2015 LEGO Pirates Rumors and Discussion

[MagPiesRUs]

The white epaulettes might have looked ok if they hadn't reused the 2009 shako print. As it is, the red plume of the shako doesn't really fit with the colour scheme at all.

[jodawill]

Double VIP points are just in time for not only the Pirates theme, but Brickworld Indy. For anyone in the area, you can come see our show on March 14th or 15th and stop by the Lego Store at the Castleton Square Mall to get double VIP points on the Pirates sets. It's going to be a great weekend!

[Ardelon]

The white epaulettes might have looked ok if they hadn't reused the 2009 shako print. As it is, the red plume of the shako doesn't really fit with the colour scheme at all.

Yeah, I wonder whether a blue or white plume wouldnt have been better. But the red plume doesnt really bug me, thought I do think, as I did in 2009, that printed shakes are overly detailed, and plain black shakos were just the right level of genericness and versatility. But no big deal.

[Elrond]

I must say that I'm a bit disappointed by this theme. Most of the sets look incomplete and the ship is way too similar to the 2009 one. It doesn't seem like much effort was put into this theme.

The only set I'm considering buying is the Soldiers Fort (and that's mostly because of the minifigs) but it really pales in comparison to the 2009 version.

I frankly cannot see any juniorisation in these sets.

I'd say it's due to the bright colours they chose, it's the same issue with the last Castle line.

Most colours were darker in the classic Pirates theme, not to mention the sets also used a lot of dark gray and black pieces. Just compare the new pirate ship with the Black Seas Barracuda, or even the 2015 soldiers with their classic counterparts.

[TheLegoDr]

I do like the updated versions of classic Pirates though. I do agree, the brighter colors can be hit/miss. I like the updated bluecoat torso, but at the same time, I think I would have liked it to be a little darker blue. Oh well..

I do agree on the shako. I think the black one works better overall, but the detailed one still looks nice.

[Captain Braunsfeld]

I do like the updated versions of classic Pirates though. I do agree, the brighter colors can be hit/miss. I like the updated bluecoat torso, but at the same time, I think I would have liked it to be a little darker blue. Oh well..

Well, we have the revolutionary soldier with a dark blue torso!

[Hive]

While I do have some issues with this new Pirates line (most notably the new bandana and the unoriginal and uninspired ship), the colour palette sure isn't one of them. I think the use of dark red, brown and grey really makes the sets look much more 'real' and mature than the sets of the first pirate line, which had plenty of yellow (an odd choice, really) and black (in places where brown had been more fitting) instead.

This is actually the first theme where I've really wanted to buy all sets since Kingdoms. Is it perfect? No, far from. But it's still pretty damn solid, and well above most other current themes in quality.

[Mandate]

After directly comparing these sets to the previous '09 ones, I actually like these a lot more, even if they're not quite as inspired. Sorry if anyone has mentioned this before, but has anyone else noticed the usage of clips and bars on particular sides of the sets? According to the instruction manuals, you can combine the sets together, eg Soldier's Fort + Oupost, or Soldier's Fort + Shipwreck defense (not that that would make any sense at all). Sadly they don't look as great together as I'd hoped, but it's a nice function nonetheless.

[Elrond]

While I do have some issues with this new Pirates line (most notably the new bandana and the unoriginal and uninspired ship), the colour palette sure isn't one of them. I think the use of dark red, brown and grey really makes the sets look much more 'real' and mature than the sets of the first pirate line, which had plenty of yellow (an odd choice, really) and black (in places where brown had been more fitting) instead.

This is actually the first theme where I've really wanted to buy all sets since Kingdoms. Is it perfect? No, far from. But it's still pretty damn solid, and well above most other current themes in quality.

The use of yellow really isn't that weird as you can see here.

I have the exact opposite impression when I look at both ships: the darker colours make the BSB look more menacing imo (which is what you expect of a pirate ship), while the new ship looks way more toyish with all that light brown. The bright colours might have worked on an imperial ship (and if more details were added) but here it just looks off to me.

[Hive]

The use of yellow really isn't that weird as you can see here.

That doesn't explain all the white/yellow fort structures.

But yeah, I am aware that ships came in all sorts of colours and sizes.

[Elrond]

That doesn't explain all the white/yellow fort structures.

But yeah, I am aware that ships came in all sorts of colours and sizes.

Well colourful buildings really aren't a rare occurence in the Caribbean. I'm assuming that's what they were going for. The structures in the modern sets still are pretty bright.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Elrond

[LK901]

I'm getting the Pirate hideout, because the '09 one was the first 'real' LEGO set I ever got... Ah, nostalgia......

The ship looks awful... No monkey, and looks like a rip off of the 2009 one.. (Which I actually had....)

[jodawill]

Here are some of the back printings.

[Boettner Builds]

Well, today I received my B&P order and some bad news. I ordered 6 of the female pirate torsos from this set: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Treasure-Island-70411?fromListing=listing.

Her hands are yellow, but her chest and back print are WAY more of a dark flesh :( It looks right in all of the photos and in B&P, but not in real life :(

[Lind Whisperer]

Well, today I received my B&P order and some bad news. I ordered 6 of the female pirate torsos from this set: http://shop.lego.com...Listing=listing.

Her hands are yellow, but her chest and back print are WAY more of a dark flesh :( It looks right in all of the photos and in B&P, but not in real life :(

Yellow printing on a red background can darken to more of an orange, or it might just be a poor first run.

[David Thomsen]

I'm not really surprised any more, I long ago gave up on the idea of them properly colour matching the printed yellow on a torso to the other yellow parts. I'd be curious to see pictures of how bad it is though.

Another one I expect to have a poor shade of yellow is the torso with the brown waistcoat and the anchor tattoo, because the almost identical one from the 2009 theme had a lemony yellow shade.

Anyway! I am griping. In spite of all of the issues, I am still super excited about getting these new Pirate sets. I want to have my Imperial Flagship beset on either side by the Brick Bounty and the Brickbeard's Bounty. They will be trying to rescue the collectible minifigure pirate captain from the brig of the Flagship, who forms the third in their triumvirate of Pirate Kings...

Yes, I realise I am probably too old to be making up stories about my lego toys.

[Mencot]

Here are some of the back printings.

Looks good, you don´t have the governor's daughters back print?

Well, today I received my B&P order and some bad news. I ordered 6 of the female pirate torsos from this set: http://shop.lego.com...Listing=listing.

Her hands are yellow, but her chest and back print are WAY more of a dark flesh :( It looks right in all of the photos and in B&P, but not in real life :(

Not a big surprise but always so lame and unpleasant.

[Elrond]

Here are some of the back printings.

The prints really are the best things about these new sets. I really like the governor/officer torso.

Speaking of new prints, I found a good comparison shot of the 3 pirate captains on Flickr: https://www.flickr.c...jey/16231914628 (the new silver hook really looks nice)

There's also one of the pirates: https://www.flickr.c...ey/16232170660/

And in case anyone is interested, the new "exclusive" pirate from the Juniors set here and here.

(If those Flickr users are registered EB members and want to post those pics themselves, let me know and I'll edit my post)

Edited February 4, 2015 by Elrond

[lomis]

I've created some decoration for the Bluecoat Soldiers as best I can:

Front of Torso:

Back of Torso:

Face of Soldier 1:

Face of Soldier 2:

Face of Soldier 3:

Face of Soldier 4:

Face of Sergeant 1:

Face of Sergeant 2:

The images above are 128x128 but will open as 512x512 if you click on them.

These aren't perfect as there are several approximations.

Please let me know if this is helpful or not.

[lomis]

Any thoughts on why a black tricorn isn't being used for any of the soldiers?

In the past - the sergeants typically had them and they were even used on most of the sailors for 6274 - Caribbean Clipper.

What I recall from the preliminary shots is that either of the pirates that we now know will have brown tricorns were instead wearing brown bowler hats (Pirate Rummy from 70412 - Soldiers Fort and Pirate 4 from 70413 - The Brick Bounty):

• Preliminary image for 70412 - Soldiers Fort
  
• Preliminary image for 70413 - The Brick Bounty
  

Thoughts?

Do you think the original tricorn molds are at the end of their lives?

Or was The LEGO Group just trying to be more creative by using hair parts instead?

[jodawill]

Any thoughts on why a black tricorn isn't being used for any of the soldiers?

In the past - the sergeants typically had them and they were even used on most of the sailors for 6274 - Caribbean Clipper.

What I recall from the preliminary shots is that either of the pirates that we now know will have brown tricorns were instead wearing brown bowler hats (Pirate Rummy from 70412 - Soldiers Fort and Pirate 4 from 70413 - The Brick Bounty):

• Preliminary image for 70412 - Soldiers Fort
  
• Preliminary image for 70413 - The Brick Bounty
  

Thoughts?

Do you think the original tricorn molds are at the end of their lives?

Or was The LEGO Group just trying to be more creative by using hair parts instead?

I don't think the tricornes are going anywhere. They're just doing something new.

[Captain Braunsfeld]

I think the tricorns were fine - and will be fine.

With PoTC they saw a significant improvement in painting.

[TheLegoDr]

Well, we have the revolutionary soldier with a dark blue torso!

Oh yes, I know. I bought 15+ of them when they were in stores...

I don't mind the set color offerings. I just felt some of the figure colors were a little brighter for what I wanted. However, I still really like them. And I still plan on buying lots of them to go with my modernized versions of classic LEGO ships. (I only have SES somewhat finished. I need to work on my sails still).

[jodawill]

Anyone who thinks the minifigure colors are too bright obviously has no recollection of the original Pirates theme. The soldiers were bright blue, red, and green. The only minifigure I would consider to be dark, really, is Captain Roger. (I do agree that it is unfortunate that the new captain has brighter colors than the original, though.)

[Elrond]

Anyone who thinks the minifigure colors are too bright obviously has no recollection of the original Pirates theme. The soldiers were bright blue, red, and green. The only minifigure I would consider to be dark, really, is Captain Roger. (I do agree that it is unfortunate that the new captain has brighter colors than the original, though.)

I was mostly talking about the ships and the soldiers' uniforms.

I liked the 2009 redcoats and thought they were an improvement but I'm not too crazy about the new bluecoats. The prints look nice but I find the blue colour too bright. It just looks like a different shade of blue and it looks off, the colours on the original soldiers were more harmonious for some reason.