The Admiral posts some pictures!

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

New Camcorder + Easy transfer + Legos = This topic

To start off, I know many of you have read me say that I have a gigantic tub of Legos that need sorting before I can continue. To justify this, I shall now show you the pile of unsorted Legos:

Next up, when I was first trying out my camcorder, I had my adventurers all in running poses. One of them ended up falling over, and my brothers girlfriend asked if they were lynching the fallen over guy.

This lead me to pose my Pirate crew lynching Jose, the mexican immigrant worker* i use to build all my Lego stuff:

* I am not racist in any way. I simply find the lego mexican construction worker I recently got amongst a bulk lot of Legos to be very, very amusing. Mom named him Jose.

So far, this is all I have built of Port Cochraine: Part of an inn that is under reconstruction so I can put the doors on properly, and a bridge.

Aaand all I have built of my Spanish privateer, the Alcatani. I am constantly adding, removing, and rebuilding, trying to get it to look as good as possible.

The inner hull:

The pile of ship parts that makes up the core stuff of the rest of her:

Last but not least, the scallywag crew that'll man her. I intentionally built them to look like a rabble that was dregged from a pirate port. The story is that her origional crew is mostly dead at the hands of a sea-monster, and Pirazzo was barely able to coax her back to a port all by his onesy. It is currently being rebuilt at drydock.

Three things should be noted:

A: In the center, clad in green, is her captain, Pirazzo Miragliano.

B: As of the time of the photograph, her second luitenant has gone MIA. He is dressed exactly like the first guy to Pirazzo's left.

C: I plan on replacing this crew with entirely Conquistadors eventually.

Well, thats all for now - Enjoy!

[Mister Phes]

These look like interesting pictures which I'll go into later, but isn't this a MOC?

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

Yes, but is the entire post about that MoC? Is the MoC even anywhere near finished?

The answer is no on both scores, so....

[Mister Phes]

There is such a thing called a Work In Progress which is an incomplete MOC and you appear to have custom mini-figures which are also considered MOCs. They're all your own creations, not those of The LEGO Company.

This thread reeks of MOC! :-D But I'm a tad unwell so my clarity of thought is rather murky. What does everyone else think? Is this MOC a thread?

[ZCerberus]

It does seem like a general 'Works in Progress' MOC to me. Just because it isn't a single MOC in particular doesn't mean it shouldn't be in the MOC forum! I say move it.

Also, I like some of the custom minifigs. Even using Star Wars guys and all! I found some of the old (non fleshy) Star Wars heads work well for Pirate figs. I don't mind a ragtag looking crew for privateers as pirates and hired crews usually wore what was on hand. If it is sailing under Spanish flag, they may have uniforms, but they would not necessarily wear them all the time at sea.

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

*shrug* Go ahead and move it if it really makes you happy :P

@Cerberus: Aye, I know - I'm just lacking the conquistador figures to make a proper Spanish crew. Someday, though, i'll buy 'em and man her properly :P

[Mister Phes]

Actually it doesn't really affect my happiness one way or the other where the thread lives, its just more a of housekeeping issue in the name of consistency. I'll move it next year.

Anyway...

On to the topic...

I like the choice of head you're using for Pissaro, I think I've got 2 or 3 of these headed my way in an eBay order. It should arrive sometime next week.

[Capn Frank]

Lord Admiral,

I like how you've used SW torsos on some of your pirates. I also have been trying to experiment with this but didn't know if anyone else was. I'm always looking for ways to have more pirates.

You could try organizing your bricks like this:

I've got 7 of these drawer organizer thingys. I got the idea from a friend of mine (the man has half a wall full of these!!).

It seems to work pretty good.

I've pretty much ran out of room in them and stopped organizing bricks from my big tub and just dig for the pieces i need until i can afford more drawer thingys.

[Mister Phes]

I think I badly need draws like those, how much do they cost?

[ZCerberus]

ZCerberus: Aye, I know - I'm just lacking the conquistador figures to make a proper Spanish crew. Someday, though, i'll buy 'em and man her properly :P

Well I believe I said I liked the crew, even if manned with scalawags! The photos also seem a bit dark, I suppose that is because it is a camcorder instead of a camera, but is there anyway that your next set could be a bit brighter? I see you used some external light source, but that casts shadows everywhere!

May I make a strange suggestion? Okay then... Use a head lamp! There are tons of them out there and you can place the head lamp on the camcorder itself, or around your head, so whatever you are looking at gets well lit and will be lit from above and in front of the item so the shadows don't overpower the pictures. I think the one downside to the approach is that when you have the head lamp on your head and you try to take pictures of the Legos, you will be looking at the camcorder and not the Lego, but maybe you can make it work! Like I said, it is a strange idea! Some camcorders have lights built into them, but if yours doesn't, this would be my idea!

I think I badly need draws like those, how much do they cost?

Ah, yes, this would be an excellent idea. I just have them in several rubbermaid (sp?) tubs, sorted by color. If I were to sort them by type as well (plate, modified plate, brick, modified brick, etc.) then maybe building would be faster. I am not sure what they cost, but they look like organizers my mom used to have for thread and buttons and what not.

[Capn Frank]

I think I badly need draws like those, how much do they cost?

It depends on what size you get. But i know this in Amrican $ cause i don't know the conversion to euro.

But here in the states the drawer displayed costs between 15-20 dollars.

they're found in the hardware department at department stores by all the tools.

there are other types of drawer organizers found in the storage section like these:

These come in a bunch of sizes and range from about $7 for the one displayed to about $30 for the bigger drawers.

They all should be found at Wal-mart, Target, and most other department stores.

[Governor Broadside]

But i know this in Amrican $ cause i don't know the conversion to euro.

Euros are used only in Europe. ;-)

Here's a good currency converter

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi

So they'd be about AU$20-25

[Norrington]

This lead me to pose my Pirate crew lynching Jose, the mexican immigrant worker* i use to build all my Lego stuff:

* I am not racist in any way. I simply find the lego mexican construction worker I recently got amongst a bulk lot of Legos to be very, very amusing. Mom named him Jose.

THAT"S NOT JOSE! THAT'S MR.PHES X-D :-P ! JUST LOOK AT HIS FACE! HE MUST HAVE DISGUISED HIMSELF TO INFILTRATE PORT CORCHAINE!

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

Ahhh! You're right! Phes, whatever were you doing in those overalls? :P

Anyhoo, been meaning to reply to this topic since yesterday, so 'ere we go....

Well I believe I said I liked the crew, even if manned with scalawags! The photos also seem a bit dark, I suppose that is because it is a camcorder instead of a camera, but is there anyway that your next set could be a bit brighter? I see you used some external light source, but that casts shadows everywhere!

Aye, I know ye said ye did, I was simply statin' m' plans for 'em :) This crew will probably be transferred over to a proper pirate ship sometime in the future.

Anyhoo, the darkness is because I was using it at nighttime in my room with only my table lamp on. The camcorder has a flash, but I had it turned off at the time. Hopefully, when I take my next set, itll be outside during the day :P

May I make a strange suggestion? Okay then... Use a head lamp! There are tons of them out there and you can place the head lamp on the camcorder itself, or around your head, so whatever you are looking at gets well lit and will be lit from above and in front of the item so the shadows don't overpower the pictures. I think the one downside to the approach is that when you have the head lamp on your head and you try to take pictures of the Legos, you will be looking at the camcorder and not the Lego, but maybe you can make it work! Like I said, it is a strange idea! Some camcorders have lights built into them, but if yours doesn't, this would be my idea!

Interestingly enough, I just got a headlamp for christmas! That thing is a *lifesaver*... And I may just use it for lighting purposees, too - Good suggestion!

On the discussion of organizational bins, I have recently upgraded my normal bricks out of their giant bin and into these:

I got them across the street at a Dollar General for $6 each. Each drawer holds normal bricks by color except for the bottom right drawer that holds brown, sand, green and gray.

For the past seven years I have utilized empty and cleaned out butter tubs to sort the rest of my legos:

I plan on going across the street today and picking up three more of those big white ones to replace these, though - My collection is kind of outgrowing them :-/ But, they've served me well.

I sort the rest of my collection in the following categories:

Odd Peices: All slanted, rounded, or otherwise odd bricks

-sorted by color

Flat Peices: All peices that arent as tall as full bricks

- sorted by size

Vehicle Accesories: Anything relating to vehicles, from spacecraft to submarines

House and Yard Accesories: Anything related to building buildings, from castles to flower gardens.

- sorted by size

[ZCerberus]

Interestingly enough, I just got a headlamp for christmas! That thing is a *lifesaver*... And I may just use it for lighting purposees, too - Good suggestion!

I got one as a gag gift from a college roommate about 4 or 5 years ago. I quickly discovered it was excellent for late night reading when he was a sleep and for working inside computer cases. I do a lot of tinkering and it is SOOO much easier to see inside the case with it on. It is a great little device, I recommend everyone go out and get one right now!! NOW I SAY!! *y*

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

Im with ZCerberus! GO FORTH AND GET HEADLAMPS!

[Capn Frank]

...

May I make a strange suggestion? Okay then... Use a head lamp! There are tons of them out there and you can place the head lamp on the camcorder itself, or around your head, so whatever you are looking at gets well lit and will be lit from above and in front of the item so the shadows don't overpower the pictures.

...

...

Interestingly enough, I just got a headlamp for christmas! That thing is a *lifesaver*... And I may just use it for lighting purposees, too - Good suggestion!

Im with ZCerberus! GO FORTH AND GET HEADLAMPS!

Headlamps huh? :-|| I don't know about you two. My wife already thinks i'm crazy for taking pictures to post on EB, and BS.

I think i'll stick to my fully adjustable office lamp with a clamp for now. Us broke college students don't have a lot of money :-$ to go buying headlamps. Maybe i'll ask for one for easter or B-day.

BTW how much do they cost?

On the discussion of organizational bins, I have recently upgraded my normal bricks out of their giant bin and into these:

I got them across the street at a Dollar General for $6 each. Each drawer holds normal bricks by color except for the bottom right drawer that holds brown, sand, green and gray.

...

Only $6 ay? Sounds awesome. I'm gonna have to make a trip to Dollar General now.

Thanx Lord Admiral.

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

My headlamp is a top-end L.L. Bean one... I think it cost about $30. Im sure you could get them for cheaper, though.

[SkaForHire]

My headlamp is a top-end L.L. Bean one... I think it cost about $30. Im sure you could get them for cheaper, though.

HEadlamps for the win!

Also on the subject of drawers... i just bought my fiance two (i am depressed that i buy her more lego than myself lately, her collection is starting to look like a real collection... hence the need for organizers:( well i guess i get custody when we are married ! muhahahaha) anyway... at walmart they were selling 47 drawer organizers like the original one but more big and small drawers for 7 bucks american... which was outstanding considering they usually cost like 20... so you americans should go look for these... most walmarts have the same sales... they were red and were in the hardware section. I would suggest getting them while they are cheep.

I also use the same tupperware looking big white draweres from rubber maid or a generic company...

[Mister Phes]

@Cerberus: Aye, I know - I'm just lacking the conquistador figures to make a proper Spanish crew. Someday, though, i'll buy 'em and man her properly :P

How many mini-figures would you like to see in this crew?

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

Err... 13. Thats her current complement.

Speaking of which, I just finished the quarterdeck... ill take pictures and post 'em tommorow!

[Mister Phes]

How did you arrive at "13" for the crew size?

[Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn]

Well, I origionally settled on "12"... it was a good number for the size of the ship, and 12 is my favorite number... But then I found my French Infantryman and wanted to use him too... but I think I may end up cutting him back out again, just to keep the number even.

[Norrington]

LOl, i'm an even number freak two. Even when i wtch tv the volume is an even number!

[ZCerberus]

Getting away from the crew and back to the head lamps... they are a valuable tool and they can even be found at hardware stores, super stores and medical and military surplus supply stores (dentists and grunts use them too!!). You can get them with bright white LEDs. They are not all that expensive, 10-20 bucks American, unless you feel the need to get an L L Bean ninja edition (I made that name up so don't ask for this version or whatever) for 30!

Now to the crew-- Even numbered freaks. From now on, all my crews will have an odd number of crewman just out of spite!!

Take that anal retentive... pirate... scalawags!