Ship Building Workshop

[Commodore Hornbricker]

It seems like we got so many WIP posts on shipd that are in progress and they tend to take a while to build, etc. and there is always lots of discussion, help and suggestions around design and many updates to the build so would it make sense to have a separate subforum within Pirates to house ships in progress and the descussions around them.

I got to thinking about this as the erge to build a ship of my own has been growing and while I have lots of parts I don't have a lot of experience building big ships and will have to reach out for a lot of help once I begin.

Just a thought.

[Ratshot]

I think it could possibly work. Good idea Commodore

[Captain Green Hair]

Yeah i was thinking of something like that, but i just lack time to set it up properly.

If you guys can set one up succesfully (this means thurrough planing first) i'll definitly contribute.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

I'd be happy to assist but I fear I would be out of my element with web design and wouldn't know what they necessary planning would/should be.

[Captain Blackmoor]

I can help with that, it's a great idea! I totally support it. I will have a talk with the Shipyard guys.

[Bonaparte]

Adding a sub-forum has some annoying side effects. It always sits on top of the main forum and pushes all the topics down. Having some of them on top makes us all scrolling down to see some real topics. Another negative side effect is possibly reduced activity for the threads in the sub. Suppose we make a specialized sub forum for ship building (containing the WIP threads and some about techniques), then it is very likely that only ship fanatics might go there and most main-stream pirate fans won't stop by anymore. I've seen such things happen during my time on Eurobricks.

BUT, while a whole sub-forum would be a bit much, an index with ship build tutorials and links to interesting WIP ship threads would do the job (and has none of the annoying side effects mentioned above). We can link to this index from our main pirate index. I do like this idea if we modify it a bit and collect all the posted techniques (and WIP threads explaining techniques) in such an index. Even when in the middle of a large WIP thread a technique is explained, it is possible to provide a link directly to that particular post in the thread.

Any takers for making a "Ship Building: Techniques Index"?

[Commodore Hornbricker]

What would I need to do...comb through past ship posts?

[Bonaparte]

What would I need to do...comb through past ship posts?

Yes, you'll need to dig up what exists already inside ship WIP threads. Bring it all together in an index and then see what's missing. I'm sure we can motivate some to fill in the gaps in the index once an initial version is ready. I suggest you take a look at some existing indexes to learn the tricks behind making a well structured index. Good luck!

If someone remembers a useful technique mentioned somewhere in the pirates MOC forum, let's help the good Commodore and post a link here.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

OK - then I will officially volunteer for the assignment and any links from others would be fantastic.

[Bonaparte]

OK - then I will officially volunteer for the assignment and any links from others would be fantastic.

I've adjusted your title accordingly

[Joey Lock]

And Ive sent him a list of WIP threads I dug up.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

I've adjusted your title accordingly

Thanks - Honored to have a title...Now I feel the pressure to deliver something good I subscribe to the same Management style.

And Ive sent him a list of WIP threads I dug up.

I got it. I'll start digging into it tomorrow.

In the mean time I've been giving some thought into how I want to organize it. Rather than go year by year like some of the indexes seem to work (or periods of time. I'd like to organize around parts of the ship (ie. bow, stern, tumbble home, rigging, decks and internal support, hulls, masts, etc.)

If you all don't mind just listing the types of ships sections you be interested in seeing that would be great so I don't overlook anything as I am going through. I'll be looking for close up images but I also think in many cases it will be important to include the text that descibes the technique if available. Also if any of our master ship builders wants to share some new secret technique they have been holding onto now would be a great time.

Will I/we be able to update the index in the future adding new techniques to the individual ship sections. For example, if I put the index together and next month a new technic for hulls comes out can I add it to the previous hulls sections post or would it be a new post. I ask because it seems like a lot of the indexes are organized based on type of MOC and time period it was created in (Forts March 15 2009 - June 24 2009). Does this question make sense?

Thanks for all the help.

[SlyOwl]

Will I/we be able to update the index in the future adding new techniques to the individual ship sections. For example, if I put the index together and next month a new technic for hulls comes out can I add it to the previous hulls sections post or would it be a new post. I ask because it seems like a lot of the indexes are organized based on type of MOC and time period it was created in (Forts March 15 2009 - June 24 2009). Does this question make sense?

It would be best to edit the post (as there's a 60 image limit per post, you might need to add a new post, and shift everything down by a post, if you exceed the maximum number of posts).

The indexes are currently done chronologically, as they're intended more for inspiration than finding specific techniques, and it's easier that way

[Lego_Warlord_8]

Adding a sub-forum has some annoying side effects. It always sits on top of the main forum and pushes all the topics down. Having some of them on top makes us all scrolling down to see some real topics. Another negative side effect is possibly reduced activity for the threads in the sub. Suppose we make a specialized sub forum for ship building (containing the WIP threads and some about techniques), then it is very likely that only ship fanatics might go there and most main-stream pirate fans won't stop by anymore. I've seen such things happen during my time on Eurobricks.

BUT, while a whole sub-forum would be a bit much, an index with ship build tutorials and links to interesting WIP ship threads would do the job (and has none of the annoying side effects mentioned above). We can link to this index from our main pirate index. I do like this idea if we modify it a bit and collect all the posted techniques (and WIP threads explaining techniques) in such an index. Even when in the middle of a large WIP thread a technique is explained, it is possible to provide a link directly to that particular post in the thread.

Any takers for making a "Ship Building: Techniques Index"?

yes, GREAT idea. sounds better than making a whole sub-form.

[Duck]

I think its certainly a good idea! I for one am personally taking my first tentative steps towards making my first big-ish ship MOC and so anything would come in handy for me! I'd particually like to see some tutorials on making the stern and bow of the ship, as those bits are the complicated ones from what i've seen, and personally i'm pretty lost on where to start!

Good luck with this, Commodor!

Edited June 26, 2009 by Duck

[Captain Green Hair]

In the mean time I've been giving some thought into how I want to organize it. Rather than go year by year like some of the indexes seem to work (or periods of time. I'd like to organize around parts of the ship (ie. bow, stern, tumbble home, rigging, decks and internal support, hulls, masts, etc.)

Good thinking!

[Commodore Hornbricker]

A quick question. Will I need to resize pictures or will the site do that automatically?

Update...its a slow process but I am going through a few pages of the site a day and have found many amazing ships from the past and am trying to identify some of the closeup pictures I think are interesting building technic ideas and any conversation about building techniques.

[Admiral Croissant]

Could be a fine idea, I would really like it if it's possible for everyone to be able to change te titles of the WIP-topics, that would be very useful.

[Bonaparte]

A quick question. Will I need to resize pictures or will the site do that automatically?

The site will resize big pics, but your browser needs to load the big pics before they get resized. So that's not good. If a pic is too big it needs to be resized by you and stored on your Brickshelf account (or whatever you want to use). Then you can link to the resized pic.

[Millacol88]

This sounds like a very good idea. I would love to get into building ships but I really have no clue where to start. This index would certainly help a lot of people like me.

[commander]

i have a WIP but i cant post pics because i showed them somewhere else and now the size it took up sticks to the attachment place so i dont have enough room.