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The Pirate’s Cove is one of those legendary locations. A skull shaped rock or fortress hidden on a deserted island. This Lego “Pirate’s Cove” is created by CheeseyStudios. Built as an entry into Vignweek 2020. The challenge was to create a Lego vignette with a Pirate them. The end result has some really interesting ideas. The ocean water is floated two studs above the base, achieved by a a layer of transparent plates. The effect works well, and the blue light that shines through the plates onto the ocean floor looks great. The mini pirate ship has all the expected details, cannons, sails, crows nests, captains cabin, etc. A lot of of stuff to pack into such a small build. The island features a few tropical trees. And, the 1×1 round brown pieces work surprisingly well as palm tree trunks. The rocky skull design is instantly recognizable, if maybe a little too attention grabbing for pirate work.
This is a Lego Map of the Faroe Islands (Føroyar) created by Lasse Vestergård. Based on the collection of islands north of the United Kingdom, and south of Iceland. A little over 52,000 people live in this Danish territory. This Lego map was built for an exhibition on the islands in 2019. The build features 3D buildings representing famous landmarks. A few of these building include Tórshavn Cathedral, the ruined Magnus Cathedral, and the red roofed Sandavágur Church. The flag has been recreated in the left corner, a great way to fill in the empty ocean. A variety of boats and airplanes can be found around the map. The finished build is probably 75% transparent blue. To break up the flat texture of the 1×2 plates, 1×1 round pieces have been scattered around. The end result is a very clean looking Lego Map.
In Animal Crossing someone keeps sending balloons to your island. These unexpected gifts announce their arrival with a subtle swooshing sound. Once you track one down it is a mad rush to get out a sling shot. Only when popped will the balloons drop their glorious loot. Maybe it is a few pieces of clay, some iron, a random piece of furniture, or maybe it is 10,000 bells! This Animal Crossing Balloon Lego build is created by bekonen7. The micro scale island is a great creation all on its own. The mini version of Nooks Cranny is instantly recognizable to anyone who has sunk a few hours into the video game. It even has the dropbox and chalkboard with todays hot item. The stone bridge and waterfall are also perfectly simple. The fun thing about this Lego scene is that the balloon is hooked up to power functions and it mimics the swaying motion from the game. The technic pieces and gears are surprisingly complicated for something that looks simple. It really makes you want to get out there and start popping balloons!
A lonely lightkeeper keeping all those ships from crashing into nearby rocks is a job for the most hardy. After months alone a shift change is eagerly awaited. This Lego Lighthouse is created by Roses Must Build. The main feature of this build is that a lightbrick mounted in the tower can be turned. A hand crank is hidden among the rocks, but the whole model is cleverly wired up for Power Functions. Hiding behind one of the rocks you can access a hidden door that controls the Lighthouse. Make sure to check out the video below to see it work. This scene has been built in nano-scale so that a sense of imposing loneliness can be properly portrayed. For shift changes, and supply refills a short dock can be used. Built into the rocky island are some precarious stairs leading up the island. On top you can find a very classic cozy house, and attached Lighthouse, all in classic red and white colors.
Go find the furthest place from civilization and you will probably find a hermit living there in peace. This Lego MOC, called Harold’s Hazardous Hermitage, is created by valerius_maximus. Built as part of the “Style It Up” challenge for the InnovaLUG contest. The goal is to build something that is only supported by four studs. Which is the exact amount of studs that precariously hold this island up. The most difficult part of this creation was achieving the proper balance, so Harold would not tip over when left alone. Harold’s little Lego cottage is wonderfully run down. The uneven design of the stone work, and the brick built door work great. A great detail here is that a food source has been thought about, Harold fishes and grows a few carrots.
The video game Animal Crossing New Horizons has proven to be a popular theme for building with Lego. You start the game on a supposedly deserted island, but soon find yourself being the architect to a thriving community of animals. After upgrading your meager tent into a one room house, your goal is to slowly improve the island. Your main tool is a handy workbench where you can craft hundreds of items. From campfires to bamboo dolls. This Lego MOC is called “Animal Crossing: New Horizons Paradise” and is the creation of Tiago Catarino. They capture all the core features of the island in this scene. A fresh water river, beech (with shells!), apple tree, workbench, campfire, and a house. This build looks great. The house is nice and compact, and uses a really interesting off grid technique to angle the walls. The workbench even has a little Lego Carpenter Square. The scale works well, and seems like it could fit Fabuland figures pretty well.
Animal Crossing and Lego seem to go together really well. Lego even had an old theme called Fabuland that shares a lot of ideas. The video game has been inspiring some recent Lego MOCs and the newest one is this villager house (レゴ どうぶつの森) built by nobu_tary. This little building represents the basic house you get after your tent, but before any upgrades. The clean style from the game fits in well with SNOT building techniques. Some of the nice details include the red roof, the little black chimney, the little mail box (with mail!) and the pattern of the grass. This little set looks like it could be expanded with other houses and buildings, recreating the island 16×16 studs at a time. Believe it or not, this basic 1 bedroom house goes for 98,000 bells!
Lego has surprised their Pirates fans by announcing a new set. The Pirates of Barracuda Bay (21322) is the newest Lego Ideas release. It looks like the famous Black Seas Barracuda has been shipwrecked. But, the crew are making the best of it and turned the remains into a pirate island. With 2545 pieces, and 8 Minifigures. Lego has priced the set at $199.99/€199.99 with an April 1st release.
This set has the greatest play feature Lego has ever released. The pirates can work together, fix up the wrecked Barracuda and take to the seas. All three sections can be removed from the island, and combined into a full remake of the Black Seas Barracuda. You could say the sandy island is a really fancy display stand.
The new ship has a lot in common with the original 1989 release. It is a remake but with a lot of details updated to more modern Lego building techniques. Some of those new details include a completely reworked bow and stern, a fully furnished interior, and a new curvier hull. The new Black Seas Barracuda is instantly recognizable, and yet almost completely new.
Lego has revealed an updated new backstory for this set. Inhabiting this island is Captain Redbeard, Lady Anchor, Robin Loot, Tattooga, Pirate Twins Port and Starboard, Quartermaster Riggings, and Jack “Dark Shark” Doubloons. Also included are two prisoners, who have long since expired (skeletons). There is even a secret buried treasure that can be discovered.
“Rebuild into a classic: Discover the captain’s cabin, food store, kitchen, bedrooms, supply dock, farm, toilet, jail cell, tavern and hidden treasure, plus lots of fun accessories, 8 pirate minifigures, assorted animal figures and 2 skeleton figures to inspire action-packed stories. This set includes an island that can be split in half and rearranged. The shipwreck can also be dismantled and reassembled to make a ship inspired by the Black Seas Barracuda pirate ship LEGO model from 1989.”
If it wasn’t for the Pirate business, this Lego Coral Island Sandbar looks like a great place to vacation and scuba dive. Too bad, these Pirates are in the middle of some sort of hostage exchange. I would bet this doesn’t end well. Of course the stand out feature of this Lego MOC are not the Pirates but the island. The underwater part is especially nice. By using the newer pastel colors and putting a transparent blue ceiling the effect of water/underwater is achieved. The use of azure Lego Minifigure hands as some of the coral is perfect. This scene is teeming with Lego sea life.
Lego Island was the first PC Lego game way back in 1997. It proved a success with over 1 million copies sold and multiple awards. The game described itself as: “There is so much to do on Lego Island: building, racing, flying, water jetting, skateboarding, and just kickin’ with your firends… unless you accidentally let the Brickster out of jail.” The video game had a small cast of characters. The police officer Nick Brick, police officer Laura Brick, the pizza delivery dude Pepper, the pizza chef Papa Brickolini, music and pizza fan Mama Brickolini, and finally the Infomaniac. This game oozes with mid 90’s attitude. The forced attitude that only companies at the time thought was cool.
Check out this review, by Lazy Game Reviews (LGR) of Lego Island. It is a very unique piece of Lego history.
