Model Shipways Article

Varieties of Pirate Ship Models

Pirate ship models come in as many varieties as pirate ships.
Pirate ships came in two main types: pirates that sailed with
letters of marque from specific countries and attacked enemy
ships, and pirate ships that were free from any influence but
that of the captain. But no matter who authorized the pillaging,
pirates were all paid the same way: from the spoil taken from
the captured ship. It was essential that pirate ships be swift,
able to carry a good size crew of fighting men, and able to hide
in the shallows. Building pirate ship models can be a great
pastime, and even the most famous ships (like those captained by
William Kidd and those run by the Barbary pirates) fell into the
following categories.

Sloops. These pirate ship models are among the smaller
offerings. However, sloops were very popular among pirates in
the Caribbean and the Atlantic during the late 1600s. The sloop
was very fast, had a shallow draft, and was thus very
maneuverable and could take refuge among reefs and in coves out
of the range of pursuing warships.

Schooners. Many model ship hobbyists enjoy building these types
of ships for their beauty and elegance. However, they are also
available as pirate ship models, as there many pirates in the
Atlantic and the Caribbean who prized them for their speed and
their draft of only five feet (even smaller than the sloop
draft). The main drawback, however, was the fact that there was
a smaller hold, and so fewer spoils could be taken.

Brigantines. Pirate ship models made to look like these
pillaging vessels popular in the Mediterranean are a little
bigger and more impressive looking than models of sloops. The
ship could hold more guns and men than sloops (and schooners,
which were also used as pirate ships), and were better suited
for sea battles.

Galleys. Pirate ship models after galleys look a little unique.
The galley was long and slender, and widely used for its speed
by the Barbary corsairs. However, it is possible to build a
model of the Adventure, a galley for made Captain Kidd in 1695.

Junks. For a Far East look to your collection of pirate ship
models, a junk can make an interesting addition. These ships
were highly adaptable, and had a wide flat-bottom design that
was perfect for fast movement while carting treasure. A good
model junk will come with an adjustable rudder that mimics the
fact that original junks have adjustable rudder heights.