Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Sailor with Blunderbuss (Mars)


This jolly tar is one of eight figures released by Mars as part of their recent "Pirates of the Caribbean" set (mine was from https://www.michtoy.com/item-MAF-32020-Pirates_of_the_Caribbean.html)  Soon I will review the set all together, but I wanted to focus on this particular figure for now.

He wears long trousers typical of seamen from c. 1750 on.  His short unbuttoned waistcoat allows his shirt to be seen tucked into his trousers.  He wears a nondescript knit cap and a useful neck cloth.  Armed with a blunderbuss, he is ready to repel boarders.

Since he is a generic 18th Century sailor, he would be equally at home in King George's or King Louis' navy, as a pirate or a minuteman.  His versatility is his strongest selling feature.  In fact, you might consider purchasing Mars' Pirates of the Caribbean just to add this figure to your navies or militia.


But there is one other unusual use for him.

His pose is an excellent recreation of Alan Lee's illustration of Farmer Giles of Ham, the hero of the book of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien.  At one point in the book, Farmer Giles picks up his blunderbuss against a trespassing giant.  Now you can recreate this scene with this figure!  I would recommend sculpting a beard, as Farmer Giles is described as wearing one.