Most builders focus on constructing a single ship, an undertaking that requires skill and finesse in its own right. Legostein however, is not content with just one ship – he aspires to create entire fleets! Well, not just fleets, entire factions!
Driven by a desire to explore concepts not touched upon in the original LEGO Pirates theme, he embarks upon creating entirely new sub themes, so today, let us introduce you to “The Explorer Fleet”…
Here you will be treated to an army (or is that Armada?), a port larger than 6272 Imperial Trading Post and of course, the fleet itself!
Legostein writes:
Hello everybody,
and welcome to my own corner of the pirate world! Today I want to introduce you to an exciting project I am into for some time now. It’s an alternate pirate play theme with new factions, new boats, and new places. I made up some rules for myself that apply to the project:
I try not to use any official pirate theme insignia, any official pirate theme sails (official pirate boat pieces allowed), any official pirate theme torsos, any official pirate theme heads (official headgear allowed).
With that I started into a new adventure of playset design! It was quite a challenge but a pleasure even more. So, I would like to present to you: The Explorer Fleet
1. The Personnel of the Explorer Fleet
Legostein continues:
For the crew of the Explorer Fleet, I used toros of the “Racers” series from the early 2010 years. The back printing of the torsos (which would not look adequate for a pirate figure) is covered with standard capes. I was really happy to finally being able to create a yellow uniform that looks nice (as you know yellow dress for yellow head and hands color is quite difficult). The heads are from the “Fright Knights” series from the late 1990 years. As insignia the flag of the “Lone Ranger” series from 2013 was used.
A total of 39 figures with guards, 9 officers, and 3 commanders
The Imperial Armada has nothing on these guys!
An eclectic assortment of torsos and a leader with facial hair to rival that of Don Diego de LEGO
2. The Port of the Explorer Fleet
Legostein continues some more:
All locations use a modular system of old 10×20 baseplates/bricks. You can stick them together to get a rellay long quay wall, or you can assemble them in corners to make a harbor basin. The modular system is extremely useful when participating in an exhibition to create a really lengthy display with buildings in the back and ships in the front. The home port is called “Port Yellowsandstone”. You will find a storage buidling with crane, and a defense tower whichi has a map/conference room on the first floor with great panorama view. There is also a small prison, the commander’s castle, and of course a tavern.
Every faction needs a base of operations – welcome to… Hey, what did he say the name of this port was?
While Legostein did a great job defining a visual identity for the vessels, he’s perhaps not innovated enough to differentiate The Explorer Fleet’s structures from the Soldiers and Imperial Guards
Every good port is well defended
3. Ships and Boats
Legostein just keeps going (but seriously, it’s great he’s provided these details):
Catboat
You can already see it on the images of the port: A small catboat. Yellow sails are hard to find. For this little boat I used foam pieces that came with the “Scala” sets in the early 2000s.
A catboat – meow meow!
But seriously, a catboat is a sailboat with a single sail on a single mast.
Vela Latina
The next ship of the fleet is a small vela latina. It uses the large brown rowboat from the “Adventurers” series which I already used for several other boats, too. As lateen sail I used the carousel top cover from the Creator carousel 10257 of the year 2017.
This is a Vela Latina – and no, Vela is the class of vessel, not a Spanish chica
But she does look fine from the rear – also known as the “stern”
And here is the Vela Latina’s starboard from the bow
The port side with a feisty cannon aimed towards us!
That heavy cannon probably weighs her down quite a bit!
Fully accesorised, just like the Classic LEGO Pirate sets – you’ll spare observe the musket and sabre
And this is the view you’ll see after they blast your cumbersome vessel with a cannon ball and sail off
Xebec
The next ship a Xebec which use the same carousel top covers as sails. This was really a pleasure to build. I especially like how the angled mast turned out. It uses the standard boat hull pieces (narrow form) with one expansion piece in the middle.
Sailing to new adventures! Exploring the uncharted regions!
A xebec – a small three-masted sailing ship with lateen and square sails.
And just like the classic sets, this ship only has two cannon, despite having four gun ports
But what it lacks in cannon, it makes up in sails because we’ve never seen a xebec in the LEGO Pirates theme
This is what we can observe from the helm
That is a unique approach to a flag – we certainly haven’t seen that piece used in such a way in the Pirate theme
Two masts but only one cannon? A warship this one aint!
Brig
The next ship of the Explorer Fleet is a brig, also with two masts, standard boat hull and one expansion piece in the middle. For the sails “Scala” theme foam pieces were used again.
The flagship of the Explorer Fleet
That foam from the Scala theme really works!
The LEGO Pirates theme is lacking in two-masted ships with these hull pieces
A set based on brig would be a welcome addition to any LEGO Pirate collection
Anchor included… figurehead however…
And on the bridge you’ll find some important figures – not that we know who they are!
And that concludes today’s tour of The Explorer Fleet
Closing Thoughts
Legostein concludes:
That’s all for now! I hope you enjoyed our journey so far. Please keep in mind these are designed as playsets, thank you.
The Explorer Fleet port includes everything you see here
So what do we think?
Legostien has done exceptionally well to create an entire faction, but Classic Pirates exists to be constructively critical, so here are some suggestions to flesh out (any) LEGO sub theme more thoroughly:
- Custom flags and insignias
- Custom toros
- Naming the key minfigures
- Naming the vessels and port
- A more unique design aesthetic for the port
Yes, we’re nitpicking because of all these suggestions have the potential to add many hours onto the build. Nonetheless, they are hallmarks of a classic LEGO faction, and thus cannot be overlooked
The Explorer Fleet is ready to venture into the known!
About the Builder…
Legostien has been sailing around the LEGO Pirates forum for quite some time, but during 2022 he exploded into a “Classic Pirate faction” building renaissance, beginning with smaller ship adaptions such as the “Caribbean Ribbit”. From there he began conceptualising entire new factions (yes, that’s right, more than one faction) which the Classic Pirates endeavour to explore in future posts.
So if the The Explorer Fleet has tantalized your nostalgia buds, be sure to investigate Mini Wizardry on Flickr because he’s got a cargo hold brimming with colorful classic creations!
What do you think of The Explorer Fleet? Has Legostein created the perfect new faction for LEGO Pirates? Or can you suggest how he might improve on it further?
Allow the Explorer Fleet escort you to the LEGO Pirates Forum for further discussion…
