Armada era ship crew - any suggestions

[George]

Can anyone point me towards any 28mm figures or ranges that could be used to crew sailing ships in the 16th century? I am looking for figures who could hold a tiller, or a wheel, pull a rope, and do general sailoring activities. I'm okay for gun crews.

My Google Fu has been woeful in past couple of days searching.

[pancakeonions]

Hmm.  Have you looked at Blood and Plunder?  The era is right, but most are "action" poses - crew preparing to fight.  They have plastic "sailor" sprues coming out that might better fit what you need, but those aren't due out until the fall of this year.   Here's a pic of that sprue: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/firelockgames/blood-and-plunder-raise-the-black/posts/3265337   Lots of swords and pistols, fewer open hands, or hands carrying ship-stuff...

BnP figures run a little tall, too.  Closer to 30-32mm (not too bad, but I notice it).

Have you looked at the Frostgrave Ghost Archipelago Crewmen?  They're a little smaller (more like 28mm), and a few more open hands - but again, lots of cutlasses, crossbows, and sundry weapons.

Sailors doing sailor stuff - that's a harder find indeed!

[George]

Many thanks for the suggestions The sprue looks distinctly possible. I don't shrink from a bit  of converting, e.g. trimming weapons away, head swaps etc. but so many of the action poses just don't lend themselves to the maritime activities I want.

UPDATE: Just bought a Ghost Archipelago Crewmen sprue. I'll need to trim a few bits but on plastic that is a doddle. I'm sure I'll get something useful from them.

[Tactalvanic]

Not sure the scale, might be a bit off, and possible the era to, its hard to tell from the shiny pictures. eg

https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/8000-Cast-Metal-Sailor-22mm-A8000.html#SID=359

or

https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/figures/25mm-sailors.html

Red box games, but seems they are 1/72 and being mis-described on some websites

https://figure.scale-model-kits.com/products/English-sailors--16-17th-century-RB72081.html

but some of them do seem to be doing sailor things rather than fighting poses..

[Digits]

Border Reiver Elizabethan civilians…..a couple of usable minis here me thinks?

[George]

Some great ideas here guys. Thank you. I'm off to look t the Border Reiver range now.

[Digits]

https://www.timelineminiatures.co.uk/product/br22-border-reivers-civilians-

[Golgotha]

https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/seadogs-and-swashbucklers

[George]

Thanks Golgotha. That range and the Eureka Portuguese sailors supply most of the fighting men.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Some of the TAG Dutch Sea Beggars might work?

[Paul Richardson]

Perry Miniatures make some sailors pulling a rope, but they're in their British Napoleonic range, so completely the wrong period.

[George]

Those TAG figures look wonderful. Completely off my radar before your post! Very grateful lazy-dragon.

[carlos marighela]

Eureka make a number of sailors in their Portuguese Colonial range. Suitable for the latter half of the 16th C.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Those TAG figures look wonderful. Completely off my radar before your post! Very grateful lazy-dragon.

A pleasure! They fit well with the Foundry Swashbucklers

[George]

Carlos the Eureka figures are the bulk of my attacking forces. They are lovely figures.

Update an order of Sea Beggars from TAG is now on its way to me. With the Frostgrave figures coming too I think I now have sufficient crew for both ships. Thanks guys. You certainly helped me tremendously.