Redheaded Pirate (Mars)

This figure began with seeing a picture of a new redheaded pirate on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  Her design was distinct with lots of red!  This made her a pirate character, or a decent camp follower for the British Army.  Besides, how could a blog named Red Coats & Ruffles not add a figure who sports both?

After a long and involved search, no suitable figures of the redheaded pirate were found.  She has a fair amount of her own merchandise, but not in 54mm.  Clearly, some heavy conversion of an existing 54mm figure would be required. 

She began as a Mars female pirate, actually as the same figure as Arabella Smith. (Meet Arabella at http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2022/05/arabella-smith-mars.html).  Arabella's conversion was relatively easy, but this redheaded swashbuckler would need more than that.  Her hat (including plume) had to be sculpted, her sleeves needed ruffles at the wrists, and most importantly, she needed a skirt with two separate layers, a belt, and a decorative waist-mounted pocket.

Her skirt was easily the most challenging thing to sculpt, but it turned out well.  The ivory-handled, brass-barrelled pistol in her belt is one produced by Helmet Soldiers (http://www.helmetsoldiers.co.uk, whose website seems to be offline).

I envision her as a pirate when it suits her, but a smuggler and businesswoman far more often.  Perhaps she is the one trusted by other buccaneers to turn looted items into cash--for a price, of course!

Figure by Mars, painted with acrylic paints.

Arabella Smith (Mars)

Avast me hearties!  Another Mars pirate is joining Redcoats & Ruffles...but there are two major differences.  First, she is a female pirate, and secondly she is a female pirate.

Meet Arabella Smith!  In a quest for interesting color schemes for characters, this female pirate stood out.  Sporting a bright yellow jacket, green sash, and purple breeches, she is a colorful character.  Un-historical? Yes.  Fun? Definitely!

The original figure was wielding a pistol in either hand.  But another (forthcoming) figure carried two pistols.  Since Arabella appears to run a restaurant, it was a natural progression to convert her right hand to hold a tankard.  

Eagle-eyed readers of this blog (if there are any!) may notice that her tankard has changed from the 2021 showcase (see original at http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2022/01/2021-painting-report.html).  Originally it was a piece of plastic sprue that was glued to her hand.  This would have made a good mug, but it was too small and the bottom was ragged, not flat.  After it broke off, she requested a new tankard, one that was larger and more correctly shaped.  Her patience was rewarded and now she carries a large tankard filled with a suitably piratical beverage.

Sailor with Cutlass (Mars)

 Hoist the sails, me hearties!  Another jolly tar has joined the Royal Navy.  This figure is originally from Mars Figures (https://www.michtoy.com/item-MAF-32020-Pirates_of_the_Caribbean.html).  He wears a jacket with very short sleeves, perhaps originally designed for a smaller sailor.  He wears a cap and neckcloth like many other sailor figures.  The most unusual feature of his clothing is the pair of petticoat trousers that he is wearing.  It is most gratifying to see a figure wearing these, as they were a common item of clothing for sailors (for illustrations of petticoat trousers, see https://www.britishtars.com/search/label/petticoat%20trousers).  Most other sailors in this scale make do with breeches or long trousers, which were also common.

The only conversion work that was done on him was to remove his waist sash, which was an uncommon piece of equipment for a British sailor, and replace it with a generic leather belt.

The Royal Navy is recruiting to chastise His Majesty’s rebellious subjects!

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.