Just before I commence my next, and possibly last, Hinton Hunt cavalry project, the 23rd Light Dragoons, I have spent a very short time on the HH Portuguese ox cart. All parts are from the USA. The cart and cargo, one ox and the muleteer were a freebie from Clayton in 1997. A generous piece of ebay searching on my behalf by David of Miniature Minions fame secured another ox.
Having looked at many images of ox carts on the internet (I didn't expect to be doing that last week!) I settled on head harnesses made from wine bottle foil.
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| I could find no pictures that came close to matching the peculiar contraption that sits on backs of the oxen, most had a yoke across the necks. Anyway, artistic licence won the day and I added a couple of rope harnesses made from twisted fuse wire. |
I have a Peninsular War scenario in mind (inspired by Private Brewer of the Royal Wagon Train at Hougoumont) where this ammo laden cart can be sent to relieve a Spanish/Portuguese outpost.
My inspiration was 'The Pride and the Passion' a Hollywood piece of nonsense based on C S Forester's book 'The Gun'. I went with Jacklex for my draught animals as personally I think they're superb sculpts. Also, they were more readily available, unfortunately no longer the case.
ReplyDeleteI'll post a few photos on blog.
Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren I recall ....two great Spanish actors! I did read The Gun many years ago which I think was quite a short book so Hollywood probably had to pad the film out a bit. I look forward to your post.
ReplyDeleteHah! I am working on mine as well. I spliced in a longer section of the yoke pole to get the neck board over the shoulders of the oxen.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike David! I almost lengthened the pole as well especially when I snapped it while trying to straighten it out! Anyway, I'm not expecting to be visited by any ox cart specialists in the near or distant future so I can rest easy. Looking forward to see your version.
ReplyDeleteI think you did very well with what is probably Marcus Hinton's least inspriring model. My version languishes at the bottom of box as I was completely bewildered about how on earth it was supposed to fit together.
ReplyDelete"Bewildered" sums it up Matthew especially as I was supplied with a single ox by Clayton. Thankfully the Hinton Hunter blog has a good picture so my quest for another ox began 28 years after the freebie arrived!!!
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