Topper for the PotC. Below are photos
of the topper I am creating for the PotC. Don't even ask - these
will NOT - I repeat NOT - be for sale to the general public, since there
is way more work in these for me to make them in any great number or to
ever make a profit (unless I charge at least $500.00!). So I will
give you detailed instructions on how to do this yourself, if you are ambitious
enough. There will actually be TWO ships up on top. The first
one under construction is the Black Pearl. It is actually the Lindbergh
1:144 scale Captain Kidd pirate ship model (available on eBay for about
$15.00). In reality, it is a combination of the model mentioned
above, and a few parts from the Zizzle Pirate Fleet Black Pearl (a little
7" kid toy also on eBay). What I stole was the lamps off the back
and the figurehead under the bowsprit mast. I also took the steering
wheel since the big kit didn't have one. Paint everything black. I
opened the bags, and spray painted everything a nice flat black. I
then detailed the railings, stern, cabin windows, posts, headers, and a few
other things to add a little contrast. Then I started assembly. I
replaced 12 of the cannons on the side facing the player with 3/32" tubing,
through which I ran 1/16" fiber optic cable. The cables were tethered
to 2 high powered 5mm red LEDs under the decks. The rear cabin area
is lit with a flickering yellow LED (to simulate candlelight). The main
gun decks are lit with 2 high powered 5 mm yellow LEDs. All wiring leaves
the front of the ship near the bow on the back side. Once the fancy
lighting was done, I assembled the rest as directed. I replaced the
round "ball" lights on the stern with the ones stolen from the Zizzle toy,
and also replaced the lion figurehead with the angel holding the dove. I
left off the very tops of the masts (height issues in my basement) and the
goofy crow's nest on the bowsprit (not on the Black Pearl). I also
dumped the cheap plastic sails and will replace with real cloth stained dark
grey and tattered to look like those on the Pearl. Below are the photos
of the progress so far. The ship will be cut at the waterline and glued
to a 1/4" plexiglass sheet cut to fit the top of the machine. That way
is will not fall over when guests (or I ) get a little rowdy on the machine.
The yellow interior lights are tied into GI circuits so they are on
all the time. The cannons will be tied into the flash circuits so
they flash whenever the ship is hit or the cannon sounds are heard on the
game (Extra Ball). Should look cool.
Here is a shot of the model I started with for the Black Pearl.
It is the Lindbergh Captain Kidd Pirate Ship 1:144 scale.
I also "borrowed" a few parts from the Zizzle toy shown also.
Overall view of ship without sails. Nearly identical (now)
to the original Black Pearl.
Bow of Black Pearl with flying angel and dove.
Midship view of detail work and cannons.
View of the stern, with detailed cabin and artwork.
Details of the decks and stern.
View of the details on the stern. Note the lights on the stern
now match those of the Black Pearl from the movies.
An attempt to show the interior lighting of the cabins and gun decks.
Side view of the ship with cannons ablaze (taken with flash).
Same as above but with natural lighting.
Click on the above image to get a close-up view of the completed ship with sails.
Same as above, but with the guns ablaze. Click to enlarge.
Overall view of finished work - with sails - on top of the backbox with room lighting.
Same as above, but with flash and the cannons ablaze. Looks awesome in a dark room!
Same as above, but without flash. You can see the lights aglow in the cabin
and gundecks. Looks better in person (trust me).
No flash, but with the guns ablaze.
Sitting pretty on the backbox with cannons ablaze (flash). Remember
that there will be a second ship and the Kraken up there as well, which
is why the Black Pearl looks a little funny right now off to the left.
Natural lighting with the flash and cannons.
The second ship will require a bit more work, since the Flying Dutchman hardly resembles a normal ship. Through a bit of research, I was able to get a copy of the blueprints for the Dutchman used in the movie. If you remember, the ship "lives" under water, and has been altered by the tides and creatures of the deep to resemble more of a coral reef than a ship. So I will have to get out the old dremel tools and modeler's putty to try and alter the sides. The bow is split open like a large mouth, and there is a skeleton for a figurehead. The Dutchman will only be partially seen, since I intend to chop it near the center and have it appear to be flying out of the backbox towards the Black Pearl. It will of course be lit as well, with an eerie green glow.
This is the effect I will be going for with the Flying Dutchman. To have it
seem to leap out of the backbox towards the Black Pearl.
This is model which will become the Flying Dutchman.
It is the Lindberg Blackbeard Captain Edward Teach Pirate Ship.
Scale is 1:250. Yes, it is different from the Black Pearl, but the
overall size of the ships is nearly identical - about 14" long.
Comparison of the left and right hulls. The right (top) is the original, while the
left (lower) has begun it's transformation to the Flying Dutchman.
Close-up shot of the modeler's putty being used to "build up" the areas for the
faces. Eyes have been drilled through hull for fiber-optics later.
Another close-up of the faces. I tried to vary the "expressions" on the faces. From
the stills from the movie, you can clearly see several expressions, including angry,
sad, humorous, and puzzled. Note that all of the lower gun ports have been
removed since they are not present on the moview version of the
Flying Dutchman (see below).
What I am aiming for in terms of mods to the ship itself.
First shot of the nearly finished product up close (no sails yet).
A little farther back with the deck lighting on - can't see that very well here.
Orientation it will have on the machine. Good view of the deck and eye lighting
effects. Probably going to limit sails, due to cool deck lights. Click to enlarge.
Same shot with flash. Great detail on the faces. Click to enlarge.
Shot of both ships on top in normal room lighting (daytime).
Close-up of the Flying Dutchman "leaping" out of the backbox.
Close-up of the skeleton on the bow. Also note that I added some "moss"
to the ship as well. Just your garden-variety HO scale scenery moss.
Taken without flash to try and show the green glow in the gun decks and faces.
Same as above, but during the cannon flash. Note the eyes of all the faces on
the Flying Dutchman (and 3 cannons) are lit up.
Last updated 12/15/2006 RJF
Here is a shot of the model I started with for the Black Pearl.
It is the Lindbergh Captain Kidd Pirate Ship 1:144 scale.
I also "borrowed" a few parts from the Zizzle toy shown also.
Overall view of ship without sails. Nearly identical (now)
to the original Black Pearl.
Bow of Black Pearl with flying angel and dove.
Midship view of detail work and cannons.
View of the stern, with detailed cabin and artwork.
Details of the decks and stern.
View of the details on the stern. Note the lights on the stern
now match those of the Black Pearl from the movies.
An attempt to show the interior lighting of the cabins and gun decks.
Side view of the ship with cannons ablaze (taken with flash).
Same as above but with natural lighting.
Click on the above image to get a close-up view of the completed ship with sails.
Same as above, but with the guns ablaze. Click to enlarge.
Overall view of finished work - with sails - on top of the backbox with room lighting.
Same as above, but with flash and the cannons ablaze. Looks awesome in a dark room!
Same as above, but without flash. You can see the lights aglow in the cabin
and gundecks. Looks better in person (trust me).
No flash, but with the guns ablaze.
Sitting pretty on the backbox with cannons ablaze (flash). Remember
that there will be a second ship and the Kraken up there as well, which
is why the Black Pearl looks a little funny right now off to the left.
Natural lighting with the flash and cannons.
The second ship will require a bit more work, since the Flying Dutchman hardly resembles a normal ship. Through a bit of research, I was able to get a copy of the blueprints for the Dutchman used in the movie. If you remember, the ship "lives" under water, and has been altered by the tides and creatures of the deep to resemble more of a coral reef than a ship. So I will have to get out the old dremel tools and modeler's putty to try and alter the sides. The bow is split open like a large mouth, and there is a skeleton for a figurehead. The Dutchman will only be partially seen, since I intend to chop it near the center and have it appear to be flying out of the backbox towards the Black Pearl. It will of course be lit as well, with an eerie green glow.
This is the effect I will be going for with the Flying Dutchman. To have it
seem to leap out of the backbox towards the Black Pearl.
This is model which will become the Flying Dutchman.
It is the Lindberg Blackbeard Captain Edward Teach Pirate Ship.
Scale is 1:250. Yes, it is different from the Black Pearl, but the
overall size of the ships is nearly identical - about 14" long.
Comparison of the left and right hulls. The right (top) is the original, while the
left (lower) has begun it's transformation to the Flying Dutchman.
Close-up shot of the modeler's putty being used to "build up" the areas for the
faces. Eyes have been drilled through hull for fiber-optics later.
Another close-up of the faces. I tried to vary the "expressions" on the faces. From
the stills from the movie, you can clearly see several expressions, including angry,
sad, humorous, and puzzled. Note that all of the lower gun ports have been
removed since they are not present on the moview version of the
Flying Dutchman (see below).
What I am aiming for in terms of mods to the ship itself.
First shot of the nearly finished product up close (no sails yet).
A little farther back with the deck lighting on - can't see that very well here.
Orientation it will have on the machine. Good view of the deck and eye lighting
effects. Probably going to limit sails, due to cool deck lights. Click to enlarge.
Same shot with flash. Great detail on the faces. Click to enlarge.
Shot of both ships on top in normal room lighting (daytime).
Close-up of the Flying Dutchman "leaping" out of the backbox.
Close-up of the skeleton on the bow. Also note that I added some "moss"
to the ship as well. Just your garden-variety HO scale scenery moss.
Taken without flash to try and show the green glow in the gun decks and faces.
Same as above, but during the cannon flash. Note the eyes of all the faces on
the Flying Dutchman (and 3 cannons) are lit up.
Last updated 12/15/2006 RJF