Long John Silver, the charismatic yetComplexantagonist from Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless classic, Treasure Island, remains an indelible figure in pirate lore. His cunning, charm, and moral ambiguity have captivated audiences for generations across novels, plays, television, and numerous film adaptations. With the release of the “Box of Plunder” for the Raise the Black Kickstarter by Firelock Games, the opportunity to bring this iconic pirate to your tabletop in Blood & Plunder has arrived. Even though Long John Silver might be slightly anachronistic for the strict historical timeline of Blood & Plunder, his legendary status makes him a fantastic addition to any pirate enthusiast’s collection.
Finding Inspiration: Visualizing Long John Silver
The portrayal of Long John Silver has evolved across various artistic interpretations and actor renditions. Each artist and actor brings a unique perspective to this multifaceted character. Examining these diverse depictions offers a rich source of inspiration for crafting your own miniature. Let’s explore a collection of Long John Silver artwork and notable portrayals to spark your creativity.
John Silver from Black Sails, showcasing a rugged and complex portrayal of the character.
Long John Silver depicted on a classic book cover, emphasizing his traditional pirate appearance.
Tim Curry's memorable portrayal of Long John Silver, adding a theatrical and flamboyant flair to the pirate.
Robert Newton as Long John Silver in "Return to Treasure Island" (1954), a classic cinematic interpretation of the pirate.
Long John Silver art by Louis John Rhead, presenting a traditional and somewhat menacing depiction.
Ken Welsh's illustration of Long John Silver from the book, capturing a more realistic and grounded pirate figure.
Art by N.C. Wyeth depicting Long John Silver and his parrot, a classic and iconic image of the pirate.
Eddie Izzard as a tattooed Long John Silver in the 2012 Treasure Island film, a modern and unconventional take on the character.
Among these varied interpretations, the artwork by Monro Scott Orr stands out as particularly compelling and practical. Orr’s rendition presents a Long John Silver who appears grounded in the historical context, with clothing and weaponry that align with the period. This artwork avoids some of the more fantastical pirate clichés, offering a realistic and inspiring blueprint for a Blood & Plunder miniature.
Long John Silver art by Monro Scott Orr, the primary inspiration for the Blood & Plunder miniature design, showcasing realistic pirate attire and weaponry.
Front view of the assembled Blood & Plunder Long John Silver miniature, inspired by Monro Scott Orr's artwork and utilizing Firelock Games model kits.
Assembling Your Long John Silver Miniature: Parts and Process
Creating your own Long John Silver miniature for Blood & Plunder is a rewarding project achievable with readily available Firelock Games model kits and a touch of creative kitbashing. Here’s a breakdown of the parts and steps required to bring this iconic pirate to life.
Essential Components: Parts List
To construct your Long John Silver miniature, you’ll need components from various Blood & Plunder model kits. This parts list provides a detailed guide:
- Torso and Legs: Soldier F7 body – Offers a slightly hunched posture ideal for a character leaning on a crutch.
- Left Arm: Soldier A5 arm – A straight, extended arm suitable for positioning along the crutch.
- Pistol Hand: Sailors P36 pistol hand – Provides a hand holding a pistol, adding to the pirate’s armament.
- Hat: Soldier F1 hat – A fitting hat style for a pirate character.
- Head: Soldier F4 head – A versatile head sculpt that can be adapted for Long John Silver. Consider a head with ponytail for a do-rag effect.
- Parrot: From the “Box of Plunder” – The essential companion for Long John Silver, adding iconic detail.
- Right Arm: Sourced from spare parts (bits box), ideally from a Sailor or Soldier kit to match sleeve cuffs.
- Left Hand: From the “Box of Plunder” – An open, cupped hand to grip the crutch convincingly.
- Crutch: Created from plastic sprue – Thin sprue sections for the main crutch and curved sprue for the armrest.
- Weaponry: Two muskets or carbines – Carbines from the Cavalry kit or muskets from Sailor, Cavalry, or Militia sets.
Step-by-Step Miniature Assembly Guide
Follow these detailed steps to assemble your Long John Silver miniature, transforming individual parts into a cohesive and characterful figure:
Step 1: Selecting the Torso and Leg Positioning
Begin by selecting the Soldier F7 torso. Its slightly forward-leaning pose is perfectly suited for a miniature supported by a crutch. Unlike standard miniature assembly, delay gluing the miniature to the base at this stage. This allows for precise crutch positioning later in the process.
Step 2: Modifying the Right Leg
Carefully remove the right leg just below the knee. Use a hobby knife to score the remaining leg nub, creating grooves to simulate wrapped cloth, representing the peg leg of Long John Silver.
Step 3: Preparing the Left Arm for Crutch Integration
Choose Soldier Arm A5, known for its straight extension. Trim the top of the shoulder to create a notch. This notch, along with a slight notching of the armpit area, will allow the arm to angle outwards, accommodating the crutch beneath it. Exercise patience during this step to avoid removing excessive material and ensure a snug fit.
Step 4: Constructing the Crutch from Sprue
For the crutch, repurpose plastic sprue. Initially, a wooden toothpick might seem like an option, but sprue offers a more consistent texture with the miniature. Cut a length of thin, straight sprue for the main crutch shaft. Use your hobby knife to carefully roughen the sprue, adding texture to avoid a perfectly smooth, unnatural appearance. For the crutch’s armrest, cut a curved section from another piece of sprue, shaping it appropriately.
Thin support sprue, used to craft the main section of the miniature's crutch, showcasing the raw material before shaping.
Curved sprue section, marked with red lines to indicate the cut points for creating the crutch's armrest, demonstrating the modification process.
Step 5: Assembling the Left Arm, Crutch, and Hand
This step requires careful dry-fitting before final assembly. Position the left arm, crutch, and hand together to determine the optimal arrangement. Once satisfied, carefully glue the arm and crutch in place. Attach the open, cupped hand from the Box of Plunder, angling the wrist joint as needed to simulate a grip on the crutch. Achieving a perfect fit might be challenging, but aiming for a visually convincing approximation is sufficient.
Step 6: Attaching the Right Arm and Pistol
Utilize the Sailor P36 pistol arm for the right side. The bent elbow of this arm works well to position the pistol in a raised, dynamic pose. This step is generally straightforward, involving simple gluing of the arm to the torso.
Step 7: Adding the Head and Hat
Attach the chosen Soldier F4 head and F1 hat to the torso. These parts should fit seamlessly with the selected body. For an enhanced Long John Silver aesthetic, consider using a head with a ponytail, which can be painted to represent a do-rag or headscarf.
Step 8: Rear-Mounted Weaponry and Parrot Placement
For the rear-mounted weaponry, Cavalry carbines are a suitable choice due to their lighter profile, appropriate for a character with a peg leg. Alternatively, muskets from other kits can be used, with hands carefully removed and straps painted or sculpted for attachment. Initially, attach only one weapon to facilitate easier painting. The parrot from the “Box of Plunder” requires tweezers for precise placement due to its small size and the surrounding elements (tricorn, pistol arm). Consider the positioning of the rear weaponry; while historical accuracy might suggest different angles for shoulder straps, prioritize the visual appeal and character representation.
Front view of the Long John Silver miniature after priming, showing the assembled figure ready for painting.
Left side view of the primed Long John Silver miniature, highlighting the crutch and overall pose before painting.
Rear view of the primed Long John Silver miniature, displaying the back-mounted weaponry and the figure's stance.
The Finished Miniature: A Pirate Legend on Your Tabletop
Once assembled and painted, your Long John Silver miniature is ready to command your Blood & Plunder forces. The following images showcase the fully painted miniature from various angles, capturing the detail and character of this iconic pirate.
Front view of the painted Long John Silver 28mm miniature, displaying the final color scheme and details.
Rear view of the painted Long John Silver 28mm miniature, showing the back details and weapon placement.
Left side view of the painted Long John Silver 28mm miniature, highlighting the crutch and side profile.
Close-up of the fully painted Blood & Plunder Long John Silver miniature, set against the Firelock Games logo, emphasizing the miniature's quality and the game context.
Monro Scott Orr's Long John Silver artwork, displayed again for comparison with the finished miniature, showcasing the inspirational source.
Front side view of the painted Long John Silver 28mm miniature, another perspective on the completed figure.
Utilizing Long John Silver in Your Blood & Plunder Games
Long John Silver, while not strictly historically accurate for the core Blood & Plunder timeline, can be effectively integrated into your games in several thematic and engaging ways. Here are some suggestions for using your Long John Silver miniature in Blood & Plunder:
Grizzled Veteran: The Charismatic Leader
Blood & Plunder Grizzled Veteran character card, detailing stats and special abilities suitable for representing Long John Silver's leadership.
Long John Silver embodies the archetype of a seasoned sea dog, brimming with tales and possessing a captivating charisma. His ability to sway opinions and command respect makes him an ideal representation of a Grizzled Veteran in Blood & Plunder.
The Grizzled Veteran character, introduced in the No Peace Beyond the Line expansion, is a valuable Fighting Man character option. For a mere 3 points, this upgrade provides significant benefits. A Grizzled Veteran grants their unit the Tough and Battle Hardened abilities, enhancing their resilience in combat. Furthermore, they enable the unit to use a Command Point for a free Rally action, allowing for swift recovery from Fatigue.
Tough effectively negates 1 Fatigue point each round (if you didn’t Push), and combined with Rally, it allows units to quickly recover from accumulated Fatigue. This is particularly advantageous for larger units or Militia forces. The Rally action’s 3″ range also extends its utility across ship decks, allowing Silver to bolster nearby units with his inspiring presence.
Son of Neptune: Master of Seafaring
Blood & Plunder Son of Neptune character card, outlining stats and abilities focused on naval combat and sailing prowess, reflecting Long John Silver's seafaring expertise.
The Son of Neptune shares similarities with the Grizzled Veteran but excels in naval scenarios. While also granting Tough to their unit, they offer Expert Sailors instead of Battle Hardened. Expert Sailors is invaluable on larger vessels where sailing actions are frequent and crucial.
While perhaps less essential in smaller engagements (under 200 points), the Son of Neptune becomes a compelling choice in larger games or scenarios emphasizing naval maneuvers. Even if sailing skills are not paramount, the free Rally action remains a highly beneficial asset.
Cook: The Deceptive Strategist
Blood & Plunder Cook Fighting Man character card, showcasing stats and abilities that align with Long John Silver's role as a cook and his strategic battlefield contributions.
The Raise the Black expansion introduces the Cook Fighting Man character (pg 150), perfectly aligning with Long John Silver’s deceptive persona as a ship’s cook in Treasure Island. Historically, injured crew members sometimes transitioned to roles like cooks.
Like the Grizzled Veteran and Son of Neptune, the Cook provides a free Rally command point. Additionally, Cooks grant the Brawlers ability to their unit. Brawlers is particularly effective for boarding-focused or melee-centric forces, adding extra hits on rolls of 10 when combined with units already possessing Hard Chargers.
Custom Commander: Tailoring a Unique Leader
The Raise the Black expansion’s custom commander creation rules offer an exceptional opportunity to personalize Long John Silver’s representation. Each faction can field Untested, Experienced, or Seasoned commanders, with Experienced and Seasoned commanders gaining access to faction-specific Special Abilities (pg 82). As Long John Silver is typically associated with the English, explore the English commander abilities to create a thematic commander profile.
For a flavourful and thematic Long John Silver commander, consider a Seasoned Commander with the Resilient and Inspiring abilities. Resilient reflects his capacity to maintain control over a mutinous crew amidst hardship and suspicion. Inspiring captures his silver tongue and persuasive nature, enabling him to motivate others to extraordinary actions.
Embrace the challenge and create your own Long John Silver miniature. Bring this legendary pirate to your Blood & Plunder games and weave his cunning and charisma into your seafaring narratives!
