Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)

[Sinewgrab]

Alright mates, here's the scoop.

I am in the middle of building an Empire army for Warhammer Fantasy Battle that has a pirate theme - I am using a mix of Foundry, Black Cat Bases, Reaper, Black Scorpion, and GW Free Company (as well as anything else I can get my hands on) to build it. The problem I am running into is trying to build some of the units - does anyone on here have a suggestion for how I can represent a mounted unit such as pistoliers or outriders while maintaining a pirate theme? They would not have horses - too much trouble on board ship, and doing something like 'shark-riders' is just stretching it too far in my opinion. Any ideas? I am fresh out here.

[P_Clapham]

As far as no Horses go..... some ships did have stables for transporting Horses or Cattle.

If you are intent on a more Pirate or Nautical aproach.... how about one man boats around the size of a GW Calvary base?  Barrel riders could be another variant, particularly if you wanted to add some Halfling cut-throats.

[white knight]

Freebooter has a very good pirate in a one man flying sloop. A bit expensive to build a unit with, but you could take the idea and scratchbuild your own? Freebooter sells bits too, so you could just order the ship hull for instance and add your own crew.

[white knight]

This is it:





http://www.freebooterminiatures.com/

[itchy]

giant turtles (captain Jack sparrow style) get cheap ones from early learning centres.

[Le matou rouge]

or giant crab riders as W.B.Kurgan, here, did :





meow,
Matt

[Gluteus Maximus]

Why not have them do what the Vikings did and steal any horses they need as soon as they land. In this way the Vikings gave themselves a useful mounted infantry/scouting force without the logistical problems of transporting and caring for their mounts.

Otherwise, you could use small steam-powered wheeled amphibious rowing boats, using looted Empire or Dwarf steam-tech. They should be pretty easy conversions and might contain a helmsman and a fighter, much like a chariot. They would probably come under the Warhammer chariot rules, though this is a guess, as I am not a WFB player 

[meninobesta]

you can always use dragoons:


or even Denis Moore:


 

[Gluteus Maximus]

or even Denis Moore:
 

.... extraor.....dinary 

[Lowtardog]

giant turtles (captain Jack sparrow style) get cheap ones from early learning centres.

Yep turtle riders sounds an excelelnt idea, have the figures standing on them holding a bridle

[white knight]

Visually a good idea, but practically... well walking would be faster than riding a turtle...

Like the crab idea though.

[itchy]

crabs would be faster ...but move sideways  ,great for flanking moves i suppose 

[Sinewgrab]

Freebooter has a very good pirate in a one man flying sloop. A bit expensive to build a unit with, but you could take the idea and scratchbuild your own? Freebooter sells bits too, so you could just order the ship hull for instance and add your own crew.

I had actually been considering that model for my General on a Pegasus for some time, but I can't find a good place to get Freebooter in the US. The post is murder from Europe right now. You know that - I bought enough barbarians from you! 
Instead, I am going to put the new Reaper Pirate King on some sort of contrivance, probably a small boat being pulled ashore by a group of buccaneers, as the Arch Lector, and a guy carrying a treasure chest as my army standard bearer.
If I could find a supplier of boats that size, I would be all over them. I've started looking at toy stores, because I am finding a dearth of small boats for two models out there.

[white knight]

Well, for boths that size, you'd probably be best off looking on ebay for some kinder egg toys that look the appropriate size. Does seem a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack mind... 

[itchy]

dont know if anyone stocks the Ainsty old crow trader range over there but they do small 28mm rafts and boats for for £4-£5 each and they are nice p&p from uk might not be too bad?