Pirates for Model Ships — A Great Way to Add Interest and Realism
Thanks to the success of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean films starring actors Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, the subject of pirates is a quite popular one these days. Of course, with pirate ship model builders, they have always been a favorite subject. The basic gist of things is that pirates from the 15th to the 18th century were ocean going thieves who conquered other ships and stole any treasure they managed to find. The romantic ideal of the pirate is enduring yet historically inaccurate as most were poor, sickly, unwashed individuals with short life spans and few moral values. Regardless, you may want or need pirates for model ships to make your model more accurate and interesting.
You can find miniature figurines of all kinds at many hobby stores and especially online. Some of them come fully painted and ready to display, while others require painting. This process can be fun for the builder who enjoys painting. Because the figurines are small, you will need a small brush suitable for detail work. You’ll also need good lighting, sharp eyesight and a steady hand. Try adding a parrot figurine to the shoulder of one of your pirates or buy a pirate figure who already has one with him for a bit of added whimsy. For the most stereotypical pirate, choose one with a peg leg, eye patch, gold earring and head wrap if you can find one!
If you’re having trouble finding the figurines you’re seeking in hobby shops or at online retailers, check Ebay. Ebay has so many sellers from around the world that you just might find the perfect figurines. With the renewed public interest in the pirate culture, there is likely to be quite a few figurines suitable for your model ships. When it comes to the ships themselves, a kit is a great way to get started. Kits contain everything you need to build your ship including the parts, plans, and glue.
Pirates for model ships can be the perfect touch for your completed project. You could even try staging a historic event such as the takeover of another ship by pirates. For this, you will need additional figurines to represent the crew of the victimized ship. Some builders even create multiple ships complete with realistic backgrounds for a realistic representation of sea history from centuries ago.
