10320 Eldorado Fortress’s galleon is another LEGO Pirates deep cut
The newly-revealed 10320 Eldorado Fortress actually combines not one, but two classic LEGO Pirates sets – taking its galleon straight from a vintage ‘90s outpost.
When the original 6276 Eldorado Fortress sailed on to shelves in 1989, it did so with a pair of rowboats in tow: one for the two pirates ambushing the stronghold, and another in red for the Imperial soldiers. The upgraded and reimagined 10320 Eldorado Fortress swaps out that second boat for a much larger galleon, complete with fabric sails.
It’s decked out in the colours of the crown, and on the box art and official images appears to be sailed by the Imperial soldiers, suggesting it belongs to the rulers of Eldorado rather than the pirates – even while the official set description calls it a ‘pirate galleon’. That label may be a consequence of the boat’s inspiration, however, as it’s actually another callback to a classic LEGO Pirates set.
The model in question is 1992’s 6277 Imperial Trading Post, another set anchored around a three-dimensional baseplate. The 608-piece set is bigger and more expansive than the original Eldorado, incorporating a second regular blue baseplate, an additional minifigure and a small pirate ship. It’s that vessel that’s been plucked straight from the set and inserted into 10320 Eldorado Fortress.
Like the rest of the LEGO Icons set, the ship isn’t a direct remake, but rather a modern redesign, swapping out elements to match the present-day parts catalogue. It’s a very close thing, though – put the two side by side and you’d struggle to tell them apart at first glance. Even the design on the main sail is almost identical, save for better printing and a slightly more artistic approach.
Perhaps the most immediate difference is that where 6277 Imperial Trading Post placed a pirate at the ship’s wheel (maybe it’s been hijacked?), 10320 Eldorado Fortress returns it to the Imperials – leaving the two pirate minifigures with only a rowboat to commandeer the outpost, as was the case all the way back in 1999.
Click here for more images of the brand new 10320 Eldorado Fortress. The 2,509-piece set launches July 7 for £189.99 / $214.99 / €214.99.
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