6423: Brickbeard’s Bounty
The first thing we started on was 7642: Garage. It was probably the most put together, and the top of the pile! I found a place on the floor and started pulling the set apart. We didn’t want to start with the pre-made build as there might have been (and were) pieces missing. The garage set is made up of three books, with the third book being the garage building itself. I’ve found the build beginnings for the vehicles with the set, but I’ve changed my tactics and have decided to sort all the elements first before I build anything else. After a couple of days we had the building together. I’ve got a big list on my iPad detailing the missing bits that I still haven’t found. If I take too long finding a part, I place a similar part with the completely wrong colour so I know where it is, as well as write down a list like this:
7642: Garage
Book 3, page 6, 1x 2×2 white tile with sticker
Page 49, 3x tyre rims should be yellow to replace greys
Ok, on to a quick review – I’ll cover the minifigures in an edit of this post when I find them.
The elements in this set are varied, and have some good colours. The sails are bright, there are some nice gold elements, as well as reddish brown, dark red, and black. If you bought this set when it was new, then you would find a whole lot of brand new elements. This variant of shark is rare – it looks great with different coloured teeth, and a menacing appearance. The minifigures are also pretty great, with a mermaid included that’s the figurehead of the ship. There are so many great elements to list, it’s hard to pick them, but with the rigging, the net, and other decorations, this is a set that should not be missed.
Swooshability: 10
This is a definite. Regardless of how old you are, this set just begs to be played with. Whether it is ‘sailing’ it around the living room floor, or making a Bluecoat walk the plank, this set is very swooshable. It probably won’t surprise anyone that it is LEGO, but it is still a cracker of a play set.
As far as play goes, there’s a good amount – the rigging and cannons are great for climbing minifigures around, the cannons fire and can be moved, the captain’s cabin is accessible, and the net in the middle can be raised and lowered (somewhat clunkily, but still good).
Build: 8
The build is interesting – it’s a deceptively large ship. When the hull is created, you know it’s going to be a good size, but once the cabin is added, you get a bit of an idea. The big reveal is when the masts are added. That’s when you realise it’s a big ship. Certainly not the biggest LEGO’s done, but for a first-timer like me, it was excellent. I was a very excited AFOL! Much of it is one brick on top of another, but it is good adding the sails. The way the sails are held on is a little strange, with brown 1×1 cones stuck on the end. It’s not as nice as the 2015 ship, but it’s manageable. The roof of the cabin is also quite tough to get off. I ended up having to stick my finger through the door to push it up.
It is a strong build though, and can handle a bit of rough play.
Design / Appearance: 9
All I can say is magnificent. It looks a treat, with big, bright sails, and some very nice detailing. It would certainly look imposing in the water as a real life counterpart, and is a big drawcard on my display shelves, even though it’s there temporarily. The only thing I would add is two more cannons, so the whole run is complete, and the plank would be moved to the middle of the ship as it’s in a very strange spot – hidden at the back, but it still looks pretty great – the cannons can be added later on down the track if you have spares, and the plank can easily be moved.
Value for Money / Collectibility: 7
Obviously, if you’re a fan of the Pirates theme, or the ships in general, this is a must, as it looks incredible in any collection. Value for money is of course higher than when originally released (it came to the market at AUD$139.99, and is now hovering at around the $250 mark, and increasing every year. It’s a pretty big price for a set, but you get some very good parts, and there really aren’t that many LEGO ships around.
Overall: 43/50
If you find it, get it.
Ok, that’s it for this week. I’ll be sorting next week as I’ve been temporarily kicked out of the spare room while guests are with us. Stay tuned for more interesting finds, and hopefully a review of something!