On Lego ideas you can upload your own set ideas, browse through hundreds of others and vote for your favourites to become official Lego products. When an idea reaches 10,000 votes, Lego will consider whether to take the project into series production. Espen Andersen, Bådfører (captain) at DanPilot, is now close to reaching this mark with his project for a detailed pilot boat. After over 200 hours of painstaking construction work, his model has collected 9,495 supporters at the time of writing - so there are just under 500 votes left before the company's official review. The 1:25 scale model impresses with its attention to detail and weighs an impressive 2.5 kilograms. Andersen, himself the captain of a pilot boat, started the project for a simple reason: he wanted a model version of his workplace for his desk.
More detailed boat models for fans of clamping bricks:
Maritime tradition in clamping block form
The Lodsbåd has a long tradition in Denmark, dating back to 1684, when King Christian V issued a resolution for the first official pilot boats. Even today, these boats still fulfil an important task: they bring pilots safely to and from ships that have to navigate through difficult waters. This demanding work takes place in all weathers - pilots often have to climb from their boat onto the ship's side at speeds of over 10 knots and then climb up to 20 metres on a rope ladder, regardless of the wave conditions.
Andersen's LEGO model honours this maritime tradition and the demanding profession. "You can help make this Pilotbåd a real LEGO set. All you have to do is help with 'LEGO ideas pilot boat' to vote for the project," he writes on his Facebook page. Voting is free of charge. The response from the LEGO community has been overwhelming - the project has already received thousands of likes and hundreds of positive comments.
With passion for the potential Lego set
The model is not only an eye-catcher, but also rich in functional details. The roof can be removed to reveal the interior of the cabin and it comes with a stand so that it can be displayed on a desk. Measuring 61.5 cm long and 22.5 cm wide, it is an impressive display piece made from around 2,500 LEGO bricks.
The real-life model for Andersen's creation is a 15-metre pilot boat weighing over 20 tonnes and with a top speed of more than 30 knots (55 km/h). Although the LEGO model is not floatable, it impressively captures the character and functionality of the original.
For Andersen, the project is a perfect combination of his two passions: "In Denmark, where I live, the sea is never more than 50 kilometres away. Our small country has a coastline of almost 9000 kilometres. So we are closely connected to the sea," he explains on the LEGO Ideas platform. "As a skipper on a pilot boat, I started designing this model because it was simply missing in my home. Having grown up with LEGO in Denmark, it was a natural choice to combine these two passions."
The way to the official Lego set
If the project reaches the 10,000 votes mark, it will be officially reviewed by LEGO for potential production as a commercial set. According to the LEGO Ideas guidelines, the creators of successful projects also receive 1% of the total net sales of the set produced - in recognition of the creativity and time invested.
The project is not only interesting for ship enthusiasts, but for anyone who appreciates the maritime world and its traditions. It serves as a tribute to the hard-working men and women at sea whose important work often remains hidden. An official LEGO set could bring more attention and appreciation to this professional group.v Colleagues at DanPilot are also actively supporting the project and are calling for votes on Facebook.
The LEGO pilot boat in detail:
- Scale: 1:25
- Length: 61.5 cm
- Width: 22.5 cm
- Weight: 2.5 kg
- Number of stones: approx. 2,500 pieces
