Iconic Ships from Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Series

If you ever fancied modelling the Iconic Ships from Pirates of the Caribbean and wondered where to start, FEAR NOT - I Captain Blackwood am here to help!!! (OK, its me really - sorry, got carried away there).

In this post, I'll cover the Ships from the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie series - and indicate either what real-world ships they are based on, or give you the inspiration for them!

The Dying Gull

Starting with the most recent first, the latest ship to be introduced into the timeline of the Pirates of the Caribbean is the Dying Gull! Seen in the Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - the Dying Gull is designed after a single-masted sloop class and is portrayed by the Rainbow Gypsy which is a Scottish trawler. This Dying Gull features eight gunports, one swivel gun, and no visible cannons.

The HMS Interceptor

Pictured is the Ship "The Lady Washington" before it was repainted and dressed for the Movie.

Appearing in the very first installment of the Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie Series, the HMS Interceptor was a  brig in the Royal Navy serving His Majesty King George II. This brig was believed to be the fastest vessel commissioned by the Monarch. In reality, the HMS Interceptor is portrayed by a replica of the Lady Washington ship which a Brig that sailed the waters of the Caribbean through the island of Saint Vincent during the latter half of the 18th century.

The Queen Anne's Revenge

This ship appeared in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is based on the nonfictional merchant sailing vessel which was launched from England in 1710 and was named the Concord. A year after the ship's launch, it was captured by the French and used as a slave ship. In 1717, near the island of Martinique, that the ship was captured and used as a vessel by pirates. By 1718, the notorious (real) pirate, Edward Teach, or better known as Blackbeard, captured the ship and ran it aground at Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina. The Queen Anne's Revenge in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is a modified Frigate.

The Flying Dutchman

The Flying Dutchman is one of the most notable fictional ships in the whole of the Pirates Of The Caribbean series. It is a combination of a galleon and fluyt ship which is a Dutch sailing vessel that is originally designed as a cargo vessel. One of the inspirations for the Flying Dutchman's look is the 17th-century real-life Swedish warship called the Vasa (you can read about my post about the Vasa here - https://keelhauling-4-fun-and-profit.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-vasa-almost-perfectly-preserved.html). This ghost ship was also inspired by the legend story of the ship with the same name or De Vliegende Hollander in Dutch. Although considered as 17th-century nautical folklore, many notable people in the 20th Century have reported sightings of the Flying Dutchman.

The Black Pearl

The ship that features the most is Captain Jack Sparrow's, Black Pearl. From the film's background, the Black Pearl was originally a merchant vessel that belonged to the East India Trading Company that was hijacked by Sparrow. Originally called "The Wicked Wench" it is an odd hybrid of a galleon and an East Indiaman.

THE VASA - AN ALMOST PERFECTLY PRESERVED 17th CENTURY WARSHIP!

The Vasa Warship can be found at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. The ship when built (in 1626) was the most "hi-tech" design when it set sail, unfortunately it sunk in 1628.

It’s believed that the Vasa sank because the gun deck was simply too heavy, and apparently this mistake was the result of it being designed and built by someone with no experience building such a well-armed ship.

It’s so well preserved that it provides a glimpse of life at sea during the 1600’s almost never seen.

The ship was preserved because it sunk in the harbor where it was docked to shelter it from storms. 

The ship was moved to the museum in Stockholm in 1988.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bizarre-story-vasa-ship-keeps-giving-180964328/

Captain Morgan for Blood & Plunder

Captain Morgan has always been one of my Favourite Historical Figures.

Sir Henry Morgan born in Wales on the 24th January 1635, Harri Morgan was a Welsh privateer, plantation owner, and, later, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. Based in Port Royal, Jamaica - he raided settlements and ships on the Spanish Main, becoming a very wealthy man, eventually purchasing three large sugar plantations.

Morgan died a rich man (on 25th August 1688), and as Lieutenant Governor - was given a State Funeral, and an amnesty was declared so that Pirates and privateers could pay their respects without fear of arrest.

Anyway, this is my Take on the Great Man - Miniature (obviously) by Firelock Games as part of their Blood & Plunder Range.

THE RETURN OF THE SON OF 'AAAARRR, THERE SHE GROWS!'

I've not blogged for a couple of days, I've had a fairly bad Sinus Infection - so I've been staying quiet and (when the pain allows) doing bits of hobby.

My Freebooters Fate Pirates are stripped and re-undercoated, and I continued with some other "Piratey" Projects - including doing more on my Jungle/Island Scatter Terrain for my Freebooters Fate, Pirate, and Ghost Archipelago Games.

As you can see, PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE - just the base of the Trees/Plants, the Ground, and the Static-Grass to do!

THE SON OF 'AAAARRR, THERE SHE GROWS!'

After a long time, I finally returned to my Jungle project - I've added a few more - INCLUDING some with ruins on them.

The start of this was shown in last years "AAAARRR, THERE SHE GROWS!" Blog Post, and "BRING A SPRING UPON HER CABLE!" (where I covered what to do when you run out of bitz) - these showed the initial foray into using the old GW Jungle Trees I had lying around to start building Desert Island/Jungle Terrain for my Games.

I've added a few more Trees and Shrubbery bases - even do some with ruins (I also plan to do some with just ruins and archaic edifices on - for my more fantastical games), and whilst not particularly historical in focus, the multiple use aspect of them makes them acceptable (for me at least).

Freebooter's Fate - To Musketeer or Not to Musketeer

 

Freebooter's Fate has always been a huge favourite of mine, I've got two Crews - Pirates (obviously) to 585 Doubloons (without gear - and a Choice of Two Leaders, Captain Rosso & Rubio) and The Cult to 310 Doubloons (just the core box, and two Sansâmes - but again without gear).

My quandary was simple - do I expand the Cult (which I'm quite happy to have as a small "once in a while" Force) or do I go for something new to a similar size as my Pirates.

I'd leap on the Shadows, but I missed their pre-order Window (and so they will have to wait for another day). But with my Birthday coming up, I figured it might be worth-while "putting it out there" among my Family (rather than just responding "Pirates" when they ask me what I'd like for my Birthday).

And seeing I'm also a Huge Three Musketeers Fan - I think my "want list" has to have The Debonn on it.

"Banished on a small, almost unknown island, on Désespérance. Drilled through decades of clashes in their homeland. Disfavored by the ever-changing new ruler in Debonn. Rundown and bored by the wasteland on their convict colony. The name says it all: Island of hopelessness. But they have managed to wake up from their lethargy. With a tactical feat, they have hijacked a supply ship and are now on their way to Leonera, because there shall be gold there, and thus their return to Debonn would not be far away"

But how "loaded" (with Musketeers I mean LoL) can I make the list?

Treville is my immediate choice for a Leader, the Model is gorgeous and fits in with the Musketeer Theme I want.

Hire Fee: 85 Doubloons

Next up will be the Deckhands - two packs stick out at me, they are beautiful sculpts and will be a joy to paint.

Fusiliere Set #2.

Hire Fee: 60 Doubloons (for the pair)

and the Vieille Garde Set #2.

Hire Fee: 50 Doubloons (for the pair)

So Far so good - Four Deckhands = Four Specialists (no Mercenaries in this Crew ;) )

As the Plan is to be as Musketeer themed as possible, there can be only four possible Specialists.

D'Arebousse - who, though a Female is the obvious D'Artagnan Character.

Hire Fee: 85 Doubloons

Aplantage, who displays the strength and confidence of Athos.

Hire Fee: 85 Doubloons 

Armond, the Aramis-esque Model.

Hire Fee: 60 Doubloons 

and last (but not least) Potée, who is a beautifully rotund Porthos-inspired Model.

Hire Fee: 80 Doubloons 

That gives me a Debonn Crew of 505 Doubloons (without Gear) - putting me within spitting distance of my existing Pirate Crew.

Well, time to hand my Birthday list over - its all very exciting!

Interesting Facts About Pirates

I've not done much today except read - Insomnia is a Bitch, but when It kicks your ass as hard as its been kicking mine the last couple of days barring a few Chores around the house, I've not gotten much done at all today.

I know with the tiredness Headache I get when I lose this much sleep - I shouldn't really read, but I'm afraid the lure of the High Seas in the late 17th Century and Early 18th Century is always too much for me.

So, rather than not Blog anything today - the Sea Gods know I'm too tired and sore to be imaginative. I thought I'd post some interesting Facts about our favourite Larcenous Seafarers!

I would imagine that everyone who is a Pirate fan knows the English word “pirate” is derived from the Latin term “pirata” which means sailor or sea robber! But it is also from the Greek word “peirates” which literally means “one who attacks ships” . . . .

The spelling of “Pirate” wasn’t standardized until the eighteenth centuries and “pirrot”, “pyrate”, and “pyrat”,  were commonly used until then.

Pirates actually preferred not to kill many people aboard the ships they captured, the logic behind this was simple - if the ship surrendered, they generally killed no one. They would board the enemy ship, steal all the goods they could carry, and leave the crew alive (presumably to tell the tale of their ordeal). If it became known that pirates took no prisoners, victims would be more likely to fight to the last breath, making claiming their prize more difficult.

In 1241, an English pirate named William Maurice was the first person known to have been hanged, drawn, and quartered - showing to the world how much the then-King Henry III viewed the crime of piracy.

The Mediterranean was once a playground for pirates. New discoveries about 16th-century pirates reveal what private sailors had to do to protect themselves. The Mediterranean waters along Israel's coast were once so infested with pirates that merchant ships felt the need to arm themselves for protection.

Even though the Atlantic and Caribbean pirates were heavily romanticized, Mediterranean Pirates equaled or outnumbered them at any given point in history.

Pirate communities operated as limited democracies, instituting a system of checks and balances similar to the one used by many present-day Democratic Countries around the World.

The Pirate Council (the term used to referred to the members of the Pirate crew) was responsible for removing officers from their positions, and then choosing new candidates to fill those positions.

They even had a health care system - each Pirate Ship made provisions for certain injuries and their monetary worth. For example, the loss of a right arm was worth six hundred pieces of eight, while a left arm was worth five hundred pieces of eight. The funds for these types of compensations were taken from a common pool of money, which remained as a portion of the booty captured on their expeditions.

Pirates are known for eye patches, walking the plank, and collecting booty, but there are more pirate traditions than you might be aware of, like the fact that same-sex relationships were common among the Pirates of the Caribbean. “Matelotage” was a gay marriage of sorts practiced by male pirates from the 17th century. Some of the most successful pirates had relationships with other men as a means of companionship and protection. Having a mate was both a personal and professional arrangement for a pirate - and the word 'Mate' itself is probably a holdover from the institution of Matelotage.

And with that revelation, I'm off to try and sleep - Nite Shipmates!

Deckhand "Schmitty" Done (Black Scorpion Pirate Miniature)

I've not been too well recently, nothing serious (not the C19 Virus luckily) just a nasty cold - it sapped my desire to paint, which is a big ole' bummer.

But I managed to finish Deckhand "Schmitty" Done one of my Black Scorpion Pirate Miniatures (sorry about the picture, I'm rubbish at taking them - it will all look better as a group with natural daylight).

You will notice he's on the standard 25mm Base Black Scorpion uses, in spite of my excitement at using Blood & Plunder 20mm sized bases - I was informed by Stuart and Toby (my only opponents for Cutlass locally) that THEIR Crews are based on 25mm round plastic bases. So in my always ongoing desire to be fair, I quickly rebased mine the same (yes, I'm that much of a softy).

So much more to do!

Treasure Island (2012) - A Treasure to Watch

In spite of the reaction of most purists (Treasure Island is one of my most cherished books from my Childhood) personally I really enjoyed the 2012 take on the Classic Robert Louis Stevenson Tale!

Eddie Izzard shaved his head, slaps on the now trademark (thanks to Johnny Depp) eyeliner, and dons a wonderful costume to play John Silver in this (IMHO) really well done of re-imagining of the classic novel.

This frankly beautiful looking adaptation, which boasts a star laden cast (including Donald Sutherland as Captain Flint and a wonderful performance by Elijah Wood as Ben Gunn) was originally presented as a two part Mini Series on Sky, to be perfectly honest I didn't watch it when it was originally broadcast (as I don't have Sky) but I eagerly awaited the DVD release - and I watched it again recently, and once again thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was originally shown in two parts, but to be frank it is a more rewarding experience when watched in one sitting (even my Partner loved it).

As everyone knows in the basic storyline of Treasure Island, the plot follows young Jim Hawkins (brilliantly played by Toby Regbo) who gets hold of a map which indicates there is hidden treasure on an unknown Caribbean island. Confiding in a close family friend Dr Livesey (Daniel Mays) and together with Squire John Trelawney (Rupert Penry Jones - who play Trelawney in a wonderfully dickish way) who funds the expidition and greedily plans to keep ALL the treasure, and Captain Smollettt (Philip Glenister - playing a uniquely Honorable Version of Smollett) who Captains the good ship Hispaniola - they take to the high seas in search of their prize!

At the beginning of the first part, theres a rather clever prologue which explains Long John Silver lost his leg three years previously - and a further sub-plot involving Jim’s mother and Long John’s wife - which I found (unlike some fans of the original Book) refreshing and interesting. Another character embellishment comes from the fleshed-out backstory of the death of Dr Livesey’s wife and its affect on him. NONE of these expanded elements detract from the greatness of the story for me - I see it as more to love and enjoy.

Its a shame that many purists seem to be put off by these 'liberties' (as they would call them) being taken with the Original story. Dr Livesey is portrayed as a timid and broken down man, some would call him cowardly - which only serves to give more weight to his actions to save Jim.

Financier Squire Trelawney is portrayed as a greedy, self serving, aristocratic weasel - but it works. Re-enforcing the moral nature of the original Tale.

I found the ending as Jim has a moral epiphany about right and wrong inspiring rather than jarring - though some might disagree.

Eddie Izzard excels as the anti-hero John Silver, and brings his trademark humour to the role - and to be pefectly honest, the whole cast is excellent at capturing not on the the feel of the original story, but the character of the genre and period.

Director Steven Barron does an excellent job - and stages some exciting action sequences, not to mention that the scenery is impressive, beautiful and haunting at times.

As a piece of swashbuckling family entertainment, I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.