Plastic Pirates?

[TheWeasel]

Does anyone know of any 25mm or 28mm (or close) plastic pirate ranges available? I thought i'd seen some in some pics around here in the past...

[Messyart]

I've recently gathered some GW empire militia models together and modified them without much fuss.
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod20048&_requestid=2618409

Of course, if you want someone that's worth what it costs.. skip over this post entirely.

[TheWeasel]

Thanks kindly, but I was hoping to go plastic for price reasons. THis is for a class i'm teaching at a local youth group. For the cost of GW Empire Militia, I could easily get more metals from Old Glory.

I appreciate the input though!

[Galloping Major]

If cost is the govening factor, very understandable in a project such as you describe, you'd probably be better searching the second-hand market, such as this on eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/foundry-metal-pirates-/270963691384?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item3f16b1cf78

These particular ones are described as Foundry, but a quick glance at the picture would suggest that relatively few of them are Foundry products. Still, 19 characters plus other bits including a cannon for £10 has to be worth looking at.


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Poiter50]

Agree with Galloping Major, Ebay is your best source. In the past, I have used a search for "28mm, Pirates" from Toys & Games with much success.

Having said that, perhaps some of the Warlord Games figures for ECW would suit your purposes as well?

If cost is the govening factor, very understandable in a project such as you describe, you'd probably be better searching the second-hand market, such as this on eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/foundry-metal-pirates-/270963691384?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item3f16b1cf78

These particular ones are described as Foundry, but a quick glance at the picture would suggest that relatively few of them are Foundry products. Still, 19 characters plus other bits including a cannon for £10 has to be worth looking at.


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[dm]

Maybe you could convert some of the Warlord Games ECW

[Elbows]

I just picked up a box of Wargames Factory infantry, and cavalry from the WSS (War of Spanish Succession).  From 1701-1714, the models are predominantly marching in line with muskets, but out of the 36 infantry, 12 can be modified, and by combining the cavalry with the infantry, you can come up with a reasonable amount of pirate-ish miniatures.  Granted I'm going to be assembling a "Royal Navy" crew for my group's pirate game...but with some swapped heads etc, you could make a couple.

It'll be a while before I really go to assembling them, but I'll post some results.  I have a slew of spare vikings and such, so I can slap some beardy, evil looking heads on some of them. 

[TheWeasel]

Thanks! I've also picked up a box of WF WSS infantry, and they'll work great as Governor's Guards or the like. I may write up the painting event afterward.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions

[Elbows]

Just so you know, the cavalry box comes with a good bunch of pistol arms, and sword arms, and the like - also numerous torsos etc.  I'm going to mix the torsos with the ones from the infantry box --- as well as some other random WF legs that I have laying around (some of the vikings, etc. will make for simple legs without shoes, etc.  Also, the cavalry box and infantry box come with a lot of muskets with slings.

However, as you mentioned, I will be doing up some 10-12 guys in simple marching pattern for a guard presence on the islands.  I've built one scratch pirate, I'll try to take pics when I get a few more done.  They're not very dynamic, but will work.

[TheWeasel]

Thanks for the heads-up! I do hope you'll be posting some pics from your project?

[Elbows]

So far, some good results using a variety of Wargames Factory guys (WSS, celts, vikings, etc.) with some ECW from Warlord bits, and some bits from the Empire Militia (forgot I had a box sitting around).  This is the only one I snapped a picture of.  I will post pics of some more later.

[The Gray Ghost]

that turned out nice