Capn' Mac

I don not wish to step on Tartan Jack’s toes but I too have quite a bit of info on this one as my main area of historic interest has always been the ’45 and Culloden. I am very interested to see what Tartan jack has to say so I’ll keep this brief so as not to steal his thunder. 18th century kilts are, as Jack says, nothing like the sewn, knife pleated kilts of today that gained popularity in the Victorian era. And this is to say nothing of tartan as we know it today. I cannot speak overly much about life aboard ship as concerns kilts, however I would highly doubt they were worn on a ship. The ‘wee” kilt really did not become popular or common until the 1800s and the belted plaid would have been way too cumbersome. As to if they were worn when going ashore, I cannot say. Those on land though, in Scotland did wear them until the failed ’45 rebellion, after which the wearing of tartan was outlawed until the repeal in 1782.

Real or imagined it would be a fast galleon called the "Maire le Noir" named for the first lady to steal my heart...

Thank ye much! I'll be takn' me little crew out fer fun in th' park today! Happy Father's Day ta all th' other Capn's here abouts!

Don't need a wicker man for the dunderheads...that's what the rotissere's for.

This is mine at home...I miss Oregon!

We have a fire pit that doubles as a multi-level grill with a rotissere

Well th’ missus an’ I brew our own meade, vanilla soder beer an’ practice a bit o’ th’ alchemy wi’ specialty liqurs!

Sea weathered skin! One of my favorites. Now before anyone else says it, I’ll admit the best way is to work out doors or ride a motorcycle! However if you are talking make-up FX, I’ll have to put together a detailed FX make-up how to but for now I’ll simply say you want Ben-Nye tan base foundation, latex foam wedgies, a couple of stipple brushes, red for the broken blood vessels, black for the grit, Character shadow for the lines and freckles, Ultra-light for more stippling, Vaseline, powdered charcoal, dirt tone powder, and translucent powder. Sounds like a lot of trouble I know but if you need to be weather beaten over night these are the supplies to start with. Now scars are another matter all together…

I have no doubt. It just makes me wonder how regional a thing it is too though. For example I know most of the folks here seem to live near a coast so I know they get better seafood than I do and can find it easier as well.

April to November? You're right! I am am suffering from envy!

A good way to keep from sweating off powder, dirt, etc. it an old stage trick I use. A thin base of Vaseline on the skin, wait about 20-30 seconds and then have the powdered substance blown on then a translucent cover. Stands up to sweat pretty well for several hours.

This is good advice however most are portraying an iconic figure that is defined by their profession. Pirates were pirate not because of what they wore but because of what they did while they wore what they wore and those garments got worn. Take a look at the Carhartt and Dickie clothes work by your average construction worker, miner, roughneck, etc. It visually looks more worn, used, and beaten up than your average modern day street clothes. By the same token a 17th-18th century plantation owners outfit will look much nicer than your average working sailor, blacksmith, or tanner. These folk worked with tar, hemp, blade, hammer, lye, salt etc. They climbed, sweated, and performed manual labor, slept and lived in the same set of clothing day-to-day. I just think the clothes should reflect that and if you can’t get it done naturally by doing these things, do what you can.

That’s funny to me that you are having a hard time finding it. Here in Denver because of the large Latino population it can almost always be found right in the local grocery mega-mart.

I used to think tripe would be an awful thing then an old co-worker of mine had me try his mother’s homemade menudo and I was a convert!

I gotta side with Bilgemunky on this one (love yer site by the by). Being stuck in the middle of Colorado I get to take out the kit once maybe twice a year at best. My next one isn’t until the end of July if I’m lucky this year. So breaking an outfit and gear in is not as easy. I’d also say we’re talking about three different things here: Clothes Body Hygiene As far as clothes go, because I only get to get into the kit about once or twice a year, I don’t want it to look that way. I want the clothes to look every day worn and battletested. Now I agree the best way to do it is to really just do it. However not given that luxury I opt for artificial aging. And to be honest I will refute the claim that the “entertainment” industry only ages beyond the 10 foot rule. Being a veteran stage man, any live stage production ages for 1 on 1 distance especially if it’s outdoors. Tea bags make great sweat stains, sand paper makes a great worn spot, saltwater steamed works for sweat salt satins. There are some things you have to simulate, like cloth cut by an edged weapon, blood stains, and shot burns. And lets face it, don’t come swaggerin’ up to me saying you’re a “battle hardened seadog” if your clothes don’t have the cuts, tares, and burns to prove it! Most folks just can’t bring themselves to cut, tare, or burn clothing they just bought or even worse made! But it needs to be done. Body. I’m talking visual aspect here. I couldn’t agree more. If I see one more pale, clean shaven, trimmed, un-weather beaten, unscared pirate I’ll go into a fit! Not really but it’s a point. Again being a veteran stage and make-up man I have an edge, but make-up can easily be done for 1 on 1 distance and look real. And fellas, stubble at least is free and come natural. As above, don’t tell me you’ve been swingin’ a blade and shootin’ a pistol with out the scars to prove it. If anyone wants advice on realistic up close make up FX, just ask. Hygiene. Again, have to go with Bilgemunky. While I often take advantage of the Rockies and rough it at above timberline for 2-4 days at a time with no problem with out deodorant with wife, that’s in actual practice. We like to rough camp it together. However. At the rare pirate event, I’m around other who may not appreciate the stench of a sea drowned bilge rat. I like to respect them and give them a rough looking mariner with out that fish gut funk. Not to mention the fact that I like my lady in her pirate garb and want to get very close at the end of the day. So I try to keep it clean. Though I do avoid modern scents and will go unscented in the pits and wear a period scented oil to please my lady. Just my two pieces worth.

Well speaking for myself I can tell you that it’s a matter or real life. In real life I’m not a pirate nor do I engage in pirate activity. I work behind a desk 50-60 hours a week and the majority of the rest of my time is spent raising my kids, paying bills and cleaning up the house and yard. Pirates simply don’t have stains from PB&J, Mac&Cheese, furniture polish, and Windex. I live in Denver Colorado, one of the most landlocked non-nautical places a person could get stuck in America. Not salt sea air, no sandy beaches, no pounding wind. So this leaves me with distressing my gear. Now to be fair I try to distress my stuff in somewhat realistic was. I was just working on a new hat last night and added sweat and brine stains with steamed saltwater. If I need my whites to be grungy, it’s out to the back yard for some dirt. I don’t iron my clothes or keep them folded, I like to twist them and crinkle them and grub them up. And to be honest I distress them because it simply looks better than something that just came off the costume rack.

A hail an' harty thanks ta ye all an a dram o' th' Black Stap for one an' all. Not heard o' this loverly concoction afore? It's a new discovery fer me an' I'm quite taken tho I know other's don't care for it a s much (http://www.internetwines.com/rws28978.html ). I'm quite fond of it thtough. Well it seems a fine an' motley collection o' misfits here abouts an' I'm sure I can find help wi' a few o' the projects I 'ave comin' up. I jus hope I can offer help meself wi' any o' my specific interest or talent as well.

Now be there any finer port where a salty seadog can enter and righ’ away be greeted by two lovely ladies!? Thanks ta ye both Lady Barbosa an’ Rumba Rue. Ye make an’ ol’ salts bones feel welcome an’ harty! I’ve a bottle o’ Black Strap for whoever’s got a thirst. As to our little corner of the interwebs, we’d be happy to knock out some creations for any and all. Something we’re going to be adding in the next three to four weeks will be custom pirate flags, hand painted on weather proof canvas! We have an small event with a pirate theme coming up and I’ll be making about eight of them and will post pictures when they are completed. I call the landlocked port of Denver, CO home, stuck here high up in the rockies still waiting for an airship to carry me and mine off to the lands of the great Pacific Northwest again someday. I am very happily shackled to my mate Annie for 10 glorious years this month! We’ve three housemonkies climbing around and two scurvy seadogs! We play in the local SCA as there are now poxy crews to be had round these parts. We homebrew mead, soda, and cordials. WE both have a deep fondness and love of the sea and the brethren that call her home as well.

Greetin’s and well meet! New ta this here port and damn glad ta be here! A fine treasure trove of goodies yev got here indeed. Hope ta be able to contribute in some small part mayhap. Been a poxy lover of the briney fer about fifteen year or there abouts now. Learnt a bit in tha’ time I have. Look forward ta learn’n jus’ tha much more here!