I’m considering doing a model of a pirate ship – a real pirate ship, a modern one, and I am looking around to see if there are model kits of the kind of speedboats or fishing boats that pirates often use in the Straits of Malacca, which is currently the world’s most dangerous pirate route.
Any ideas?
Mmmmmmmmmmm! What kind of boats are we talking about? Most of the ones I know of are out of production but I see on ebay a lot such as the following examples:
Lindberg Sport Fisherman : I can’t remember the scale, but its about 32" long of a Donzi sport classic that was suitable for RC.
Lindberg’s “Fishing Boat” classic series. This had a North Sea Trawler, Shrimp Boat, and Tuna Boat. These can also be found under “Life Like”.
Monogram “Miami Vice” Scarab.
Revell makes a Bass Boat, which is probalby not common off the coast of Africa or Maylasian Straits.
From what I have read, these pirates operate like opossums. They either attack at anchore / port, or play distressed in a old “fishing or refugee” vessel and then divide and overtake the unsuspecting crew. They then steal the ship and take it to a “chop” yard to unload and sell the cargo and either dismantle the ship and sell the parts / scrap, or they reconfigure the ship for either their use, or to resell it.
They have been known to do this with an entire 800’ container ship.
Pretty interesting subject you are going to do.
I know of many more kits that might work, but my brain just won’t engage at this moment.
Scott
Most sources on modern piracy just call the boats “speed boats.”
The romantic in me wants to build a crappy old fishing boat with the thugs’ guns left out on the deck, and maybe even a deck gun! [(-D]
Yes, but there are pirates who operate on the open water too, racing up on speedboats and boarding the ship. Most do not steal the ship, preferring to rob the crew. Rarer is robbing the cargo, rarest is robbing the entire ship.
A friend of mine who has come across these pirates whilst serving on tankers did mention that they use RIB’s on occaision whilst the tanker is at anchor. So maybe a scratchbuilt RIB kitted out with a .50cal MG?
Also have a read of this article which describes a few captured vessels which were disguised by the pirates.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/m.bruyneel/archive/modern/gang.htm
Hope this helps
Thanks. What’s an RIB?
Hi Larry, a RIB is a ‘rigid inflatable boat’ the kind used by divers, inshore rescue, etc
