Ranking the First Wave Pirate Series Sets

[SBCMayor]

Hey, everyone, I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself by sharing my ranking of the entire first wave pirate series. I'll rank the 1989 wave separate from the 1991 wave and then rank them together. While any ranking like this is obviously a matter of opinion, I'll share that my thought process combines some rationale as an adult but also takes into account both the excitement some of these sets generated when I first saw them on the toy department shelves to the nostalgia they invoke when I unbox a recent purchase from the secondary market. 

I own or have owned all but a couple of these sets and will indicated which ones are which as I go. For those that I've never owned, I had significant exposure to as a child because friends or relatives had them, creating a lot of envy for me! But enough of that. Let's get to the rankings! 

1989 Series (10 sets):

10th Place: 6245, Harbour Sentry. I had this set as a kid and it never really did anything overly exciting for me. I pretty much got it just so I'd have a bluecoat soldier to fight some pirates. The cannon and the row boat are impressive pieces for such a small set and I know a lot of people are going to question my ranking but there you have it. 

9th Place: 6257, Castaway's Raft. Another set I had as a kid and a very challenging ranking choice given it's a small set with some cool figures and a shark. But it was another one that, while I was glad I had it, was certainly not a must-have to me. I've not yet decided if I'll try to purchase the entire 1989 series, and if I do it'll be the only reason I purchase this one. 

8th Place: 6251, Pirate Minifigures. I've got this one ranked about the other two because it was an inexpensive way to collect some figures as well as a healthy plunder! I loved the combination of pirate and soldier characters, the parrot, and of course the treasure. The pre-cursor to the modern battle pack, I had this set as a kid as I was trying to expand the figures I had available for pirate themed play. 

7th Place: 6235, Buried Treasure. Okay, hear me out. I've got this ranked relatively high because both in 1989 and in 2024 this was my first entry into the pirate theme. This set retailed for around $3 back when it came out, and even though my family lived on a tight margin my parents were kind enough to spring for this set for me and my two siblings one epic Friday night. I finally had my first pirate set! Inspired by our tiny foothold into the theme, my brother and I fashioned smaller, less elaborate versions of the two ships of this line, using paper sails and the multicolored bricks we had available. And eventually I was fortunate enough to add to my pirate collection, but this set came first and this year when I decided to research the secondary market for these vintage sets, it was the first one I bought. 

6th Place: 6260, Shipwreck Island. I had the Castaway's Raft, my brother had this. As soon as he brought it home I wished I had waited the additional two weeks for another couple bucks of allowance/chore money! This set just about had it all, the monkey, the parrot, the treasure, and one of those amazing first generation Lego palm trees. I loved the tropical look and feel and made this one of the first sets I ordered as I've embarked on my nostalgic journey through this first wave. 

5th Place: 6265, Sabre Island. My envy of my brother's Shipwreck Island was short lived when a well timed blizzard provided an industrious little boy with an opportunity. Armed with my snow-shovel I braved the elements and came back with a plunder worthy of a trip to Isle 12 of the local Walmart to buy this set. (I just had to wait for the roads to be plowed, said my mom.) This one, like Buried Treasure, holds a lot of sentimental value to me. This is the set that introduced me to the pirate them when my cousin had it. This set and the pirate theme took my interest in Legos from just another toy in my room to my favorite of all time. So when I was able to buy it I was stoked. And all these years later I am stoked again to have found an incredibly well-preserved copy for a reasonable price. 

4th Place: 6276, Eldorado Fortress. While this set seems to have it all going for it, I can't rank it any higher. Among the "Big 4" from 1989 this one was the least exciting to me, though I still felt it was amazing. A very close friend had this set and I loved the raised baseplate and tower-like structure. But the previous 6 sets were smaller and sets I could likely mow lawns or shovel snow to earn, and of the big 4 if I was asking for one for Christmas it was going to be one of the next three. I am on the fence between going all in on the 1989 sets or opting for the Lego Icons version of this set.

3rd Place: 6270, Forbidden Island. I have this ranked above El Dorado because the idea of a pirate hideout is just inherently cooler than an imperial fort. My friend who had El Dorado also had this one. We all mused how this and El Dorado were grown up versions of Shipwreck and Sabre Islands respectively. The island print baseplate for this was in my opinion, way better than the raised baseplate. Like Shipwreck island, the palm leaves gave this set an incredible tropical look and feel. I have this set on my wishlist, but found the printed baseplate as a standalone item.

2nd Place: 6274, Caribbean Clipper. Price and piece count wise, this was smaller than El Dorado fortress but a ship will always be ranked higher than a fort. I could always build a fort out of the bricks I had available, but I could not get anything I had to remotely resemble this ship. Naturally this was high on my birthday and Christmas wish list, but I never was lucky enough to get it as a kid. This year I rectified that. I now have this set and it holds up. I am fortunate that the copy I received is in fantastic condition and I paid under $200 for it. I've also ordered a second copy that appears to be in even better shape. (After seeing the size of the Black Seas Barracuda I figured the Clipper could benefit from some backup!)

1st Place: 6285, Black Seas Barracuda. No shock here. In 1989 this went for about $110 and I knew my parents couldn't afford it. I still asked. I've never even seen it fully assembled until I ordered it on Ebay. I got mine for $450 and feel like it was a steal. It's in very clean shape, no cracking on any of the figures arms or torsos, and not missing any pieces I couldn't easily replace from the pile. So the first time I've actually set eyes on this beauty it was a 35 year old toy. It was worth the wait. If I had got any of these two ships as a kid I would have been in awe, but somehow I think I appreciate both even more as an adult.

So there are my rankings on the 1989 offerings. I hope you enjoyed reading and maybe my thoughts invoked a little nostalgia in you too. If that's the case I'd love to hear you reply with your thoughts.

Later today I will rank the 5 sets from 1991, then after that I'll combine them into a complete first wave ranking!  

Edited September 16, 2024 by SBCMayor

[SBCMayor]

With the 1989 wave released I want to also take a look at the 1991 releases. I still consider these part of the first wave since Lego didn't make any significant changes to the series until 1992 when they, most notably, swapped out the blue coats (Soldiers) for red (Imperial Guards). I'll share some thoughts on that later. For 1991, here's where I would rank the 5 sets: 

5th Place: 6234, Renegade's Raft. I didn't have this one and don't really see it as a "must have" unless someone is going all in on collecting each set in the series. The most exciting thing about this set is the shark. 

4th Place: 1481, Pirates Desert Island. This is a simple entry-level set reminiscent of 1989's Buried Treasure. I have it above Renegade's raft because you still get the shark, but you also get a parrot and some treasure. I had this one but it doesn't quite invoke the memories of its 1989 counterpart. 

3rd Place: 6259, Broadside's Brig. This is another one I had when it came out. I liked how it was a nice complement to Sabre Island, but maybe a little further back from the water. I liked how for a relatively small price I got both a small fort, and pirate AND soldier mini-figures. It's a solid small, but not quite entry-level addition to this series. It could have benefitted from one of those awesome palm trees, but I understand they were trying to keep piece count and price down. 

2nd Place: 6267, Lagoon Lock-up. Take Broadside's Brig, give it some protein, a workout plan, and some time, and the result is this set! I got this for Christmas in 1991 and it has always been one of my favorites. I loved the sets that offered both pirate and soldier figures because that helped me ensure an even balance of power in my fictitious Caribbean. Because of my fond memories of this set it was one of the first ones I re-ordered. As a kid I combined this with Sabre Island for a small water-front outpost. It looked great then, and upon assembling my now 35 and 33 year old versions of these sets, it looks just as good now. 

1st Place: 6273, Rock Island Refuge. Was this really a contest? While I love the Lagoon Lockup, I said already the idea of a pirate hideout is inherently cooler than an imperial fort. Add in the size difference between these two and it's really not even a contest. Rock Island Refuge is a "flagship" offering for the 1991 additions to the series, taking 1989's Forbidden Island and beefing it up. Gone is the flat, printed baseplate, and it's now on one of those raised baseplates. I like this because it adds texture/terrain, but without an actual fort on top. Is it better than its predecessor? I'll weigh in on that in my next post. 

Overall thoughts on 1991:

These sets are great complements to the 1989 series. I had 3 of 5 of these, which was solid for me. I do think the series could have benefitted from a medium-sized pirate offering to off-set Lagoon Lock-up. Perhaps a small sloop that has been commandeered by pirates? (That's a concept they'd eventually get to in 1993's Renegade Runner.) I think maybe a tavern where pirates could recharge after a long day of pillaging and plundering would have been a nice option. As a kid (and a bit of a history buff) I also figured those soldiers would be guarding something, like a colonial settlement. So I wonder if maybe taking the series in that direction would have been good? 

Next up, I'll combine my ratings and share some final thoughts on the this first wave of the Lego pirate series!   

Edited September 16, 2024 by SBCMayor

[SBCMayor]

With both year's rankings shared individually, here's how I'd combine the entire first wave of the Lego Pirate Series:

15th Place: Renegade Raft (1991)

14th Place: Pirates Desert Island (1991)

13th Place: Harbour Sentry (1989)

12th Place: Castaway's Raft (1989)

11th Place: Pirate Minifigures (1989)

10th Place: Burried Treasure (1989). Again, this may seem like an absurdly high ranking for this otherwise simple set especially since it really doesn't offer anything the minifigure set doesn't. It benefits from a lot of nostalgia for my rankings. 

9th Place: Broadside's Brig (1991)

8th Place: Shipwreck Island (1989)

7th Place: Sabre Island (1989)

6th Place: Lagoon Lockup (1991)

5th Place: Rock Island Refuge (1991). This is where it gets interesting. While I have a bias for pirate hideouts over imperial forts, I just don't know that Rock Island Refuge is actually better than Forbidden Island. Now I have to admit something: this is a first wave set I've never actually seen fully assembled. But the idea of a large pirate hideout was already explored and this set might improve upon the basic design, but not the concept. So I've got it here.

4th Place and up: unchanged from the 1989 series. With all the possible upsets to the initial rankings accounted for there's no need to repeat what is already on record!

I think the only thing left to discuss in among the top 5 sets is why Forbidden Island over Rock Island Refuge, or why not Rock Island Refuge over El Dorado Fortress? I think for me it has to do with originality. While I prefer pirate hideouts over imperial forts, I consider this more of a guideline than a rule. I've ranked Sabre Island over Shipwreck Island for example. But Rock Island suffers from the same sequel curse as any movie out there, and to make up for the originality it's lacking they have to up the sensational aspect by making it bigger and more elaborate.

That's not to say I don't think it's a cool set. Any of these vintage pirate sets are better than their similarly priced counterparts from other themes in their respective eras.

Some final thoughts on this first wave:

One thing I love about this series is the chrome gold coins. Something else that I miss is the yellow brick colors to represent sand. Newer legos have a gorgeous color scheme that more closely resembles sand and different shades of water, depending on depth, sunlight, etc. But since 1989 I have never been able to see a flat yellow lego piece without thinking about the sand of Caribbean beaches, pirates, and adventure.

In 1992 the series saw what I consider the first major change to the series with the soldiers being replaced for the Imperial Guards. This made for a cool element, really. I always interpreted the bluecoats as Spaniards and the red as British. I've watched many videos that suggest the blue are interpreted as French. At any rate, having a second imperial force made for a great play narrative, because the French/Spanish vs British with the pirates being opportunists playing both sides was a natural direction to take my play. 

But I just don't feel like anything that came after that first wave can compete. 

I would love to hear how others feel on this wave of the series, or anything I've shared! 

[Mister Phes]

16 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

Hey, everyone, I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself by sharing my ranking of the entire first wave pirate series.

Welcome to the LEGO Pirates Forum!

Thank ye for taking the time to share some a comprehensive overview of your set rankings.

I must say I'm impressed by the level of detail you've provided!

 

16 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

I own or have owned all but a couple of these sets and will indicated which ones are which as I go. For those that I've never owned, I had significant exposure to as a child because friends or relatives had them, creating a lot of envy for me! But enough of that. Let's get to the rankings!  

So does this imply you we were a young laddie during the late 80s and early 90s?

And how many LEGO Pirate sets are in your collection to this day?

 

5 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

10th Place: Burried Treasure (1989). Again, this may seem like an absurdly high ranking for this otherwise simple set especially since it really doesn't offer anything the minifigure set doesn't. It benefits from a lot of nostalgia for my rankings. 

This was the set that sparked my love of LEGO Pirates - without it this LEGO Pirates Forum probably wouldn't be here.

It wasn't so much the build that attracted me, rather it had the right balance of elements to make my imagination run wild.

So, for this reason I'd place this set at Number 1.

[SpacePolice89]

For me the Eldorado Fortress has always been my favorite of the 1989 sets closely followed by the Black Seas Barracuda.

[Artanis I]

These were the golden years, and although I was really interested in Pirates for the first 5 or so years, most of the sets I had were from the first wave. (I was already into Castle & Space before this time, there was a lot of competition as time went on.) I only knew 1 person with any ships, I never saw one actually built (back then) - it was pretty much just demolished all over his bedroom floor. One school friend had the pirate base from the first year. Everything else I had to dream about while staring at the catalogues...

[SBCMayor]

1 hour ago, Artanis I said:

These were the golden years, and although I was really interested in Pirates for the first 5 or so years, most of the sets I had were from the first wave. (I was already into Castle & Space before this time, there was a lot of competition as time went on.) I only knew 1 person with any ships, I never saw one actually built (back then) - it was pretty much just demolished all over his bedroom floor. One school friend had the pirate base from the first year. Everything else I had to dream about while staring at the catalogues...

I did a lot of dreaming while staring at catalogues too! 

[SBCMayor]

6 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

Welcome to the LEGO Pirates Forum!

Thank ye for taking the time to share some a comprehensive overview of your set rankings.

I must say I'm impressed by the level of detail you've provided! 

Thank you, but you are overestimating my knowledge! Some memory, yes, some research as my interest and ability to begin collecting some of these again has taken off. 

 

6 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

So does this imply you we were a young laddie during the late 80s and early 90s?

And how many LEGO Pirate sets are in your collection to this day?

 

Yes, I was born in 1980, so I had a few smaller space themed sets, police car, delivery van. But Lego was not really my favorite toy until the pirates arrived. 

Today I have several city series that I've combined with a few creator series to make a thriving little beach city. I've augmented the lego sets with a few off-brand base plates to better integrate them with the new style lego road pieces. I found a brand that makes a two-sided beach print so that's what I've used. It's not a custom build at all. It's literally just sets combined together in a fun, playable way. Just outside of town and below the surface of the water is an underwater research facility.

We call it Surf Bay City and it serves as the inspiration for my screen name. 

As far as the original wave of the pirate series, I've purchased:

Black Seas Barracuda (Dark Shark, which means working cannons!)

Caribbean Clipper x2

Forbidden Island 

Sabre Island x2

Lagoon Lockup 

Buried Treasure 

I've also purchased a second wave set, the Renegade Runner. My copy came without the string so I'll be looking for a replacement. My little brother had this set and I had 1992's Imperial Flagship from this wave. I will discuss the Imperial Soldiers more in a later post! 

In addition to these sets I have bought a few stand alone accessories and figures. I also have the creator 3-1 pirate ship which is a very nice build if anyone is considering it. While the style is very different from the older ships, it's Lego so who cares? These pirates are about to besiege a modern city after all, so does the style of ship really matter? 

I have a Captain Jack Sparrow figure who was recently the victim of a mutiny. I used the sailboat from Lagoon Lockup to re-create his epic entry into the first POTC movie (profile pic).  

6 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

This was the set that sparked my love of LEGO Pirates - without it this LEGO Pirates Forum probably wouldn't be here.

It wasn't so much the build that attracted me, rather it had the right balance of elements to make my imagination run wild.

So, for this reason I'd place this set at Number 1.

I'm glad I am not the only one who allowed my sentimental side to rank this one higher than it would be if all we considered just the sets themselves. I certainly can't argue with your logic, and honestly if I could go back to 1989 and relive every time I got a set, this one probably created the most excitement. 

3 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

For me the Eldorado Fortress has always been my favorite of the 1989 sets closely followed by the Black Seas Barracuda.

It's definitely cool. There wasn't a set from that 1989 lineup that I didn't want. 

Have you been able to compare the original with the Icons reissue?

[Mister Phes]

5 minutes ago, SBCMayor said:

I certainly can't argue with your logic

Ahhhh.... but is there any logic in my reasoning?  It based purely on the emotions I was feeling in a single moment.  Feelings that I'd never had before, or again since.

 

13 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

2nd Place: 6267, Lagoon Lock-up. Take Broadside's Brig, give it some protein, a workout plan, and some time, and the result is this set! I got this for Christmas in 1991

I'd place this at the top of my 1991 list.

My cousin had this set before I'd encountered Buried Treasure so my LEGO Pirate obsession had yet taken affect.

I recall staying over night at his place, and for a good 30 minutes I was compelled to investigate the set further.

It was the first time I'd really taken any interest in LEGO of my own accord.

 

12 minutes ago, SBCMayor said:

As far as the original wave of the pirate series, I've purchased:

Do you aim to acquire more classic LEGO Pirate sets to add to your collection?  Or is this the final line-up?

2 hours ago, Artanis I said:

These were the golden years, and although I was really interested in Pirates for the first 5 or so years

Dare I ask what happened after the first 5 years?

[SBCMayor]

2 minutes ago, Mister Phes said:

I'd place this at the top of my 1991 list.

My cousin had this set before I'd encountered Buried Treasure so my LEGO Pirate obsession had yet taken affect.

I recall staying over night at his place, and for a good 30 minutes I was compelled to investigate the set further.

It was the first time I'd really taken any interest in LEGO of my own accord.

I almost ranked it above Rock Island Refuge but had to account for bias as well as be consistent. I did say pirate hideouts are inherently cooler and they are. But Lagoon Lockup is a perfect addition to the series, a nice "in-between" Sabre Island and El Dorado. The pirate side didn't receive any such offering for 1991, just a bigger version of Forbidden Island. And from a marketing place, I guess I understand. They wanted a higher priced item. The bigger, more elaborate sets get attention, and not everyone can afford them but may still buy smaller sets within the theme. 

 

7 minutes ago, Mister Phes said:

Do you aim to acquire more classic LEGO Pirate sets to add to your collection?  Or is this the final line-up?

I am going to hold off for now. I would like to get the original El Dorado Fortress and if I do that, but I may stick to the Icons version. 

I also may collect a few more of the pirate sets from the following waves, and I do eventually want to raise a small force of Imperial Guards. I had the Imperial Flagship when it came out and wouldn't hate to have another one. My cousin had the Imperial Trading Post and the Flagship, and together these would be epic. But that's a lot of $$$! And aside from those two, there aren't any really epic sets for the Imperial Guards. Cannon Cove is nowhere close to as awesome as Sabre Island for example. If I do add any Imperial Guards, I'd likely just buy a third Sabre Island and convert it to the Red team. 

[SpacePolice89]

4 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

It's definitely cool. There wasn't a set from that 1989 lineup that I didn't want. 

Have you been able to compare the original with the Icons reissue?

Yes but not side by side. I have the original and have seen the reissue up close in the Legoland Billund store where they had it in on display. The new one is really nice but I prefer the original because I like the late 80s to mid 90s style of Lego sets more. I think that many of the new sets are too busy and doesn't look like Lego sets because they are too smooth and no studs are visible. Of the big Icons sets I only like the new Galaxy Explorer. The original Eldorado Fortress is one of the best Lego sets of all time. It's really amazing.

[SBCMayor]

1 hour ago, SpacePolice89 said:

Yes but not side by side. I have the original and have seen the reissue up close in the Legoland Billund store where they had it in on display. The new one is really nice but I prefer the original because I like the late 80s to mid 90s style of Lego sets more. I think that many of the new sets are too busy and doesn't look like Lego sets because they are too smooth and no studs are visible. Of the big Icons sets I only like the new Galaxy Explorer. The original Eldorado Fortress is one of the best Lego sets of all time. It's really amazing.

I like the new one and was very excited about it when I saw it release. I like they took the small merchant ship, a feature from the 1992 Imperial Trading Post. I have gone back and forth between the original or the new generation set. One reason I prefer the original is the print on the figures. The new figures are similar and more elaborate. Usually that would be a plus, but I just like the simplicity of that first generation pirate series. I like the way the new set can be opened up and there are additional features in the rock formation on which the fortress is built. It's definitely an improvement because it increases the playable features, but it's just not as classic as the original. Like every other lego pirate set that came after 1989, it just doesn't capture my imagination the way the original does. 

 

Also, I really like the setup you have for your display. It is so fun to tie sets in together and integrate them into one cohesive build. Many of the vintage sets I am purchasing are in very good condition and even though they will still get a lot of play time (I have kids of my own now) I eventually want to build up a complete display. My lego room has the perfect spot for it and I may tinker with a few arrangements to develop proof of concept. 

[SpacePolice89]

1 minute ago, SBCMayor said:

I like the new one and was very excited about it when I saw it release. I like they took the small merchant ship, a feature from the 1992 Imperial Trading Post. I have gone back and forth between the original or the new generation set. One reason I prefer the original is the print on the figures. The new figures are similar and more elaborate. Usually that would be a plus, but I just like the simplicity of that first generation pirate series. I like the way the new set can be opened up and there are additional features in the rock formation on which the fortress is built. It's definitely an improvement because it increases the playable features, but it's just not as classic as the original. Like every other lego pirate set that came after 1989, it just doesn't capture my imagination the way the original does. 

 

Also, I really like the setup you have for your display. It is so fun to tie sets in together and integrate them into one cohesive build. Many of the vintage sets I am purchasing are in very good condition and even though they will still get a lot of play time (I have kids of my own now) I eventually want to build up a complete display. My lego room has the perfect spot for it and I may tinker with a few arrangements to develop proof of concept. 

The new one definitely has many interesting features and the ship looks great. I would've bought it if the had kept the original minifigs as they did with the new Galaxy Explorer. Some new Imperial Soldier minifigs with the original design would've been fantastic. At least I have a couple of new imperial Soldiers from 2855041 and 852697 but those are too expensive to acquire in large numbers. Now I have all my Pirates sets spread out but someday it would be nice to have them all in one place. On the top of a shelf I have a sea battle between the original Imperial Flagship and the Black Seas Barracuda along with some smaller sets and on another shelf I have all my Islanders sets and some Pirate and Imperial sets.

[NOD]

Welcome to the Pirate Forum!

I like your experience, assessment and ranking of the Pirate Series Sets.   Simply great, you write what you feel and think.

Keep in mind that not all members in this forum know the Pirate Series. I've only been in this forum since 2020, LEGO 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay. To make the topic more interesting and easier, a link to the respective products would be good. A photo of each set would also be very interesting.

[SBCMayor]

39 minutes ago, SpacePolice89 said:

The new one definitely has many interesting features and the ship looks great. I would've bought it if the had kept the original minifigs as they did with the new Galaxy Explorer. Some new Imperial Soldier minifigs with the original design would've been fantastic. At least I have a couple of new imperial Soldiers from 2855041 and 852697 but those are too expensive to acquire in large numbers. Now I have all my Pirates sets spread out but someday it would be nice to have them all in one place. On the top of a shelf I have a sea battle between the original Imperial Flagship and the Black Seas Barracuda along with some smaller sets and on another shelf I have all my Islanders sets and some Pirate and Imperial sets.

That's one of the biggest downsides with the soldiers and was an even bigger downside with the Imperial Guards. Too many officers and not enough soldiers! Generally for every officer you'll only get 2 soldiers, and it's closer to 1:1 with the Imperial Guards. That is one thing the original El Dorado Fortress did well: 4 soldiers and 1 officer (I don't count the governor/general/commodore).

And I am glad you have weighed in because for someone on the fence the way I have been, hearing from another vintage enthusiast makes a difference. I am leaning more heavily on the original now based on your input.

My lego room has a wall of built in cabinets with a 23" by 11'6" countertop I am considering making one big tribute to Lego pirates. I am confident I can create a wide swath the Caribbean here, with room enough for forts, pirate hideouts, and an epic sea battle between the Caribbean Clipper and Black Seas Barracuda. Like you did with your displays, I'd work some of the smaller sets in as well. 

47 minutes ago, NOD said:

Welcome to the Pirate Forum!

 

I like your experience, assessment and ranking of the Pirate Series Sets.   Simply great, you write what you feel and think.

 

Keep in mind that not all members in this forum know the Pirate Series. I've only been in this forum since 2020, LEGO 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay. To make the topic more interesting and easier, a link to the respective products would be good. A photo of each set would also be very interesting.

 

Thank you for your feedback. I actually stayed away from photos because I didn't want to stray into copywrite issues, and I don't have each set to insert my own photo. But a link to each set would have been easy to do so well noted! 

[NOD]

38 minutes ago, SBCMayor said:

Thank you for your feedback. I actually stayed away from photos because I didn't want to stray into copywrite issues, and I don't have each set to insert my own photo. But a link to each set would have been easy to do so well noted! 

Copywrite, I understand that. You said right, a link to each set would have been easy to do. You're in luck, at Eurobricks there is the possibility to edit the post. I know it's extra work, but many Eurobricks members and visitors would be happy about a link.

Edited September 15, 2024 by NOD

[SBCMayor]

3 hours ago, NOD said:

Copywrite, I understand that. You said right, a link to each set would have been easy to do. You're in luck, at Eurobricks there is the possibility to edit the post. I know it's extra work, but many Eurobricks members and visitors would be happy about a link.

Ok, hyperlinks inserted so it'll be a little more informative to anyone who reads later.

[Mister Phes]

14 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

I actually stayed away from photos because I didn't want to stray into copywrite issues, and I don't have each set to insert my own photo

Copyright isn't an issue if you use the set images from Brick Set which originated from LUGNET around 25 years ago.

Many LEGO fansites and thousands of AFOLs have shared these images throughout the past 2.5 decades.

The LEGO Group is very proactive in protecting its intellectual property,so if there were an issue with using of those images, fans would have known about it years ago.

[Artanis I]

It should also come under "fair use" as you are referring to it, not passing it off as your own artwork.

21 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

Dare I ask what happened after the first 5 years?

Haha... okay so I didn't think that anything post the redcoat sets was of much interest, also high school happened, and computer games, and various other collectibles. Castle & Space had a quality downturn in the mid 90s too, but not as bad. Lego sets were getting clunky in a really bad way, there was too much unneeded minifig printing detail and too many colours going on unnecessarily. It only got worse as the 90s went on.

[Mister Phes]

1 hour ago, Artanis I said:

It should also come under "fair use" as you are referring to it, not passing it off as your own artwork.

Yes, indeed.  Forums and social media are built on "fair use" policy, while they may vary from region to region, "fair use" is generally defined as:

Fair use gives users the right to use copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances. If a use is fair, the user need not notify or seek permission from the copyright holder.

Examples of purposes that are favored by fair use: “criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, [and] research.” Use for one of these purposes is not automatically fair, and uses for other purposes can be fair.

 

1 hour ago, Artanis I said:

Haha... okay so I didn't think that anything post the redcoat sets was of much interest, also high school happened, and computer games

That's a very familiar story! 

I entered my first Dark Age towards the end of 1993... with computer games being considered more socially acceptable than LEGO at high school.

So I completely missed the overall decline in set quality - and some may argue the LEGO Pirates theme peaked in 1993 anyway. 

[PxChris]

For me personally, it will always be the Barracuda and then Eldorado with the 1-2 punch!

I never owned a Barracuda as a kid, but I longed after it sooooo hard! As an adult I've owned 3 (I sold one of them, so now I'm down to 2). But as a kid, the first Pirates sets I remember was being gifted the Eldorado Fortress and Caribbean Clipper in the fall of 1989 (it is possible I got one of the really small sets earlier than that) so those will always hold a most-special place in my heart. And to this day, I still think that Eldorado is the best Imperial fort they ever released. Sabre Island will also always hold a very high ranking in my estimation.

But all that is somewhat arbitrary because I can say nothing bad at all about the entire first wave of Pirates sets - they're all 10/10 in my nostalgia clouded brain!

[SBCMayor]

4 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

That's a very familiar story! 

I entered my first Dark Age towards the end of 1993... with computer games being considered more socially acceptable than LEGO at high school.

So I completely missed the overall decline in set quality - and some may argue the LEGO Pirates theme peaked in 1993 anyway. 

Same for me. I loved the first wave, was still on board during the second wave, but by 1995 I was in high school and by 1996 I had a drivers license and my first car. 

 

Funny how all these years later I am not even close to interested in buying the first kind of car I owned. But I am buying up vintage Legos now. 

[Mister Phes]

12 hours ago, PxChris said:

I never owned a Barracuda as a kid, but I longed after it sooooo hard!  [...] as a kid, the first Pirates sets I remember was being gifted the Eldorado Fortress

I know that feeling...  ironically the set I longed for was Eldorado Fortress, after seeing it in the 1991 catalogue.

The largest set I acquired when I was a laddie was Forbidden Island.

It was until the early 2000s when the sets began appearing on eBay, that I was able to acquire the larger sets.

And I managed to get Eldorado Fortress complete with box, instructions extra soldier minfigs, and even the 1993 Pirate Ahoy Expo souvenir book for around $US75.

Ahhhhhh.... the mid 2000s were such a great time for buying classic sets!

10 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

Same for me. I loved the first wave, was still on board during the second wave, but by 1995 I was in high school and by 1996 I had a drivers license and my first car. 

I didn't discover LEGO Pirates until just before for the second wave was released.

So after my initial encounter, I went back to the store a couple of months and voila - there were all new LEGO Pirate sets on the shelves!

Then at the beginning of every year thereafter (well, for the next two years) I'd go to the store and wonder "When are the next pirate sets coming out..."

1993 was a year full of anticipation because the new sets didn't arrive until mid year in my waters.  So I had wonder for a whole six months!

[SBCMayor]

Just arrived! 

After a little engagement from @SpacePolice89 I decided to bid on Eldorado Fortress on Ebay and while I was at it, also bid on Forbidden Island. Turns out both were sold by the same seller and I won both. That worked out nicely because I got a little back on shipping cost. I've done a quick inspection of the pieces and for the price I paid for both sets I feel I've done well! Some of the white bricks on Eldorado are a bit yellowed, but I can replace them over time. The raised base plate is in immaculate shape. The clips on the flags are broken, but the listings for both items had pictures of this so I am not complaining. 

These toys, all of the ones I've purchased so far, have a lot of life left in them! I am excited I keep hitting paydirt with the orders I select and look forward to getting these set up. 

[Horation]

Wow, this whole thing reminds me of Steve's Lego blog, I spent way too much time reminiscing the good ole days while scrolling through this thread...

I mostly agree with the 1989 rankings, but I feel like 6276 is just better than forbidden island, for basically the opposite reasons to yours, but arguably that's a taste issue...