Build a frigate with Captain Green Hair

[Rick]

I have a question, should my stripe be dark blue, ar medium Blue? which sounds better?

You may want to go with the color that LOOKS better

Welcome Ingmar! I hope you enjoy it here

Welcome indeed, and a short introduction in the "Hello, my name is..." forum is also always appreciated.

[Captain Green Hair]

I've been looking at your wonderful undertaking since I found the pics on brickshelf from France, and more since I realized that with some efforts and sacrifices I have got the parts to take part in the adventure, because I'm found of war ships of the imperial period, and because legos can take a large part of my time. However, for the time I got involved in the building of lego ships, I never found a technic so developped as yours, that's why I'm very interested in trying to follow your instructions and seeing the result, the reason why I finally decided to sign up to eurobrick. But in order to follow the challenge with more passion and more satisfaction, I would like to make a bigger ship than a frigate on this model, such as La Mort Royale, that's why I would like to ask you if the building strategy for adding a second deck and a second-floored-cabin is the same than the instructions shown in the thread ?

Obviously, if I succed in following the way, gathering the parts and improving the technologies of construction, I'll take some photos and share the result with thope that it is satisfactory. For the beginning, my problem is exactly the same than Vladimir, because I don't have any stern with the right colours, but I think it will be ok to cheat with a paint layer.

Yes the technique used on La Mort Royal is the same as this. However La Mort Royale is not bigger, it is also 5 midsections.

If you want to go bigger, i'd advise you not to use more then 7 midsections on the hull, as it will look like a cigar otherwise.

May i also ask you to reduce the size of the image in your signature a bit, it is now distracting from the posts.

I have a question, should my stripe be dark blue, ar medium Blue? which sounds better?

I'd go with no blue as your gundeck stripe as it isn't very realistic. But if you must, i'd say dark blue.

[Ingmar]

I'm sorry but I really can't stop wondering what would be the best colour for the tripes, between white or yellow (maybe it would be possible to use yellow-sand bricks, but it is a very rare colour in my collection) ? I saw some paintings and think that there are not significant differences between french, spanish, russian and english fleets in the 19th century , but I don't know what would the most realistic, what do you think ?

[Captain Green Hair]

I'm sorry but I really can't stop wondering what would be the best colour for the tripes, between white or yellow (maybe it would be possible to use yellow-sand bricks, but it is a very rare colour in my collection) ? I saw some paintings and think that there are not significant differences between french, spanish, russian and english fleets in the 19th century , but I don't know what would the most realistic, what do you think ?

Ships got painted, repainted, not painted, painted red, black etc. etc.

It doesn't really differ much between nations, the flag decided who's ship it was basically.

Apart from that they would use captured ship under their own flag without repainting them.

The best way to distinguish different nations in ships is to look at the way they are build. Where the French made long hulls and heavily decorated their sterns, the British had wide rather bulky ships with only little decorations.

Where as in the beginning of the golden age (1600 - 1750) ships had big differences, they after that time started to look like the British ships as they were most economical. Dutch and Spanish ships also had big differences from the nations mentioned above.

The 17th and early 18th century ships where the most colourful ships around, after that war got expensive and ships were produced as fast and inexpensive as possible. You'd see a lot of unpainted wooden ships, with only few decorations and only some black stripes on the hull and a bit of colour on the headrails and stern.

So what colour is the most realistic? I'd say you can use any colour, i have seen a lot of models and paintings with ships in basically any colour.

I usually take up a ship and model her after the original, also using the colours.

On the other hand this is Lego, and you decide what you think looks good.

I hope that clarifies it a bit, otherwise do not hesitate to ask more.

[BrickPerfection]

Ships got painted, repainted, not painted, painted red, black etc. etc.

It doesn't really differ much between nations, the flag decided who's ship it was basically.

I chose a red hull with black stripes for the gun ports on my current project (French 80gun man o' war; 1*52 scale waterline model; modular structure, full interior and SNOT hull.. 116 cm on the lower gundeck and 29cm wide... no WIP pictures since its for PTVII).

I got a bit bored during the build, so I started on a frigate based on prefab hull pieces pretty much following your excellent manual until step 5. I then came up with an entirely different gunport design, a simplier, slightly wider stern and headrails using 3mm rigid hose. I think these changes are to some extend improvements and I'll soon post some pictures, probably in a seperate thread to not mess around with this one which should be dealing with your shipbuilding process.

Best regards

Perfectionist

Edited October 13, 2009 by Perfectionist

[Ingmar]

Thank you very much for your explanations Captain, it seems a bit clearer and more fascionating right now. I took some photos to show my progression, and finally I had not other choice than white for my stripes, since yellow parts became quite rare in my collection, but I have to confess that I'm quite seduced by this colour, and for the moment I don't lake of any part at a critical point, so that the construction is very well, to such a point that I even dream of building a second frigate with yellow stripes and that would be more faithful to your instructions.

First, this a pic of my old flagship, Hermes, sent to the break-in after one year and a half of faithful services and severals improvements that costed a lot of cannons. The design was to close to the traditional lego sets, quite naive and the solidity was severly decreasing because of the weak technologies used in its conception.

Secondly, the hull taken from the Hermes was very useful to start the building of the new ship, and I was very surprised to realize thatI disposed of a biblic abundance for the parts requiered in this step, so that I keep quite self-confident for the idea of building a second frigate after this one.

Finally, this step presented some problems that I was not really expecting, because since I don't have the parts to build a sufficient number of mini-cannons like the ones that are shown on the top-desk of your instructions, I have to use traditionnal cannons that are a bit too big for the holes, so that I just had the place to fix them on the hinges, but it will be impossible to hide them into the hull. Also, the walls are ready to receive the second white stripe and the supports for the top-deck. And of course, designing the headrails is always a pain, but in my case I had never do it by that beautyful way before, that's why that part of the ship is very, very preliminary . Finally, the red stripe on the hull is more original and nice that what I was expecting, I don't know if I'm really going to paint it...

Something very important for me is to respect the minifgs rights and to provide them a vital space in each one of my creations, that's why my cabin will be considerably personnalised so that it allows the officiers to sit down and up without any problem, in spite of the lake of privacy, but consequently I think that the cabin have a unpleasant squared-aspect from the exterior...

Hoping to see your works very soon, Perfectionnist ;)

Edited October 14, 2009 by Ingmar

[Captain Green Hair]

The black and white looks quite good Ingmar, i like it!

The red isn't that disturbing, and i wouldn't paint it either. I would change the pink captain stool for a more suitable colored one though.

You are getting the idea for the headrails, just bbe careful not to make them too long.

I've seen some of you already putting masts on, and i should tell you that there is an easy trick to get the right length for them.

The main mast is usually about the length of the full ship including the headrails, excluding the bowsprit.

This is measured from the top deck.

After that you can easily make up the size of the others.

Keep it up guys, i really like all you guys building with me!

[Ingmar]

Thank you very much, I kept the pink stool because I didn't know how and where else it, and it is finally quite well hidden in the sub-cabin. Well, I finished the hull with the two stripes and the main deck, I put the masts on trying to reproduce the shift between the two parts, and install the smaller canons. Since I took the picture, I've been working on modifying some details such as inverting the shift on the masts, curving the top of the stern by deleting the ornament part and adding tiles, and overall cuting the sails. Note that the aft part of the deck is detachable in order to access to the cabin. I'm also waiting to receive the last parts from bricklink and going in town in order to buy the ropes for rigging. What do you think about it ?

I really like you for sharing with us such techniques, good luck for the end of your tutorial

Edited October 27, 2009 by Ingmar

[Captain Blackmoor]

That's a pretty awesome ship you've got there mate! I love the shape and colours!

You might add some more details though, like stairs and fences.

Have you more pictures of it?

I'm building a small ship with those techniques as well, it is nearly finished.

[Rick]

That's a really nice - and BIG - ship. The outside looks great. Any pictures of the interior and/or details?

[General Armendariz]

The Reds be runnin' now! Very large ship its looking good

[Ingmar]

Some more details and improvements are about to be added, but there won't be fences because I wouldn't have enought of those parts, and I like the temperance about ornaments. I will create a thread just for this ship once it will be all over, I don't want to monopolize the topic and post too much pictures. Of course I'll show a lot of pictures of details and of the interior when I finish it.

[Captain Blackmoor]

...and of the interior...

A thing I always love to see, an interior in a ship! I'm curious on how it will look like.

Be sure to keep us posted!

Good luck with the build!

[Ingmar]

Unfortunatly, the interior just means the cabin into which we feel a bit cramped, I didn't manage to install an interior because it didn't seem possible, I had to build strong structure to carry the guns and the top deck, that's why the hull makes a hollow sound. But once I read your comment Blackmoor, I remember the way I made it and wonder if it would not be possible to retake her once I'll have finished. It just would cost a lot of plates and I should have to think about a system in order to make the walls removable. Thank you for the sugstion, it is good to keep lego projects in mind

I'm working on the ultimate step on those day ; rigging the ropes really takes a lot of time but it is very fun once you get the technic. I can't wait to finish it and take the pictures

[The Sarge]

Alright. As soon I get the money, this is moving up my list as I want to display mine next con I attend. I will make a black with white gunstripe ship, in the style of an American ship. It will have two midsections, and mount 8-10 24-pounders (standard Lego guns) on the gundeck and a similar number of 12-pounder customs on the upper deck. I already have a captain, three crew, and a marine, plus some cannons and basic parts left over from a house, so I am already partway there.

[Captain Green Hair]

Your ship looks great Ingmar, i like it!

Alright. As soon I get the money, this is moving up my list as I want to display mine next con I attend. I will make a black with white gunstripe ship, in the style of an American ship. It will have two midsections, and mount 8-10 24-pounders (standard Lego guns) on the gundeck and a similar number of 12-pounder customs on the upper deck. I already have a captain, three crew, and a marine, plus some cannons and basic parts left over from a house, so I am already partway there.

I'd try and get 1 more mid, with 3 mids you can easily make a beautiful 2 masted brig.

[captain stormstriker]

You Haven't uploaded in a while my son and I are getting the parts and were wondering is the tutorial finished Edited January 7, 2010 by captain stormstriker

[The Sarge]

Alright. As soon I get the money, this is moving up my list as I want to display mine next con I attend. I will make a black with white gunstripe ship, in the style of an American ship. It will have two midsections, and mount 8-10 24-pounders (standard Lego guns) on the gundeck and a similar number of 12-pounder customs on the upper deck. I already have a captain, three crew, and a marine, plus some cannons and basic parts left over from a house, so I am already partway there.

I'd try and get 1 more mid, with 3 mids you can easily make a beautiful 2 masted brig.

She's to be a one master, but later on I might try my hand at a two-masted brig or brigatine. Plus, if I do this, I can make it using the hull of a marked-down BrickBeard's Bounty.

[Jack Bricker]

Everybody's ships look so cool. I would start ordering parts right now but I won't be able to afford them until June. I spent all of my money on the Imperial Flagship. I do hope somebody indexes this thread so that I can refer back to it when I start. I would like to ask about how much it costs to build one of those frigates. I am on a limited budget and I would like to know if it is in my price range.

Edited January 8, 2010 by bengun

[Captain Zuloo]

She's to be a one master, but later on I might try my hand at a two-masted brig or brigatine. Plus, if I do this, I can make it using the hull of a marked-down BrickBeard's Bounty.

You'll have trouble with the tumblehome that small. I'd go with what Greeny suggested.

I do hope somebody indexes this thread so that I can refer back to it when I start.

You can always use the "Search" funtion on Eurobricks or Classic-Pirates.com and you'll wind up here at some point.

I would like to ask about how much it costs to build one of those frigates. I am on a limited budget and I would like to know if it is in my price range.

I am building a ship similar to Captain Green Hair's, although only 5 mid-sections. I have injected over $200 AUD at least into her with Bricklink orders and most parts have come from my own collection, but keep in mind my ship is a good bit more detailed than some.

[Captain Blackmoor]

It depends also if you have already a nice collection or not, I had to start from scratch with my new ship and I have spend already a large 400 euro on it.

But I'm also building a full interior, and she will be big too.

Small ships shouldn't be that expensive.

[Captain Becker]

Nice ship, i have a question, can i use modern bow pieces when i rebuild a ship+ i havent those old s and cannot find them anywhere at i could buy them, So CAN i use the modern Bow pieces when i am making a ship like that?

[Commodore Hornbricker]

Nice ship, i have a question, can i use modern bow pieces when i rebuild a ship+ i havent those old s and cannot find them anywhere at i could buy them, So CAN i use the modern Bow pieces when i am making a ship like that?

I am building a large ship of the line named HMS Foudroyant Foudroyant MOC Page using the new hull sections. While I haven't started on the bow and stern, I don't anticipate any significant problems.

[Captain Green Hair]

You'll have trouble with the tumblehome that small. I'd go with what Greeny suggested.

No you won't, I made the Yellow thief using the same technique and that is a small hull with only 2 mids.

It depends also if you have already a nice collection or not, I had to start from scratch with my new ship and I have spend already a large 400 euro on it.

That's not a lot, is it?

Nice ship, i have a question, can i use modern bow pieces when i rebuild a ship+ i havent those old s and cannot find them anywhere at i could buy them, So CAN i use the modern Bow pieces when i am making a ship like that?

Sure you can, we made our Spanish galleon with the new hull pieces, only not using the top part at the stern, we made our own build up there.

[Captain Blackmoor]

That's not a lot, is it?

Nothing compared to what the total project is going to cost me.

It is even possible to use Greenhair's tumblehome technique on a brickbuilt hull!