ZCerberus

Come on dude... This is just helping us get to know one of our MOCers better! Maybe the problem is that no one really discussed any of the additions I plan to make. I think people only care about pictures, so without new pictures, threads just kind of dies.

I don't recall saying this MADE us good MOCers, just that it was a good state to BE a MOCer. Especially if you live the in twin cities metro area!! The LEGO Imagination Center in the Mall of America used to be way cooler, they had rotating displays with some custom islands or structures with the current line of sets integrated. They were large and often had many extra figures to make scenes and battles. Now they are basically small non-rotating displays that have the current sets in them, no additional scenes or work. Still they have 'pick-a-brick' now and they sell the 'Shop @ Home Exclusives' there so it is still nice if you need some parts in a pinch. The selection isn't great for 'pick-a-brick', but if you need some solid bricks, you can hit the jackpot sometimes!! I got lucky with a lot of white and yellow solid bricks when I was working on Fort Brighton. Yes, this is WAY off topic, but so be it. Here is what Phred is referring too. I don't have Cable TV and up to about 6 months ago I didn't even get any channels over the air/antenna. I had to beef up my movie collection in the absence. I actually have a bunch more on a second DVD rack on top of a computer cart... on that cart I have Comic Book movies (Marvel mostly), James Bond Movies, Movies about Pirates, Seasons of '24', Animated movies worth seeing (a.k.a 'The Incredibles' etc.), some other random action movies ('The Transporter' and the 'Riddick' trilogy) and Kevin Smith movies. Since I had no cable, sometimes I would buy movies if they were on super sale when I hadn't seen them. Therefore I do have some clunkers too. I try to keep the low on the racks so they aren't noticeable, (I am talking to you 'Flight Plan'!).

Yes! It is kind of a crapshoot as to which parts are available through pick-a-brick, and when one bin is empty they just throw in a new one, but the harbor would have never been built without it!

This isn't a bad idea... but it will really depend on the angle he puts the yard arms, as a general shape reference though, I think it is a decent plan.

I looked at that second picture when I was wokring on my Xebec. I have a feeling that what happened was there were oars on that second ship, but they removed the benches when they added the gun ports. My uderstanding is that if a Xebec was used in the as a pirate vessel the oars were removed in favor of guns. That is why I think that my and Duke's Xebec are really combos of Galleys and Xebecs. I think Mr. Tiber would agree with me on this because we had a similar conversation in my thread. I conceeded that I did something a little different from a classic xebec, but the general look of the ship is what I was going for, not necessarily historically accurate. I think Phred said he liked my versions, so I think mine was a partial inspiration for Duke's desicion to make the Xebec. I guess what I am saying is we had the same discussion in my thread, and if this one is at least partially inspired by mine, that is the reason they are both combo Xebec/galleys... or the Xeballey as I like to say!

Thank you... Yeah, the Arbiter is going to get a make over. I built in about 2 days over Christmas and I have since had some time to reflect on the design. I am redoing a fair amount of the stern castle, the masts, working on some interior stuff, lengthening the hull and adding some more sailors. Target completion is march when I am home on spring break. Also, I saw your post in Phred's thread, another Minnesota connection!

This is where the American homies part came from... turns out most of us are midwesterners! Eurobricks Pirate Midwest Connections: Phred and Duke, WI (Wisconsin) Capn Kirk 911, MN (Minnesota)-IN (Indiana) Norrington, MN ZCerberus, MN Anyhow, Phred, do you have a target completion date? Or is it just 'when it's done'

I like the front, and how you have now integrated the red better! The ship is certainly more realistic looking, but not as decorative. Maybe the yellow on the back should be white... but I know it takes a lot of specialized pieces to do that... still, I think the front is a definate improvement, but the stern seems like it sacrificed alot of detail... a lot of which is from all the black... the one thing I dislike about black is how it hides the details!

Those are pretty nice! I have been thinking about adding a bell to the Arbiter II, this is a nice design! Kodos to the fiance. It is kind of wierd that you bros post in each others threads like this, but it is good to see some combined efforts as well. Phred: How close are you to finishing the frigate??

Ah yes, well as far as I am aware, Xebecs are all Lateen rigged. For clarities sake though I think we need to call the sails 'Lateen sails' as Mr. Tiber said, and not 'Lateen Rigged Sails'.

point taken... al I was trying to convey was I also had a xebec, hence I also had one that was lateen rigged. I would note that as mr. tiber said you should say all Xebecs are lateen rigged, not all Xebecs 'have lateen rigged sails', because the sails are just called lateen sails

Well the ship would be called a Lateen rigged ship, though the sails would merely be called Lateen sails.

I updated the story on the front page with a picture of the still unfinished New Covenant

You can make basic shapes and lines in MLCAD. But the ships can also be exported into component programs that will let you add other things and will render the images so they look less rigid and more fluid... But yes, basic shapes you can add.

Hmmm... I also have a Xebec that is Lateen rigged. Brickshelf Folder they are actually right triangles I think. I guess mine face the front more than some, so they might not be quite the same interms of visuals compared to Duke's.

I don't even have one of those :-|

Good catch Simon! Double plus bonus points for you!

The stuff I have been using lately is called 'basic' or 'outdoor' canvas. It is stiff, and a little harder to cut than some other stuff, but it is rigid and doesn't seem to fray at all!! It is a little more expensive at about $7.00 USD (we are both midwestern Americans, but most here aren't) a square yard. It also dyes very easily. I got it in the US at Joanne's Fabric, highly recommended! Like I said canvas doesn't appear to fray as easily as other cloths. With the gluing of the rope to the sails, that I suppose will make them rather stationary, not a bad thing, but I wonder how much you can actually move them from side to side!?

It in fact does. Look at the BS folder!... Or here...

The rigging looks nice. I like it Duke!! It looks like you glued the string to the sails though, is that so?

I agree, see the post I have above. I edited it after you read it the first time probably. I also question the sudden switch to lots of white and yellow when the rest of the ship is black and white. I have similar concerns for the fact that the hull is all red.

It appears all of the ones I see listed as being from a set are decorated ones from the jungle adventure line. This doesn't mean it didn't come out in another set that I am just unaware of, but I do not know which set it is from.

I don't know... believe it or not, I never had one! However, a quick bricklink search reveals they did indeed come in straight up yellow!

It really does harken back to the BSB a lot, maybe a hair too much for my tastes, but it is certainly well done. I think the only qualm I would have with the ship is that the masts look too small. I think they need to be larger for more sail power, or this would be a very slow ship. It doesn't matter how many guns you have if they can always stay out of range! Anyhow, welcome to Eurobricks, Daniel! Keep MOCing! *y*

The figure underneath Ghosts where all white I think. Other wise it could be turned backwards, or Brasso-ed. The solid white head is a better question, but it could just be a skeleton head turned backwards. As for the ship, I rather like it, but there are a few issues I have with it. What I like: 1) Size, nice length and nice number of guns. 2) Masts, they look to be tall enough and well rigged. However, I always sort of dislike putting yard arms on the second to top and very top of the classic bowsprit piece. It just looks too short to be a real sail of an sort. 3) Details including the figurehead, poop deck, bell, and long boat usage. What I dislike: 1) The red hull doesn't really fit with the rest of the ship too well. 2) The yellow on the back of the ship doesn't really jib either, it seems like the color goes from a little bit of white to all white all of a sudden without a great transition, and it makes the yellow seem out of place a little bit. I realize it might have been needed because of the window colors, though the same could be said about my ship, the Venganza. 3) The back cabins look very nice, but I am curious why there is a balcony when there is no way to get on it!