Yarrr! Pirates!

I'm currently thinking about creating a (human) pirate warband. However, I'm not yet sure what models/components to use. Do you have any suggestions?

OH BABY, DO I EVER!

Are you going to stick to GW pieces or are you open to using stuff from other mini makers? I thought it MIGHT be better to ask BEFORE I inundate you with POSSIBLE minis to use.

HOWEVER,a quick list would be Reaper Minis, Black Scoprion & PrivateerPress [appropriately ].

Oh, actually I thought it would be nice to use some GW stuff and scratch together some cool pirates. BUT I recently started saying "Hello" to other miniature companies, so if there are any really cool miniatures any proper pirate band shouldn't lack, show them

However, if I should manage to convert some cool pirates from GW (plastic) bits, it woul be even better.

don't forget ther essentials,

Eye patch,
skull and cross bones on caps/hats,
red bandanas,
parrots,
monkeys,
squirrels,
peg legs,
hook arms (could double as swords),
swivle gun attached like a minigun resting on the hip,

Duce wrote:

don't forget ther essentials,

Eye patch,
skull and cross bones on caps/hats,
red bandanas,
parrots,
monkeys,
squirrels,
peg legs,
hook arms (could double as swords),
swivle gun attached like a minigun resting on the hip,

Belaying Pins,
Boarding Pikes,
Culasses,
LOTS & LOTS of Pistols,
Kegs & bottles of Rum,
Treasure Chests, dead man optional,

....BUT, SQUIRRELS, who EVER heard of a Pirate with SQUIRRELS; THAT'S NUTS [ ] !

I'm sure can easily convert a pirate warband from the Mordheim adventurers set (ie Empire militia box). They already come with bandana heads and tricornes (if I am not mistaken, that is). Peglegs can be easily converted and for the Monkey you can use the Empire monkey from the gunners box.

As for non-GW pirates I'd like to shamelessly recommend my guide about Collecting Pirate Miniatures on my ever expanding blog. DeafNala forgot to mention Foundry, Artizan Designs and some other fine producers (of which Foundry must spring to mind to any historical wargamer), althoug I'm sure he just didn't get really started.

EDIT:

Duce wrote:

squirrels,

What?!

@cianty: ACTUALLY, I PMed Eliazar about Foundry. They DO have an INCREDIBLE range of Pirates AND, if you LOVE the Citadel look [like SOMEONE I know ], they ARE designed by the Perry twins, Dave Amdrews & Ali Morrison...you can't get more GW than that! BUT, as you said, if you like making nice, individualistic, unique conversions the fine range of Citadel plastics IS the way to go!

Abou the Black Scorpion pirates... on their webstie, the size is stated with 32mm. Does anyone how they will relate to GW miniatures? Are they slightly bigger or won't there be a difference you'd notice?

They had a Line Up of minis at both Wyrd Games & Reaper Minis for comparative size; the Black Scopion stuff is the same size & proportion as GW's & Reaper's minis, & somewhat larger than Foundry. Foundry matches up closer to LoTR than to WHFB/Mordheim.

Good to hear. I even found the scale comparison pics, but my work computer doesn't show them

ohh good addons Nala to the list, forgot those sort of things

And yeah a squirrel, it would add a small unique touch, especially if modelled with a mini pirate hat, and given a great fluff background, then a fun name.

its a little weird probabily but it would add a fun touch to the pirates as you could claim one of them took it as he was having no luck finding a parrot or monkey. so he stole a squirrel and trained it.

now thats base level thievery for you.

Duce wrote:

ohh good addons Nala to the list, forgot those sort of things

And yeah a squirrel, it would add a small unique touch, especially if modelled with a mini pirate hat, and given a great fluff background, then a fun name.

its a little weird probabily but it would add a fun touch to the pirates as you could claim one of them took it as he was having no luck finding a parrot or monkey. so he stole a squirrel and trained it.

now thats base level thievery for you.

Well they'd probably be good scampering up the rigging like, erm...squirrels. HEY they'd be PERFECT for Sea Going Wood Elf Pirates...ARRRGH!

My cat tends to sit on my shoulders in the manner of a piratical parrot. The only problem is that when I meet up with the other captains at the Dead Man's Chest Bar & Grill he makes all their parrots nervous and they end up with shit on their epaulettes.

Another fine grog-house I'm banned from...

Is there actually a squirrel model?

KingSkin wrote:

My cat tends to sit on my shoulders in the manner of a piratical parrot. The only problem is that when I meet up with the other captains at the Dead Man's Chest Bar & Grill he makes all their parrots nervous and they end up with shit on their epaulettes.

Another fine grog-house I'm banned from...

My Uncle Gus' Parrot ONLY pooped if He was on someone's shoulder. If left on his perch TOO LONG, there was the imminent possibility of Implosion.

Eliazar wrote:

Is there actually a squirrel model?

Reaper has one in one of their Familiar Packs; I think I have one kicking around SOMEWHERE in the Vault.

It begins.....


(I want squirrel model, have you got link to one Nala)?

DeafNala wrote:

the Black Scopion stuff is the same size & proportion as GW's

Not exactly. The BS models are slightly larger (heroic scale). Personally I wouldn't mix them with GW (28mm) models, but if you have an entire crew - I mean warband - of 32mm models then you can easily field them against 28mm models. That makes your models only more impressive.

For reference:

cianty wrote:

DeafNala wrote:

the Black Scopion stuff is the same size & proportion as GW's

Not exactly. The BS models are slightly larger (heroic scale). Personally I wouldn't mix them with GW (28mm) models, but if you have an entire crew - I mean warband - of 32mm models then you can easily field them against 28mm models. That makes your models only more impressive.

I agree that he's a bit taller than the mini on the extreme right, but if you discount the height of his hat, he's pretty much the same height as the one on the left.
From a personal perspective, I rather like having Warbands with a slight variation in height & bulk. It seems more natural, especially so with the motley crew image of Pirates; for an example of what I mean about "natural" check ou the group shot of the guys from Tom's Big Meet Up.

Of course in the end it's all about personal preferences. You gotta do what makes you happy with your warband. That is all that counts. I'm just saying that you can see a difference in the proportions so that Eliazar can make his own decision.

There's no need to do it like me, which is that I wouldn't mix 32mm BS with 28mm GW - even if the differences are only slight. I surely don't mean to press my preferences upon anyone. Just saying...

cianty, mein Freund, I hope I didn't sound harsh in what I said. The fact that we've agreed to disagree on a couple of minor points AND that I respect your opinion on our shared interests gives me a different perspective to review my own preferences & discard those that I find to be mistaken [being mistaken is one of my talents ].
God forbid we should all be the same; we'd lose our the wonderful uniqueness of our creations.

DeafNala wrote:

cianty, mein Freund, I hope I didn't sound harsh in what I said. The fact that we've agreed to disagree on a couple of minor points AND that I respect your opinion on our shared interests gives me a different perspective to review my own preferences & discard those that I find to be mistaken [being mistaken is one of my talents ].
God forbid we should all be the same; we'd lose our the wonderful uniqueness of our creations.

Amen. It's all 100% cool with me.

COOL!

When I was browsing/drooling my way through the Foundry Pirates & came across the Chinese ones, my immediate reaction was: "WOW! cianty WILL LOVE these little suckers!"

DeafNala wrote:

COOL!

When I was browsing/drooling my way through the Foundry Pirates & came across the Chinese ones, my immediate reaction was: "WOW! cianty WILL LOVE these little suckers!"

Ahem... I am already considering buying them. They are very far up on my list. I'll get myself the rest of the Black Scorpion pirates range first and them some Chinese fellas. The ones from Curteys Miniatures are also quite cool (and cheap).

Me, I've always loved Rackham - find they fit in quite well with GW. Here's a few piraty fellows perchance...

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=712&ref=UKCDCH05&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=46

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=311&ref=UKCD16&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=46

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=724&ref=UKCDCR03&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=46

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=789&ref=UKCDMA04&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=46

I have these fellows and use them in Mordheim, Warhammer, D&D...
http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=375&ref=UKGRBO02&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=5

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=344&ref=UKGRFI03&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=5

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?type=249&ref=UKGRMG01&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=5

Anywa, that's some that I feel could fit nicely into a Pirate warband. 'Course, as DeafNala has said, really good pirates from Black Scorpion and Reaper as well.