used as a “monkey wrench” on a valve on Phatt Island

In a small cave under the stairs where Captain Redbeard hides the pirate treasure. Wait a minute, this feature was not present in the original set, was it?

Looks quite good from the back, better than the original. Don’t you agree?

Now the only remaining issue is the missing row boat and shark? Where might they be? Ahhhh… darn it! If that’s the only aspect we can find to nitpick then this is truly a spectacular remake!

Forbidden Island – Lite Version

The 2,367 piece count is rather large for a remastered set considering the classic original possessed a rather modest 178 pieces.  To alleviate this discrepancy, CaptainDarkNStormy also serves up a lite version with a simplified base. It stylistically matches 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay with approximately half the part count of the original, and the best part is; you receive building instructions for both versions within the same Rebrickable purchase.

Aye… this will indeed make a fine companion to Pirates of Barracuda Bay

The Other Notable Remake

In the introduction we mentioned that there are a few other outstanding remakes and one stands above the rest. Sometime during the 2020, following the pirates of Barracuda Bay style, Elusys Ra Arwal created a glorious digital rendition of his Forbidden Island packed with details and a few innovations.

If you are all into islands and remakes, we invite you to read all about that creation.

“Forbidden Island” by Elusys Ra Arwal – packed with details and a few innovations

Tales Upon the Box Art?

Have you gone stark bonking mad! What gibberish be that?  Nay, I was born mad and the fact I’m having a dialogue with meself in a blog post proves it!

In certain regions, the box art of earlier pirate sets offered a backstory to fuel the imaginations of youthful minds embarking upon an enduring quest to construct the contents which lie before them.

Once upon a time the larger LEGO Pirate sets included reading material

These stories were a tad brief and unlike the Ladybird Book series or Golden Medallion comic, they only referenced names found in the US catalogues, opposed to expanding the lore further with new locations and characters.

Events referenced throughout this blog post pay homage to the first paragraph of the 1989 set stories:

Sometime during the 18th century, a peaceful colony of settlers enjoying the island treasures they discovered, suddenly had their serenity interrupted. The invaders were those who called  themselves the LEGOLAND® Pirates of the Sea! For years, the Pirates had been searching for the same name buried that the settlers were now claiming as their own. This of course, disturbed the Pirates as they knew the doubloons the settlers found had belong to their ancestors.

“Great! But the text in the above image is a bit too small for me read” says you.

“We may explore those stories in greater detail in another blog post” says I.

About the Builder…

Not so long ago, during one stormy night, a mysterious builder sailed into Eurobricks’ ‘Pirate Bay’ and took it by storm. His name confidentiality, happened to be CaptainDarkNStormy and our well placed – and unpaid well paid – informants bring word that he was actually a real Captain, upon one of those futuristic “flying ships” which are more commonly known as airplanes. He hails from the United States, and records show he is also a proud dad and an avid LEGO Pirates enthusiast.

When he is not flirting with cute stewardess conquering the vast sky oceans, or reconstructing the classics, you might find him posting new content on his Instagram and Flickr accounts.

Most of his builds are also available in digital instructions form on Rebrickable so you can easily acquire them for a fair price.

What Do Yer Think?

Plain and simple, do you like it?

Or do yer prefer less obvious and more imaginative remake like the one from Elusys Ra Arwal? Would you like to see and own more of these ‘modern’ remakes or do you think designers should leave the classic sets at peace and  create something fresh and original? Tell us, we are dying to hear from you inside the biggest LEGO Pirates forum in the world.

From the manufacturer who brought you Pirate Roller Coaster, Pirate Tree House, Pirate Coin-Operated Mall ride, Pirate Train Carriage, comes…
Pirate Ship Playground!

This article is not intended to be wrought with cynicism but quite a few LEGO Pirate fans be wondering whether the LEGO Group still has their bearings navigating pirate-themed set releases.

While there be no shortage of Adult Fans of LEGO who embrace these sets enthusiastically, those thirsting for classic nostalgia deem them of little relevance to the LEGO Pirates theme and a missed opportunity for something greater.

Let the Lamenting Begin!

LEGO Pirate fans have longed for more sets based upon small ships, such as the “Merchant’s Cutter” which appeared in 6277 Imperial Trading Post. After all, historically, these were pirates’ vessels of choice, opposed to the larger galleons or frigates.

In the LEGO Pirates Forum fans have periodically suggested
they’d love more Pirate sets based solely on smaller ships

Beyond rafts, not one independent small ship set released within the LEGO Pirates theme! Curious really, given three were released within the LEGO Castle theme, both predating and during the Pirate theme’s tenure;  6049 Viking Voyager (1987), 6057 Sea Serpent (1992), 1547 Black Knights Boat (1993). Furthermore, even the Orient Expedition saw the release of 7416 Emperor’s Ship (2003) years after the LEGO Pirates theme submerged into hiatus.

At least two of these sets could easily be converted into pirate ships

So instead of a pirate-themed playground, the LEGO Group could have released an actual pirate ship, complete with a brick-built hull and a material sail.

Further ingraining frustration is the continual rejection of 10K Pirate submissions on LEGO Ideas, not to mention the Castle and Space releases for the LEGO Group’s 90th Anniversary; 10305 Lion knights Castle, 40567 Forest Hideout, 10497 Galaxy Explorer and 40580 Blacktron Cruiser – the latter three being 21st century updates of classic LEGO sets, a strategy first employed by concealing a 6285 Black Seas Barracuda update within 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay.

LEGO 90th Anniversary Space and Castle sets

Exactly who is requesting pirate-themed playgrounds anyway? Somewhere on the vast Internet sea are AFOLs commenting; “Well, my LEGO City definitely needs more piratey attractions…  I think a playground would be nice this time!”

No, probably not, but here’s a dose of reality…

LEGO Pirates fan, this isn’t about your nostalgia and what YOU prefer!  LEGO is first and foremost, a children’s brand with AFOLs constituting a small minority of the consumer base (some estimate less than 1%). Determining which sets to release is based upon broader market appeal, and quite frankly there just aren’t enough LEGO Pirate fans to justify more frequent releases. In reality, Classic Pirates is the largest slice of a very very small pie.

Wait a minute… this is a Gift With Purchase! Children don’t posses credit cards so it’s adults purchasing the sets that allow the gift acquisition to be possible.  It’s not like 40589 Pirate Ship Playground will hit retail shelves and the kiddies will gleefully spot it during their regular toy store browsing.   So if I’m buying all these LEGO sets for the youngin’s, why can I get a free gift for myself?

Don’t be stupid LEGO Pirate fan – you’re meant to buy the LEGO for yourself and give the Gift With Purchase to the kids!

Why Report Non Classic-Style Sets?

Some may perplexion may arise because the name of this fan community is “Classic Pirates“; so why bother reporting non classic-style sets?  Wouldn’t it demonstrate higher integrity to simply ignore them?

Like every facet of existence, there are reasons beyond the immediate obvious, so here be a few:

• Some LEGO Pirate fans are genuinely interested in these pirate-related sets, even if they’re not strictly classic-style.  So for their benefit, we like to keep them informed.  Collecting the set may not be the primary objective, in certain instances the parts may be useful for building.
• Classic Pirates needs to appeal to recent fans.  Not all LEGO Pirate fans jumped onboard back in the late 80s and 90s – we’ve picked a few up along the way.  Some fans came on board as recently as 2020 with 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay and 31109 Creator Pirate Ship, so sets like 40589 Pirate Ship Playground are the only pirate-themed releases in the time since… and you’re no doubt aware of the exorbitant cost of classic sets \on the aftermarket.
• Classic Pirates must attract new fans. Let’s face it, there aren’t nearly as many LEGO Pirate fans as LEGO Castle fans due to the fact Castle had a longer run with more sets. So if these pirate novelties help pique the interest of newcomers, this only serves to our advantage by growing the fan base.
• If Classic Pirates didn’t report them, we’d go years without sharing any official news… and official news get the views!  It certainly drives traffic to our website and social media profiles/groups even if the release isn’t strictly a classic-style set.
• Search Engine Optimisation strategy.  The majority of LEGO blogs and fansites report on these sets, so if Classic-Pirates.com doesn’t, we miss out on vital keywords for the Search Engines to index, and in turn we lose relevance in Search Engine rankings.

Did Classic Pirates reach a new low by
reporting 43212 Disney Celebration Train just because it had a new sail piece?

Some LEGO Pirate fans may have grumbled because we created a forum topic and reported on 43212 Disney Celebration Train just because it had a new sail piece, but this was done with strategic foresight

Only Bad News for LEGO Pirate Fans?

Perhaps not… some consider it a promising sign that the LEGO Group continues to produce pirate-themed torso prints, headgear and accessories – after all, this is evidence they’re keeping the moulds and templates alive!  And don’t allow 31109 Creator 3 in 1 Pirate Ship* to slip our minds, at the time of writing, this set is/was still in production, and found a place on retail shelves for more than 3 years.

* Affiliate link provided by Rakuten advertising

Some fans dislike the brick-built sails…
But this set had the longest production run of any pirate-themed set in recent history

We can also hope at least one pirate-themed submission entered into the 2023 Bricklink Designer Program: Series 1 gained sufficient votes to be produced as an official set.

During early 2023, Brickset conducted a poll to determine which classic set should be revived for a Gift With Purchase – guess which set topped the poll… a set from the LEGO Pirates theme of course! 6235 Sabre Island.  Although, it must be noted this was an unofficial poll which may have no influence over future GWP sets.

And also there be a rumour…  Rumblings of a 2,509 piece D2C (Direct to Consumer) pirate-themed set to be released in July 2023 for US$215 – but a rumour is all we have for now…

What Do Yer Think?

What are your thoughts on non classic-style pirate-themed LEGO sets? Do you think the LEGO Group is widening the appeal of LEGO Pirates by releasing these sets? Or do you feel like they’re taking shots in the dark and hoping they’ll sell?

Front of 40589 Pirate Ship Playground’s box

Should Classic Pirates keep reporting on them? Or should we stay true to the classics and only report on classic-style sets? Continue this discussion further in the LEGO Pirates Forum or on Facebook to share your opinion…