[SR-FB1] Whale Oil Factory

[dr_spock]

Freebuild #1 April 2016

We saw earlier that some of vile pirates were also into whaling, athough they were not very good whalers. http://www.eurobrick...howtopic=124733

When they did catch one, the whale was rendered into oil at the Sea Rats' on-shore whale oil factory. Whale oil uses included oil lamps and soap making, It was an important product before the discovery of petroleum oil.

To make whale oil, the whale was cutted into strips of blubber. The strips of blubber were boiled, a process called "trying out" to extract the oil. After the oil has cooled, it was put into barrels and transported to market.

It should be noted that the stench of smoked blubber was impossible to eradicate, you could smell the processing crew approaching down wind from a nautical mile away.

Whale Oil Factory by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

[blackdeathgr]

While watching whale hunting is a dubiously nice thing, watching whales cut into pieces, surely pains my heart.

Regardless, this moc has its usual nice touch from dr Spock. What could be made more elaborate is...well, I wont say it. You know what. :-)

[Sir Stig]

I don't mind watching whale hunting and whales cut into pieces, in an historical perspective. Whaling was an important source for food, whale oil and more in old times. As with all hunting/fishing/farming, animal wellfare was not an issue. Survival first. Although it may be debated whether a lot of modern varieties is more or less humane, and if the respect and gratitude for using those resources have increased or declined... I'll leave it at that.

Very nice MOC, clean build, with lots of detail that shows the early whaling industry well. Providing a bit of historical background is very interesting, which helps bring the images to life.

[Garmadon]

Neat whale oil factory, Dr_Spock, the roof over those barrels is very nice, and the rest of the stages in the progress are well represented as well (well, as far as I know, that is! )! That palm tree and the white fence just work here too, though I can't say I know exactly why!

[Elostirion]

Disgustingly well done. Makes me sad, but a great build.

[Kai NRG]

Very nice build, the various steps you've included here are well done and the palm tree is great!

[Capt Wolf]

Great period-appropriate build. Lots of good details here: the roof, the whale carcass, the palm tree, and it's all well presented. Excellent build!

[Bregir]

OMG, I am totally going to rat you out to Green Peace!!!

(On a more serious note, I really don't see the need to bring modern day ethics into the appropriateness of whaling in BoBS...)

Can I ask if you had planned whaling enterprises yourself, or if it was due to my suggestion in the general thread? Just wondering if others had the same thoughts.

Very nice build, btw. I like the explanation of the process (and product), and you have shown it in the brick very well! Absolutely lovely!

The ground is a little bare, but other than that, nice details all around!

[BrickOn]

Its really good, and if we were going to bring modern day ethics in animal welfare for food production and experimentations, this small-scale whaling wins hands down IMO.

Great build though, really like the tail inside, it's just graphic enough, and the rest is a good way to use lots and lots of barrels :-)

[Captain Braunsfeld]

lovely topic .... but the build sure is fine

[Captain Genaro]

Neat build. Many whaling ships would actually carry out this process at sea, but it makes sense for smaller boats near the shore to simply haul their catch to a seaside factory such as this. Good details with the pile of bones and the various colors with the whale's blubber.

How does the carriage driver plan to control the horse? Shouting commands or telekinesis?

[kabel]

well done moc! at first it was really kinda hard to say whether this was LDD or not. Strange how the line are between real and imaginary bricks is starting to blur ....

[halixon]

I only like the concept of "hunting" whales, not chopping them up. Nice build though!

[dr_spock]

While watching whale hunting is a dubiously nice thing, watching whales cut into pieces, surely pains my heart.

Regardless, this moc has its usual nice touch from dr Spock. What could be made more elaborate is...well, I wont say it. You know what. :-)

Neat whale oil factory, Dr_Spock, the roof over those barrels is very nice, and the rest of the stages in the progress are well represented as well (well, as far as I know, that is! )! That palm tree and the white fence just work here too, though I can't say I know exactly why!

Disgustingly well done. Makes me sad, but a great build.

Very nice build, the various steps you've included here are well done and the palm tree is great!

Great period-appropriate build. Lots of good details here: the roof, the whale carcass, the palm tree, and it's all well presented. Excellent build!

Its really good, and if we were going to bring modern day ethics in animal welfare for food production and experimentations, this small-scale whaling wins hands down IMO.

Great build though, really like the tail inside, it's just graphic enough, and the rest is a good way to use lots and lots of barrels :-)

lovely topic .... but the build sure is fine

I don't mind watching whale hunting and whales cut into pieces, in an historical perspective. Whaling was an important source for food, whale oil and more in old times. As with all hunting/fishing/farming, animal wellfare was not an issue. Survival first. Although it may be debated whether a lot of modern varieties is more or less humane, and if the respect and gratitude for using those resources have increased or declined... I'll leave it at that.

Very nice MOC, clean build, with lots of detail that shows the early whaling industry well. Providing a bit of historical background is very interesting, which helps bring the images to life.

I only like the concept of "hunting" whales, not chopping them up. Nice build though!

Thank you everyone for your comments.

OMG, I am totally going to rat you out to Green Peace!!!

(On a more serious note, I really don't see the need to bring modern day ethics into the appropriateness of whaling in BoBS...)

Can I ask if you had planned whaling enterprises yourself, or if it was due to my suggestion in the general thread? Just wondering if others had the same thoughts.

Very nice build, btw. I like the explanation of the process (and product), and you have shown it in the brick very well! Absolutely lovely!

The ground is a little bare, but other than that, nice details all around!

Thanks. Your whaling suggestion did have a "bad" influence on me in the hunting build. I was more influenced by my grade school field trip to the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massassachusetts, USA for this build. It was the main business in New Bedford back then.

Neat build. Many whaling ships would actually carry out this process at sea, but it makes sense for smaller boats near the shore to simply haul their catch to a seaside factory such as this. Good details with the pile of bones and the various colors with the whale's blubber.

How does the carriage driver plan to control the horse? Shouting commands or telekinesis?

Thanks. That is right. Whaling ships would go out to seas for year or more and they would process the whale at sea. It is more dangerous to process at sea, a wave can send boiling oil splashing on you. You can slip off while cutting up the whale at the side of the ship and into a group of sharks drawn in by the scent of blood.

Didn't you know that the Sea Rats breed horses with invisible reins? They can read their driver's mind. They are smart enough not to start if the pirate driver had too much rum.

well done moc! at first it was really kinda hard to say whether this was LDD or not. Strange how the line are between real and imaginary bricks is starting to blur ....

Thanks. Pretty cool, I got my MOC to look like LDD. The piece of cat hair on the foreground would probably disqualify me.

[Vedauwoo]

Mmmmmmm.......whale fat......I hear it's great for frying potato strips.....Rat Fries!

[dr_spock]

Mmmmmmm.......whale fat......I hear it's great for frying potato strips.....Rat Fries!

I don't think I've heard of whale oil being used for cooking oil. Rat fries could be what the crew will be eating if rats got into the ship stores. I think unspoiled and unsoiled food was a big challenge with long sea voyages. That and getting scurvy.

Better to peacefully hand your ship stores over to the Sea Rats than the furry rats, I'd recommend.

[TitusV]

Altough I'd recommend to break up the baseplate with some green plates, I like the build! Especially the half whale

[Asgon]

Nice build! I love how it consists of 50 % barrels, but still looks just right :)

[Ayrlego]

I agree, this is a great build. I particularly like your whale, the red brick looks quite effective. I like how you describe the process as well, BoBS is becoming quite educational these days! Great job!