Having fun with the new British minifigures

[donneyboy]

after buying some of the new Pirates sets, i decided to have some fun with the new British minifigure. here it is-

enjoy

[Ratshot]

There acually Spanish i believe,But I am not 100% sure on that,but I think there great.

[Scouty]

Really, they don't have a nationality.

But I'm inclined to suggest they're based off of the British.

[Al7]

lol in fact lego themes are Spanish vs Pirates ... since in the Caribbean existed the Spanish fortress which reflects such a set like Eldorado Fortress and the pirates were there trying to assault the Spanish ships when they were going back to Spain with the gold of the Indians

There acually Spanish i believe,But I am not 100% sure on that,but I think there great.

Yup actually they are Spanish

[meschepers]

They are not intended to represent any particular nation at all. They are meant to be "soldiers" who fight "pirates." Kids don't care what country the minifigs come from or why they are after the pirates. All the kids care about is that the toy is fun to play with.

And saying that they are Spanish because they are based in the Caribbean is not accurate. Many countries had holdings and fleets in the Caribbean. Though the Spanish were most notable for their transport of silver, gold, and jewels they were not the only nation that had property in that area. The British, French and Dutch all transported material goods such as tobacco, spices, sugar cane, rum and even slaves. They found just as much success in these dealings as the Spanish found in transporting gold. One main reason is that it is easier to recover from a ship full of crops being taken than it is for a ship full of gold (crops can always be re-grown, gold has to be mined again).

I personally believe that "soldiers" represent the good guys, nothing more. They aren't British, they aren't Spanish, they aren't Dutch, they aren't French. They don't have any nationality. They are soldiers who are after the pirates. For your own purposes I feel that you should assign them a nation of your choice and in your MOCs represent them as such, because, let's face it... they aren't historically accurate to any particular nation or time period. Just use some of the imagination you have to spare after completing your next great pirate MOC to give them a nation of your choice.

Oh, and in regards to the first post I think it's a great little vig. However I think it could be better if, instead of castle armor you use some of the old blue and red torsos from the original pirate line. That way we see that the new soldier beat the meg@bl0k5 out of the old ones. I think that would make it even funnier.

[Al7]

They are not intended to represent any particular nation at all. They are meant to be "soldiers" who fight "pirates." Kids don't care what country the minifigs come from or why they are after the pirates. All the kids care about is that the toy is fun to play with.

And saying that they are Spanish because they are based in the Caribbean is not accurate. Many countries had holdings and fleets in the Caribbean. Though the Spanish were most notable for their transport of silver, gold, and jewels they were not the only nation that had property in that area. The British, French and Dutch all transported material goods such as tobacco, spices, sugar cane, rum and even slaves. They found just as much success in these dealings as the Spanish found in transporting gold. One main reason is that it is easier to recover from a ship full of crops being taken than it is for a ship full of gold (crops can always be re-grown, gold has to be mined again).

I personally believe that "soldiers" represent the good guys, nothing more. They aren't British, they aren't Spanish, they aren't Dutch, they aren't French. They don't have any nationality. They are soldiers who are after the pirates. For your own purposes I feel that you should assign them a nation of your choice and in your MOCs represent them as such, because, let's face it... they aren't historically accurate to any particular nation or time period. Just use some of the imagination you have to spare after completing your next great pirate MOC to give them a nation of your choice.

Oh, and in regards to the first post I think it's a great little vig. However I think it could be better if, instead of castle armor you use some of the old blue and red torsos from the original pirate line. That way we see that the new soldier beat the meg@bl0k5 out of the old ones. I think that would make it even funnier.

Read the lego comics of 1989 then you will know that they represent the Spanish

[Captain Blackmoor]

Yup, the Armada looks exactly like the Spanish conquistadors. No doubt they represent the Spanish.

There have been some discussions about the Blue and Redcoats.

I've done some research about the Red and Bluecoats and I've discovered a tiny black symbol on the Bluecoats small flag.

That black symbol seems to be the Fleur de Lys, the symbol of French military power around 1600-1700.

I think the factions in Lego really represent nations, but not that overwhelming so kids can use their fantasy.

[Al7]

Yup, the Armada looks exactly like the Spanish conquistadors. No doubt they represent the Spanish.

There have been some discussions about the Blue and Redcoats.

I've done some research about the Red and Bluecoats and I've discovered a tiny black symbol on the Bluecoats small flag.

That black symbol seems to be the Fleur de Lys, the symbol of French military power around 1600-1700.

I think the factions in Lego really represent nations, but not that overwhelming so kids can use their fantasy.

You are totally right, thanks mate

[Diamondback]

As far as I can see, we're talking mixes all around. The Armada is clearly Spanish, with the morion helmet and their distinctive armor, the flag of the old soldiers looks vaguely French, and the "Imperial Guards" Lobsterbacks and new Soldiers look similar to Revolution-era English Royal Army to my eye. Old-school soldiers look French or American Continental Army to me...

One of my other hats is a military historian, but the Age of Sail is a bit outside my expertise as a WWII (Southwest Pacific, to be precise--"MacArthur's War") specialist, so take this with a grain.

[Fluyt]

As far as I can see, we're talking mixes all around. The Armada is clearly Spanish, with the morion helmet and their distinctive armor, the flag of the old soldiers looks vaguely French, and the "Imperial Guards" Lobsterbacks and new Soldiers look similar to Revolution-era English Royal Army to my eye. Old-school soldiers look French or American Continental Army to me...

One of my other hats is a military historian, but the Age of Sail is a bit outside my expertise as a WWII (Southwest Pacific, to be precise--"MacArthur's War") specialist, so take this with a grain.

Well, the armada isn't "clearly Spanish", the morion was very common among European soldiers. All 3 imperial factions could be a number of European nationalities, only the imperial soldiers seem to be french because of the fleur de lis on their flag.

[Captain Blackmoor]

We had a nice discussion about this here.

It is an interesting subject with lots of opinions.

[Zorro]

True, there has been much discussion about it.

Personnaly I use my Bluecoats as French soldiers, the redcoats are British soldiers, and the Armada for Spanish soldiers.

As Fluyt says, the morion was used by a lot of European states! Think of the Swiss and German mercenaries, think of the movie: Elisabeth.

Most people do it this way I think, but LEGO may have made some suggestions about who represents what nation, but really: IMAGINATION people, that is what LEGO is all about .

[Ratshot]

And saying that they are Spanish because they are based in the Caribbean is not accurate. Many countries had holdings and fleets in the Caribbean.

Well its very plane that the flag looks very Spanish

Edited January 17, 2009 by Broadside

[CPT. Jr]

Just thought i would put in my two cents worth. The hat of the new soldier would sudgest that of a spanish soldier based on shape and decaling, wheras the british would use a grenadier hat (poined at top and tall), a form of top hat (marines), or a tricorne (most common with all infantry). However the torso resembles that of the brittish, mainly because it is red, however america had a similar one for the artillary, and the spanish had a red phase too, however they were mostly yellow and white. So it is really a completely composity figure, and relatively historicaly inacurate for the age of piracy. Still like them though

Edited January 19, 2009 by CPT. Jr

[Norro]

The background in this photo is well done.

Thanks for sharing!

God Bless,

Nathan

[Huntleyfx]

For some reason it reminds me of the US Army motto: "Be an Army of One." I like it.