Swashbuckling pirates

[Dean]

I’m thinking early golden age of piracy in the Caribbean and wondering about figures for the military units of the time.  I’ve seen some British but am wondering about Spanish or Dutch?  Should I just use Wars of the Spanish succession troops? Any ideas?

[Pan Marek]

I'll start with the old Wargamer standby:  It depends.   What do you mean by "early golden age of piracy"?   1650s?  1680s?  1710s?  The period of 1650-1700 saw a sea change in men's clothing, with the dress associated with the 30 years war and ECW giving way to long coats and cravats, and then, tricornes.  Equipment changed too, as the 12 apostles were abandoned for paper cartridges and boxes to carry them.  The era also saw the rise of uniforms, first by regiment, then by the early 1700s, nations choosing a base color for infantry coats.

[anevilgiraffe]

didn't the big cuffs and long coats come in with the Restoration? The jump from traditional ECW fashion to that is mind boggling...

[fred]

League of Augsburg ranges are worth a look, a bit earlier than WSS and much more variety but still around big coats and big cuffs! More floppy hats, fewer tricorns. Spanish feel a very good option to have available.

Given golden age of piracy is more of a literary and Hollywood idea I think you have quite a bit of leaway for what looks good!

[Dean]

Sorry Pan, I left it open on purpose to give people scope for answers.

[traveller]

If you decide on a couple of Pirate characters to portray, you will find what opponents they had and build it from there. Foundry have a lot of great character figures 

[Rossco2]

The North Star 1672 range has you well covered for military figures dressed to fight in Europe and other temperate regions.
Wargames Foundry has an abundance of choice for late 1600s into the 1700s.
Firelock Games in their Blood and Plunder range has an abundance of figures for different colonial nations in a warm climate.

[Cat]

Pick your favourite Pirate movie and dress accordingly!
 
Devil Ship Pirates: 1588
The Sea Hawk: 1588
Cutthroat Island: 1668
Captain Blood: 1685
Captain Kidd: 1699
Pirates of Blood River: "at the end of the 17th century"
Treasure Island: 1774

[Hitman]

Scorpion Games have some great figures and British soldiers in tricorne hats similar to Pirates of the Caribbean. Old Glory have some good choices as well. Blood and Plunder have Dutch, Spanish, French, British, European, Natives and Caribbean Pirates. Foundry had a great range. I mix them all together.

[Dean]

Great help, thank you all!

I was looking at Foundry and 1672, both good shouts.  I got my pirates from North Star, including the box set for ghost archipelago with the add on bits.

Firelock stuff looks great but the UK online stockist has really low stock and it seems a bit pricey for a few adversaries.

Ausburg are new to me, thanks Fred!

Hitman, was that Black Scorpion you were pointing to?  Those are great!  Love their Wild West too.  Shame they are 32mm

[traveller]

If you are looking at late 17th century both Front Rank and Ebor have great sculpts covering 1670s to early 1700s

[Dean]

Thanks Traveller, Ebor are new to me too.

[traveller]

Thanks Traveller, Ebor are new to me too.

These are great miniatures sculpted by Paul Hicks. The ones in floppy hats could cover from 1670s to well into the 18th century. Look forward to follow your project. I have one of my own, on the shelf 

[Patrice]

As others have said, you have a choice between ECW style, then 1670s short-sleeved justaucorps and floppy hats, then 1690s unformal tricornes and longer-sleeved justaucorps (but still letting the shirt sleeves wide around the wrists), then formal tricornes in the early 18th C.

Personally I've always liked more the 1690s style.

...BTW that's me some years ago, not a figure: 

[sepoy1857]

What about local Spanish militia or possibly Spanish Coast Guard forces? Those might be two good options for opponents. Although I don't think there is much if any information on organization, arms, uniforms (?) or Colours flown for either of these forces.