Subject:
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Re: In praise of the Red Beard Runner (6290)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.loc.au
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Date:
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Mon, 21 Jan 2002 00:38:33 GMT
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Viewed:
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893 times
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In lugnet.loc.au, Richie Dulin writes:
> Ahoy!
>
> I noticed TRU Chatswood still had a few of these left at the pre-Christmas
> price of $A109, and after umming and ahhing for a while I decided to
> purchase one.
>
> I knew its reputation as the worst of the large ships, its dinky battle
> damage function, its skull transom, and its sub optimal colour scheme. But
> I've never owned a large pirate ship, and I was pleasantly surprised by the
> Armada Flagship, so I decided to take a chance.
>
> THE GOOD:
> A decent sized crew (far better than the Armada Flagship) who seemed well
> suited to different positions aboard. Not only is there clearly a captain,
> but there's also a clear (in my eyes anyway) first mate.
>
> The size is impressive. The ship is beamy, the masts are tall. There's space
> in the cabin. You can put cannon's out the gun ports (and there are gun
> ports) on both sides at once.
>
> The size of the set is impressive, and the cost is not too bad
> ($A0.16/piece). Much better value than the Armada Flagship (which is not a
> bad set in itself).
>
> The skull transom really impresses me. I like the way the white half-arches
> are used to add some depth to the design. Very cool. Though I suspect it's
> not entirely realistic ;-).
>
> THE BAD:
> The sails. Not only are they printed with piratical designs and shot full of
> holes, but there simply aren't enough of them.
>
> The battle damage. Well, not so much the battle damage, but the design
> problems which arise: the forward stays/ratlines don't reach the deck, there
> are holes in aft cabin.
>
> The cannons. Well, the (firing) cannons are great, and I can even understand
> them giving us only a single broadside's worth, but including only three
> cannons - when there are four cannon slots in the model - is just cheap.
>
> THE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE:
> The forward ratlines need to meet the deck. This shouldn't be too difficult,
> either by raising the rail or adding a ladder.
>
> I need to go out and buy some unbleached calico to make some more sails. I
> reckon two the size and shape of the included ones, plus two slightly
> shorter and broader one's rigged below, and a jib or two (definitely two),
> should do the trick. And come up with a better aft sail too. Early
> experiments indicate that simply double ranking the sails will make the ship
> look *a lot* better.
>
> Fill it with cannon. I can fill the cannon tracks (both sides) using my
> stock of red based cannon, and still have a pair of cannon left.... and
> there's definitely space for another cannon track on board ;-). Shouldn't be
> too difficult to build another one in.
>
> ARMADA FLAGSHIP Mark II
>
> As an experiment, I built an Armada flagship (with an extra centre hull
> section from a second set)using the RBR instructions (more or less) for the
> bow, gun ports and aft cabin. I fitted in four low level cannon slots and
> gun ports (though I couldn't fit the raised aft slot in).
>
> The revised flagship keeps the fore and aft masts of the original, with an
> extra mast added amidships (also with a big armada sail). The spare lanteen
> sail works very nicely as a jib.
>
> CONCLUSION:
>
> Anyway, I highly recommend the RBR. It may not be anywhere near as good as
> the earlier big ships, but it has huge potential.
>
> The Armada Flagship is cool too, but I think you'll need two to build a
> great ship, while the RBR is much closer to being a great ship on its own.
> (Just stock up on those cannons from S@H!)
>
> Pics soon.
>
> Cheers
>
> Richie Dulin
I also note that the rigging of the sails in the RBR is much better, and have
modified my AF accordingly. Anyone who wants to be in on Brikwars and doesn't
have a ship, I can bring it if you want. You'll have to provide the crew,
though.
BTW, Richie, do you have more details of the nearby accomodation? Mainly
addresses / phonenumbers so I know where to go, and can look at booking.
ROSCO
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