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Corsair to Privateer

Joined
Aug 7, 2026
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Hello all,
I was hoping to draw from the vast combined knowledge of the community.
I'm on my second model (the brig corsair by occre) but would like to deviate a bit and make a late 18th century American privateer out of the kit. I've just finished the second planking layer but would like to change the color scheme up. I hope this isn't heretical but coming into the hobby from a war gaming miniatures background I sometimes opt for the "rule of cool" ideology and know what im requesting may deviate a bit from 100% historical accuracy but since it's not going in a museum and is just for my enjoyment and to decompress after coming off shift I hope I won't be keel-hauled to death.
I work a 24on/48off shift schedule as a paramedic/firefighter so I don't get much time to research and build, but from the research I've done so far a common scheme would be:
"The Early-American Stark White Stripe"
[The stark white stripe running over a lampblack hull became the quintessential early US Federal navy and privateer look by the late 1790s. This design frames the gun deck cleanly and offers an imposing military silhouette.]
I noticed from the source photos I've looked at that below the water line seems to either be:
option A: Off-white/Cream matte paint (simulating tallow and sulfur "white stuff").
option B: Metallic Copper paint and a dark brown/green wash (if mapping out a high-budget sheathed hull).
Any advice on how you salted experts would go about this or input on what you think would be cool to see would be greatly appreciated.
 
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