jamtf Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 It has been written before. Some use home made decals or similar to create new pirates. What kept me thinking is that we never see black pirates! I am sure that some of the pirates that used to live back then were of the black race. When I was a little kid, I was reading pirates comics by the name of "Roodbaard" (Dutch for Redbeard), He had a son named Eric and there was an old fellow with grey hair "Driepoot" (Dutch for Tripod because he had a peg leg and a stick in order to be physically able walk around). Last but not least, there was Baba, a former African slave that was freed by Roodbaard and his crew and he was a loyal crew member that could be called upon when needed. No black pirates were introduced in the classic sets. All had the classic yellow faces with some changes such as beards and eyepatches. I am planning to get some black minifig heads off of BrickLink soon to make my own. I am referring to the NBA faces but perhaps there are more of these. If they wear a bandana, it should look OK. Also, Playmobil included black pirates or slaves to their sets. I happen to own a few of these MIB sets (hardly played with) from my childhood although this might sound as blasphemy to the real Lego addicts! Wouldn't it be neat to add a few of these to the pirate landscape? It is historically correct as well. What are your thoughts? Quote
Eurobricks Emperor Bonaparte Posted October 9, 2006 Eurobricks Emperor Posted October 9, 2006 You're absolutely right. We need some on our ships. Here is my black captain who is a former slave that wants to take revenge... I already have some mamelukes in my army. Quote
Governor Mister Phes Posted October 9, 2006 Governor Posted October 9, 2006 Wasn't the point of having all the mini-figures yellow to make them racially abmiguous. Somewhere on LEGO.com it explains this was originally because The LEGO Company wanted the indentity of the mini-figures to be left to the imagination of the children, hence why the original mini-figure had a simple simley face. Obviously that has changed, but if you had "coloured" pirates then wouldn't you need to have peach and pink skinned pirates amongst them, rather than yellow? Quote
jamtf Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 I think flesh tone heads do not look that well. You also need to change the hands. Since the pirate line is out of production for such a long time, we can use our own imagination to create new citizens and crew members. I think the Spanish fleet had some slaves on board too so you could also put a Spanish conquistador helmet on the black minifigs. By the way Bonaparte, your minifig regained his freedom the hard way. He lost a leg over time! Quote
Aaron Morse Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Brown hands are hard to come by, I've only got 3 pairs of them, i do have some of those NBA arms but I find them kinda weird. Out of a crew of 80ish I've only got two browns and the rest are yellow. Where's the other brown set of hands you ask? Fighting the Sith in a galaxy far far away. I think flesh tone heads do not look that well. You also need to change the hands. Since the pirate line is out of production for such a long time, we can use our own imagination to create new citizens and crew members. I think the Spanish fleet had some slaves on board too so you could also put a Spanish conquistador helmet on the black minifigs.By the way Bonaparte, your minifig regained his freedom the hard way. He lost a leg over time! Quote
Governor Mister Phes Posted October 9, 2006 Governor Posted October 9, 2006 This does work quite well, but how does he look amongst the yellow mini-figures? ince the pirate line is out of production for such a long time, we can use our own imagination to create new citizens and crew members. We've certainly been seeing a lot of that lately with the numerous custom torsos that have appeared in the past couple of weeks. Quote
Aaron Morse Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 I think he blends in rather well with the boys...quite a rum lot eh? http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/morsea10/crew/p1030782.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/morsea10/crew/p1030783.jpg Quote
Norro Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 A lot of NBA eads are creeping into pirate MOCs... the hands (as noted) are the limiting factor. While I quite enjoy the odd MOC, I would hate it if lego gave up the yellow... what do you mean they have?! X-D ... I am a trad non-fleshie myself... God Bless, Nathan Quote
Scouty Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 If they used flesh tone, black, then they'd need some tanish tones for the MFs of being in the sun on the sea to long. Quote
Governor Mister Phes Posted October 9, 2006 Governor Posted October 9, 2006 I think he blends in rather well with the boys...quite a rum lot eh?http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/morsea10/crew/p1030782.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/morsea10/crew/p1030783.jpg ROOOAR!!! The blinkin oversized images strike again! Here's a scaled version for the benefit of those with small monitors and low bandwidth. Quote
Aaron Morse Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Sorry! Lego I do well, camera not so much. Quote
Scouty Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Hmm, it looks like there was a bargain on the same shirts at a clothes store :-P Quote
jamtf Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 I just bought some spider-man ambulance driver heads from set 4857. They have a goatee and should blend well with the armada figs. They could be Portuguese colonial crew or Caribbean natives. http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3626bpx276 Quote
Norro Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 I just bought some spider-man ambulance driver heads.... [sNIP] Yes, but they are a different shade of black... God Bless, Nathan Quote
Governor Mister Phes Posted October 9, 2006 Governor Posted October 9, 2006 Different yes, but there's a lot of different shades in Central America! Afterall it was dubbed the "melting pot" of the world once upon a time. Quote
oo7 Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Considering the exclution of culturual diversity in the originial pirate line and the overall lack of brown hands, I think there is a reasonable amout of Pirates of African and Far Eastern decent in mocs out there. Guy with crab in boat Where's the other brown set of hands you ask? Fighting the Sith in a galaxy far far away. :-P I think it is more like ripping arms out out their sockets and throwing spears at Scout troopers In a galaxy far, far, away. Quote
jamtf Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 The ambulance driver faces look important enough to be marine officers or sailors. Then the brown hands are not a problem anymore since you can use white hands as well as if they are wearing gloves! There is always a solution! Quote
Aaron Morse Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 I notice that even that kit doesn't come with brown hands. I just bought some spider-man ambulance driver heads from set 4857. They have a goatee and should blend well with the armada figs. They could be Portuguese colonial crew or Caribbean natives.http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3626bpx276 Quote
jamtf Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 I notice that even that kit doesn't come with brown hands. How very true. Perhaps the brown hands did not exactly match the face color + an ambulance driver needs to help out in case of emergencies and for hygiene reasons he must then wear those white gloves. Quote
Aaron Morse Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Ah yes white gloves, that makes sense! How very true. Perhaps the brown hands did not exactly match the face color + an ambulance driver needs to help out in case of emergencies and for hygiene reasons he must then wear those white gloves. Quote
SkaForHire Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 Ah yes white gloves, that makes sense! I have had black pirates in my collection since NBA sets went on sale two years ago... the problem have always been the hands... there are brown hands on some of last years knights kingdom figs.... so they were dismembered upon opening of the box.... its a shame since such a large number of africans were pirates.... i like how they look too.... but i would give up any race of fig to get a few more pirate sets lol Quote
ghoulrealm Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 ewoks and wookies have brown hands! Maybe you don't have many but I bought so many starwars sets just for the brown bricks alone. Quote
Sting Posted October 20, 2006 Posted October 20, 2006 I love the idea of multi-cultural crews. I think the basketball player faces blend in quite nicely with the rest of the crew. It works. Maybe I will buy some NBA Lego just for those heads to make some Pirates! Quote
Aaron Morse Posted October 21, 2006 Posted October 21, 2006 yeah but those NBA arms really suck. hands and arms are all one piece. I love the idea of multi-cultural crews. I think the basketball player faces blend in quite nicely with the rest of the crew. It works. Maybe I will buy some NBA Lego just for those heads to make some Pirates! Quote
Scouty Posted October 22, 2006 Posted October 22, 2006 According to a BL search, these brown hands only come with only FIVE figs. From Orient expedition, Star Wars, and the Nesquick Bunny. There may be more, but wowie, this is quite a rare piece come to think of it. Quote
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