RetroWarbird

It's similar to the whole idea of a "Merchant" theme, but I'd really like to see a "Trading Company" akin to the East India Trading Company in Pirates of the Caribbean. They'd be run by some sketchball "Lord", there'd be loads of their own private soldiers, their outfits would be a gold variation of the Soldier uniform. Or something all new. Something all new would be excellent as well. And the sets would naturally be decked out with civilian characters too. Swashbuckling, maybe. But civilians. Maybe the Lord, two Trader Soldiers, three civilian customers/merchants and a pirate prisoner. Sets would be something like; Trading Post Large Island Set - Akin to Imperial Trading Post COMES WITH LORD Trading Warehouse Mid-Size Island Set - Akin to Skull Island Dockside Tavern Mid-Size Harbor Set - Akin to Lagoon Lock Up Trade Ship Mid-Size Ship - Akin to Caribbean Clipper (Ship's Captain has all black pirate hat) Smuggler's Ship Smallish Ship - Akin to Renegade Runner Rum Smuggler's Island Smallish Set - Akin to Shipwreck Island Pirate Minifgures One of each new Minifig, a Monkey, a Parrot, Treasure, and a brown boat. Design elements would try to find a balance between the Soldier/Imperial Guard look, but less white/yellow bricks with red roofs. Maybe white and gray bricks with green roofs? And of course, why not recycle - the emblem of this theme would be the same emblem that is on the sail of the Trade Ship in the Imperial Trading Post. A "Barrel and Cross Anchors" under a crown. I'd try to slip a classic figure in here and there ... a classic Pirate at the Rum Smuggler Island, a classic Soldier and Imperial Conquistador at the Tavern, an Swashbuckler at the Warehouse ... etc ...

I'm inclined to think both Imperial Soldiers and Guard are British as well. In my current MOC I've got blue sailors all over the ship-of-the-line that's docked, and the redcoats are stationed at the port. Not that a regiment of redcoat marines would be out of place on a ship, but this isn't exactly a large warship. Granted the French had several uniforms that looked really similar to the stock blue/white with bandoliers, but generally speaking the uniforms seem obviously British. Red for marines, blue for sailors. Interestingly enough, grenadiers from Nassau wore a variant of the basic Soldier torso, in green. So if you want Jamaican soldiers, Lego has green arms, and the Soldiers torso pattern can't be too hard to find. There's a lot more leeway with the decorative "admiral" torsos - I've seen identical jackets on uniforms from British, French, Croatian, Maltese, and a dozen other naval officers in the Napoleonic era. An 1815 French officer could actually be made with parts already existing if Lego felt like making a French faction. Black torso (maybe the classic Fireman torso) with the chrome "Conquistador" armor over it. Black sleeves. White gloves. Yellow epilets. Tan pants. And a chrome Dragon Master helmet with a red feather. An 1815 French grenadier could also be made - the blue/white torso, red epilets, white pants, tall hat. I'd keep the blue sleeves and actually give him red gloves to add the necessary red element. Lastly, a French lancer could be made too. Red pants, red sleeves, tan hands, yellow epilets, and a Paradisa red dinner jacket (although I'd rather see it done accurately with the black collar and trimming, and white bandolier over it). But anyway ... yeah ... British.