BrickArms Pirate Accessory Prototypes

[El Bucanero]

A question.

Will the rapier only be available in this colour? I once bought a Best Lock set (very bad idea ) and the weapons had exactly the same colour and plasticlooks. If i didn't know you guys made it, I'd think it was just a very well designed megablocks weapon.

[Captain Cavinano]

This sword is great! I love it very much!

[the enigma that is badger]

Will the rapier only be available in this colour?

Definitely not. Prototypes are generally made by Will using whatever plastic he has on hand. For that Rapier, I'd guess it was a mix of black ABS and silver "Bionicle" (more flexible) plastic. "Bionicle" plastic (Will's still not quite sure what exact kind of plastic TLG uses) is flexible, but doesn't look nearly as shiny nor does it hold detailing as well as ABS.

For the production items, expect crisp, clean, shiny items in solid ABS. As for colors, definitely silver and perhaps bley and black. Still, the colors are every much in flux right now and is definitely subject to change in the future.

badger

[Captain Blackmoor]

Nice! Especially the bayonet! When it is released I'll order right away!

Keep up the good work!

Edited October 9, 2008 by Cap'n Blackmoor

[NewRight]

Looks great so far. Can't wait until the finished models.

[Ye Olde Pirate]

The rapier is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good job! Could you give us an estimate of when these weapons might be released?

[Skipper 24]

Both the prototypes look really good I must say but I think the bayonet is better and has more uses. I will probably get a few when they are released.

[the enigma that is badger]

The rapier is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good job! Could you give us an estimate of when these weapons might be released?

Glad to hear you like the Rapier!

In terms of when these items will be released, it's hard to say. It's a long road to go from concept to prototype to production mold, and while the designs of many of these items have been finalized, some need a bit more work before they're ready for mass production. While Will works hard to finish designs in a timely fashion, he's also very busy with running the day-to-day operations of BrickArms (those orders don't pack themselves!) as well as handling his responsibilities to his family.

Also, even when the designs are finalized and sent to professional tooler to cut the steel production molds, delays can occur if aspects of the mold aren't up to Will's standards. Perfecting a mold can be a time consuming (and frustrating) process, but the continued high-quality of all BrickArms accessories is a testament to Will's keen eye and attention to detail.

As soon as I have updates, I'll be sure and let you folks know!

badger

[Scouty]

Hmmm, I wonder how a whole battle line with these awesome bayonets would look like ?

[Thomas B.]

That was a funny response Badger. Oh, and I noticed the Lewis Gun Prototype here. Link... http://brickarms.com/Toys/Weapons/Bat.aspx

Click on the picture of the guy hitting the girl. If this has been mentioned before, I'm sorry! I hope that's released soon. Or, as I'm sure you would say Badger, you can't always get what you want!

[Captain Zuloo]

I would purchase the rapier first as it seems more realistic. Maybe just my opinion? Good job anyway!

[Ye Olde Pirate]

I would purchase the rapier first as it seems more realistic. Maybe just my opinion? Good job anyway!

Your right. The bayonet is alright, but the rapier seems better.

[Captain Zuloo]

Your right. The bayonet is alright, but the rapier seems better.

Do you think that because the bayonet seems a little big? Or is that just me?

[Razzer]

Cool new products, Will has really outdone himself...I'll have to make an order sometime in the near future...

*rushes to Brickarms*

OH NO! The grenade pack has been removed, and I could have really done with all of those differant coloured flashbangs

[Ye Olde Pirate]

Do you think that because the bayonet seems a little big? Or is that just me?

I'm not sure. All I know is it seems rather flimsy. I think it looks like it would fall of the gun to easily.

[Captain Zuloo]

I'm not sure. All I know is it seems rather flimsy. I think it looks like it would fall of the gun to easily.

That wasn't what first jumped to mind, but now you mention in, I suppose if that clip broke, the bayonet would be rather pointless. Quite literally.

[the enigma that is badger]

Do you think that because the bayonet seems a little big? Or is that just me?

The BrickArms Bayonet is perfectly in scale with all other BrickArms accessories as well as those of TLG. Here's a good image of a spike bayonet with a Brown Bess Musket:

As can be seen in the pics in the first post of this thread, Will's maintained this scale with the BA Bayonet.

I'm not sure. All I know is it seems rather flimsy. I think it looks like it would fall of the gun to easily.

Nope, not at all. The U-Clip connector piece has a very tight grip (equal to or great that than of a fig's hand) on the accessory, and the bayonet itself snaps tightly into the clip as well.

Goodness-of-fit is something Will is very, very sensitive to in his designs, and every BrickArms accessory is specifically designed and tests to make sure all parts of the item that should snap into a fig's hand do so snugly.

I suppose if that clip broke, the bayonet would be rather pointless. Quite literally.

Well, I personally think just the bayonet itself makes for a neat stiletto knife (or shiv). Still, the production version of the U-Clip will be made from the same high-quality, durable ABS plastic that TLG uses to produce their products. It might be small, but the U-Clip, like all BrickArm items, can stand up to heavy play.

As for the Bayonet, the blade itself is quite sturdy, and it's very unlikely it would break unless you specifically meant to do so.

Quality control, scale, and item durability are all aspects of a BrickArms accessory's design that get especially close attention.

badger

[Ye Olde Pirate]

The BrickArms Bayonet is perfectly in scale with all other BrickArms accessories as well as those of TLG. Here's a good image of a spike bayonet with a Brown Bess Musket:

As can be seen in the pics in the first post of this thread, Will's maintained this scale with the BA Bayonet.

Nope, not at all. The U-Clip connector piece has a very tight grip (equal to or great that than of a fig's hand) on the accessory, and the bayonet itself snaps tightly into the clip as well.

Goodness-of-fit is something Will is very, very sensitive to in his designs, and every BrickArms accessory is specifically designed and tests to make sure all parts of the item that should snap into a fig's hand do so snugly.

Well, I personally think just the bayonet itself makes for a neat stiletto knife (or shiv). Still, the production version of the U-Clip will be made from the same high-quality, durable ABS plastic that TLG uses to produce their products. It might be small, but the U-Clip, like all BrickArm items, can stand up to heavy play.

As for the Bayonet, the blade itself is quite sturdy, and it's very unlikely it would break unless you specifically meant to do so.

Quality control, scale, and item durability are all aspects of a BrickArms accessory's design that get especially close attention.

badger

Huh, well sounds pretty good. By the way badger, how long has Brickarms been in business anyway

[Captain Zuloo]

The BrickArms Bayonet is perfectly in scale with all other BrickArms accessories as well as those of TLG.

Yeah, but unavoidably on your part, it still looks a little large and sluggish. On a real musket, the bayonet is long and skinny, but on the LEGO on, the bayonet is a bit fat. Not to say it is a bad design, just an unavoidable point.

[Infininight]

Make sure you guys make the u-clip available separately, I can think of tons of good uses for it. :)

[the enigma that is badger]

Yeah, but unavoidably on your part, it still looks a little large and sluggish. On a real musket, the bayonet is long and skinny, but on the LEGO on, the bayonet is a bit fat. Not to say it is a bad design, just an unavoidable point.

I'm not sure how to respond to "sluggish" as that means "slow moving." If a Bayonet started moving across my desk of its own will, I'd be less concerned about its design and more worried about getting Dr. Peter Venkman on the phone for a consult!

Part of the problem might be that macrophotography (what I've used to get clear, close pics of these tiny items) tends to distort the accessory somewhat. Basically speaking, it makes everything look much, much fatter and shorter than it really is. However, that type of photography does bring out all the details in an accessory, so it's the gold-standard for getting good shots of items on the minifig scale.

Still, I assure you that this item has the design you're looking for: long and skinny. I think part of the issue is that it has a triangular cross-section, as the period spike bayonets that inspired it do as well. The base of the spike is triangle-shaped with the points of the triangle coming together at the tip of the bayonet.

This means that from some angles, the bayonet appears much thicker than it really is. This is the case for real-life bayonets and the BrickArms bayonet accessory.

You are correct that Will has stylized the item a bit, but that's simply to make it fit into the minifig accessory aesthetic which is based more on caricature then an exactly likeness. Some details are accentuated, while others are lost on the small scale and simple, stylized look.

Make sure you guys make the u-clip available separately, I can think of tons of good uses for it. :)

It is a versatile little item, isn't it!

As that item is still in the prototype phase, it's a bit too early to talk about how Will is going to offer them for sale. Still, given how useful that item could be for many different applications, there is a very good chance you'll be able to pick it up separately.

badger

[Sir Wellington]

Not to bump the topic, but since the rapier has been released, all we are waiting on is the bayonet. Now was it released at a convention previously? Since I see some people own the bayonet.