LEGO Creator 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship review

A new LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set sailed into view this month, although it’s one that some builders may feel is very familiar.

What you’re getting with 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship is essentially an upgraded version of 31109 Pirate Ship, a model that launched in 2020 but is now long since retired, with a total of 1,074 pieces in the box this time around.

For those who may have missed out on that previous LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set, or simply want to expand their buccaneering fleet, 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship delivers three themed builds in one, along with a sea monster with posable tentacles, four minifigures and a skeleton figure.

The main focus of the set is the pirate ship itself, an impressive vessel that’s slightly smaller than 31109 Pirate Ship's primary craft, yet it’s one that still manages to pack plenty of character into its hull. That’s evident in the brick-built adjustable sails, winding anchor, crow’s nest, rigging, captain’s cabin, secret compartment and two shooting cannons that can be accessed via a removable section of deck.

31387 Iconic Pirate Ship’s crew of scallywags also proves to be a winner, thanks to one more minifigure than was included in the previous LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set. In addition to a peg-legged captain and swarthy crewmate, the model adds two impressive female pirates that should be appreciated by longtime fans of LEGO Classic Pirates, as well as a handful of accessories such as a treasure chest, gems, telescope and various weapons.

It's worth noting that the slight reduction in size and piece count does have some impact on 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship’s detail and it lacks the punchy colour of its predecessor, but those are only minor issues with what is essentially a very satisfying LEGO Creator 3-in-1 model.

As with every release from the theme, 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship offers up a pair of alternative builds that are different from those seen in 31109 Pirate Ship. Beyond the larger craft, there’s also the option to build two smaller vessels, each of which is outfitted with its own sails, rigging and a single cannon, which should make for some fun and competitive play sessions.

The third 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship model that can be assembled is a buccaneer’s castle with a white watch tower, a land-based location that opens up to reveal several internal rooms and a cave, with the latter being the perfect place to hide any pillaged booty.

The Creator 3-in-1 build can be displayed closed or open, with a portion of deck and a palm tree added in for some visual variety. The brown roof on one side of the castle can also be removed if required, with one cannon poking out through a small hole and a second cannon located outside.

As with many LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets, 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship’s only real issue comes when switching from making one model to building another. Only a single option can be constructed at a time and finding the correct required pieces for each alternate build can sometimes be a slow and laborious process, with far too many elements left unused when the work is completed.

However, other than that, there’s not much to complain about when it comes to 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship. What it does, it does well and the latest LEGO Creator 3-in-1 release delivers pretty much everything you would expect from such a swashbuckling set.

Some may bemoan the lack of fabric sails or perhaps a more mature take on its subject matter, but the set’s primary target audience will find there’s plenty of fun and play options to be had here, while classic Pirates fans should see this as an opportunity to add yet another craft and four different minifigures to their collections. The brick-built sails are obviously more conducive to the alternate builds, too.

Those looking for more advanced and detailed pirate-based builds will no doubt want to seek out such larger models as 75646 Garp's Marine Battleship or even 10365 Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship, but for most fans who may have missed the boat when it came to 31109 Pirate Ship, the latest LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set represents a bountiful build indeed.

31387 Iconic Pirate Ship is available to purchase right now, with the 1,074-piece LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set priced at £89.99 in the UK, $109.99 in the US and €99.99 in Europe.

This LEGO set was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes.

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