I recently finished up painting a batch of the new Spanish Corsario unit and it’s time to share some pictures!
Corsario Models
Firelock Games has been releasing some new miniatures recently which is very exciting! Especially exciting for Spain! This new set of Corsario sculpts is the first set of specialized Spanish models that have been released since the first Kickstarter way back when!
These Corsario models are being produced in the new 3D printed resin material. Overall, we have been thrilled with this new material and these miniatures are no exception.
Per usual, this “blister pack” of miniatures contains 4 one-piece minis, each with a unique sculpt. The set costs $18. In these sculpts we see some very heavy Spanish flavor with shoulder capes, long moustaches, Spanish style firelock muskets, floppy hats, and long rapiers.
Model Quality
The detail and precision on these models is great. There are some areas where some slight layer lines are visible, and there was a bit of cleanup necessary removing the little nubs where supports were attached on a couple of the models. I feel the extended sword is pretty thick for the sake of sturdiness, but this is forgiveable.
One of the models had some stay raised lines across the chest of the mini that I gave up on removing. but it wasn’t bad.
Everyone has their preferences and each manufacturing method has their strengths and weaknesses, but overall, considering detail, durability, and clean needed, I consider these fantastic minis. I’ve been a big fan of the metals, but these are better in a lot of ways and I’m very excited for more like these!
The Corsario Unit
This unit in Blood & Plunder represent the skilled, and possibly more well-to-do Spanish soldier of fortune that is basically a Pirate, hiding behind the legitimacy of the Guarda Costas. The unit description in Blood & Plunder: No Peace Beyond the Line reads:
These Spanish Raiders are armed with well-made Spanish muskets and vast knowledge of seamanship and at ship-to-ship combat tactics. They are among the most elite Spanish troops to be found in the New World.
At 6 points per Trained model, Corsarios are an expensive Spanish unit, best suited to small arms attacks at sea, stout defense of a Spanish vessel, or aggressive boarding action.
The Corsario unit is found as a a core unit in the Spanish Corsairs, Ostend Privateers, 18th Century Guarda Costas and Juan Corso’s Corsairs factions and can be found as a Support Unit in many of the other Spanish factions designed to play at sea.
The Corsario unit has to compete with the English Freebooter and the French Flibustier. At first glance, the Corsario has some real disadvantages. Armed only with a matchlock or firelock musket, the Corsario’s equipment is a little lacking compared to the Freebooter’s buccaneer gun and pistol sidearm and the Flibustier’s buccaneer gun and brace of pistols.
When comparing the Special Abilities, the Corsario lacks the Fast Reload, Marksmen and Ball & Shot abilities that make the French and English elite units so efficient on their long arms. The Ruthless Special Ability is really the best Special Rule the Corsarios have, and while it is expected on Spanish units in general, it is very good here. Able to apply a -1 bonus to either a Shoot or a Fight test when targeting an enemy unit with more Fatigue, this can bring the Shoot and Fight numbers down to very impressive numbers without having to use 2 actions with the Marksmen rule. The Corsario unit also has the Sailors rule and the oft maligned, but sometimes clutch, Swordsmen rule.
Swordsmen is kind of a defensive rule, applying a +1 penalty to any enemy fighting against the Corsario with a Standard Melee Weapon. Combined with the Corsario’s solid 6 Fight Save, this can make this unit very durable in a melee, but only if the enemy isn’t bringing strong melee weapons.
The Corsarios stats are solid. With the French’s solid Fight of 5 and the English’ solid Fight Save of 6, this unit has great melee stats. Shoot Skill and Save are solid as well at 6/7 and their Resolve is actually good as well and the “game standard” of 5 (which is kind of rare in Spanish Forces).
The best unit option is adding a plug bayonet which gives them both a offensive edge when charging, and an invaluable ability to defend against a charge, since they lack pistols of any sort. It’s a little weird that they can exchange their standard Matchlock Muskets for Firelock Musket at no cost, but it does occasionally make a difference (the campaign in No Peace Beyond the Line, for instance).
With good stats, sub par weaponry and situational Special Rules, the Corsario is probably a little behind the power level of the Freebooter and Flibustier, but that’s kind of what you expect from Spanish units! At least they aren’t Poorly Equipped!
Corsario Paint Scheme
I decided to go with blue and red as my major colors on these models, influenced slightly by the Milicianos models used in the unit profile in No Peace Beyond the Line. I used a light tan for their trousers, and black for hats, shoes and most leathers.
Searching for “Spanish Corsario” on Google doesn’t yield a lot of good results, so I used “17th century Spanish Noble” or “Spanish Musketeer” for finding inspirational images. It appears you could go several directions with a color scheme, but blue and red kind of fit with my overall color palatte for my Spanish forces.
Paints Used on Spanish Corsarios
I usually end up using about 20 paints per mini, but these are the primary colors used on my Corsarios:
- Vallejo Prussian Blue for the coats
- Vallejo Cavalry Brown for the reds
- GW Zandri Dust for the trousers
- Vallejo German Grey for the shoes, hats and leathers
- Vallejo Metal Color Steel and Silver for the silver metals
- Vallejo Brass for the buttons
- GW Ushabti Bone and Screaming Skull for the leggings
- Vallejo Ivory and White for the shirts and collars
- GW Dryad Bark for the musket wood
- GW Skin Color set of all faces and hands
- Various GW Washes for different parts of the minis
Complete Unit of Spanish Corsarios
Overall this is a “dashing” set of models!
Each model really has character. This guy represents the Swordsmen element of the unit really well, and that hat and shoulder cape have strong Musketeer vibes!
Every set needs “shooty guy.” The thing I’m most happy about with this model is the realistic left hand/finger arrangement while supporting the musket. That’s how the hand actually looks when supporting a rifle!
This guy looks ready to jump into your show and mess you up!
And finally there is the model in his shirtsleeves with the less fancy hat. This guy provides some good variety and has a great, Spanish angry face!
Final Thoughts
As a long-time Spanish player, I’m thrilled to get a new set of Spanish sculpts! I have another set of the Corsarios I’m going to paint up with more of a dirty and weathered paint scheme.
These were a pleasure to paint and I’m looking forward to getting them on a ship on the table. Hopefully I’ll be fighting a crew only armed with cutlasses!
If you enjoy playing the Spanish in Blood & Plunder, you should pick up a couple packs of these Corsarios!
Make sure to check out the Corsarios painted up by Fernando Arteaga in the 2024 Great Pirate Paint Off contest!
You can find more photos of his set of Corsarios in the Contest Gallery
Article and painted miniatures by Joseph Forster
Additional Recommended Reading
- Check out the resin Spanish sailor models in this Marineros Minis Showcase
- Full painting guide for Spanish Marineros
- Check out another new resin set of minis in the Compagnies Franches de la Marine mini showcase.
- Check out the Spanish Corsairs faction in this faction breakdown article.
- Article on Benerson Little’s Blog on the Spanish Corsairs