Naval Crew question

[summsi]

Hallo,

I want to use some foundry pirates as a regular european naval crew.

How could I paint them to look more regular?

Thanks.

[Steve F]

Navies at the time didn't really have uniforms (apart from for Marines), so the regulars can look happily irregular.

[Furt]

A friend painted his naval crew (Foundry pirates) with navy blue pants and white shirts, just to tie them all in and differentiate them from the real scurvy dogs. But I agree with Steve F - u are free to do with them what u wish.

As a side note he also used these : - B141 Royal Navy Boarding Party http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/WW2/5/index.asp

The wrong period, but they look great.

[Captain Blood]

I have painted a batch of my Foundry cutthroats as Royal Naval crew - even though they didn't wear uniforms at the time!

Basically, I picked out all the figures wearing short jackets - amongst my 120 or so figures, I guess I have about a dozen of them dressed this way - and painted them in 'uniform' jackets of blue, white shirts and ducks, red sashes and neckerchiefs.

Works pretty well. 

[Plynkes]

The only problem is pirate figures are often extravagantly dressed, in a way Navy sailors wouldn't be. Pirates loved to play dress-up with plundered gear. But the basic outfit of a pirate crewman is identical to an ordinary seaman.

I would use the plainest-looking ones, and not paint them too flash, but keep things drab. White or off-white cotton duck trousers for all of em, none of those fancy colours you see on the Foundry site. Dark jackets, plain shirts. If any are in a t-shirt style shirt then that could be stripey, but I'd leave those big baggy long-sleeved shirts plain and drab.

[Galloping Major]

I agree with all of the above.

Just pick out a group of less outlandish looking fellows, in peas-cod looking jackets and maybe some in shirt sleeves, and avoid unco-ordinated clashy colours.
There are quite a few in the Foundry pirates range that would fit the bill, and 2 or 3 of the characters in coats that would make good officers.

Good question, have fun with the project, it's one of the many I've intended to do for some time 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Malamute]

Good question, have fun with the project, it's one of the many I've intended to do for some time 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

You and me both. I have the figures, I have the terrain, I even have the ship, but just need the time to paint the figures...

[timg]

As above, first ratings uniforms not introduced untill 1858 so would go for the whites from the slops chest with blue jackets if any, maybe a few checked and stripey tops. Captains launch crew could have uniforms of Captains design if he chose to do so.

I would like to see a range of Sailors and Officers from the 1770's/80's period.

[Silent Invader]

A most useful thread.

You and me both. I have the figures, I have the terrain, I even have the ship, but just need the time to paint the figures...

I'll third that.... I have the boat and the crew all ready to start on but other stuff  keeps getting to the head of the queue.

[timg]

Which figures are you chaps using if i may ask? I got pirates from black scorpion.

[Furt]

I went with Eureka Turkish pirates for a Barbary Corsair crew. ARRRGHHH!

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=6388.0

[argsilverson]

I agree to all the above, but I think that the officers did wear a formal uniform!

[timg]

I agree to all the above, but I think that the officers did wear a formal uniform!

Yeah, officers had a proper uniform, think the officers uniform came in in 1742 alledgedly based on some Duchesse's blue and white riding habit though it was probably more a case of regulating common practice.

[Malamute]

Which figures are you chaps using if i may ask? I got pirates from black scorpion.

Foundry and several Crusader Miniatures. I am not so keen on the Black Scorpion figures.

[Galloping Major]

Foundry - So Far