Jacques-Yves Cousteau's "Calypso" sea-exploring vessel.
About this creation
Originally a World War Two BYMS class minesweeper, a wooden ship build in the US, and subsequently lend-leased to Britain, where she served in the mediterranean as "HMS J-826" during the war.
After the war she served as a ferry in Malta, until Cousteau got into the picture in 1950.
The ship had an accident and sank in Singapore port in 1996, but was raised and is being completly refurbished in 2009!
Cousteau himself died in 1997.
Calypso is still tied to the Cousteau Society today.
MOC is exact to minifig-scale (as exact as minifig comes...), using Siskinds "1 foot = 1 stud".
This MOC sets a new first for me; It's the first time I've tried to order loose bricks directly from LEGO. It might be routine for most people here, but for me it kind of took the hobby to "the next level". I hope the €7.00 worth of railings show on the screen ;-)
The model took around a month to build, but almost 3 weeks of that time where waiting for the pieces from PAB to arrive at my doorstep.
Hi-res photos now on Brickshelf !
Model has NO interior. -But a lot of exterior details. Enjoy them instead, please...
Fabuland propellers. Now that I was ordering the railigns anyway, I thought they might look good here...
The hull... Lots of room for improvement, but I didnt have the right type of bricks. Oh, if I would just have thought of that BEFORE finishing the PAB order...
The keel and the Technic-beam interior is actually re-used directly from the U-96 moc!
The forward observation-chamber is 3 meters below surface, and can hold one person lying down.
It *IS* big, and it weighs a ton! (It's as long as the U-96, but twice the width and height...) If put in water it would certainly sink like a... brick!
Hm. A bow-photo is missing here, and one of the others accidently repeated twice. Sorry guys. Stay tuned for the whole bunch i high resolution on Brickshelf.
Crane actually works, and can be folded down on the deck when not in use (as with the prototype).
Mini-sub and shark-cage. (Actually it is the diver/cameraman who goes INside the cage! ;-)
Lifesaving de-pressurisation chamber.
Okay, this is NOT a helicopter-MOC, so forgive me... ;-)
le Commandant Cousteau
Vive La France!
Classy presentation with GoGo Girls...
(Yes, they are my daughters)
(Drawing shown is not specifically of the Calypso, but the generic BYMS class design.)
Additional photos;
BTW: I cant find a suitable group to join this MOC to. Suggestions?
Comments
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November 16, 2012 |
il est superbe |
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I like it |
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November 12, 2012 |
Okay,it's a miracle! |
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I like it |
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June 11, 2012 |
Astonishing! |
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I like it |
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April 29, 2012 |
Excellent hull shaping! |
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I like it |
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April 25, 2012 |
Wow!!! How long did it take you to make that? |
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April 24, 2012 |
Great attention to detail! |
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I like it |
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March 6, 2012 |
One word-Brilliant!So excellent,i just cant find words to describe it!Awsome job!!:-)) |
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I like it |
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Chris Melby January 21, 2012 |
Anders T led me here, giving some advise from your hull design, Brilliant work, what a presentation! |
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I like it |
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November 8, 2011 |
Nothing to add: it is a masterpiece. A beautiful desk model and a very nice tribute. It is also a "souvenir" of my favorite TV-programs. |
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White Knight October 30, 2011 |
A beautiful masterpiece !>.....well done.... |
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October 21, 2011 |
This is magnificent! I love every little detail of this fine vessel. You've done the great man proud :) |
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February 7, 2011 |
Wow! what a superb reproduction! I love this ship so much!
Could you check my model, i am in naval ships too. ;-) |
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February 6, 2011 |
This very successful moc is a great tribute to the great man :Jacques Yves Cousteau |
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I like it |
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January 10, 2011 |
Thanks for your wonderful work and showing us how you built such a great lego creation. I've been wanting to build a lego ship for a long time, but the hull has always been the hardest part and never looks that great. I've begun to try and tackle building this myself based on your great work and pictures. I've been using lego digital designer and have completed the top half of the hull so far. It has been much easier for me to replicate this based on your pictures, and explaining your lego building techniques, but some of the detail and design that went into this is incomparable as I have been trying to build this boat.
Thanks again and I'll be updating my page with the progress of the ship. |
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December 11, 2010 |
Thanks a lot for that outstanding MOC of a legendary ship. You certainly deserve one of those famous Cousteau Red Watch Cap. |
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I like it |
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December 8, 2010 |
Wow... what a brilliant build! You say the hull has room for improvement, well i can't see where, tbh. It looks fantastic. :) |
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December 8, 2010 |
Wow!
This is amazing MOC! |
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October 23, 2010 |
This is epic, I love it. This must have taken ages to design and build. The detailing is amazing and flawless. Great building techniques throughout. I can spend ages just looking at the different features. |
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October 17, 2010 |
amazing.like the way its put together,hull and deck is very well done, |
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October 17, 2010 |
amazing.like the way its put together,hull and deck is very well done, |
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I like it |
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October 7, 2010 |
This is amazing. So many great building techniques. A top class MOC! |
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October 2, 2010 |
amazing ship! great detail work. |
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September 26, 2010 |
that thing is amazing in detail and size i don't know how anyone could build something so amazing |
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I like it |
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Manthan Dutta May 24, 2010 |
Wow.Very realistic with all the details. |
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April 27, 2010 |
Wonderful! I have to disagree with your self doubt regarding the hull. The hull looks great, forward, aft, and in between. As are all the details above.
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benjamin mcdonald March 11, 2010 |
awsome. you just put so much detail in, it's amazing. |
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February 24, 2010 |
Great Work and Detail and It really L@@KS like the CALYPSO. Ships are not easy to do with Legos especially when you have to do the HULL from Start to Finish. I thinl your execution is Terrific and one of the nicest Ship builds i have seen. Your Tanks and Military items are impressive also THX Keep up the great work Tom Thompson |
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February 23, 2010 |
Absolutely magnificent! I particularly loved the wooden deck, as well as the helipad, terrific! 7/5, take that conventional fractions! |
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February 23, 2010 |
Wonderful! I can see you spending your time in every detail for as long as the detail needs - and not for as long as you can spend your time :-)
Lovely. Perhaps you should take care of the details on my ship too .... |
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October 5, 2009 |
This is excellent! |
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September 15, 2009 |
Wow, really fantastic work on this. Your hull design is very smooth and the detail you put in is really striking! Well done. |
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August 10, 2009 |
Dude.....Amazing work, I can not believe the detail of the model. The thing is huge, if LEGO made this I dont think i could buy it new.....nice work |
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August 6, 2009 |
WOW, this must be one of the best things I've ever seen on MOCpages. The amazing details just never seem to end. Lovely, lovely work. A well deserved (and rare) 5/5 rating from me. |
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August 5, 2009 |
Unbelievable effort. This is fantastic! |
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August 4, 2009 |
Very nice ship.My dad and me want´s to build a large ship,too.But i think it will never looks so good like yours. |
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August 2, 2009 |
Wow! During my "dark ages" I actually built several large, static, model boat kits. Having seen this I am wondering why I didn't just stick with Lego in the first place!! I really like the way you made the lower hull and deck, and the level of detail is fantastic. |
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I like this very much. The red slopes and bricks you've used to emulate the curve of the brick built hull fit in unbelievably fluidly. The details on deck are nothing short of meticulous as well; I'm sure that the BYMS schematics assisted greatly. |
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July 28, 2009 |
only 32 like its?!? this thing NEEDS to get moc of the day or something. it deserves closer to 132 like its. awesome job! |
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July 27, 2009 |
This is totally stunning! How did you make the round shape of the hull? Just make a wall of 1x2 bricks and bent it a little? And you can join "Movie and Television", this is a famous vehicle from TV, right? ;) |
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July 25, 2009 |
Very impressive, great details, good job |
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July 24, 2009 |
looks great, awesome job on the hull |
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| brandon scott July 23, 2009 |
i like u better than eggplant. ur awsome |
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I made it |
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July 21, 2009 |
Thanks a lot everybody. I am very happy with the positive reception. Also I am especially happy that many of you think this model is worthy to celebrate the memory of the great Cousteau, and the fond memories it has brought back to us "older" people here... ;-) |
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July 21, 2009 |
Quoting Steffen Kasteleiner
what you need now I think is is a shipyard layout
Thanks Steffen! It's a good idea, but wouldn't fit on the dining-room furniture ;-)
How about doing the Catalina yourself? (Cousteaus famous sea-plane) |
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July 21, 2009 |
Congratulations Henrik! Absolutely the best Lego model of the Calypso so far :-) I like all the fine details - the funnel, the sub and the flag - just to mention some. |
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July 20, 2009 |
Since you made so many efforts to build the hull in such an extraordinary, cool-looking way, what you need now I think is is a shipyard layout - just to show off the detailed hull, you know: just because you can... So much work deserves to be displayed in a great layout, too. I love this boat. Steffen |
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July 19, 2009 |
Hey Henrik: Back when you had to plan your time to make sure that you wouldn't miss a particular television show, I remember I would try to organize my time on Sunday afternoon so I could watch the "Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau." Seeing your beautiful rendition the Calypso brings back good memories of those times. As the others here have mentioned, your attention to the little details, and the impressive scale of the project really make this model. Great job. |
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Pedro Cuahchic July 17, 2009 |
Outstanding. One of the finest minifig scale ships I've seen. Your attention to detail is to be commended. Hope to see more from you! |
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July 16, 2009 |
This really brings back fond memories from my childhood. I remeber being moved by Cousteau's words. Cousteau is missed, but your Calypso brings him back so beautifully. |
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July 15, 2009 |
wow, fantastic |
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July 14, 2009 |
Wow, superb detailing, and your cool minisub, this is just an awesome boat MOC, I think the hull looks great, and the railings look well worth the money, great work! ~T |
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I made it |
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July 14, 2009 |
Quoting Idoia Miranda
What can I say... it is Excelen and look very good in the Dining room.
Wifey????!!!! Ha, that's funny! Well, Thank you for your patience, and for picking up the PAB parcel at the post office! ;-) |
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July 14, 2009 |
Interior, schminterior! This is awesome -- the mini-sub and crane, the deck detailing, the small watercraft and shark cage were all favorites. I also loved the depressurization area -- I have fond memories of watching Costeau's TV specials in the 70s, and this MOC brings them to mind.
"As I slowlee put my ageeen bodeee into zee watare . . . " (Old joke) |
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July 14, 2009 |
What can I say... it is Excelen and look very good in the Dining room. |
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July 14, 2009 |
WHAT A BEAUTY!!! EXCELLENT JOB-LOOKS JUST LIKE IT 5 SMILES IS NOT ENOUGH!!!!! |
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July 14, 2009 |
Doesn't get much better than this! The form, the color work, the details...absolutely fantastic! |
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July 14, 2009 |
VERRY GOOD CREATION!!!
but still I don't think this deserves 5/5,
it deserves 100/5!!!!! there is so much detail on it like the stairs and the motor of the rubberboat. I don't like it, I love it!!! |
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July 14, 2009 |
WOW EXELLENT WORK!! I love the classic old style of this boat, this is exellent :] |
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July 14, 2009 |
Amazing. The hull, especially the bow, looks fantastic - awesome curves with the 1*2 bricks and SNOT work in the lower parts. Then the railing around the decks is a huge eye-catcher, the size of the ship is astounding - a brilliant job all over. Best regards, Steffen |
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July 14, 2009 |
There's not many people who can nail a good hull, but you did! I'm very impressed with it, and I hope those two girls are too.
Good day |
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July 14, 2009 |
masterpiece! Really nice modelling. Looks very pro, very exact and your daughters (if that's what they are) are lovely ;))
Keep on working like that! |
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July 13, 2009 |
Ha ha! Se magnifique! All of it is fantastic, but what I like in particular are: the hull! The shape is great, and I like how you closed up the bottom. I also like how you did the deck; so much attention to detail! |
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July 13, 2009 |
Excellent rendition of one of the most famous civil ships of all time. As a Frenchman, I say " Bien joué, mon ami !". |
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