Napoleonic & ECW wargaming, with a load of old Hooptedoodle on this & that


Saturday 18 July 2020

Sir William Ponsonby

Over the last few weeks, my soldier painting has just dried up altogether. I was doing really rather well, but we've had some family problems, which have been a major distraction, and I seem to have just lost motivation. I'm trying to pick it up again this weekend. I hope to finish off the two British dragoon regiments I was working on - they only lack their command figures, and they are coming along now.

Since these dragoons are in the Waterloo period uniform, I decided it would be pleasing to paint up their brigade commander at Waterloo, Sir Wm Ponsonby, to go with them. I was very lucky in that Goya donated a repaired Hinton Hunt figure (thank you again, sir), and he is now ready for action.

Sir Wm Ponsonby, MP for Londonderry 1812-15.  He is riding one of his second-string horses, a fact which he must have regretted when the lancers got after him at Waterloo. Damn bad luck.
I had a HH Ponsonby some years ago - it wasn't a great casting, and it got cleared out when I had a sudden rush of blood to the elbow and decided to replace all my 20mm generals with 25mm ones - an idea that must have lasted all of six months. My previous Ponsonby had a light tan riding coat - I didn't have access to Marcus's painting instructions in those days. This new one is a much better casting, and I've painted him as Uncle Marcus would have wished.

This is not just a one-hit Waterloo special - I shall use the figure to represent John Gaspard Le Marchant in an earlier period (he didn't last long either, come to think of it). I can ditch my current Le Marchant figure, which is an S-Range conversion of mine that I have never liked. In fact, given that his uniform is more or less invisible, this new chap can serve as any odd British commander. Useful.

Anyway - here we have Hinton Hunt BN257, painted and everything - he should have a brigade to command by Sunday night.

18 comments:

  1. Fine work, Tony! With luck, he will lead his command to victory on Sunday. Hopefully, your painting mojo will return.

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    1. Thanks Jon - I think the secret is to do a couple of smallish jobs and make a decent effort of them - a lot of this is confidence (and being able to settle to get on with it!).

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  2. A nice edition painted as per Mr Hunt's instructions. You can't go wrong there. Cheers Greg

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    1. Thank you Greg - it's not a spectacular piece, but I'm quietly pleased with him!

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  3. I hope the family problems aren't too serious and it's good to see some mojo returning. I'd forgotten all about this figure and a jolly nice job you've done. Let's hope those Dragoons aren't too far behind

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    1. Thanks Graham. Partial mojo arriving - very pleased to say! The dragoons will be along shortly - I have to say, I'm finding Hinton Hunt figures a bit of a challenge to paint at present - the detail is implied rather than staring you in the face, but they're nice when they are done.

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  4. Very nice little figure Tony with tons of character.

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    1. Thanks Lee. I was reading about his end - seems a bit different from the film [gasp]. One version of the story is that the lancers realised he was a celeb (his coat must have been worth a bit, for a start) and offered him quarter, there being money to be made from such an arrangement, but he didn't have enough French to understand them. While this was going on, some of his brigade appeared, to try to rescue him, and the lancers were obliged to kill him and make their escape. Alas. One thing Ponsonby could have done was offer them some of his snuff, and nip off while they were blinded and having convulsions. And if he'd only had a better horse...

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  5. Rather nice, even in his housecoat. Best keep him away from those lancers though!

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    1. Yes indeed. Did he lose his head, or did he just go along with his men for the excitement? We need to know.

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  6. Gotta love a quote from Waterloo—and such a fine figure. Plenty of pockets in that coat for some snuff from Alexandria.
    Regards, James

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    1. Ponsonby slowly swaying back and forwards on a rocking horse against a back projection of galloping cavalry is one of the least satisfying moments of the entire movie, I think, but no matter. Michael Wilding? This was his last film appearance, apparently. It is maybe worth bearing in mind that he was married to Elizabeth Taylor for a while - she must have been partial to a bit of snuff?

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  7. You should keep him away from the 15th Chasseurs as well! Nice job with the painting.

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    1. Thanks Ian - I am aware that you did a rather better one of these recently, so I had my tongue sticking out, concentrating! No pressure...

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  8. A great little miniature Tony...

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thanks Aly - in recent times, I have finally come into contact with Hinton Hunt figures which were cast when the moulds were still good, and it is a totally different experience!

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  9. Bravo, Sir William... and may your Brigade be close behind you!

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    1. Thanks Peter - yes, right behind, and galloping at the same speed!

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