When I entered "The Winds of War" in competition in July, 1982, at the IPMS Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri, it created a stir that I never expected. It was 4 feet by 8 feet in size. Within a few months, there were articles in model magazines throughout Europe, Asia and America. Of course, I was really excited that many people liked my work.
I decided to do a smaller version of an urban area, this time of France, 1944. I started one exactly half that size and truly focus on quality. It took a little over a year to complete. I worked harder on that one than I had ever done to that point. There was another reason for building it. Kalmbach Publications had made me an offer to publish a book based on that one diorama. They also wanted to do articles on vehicles I had built. So, I was in a rush to complete it.
I had started Warwinds International, a mail order company, in my basement in 1983. By 1985, it had grown to the point, the basement no longer had sufficient space, and I began looking for a building. I was distributing to all of America, Canada and South America. Then Fine Scale had some problems and cancelled all contracts to print books. In July, '84, I met Verlinden and Jos Stok at the 1984 Atlanta IPMS Nationals. Later, he had seen the progress on "Legacies", I had told him about FSM canceling the book and he immediately asked me if Verlinden Publications could publish it. He had, up to this time, published the first three Verlinden Way books. I agreed and we set a deadline of December first, '85.
I had taken many in progress photos that would become lost over time, but here are the few I have left.
Who is that young 40 something sitting there with an Optivisor on his head???? I am now 71. You can see the base and I had started the stone wall.
In this B/W shot, some of the buildings are coming along and taking shape. The first version was set in Metz, France when George Patton was crossing the bridge canal in his custom M-20, and German P.O.W.s being marched to the rear lines. There was significant battle damage to the buildings and bridges.
This is a shot of the base with the buildings removed. Unlike the "Winds of War" which I had built on a flat base, I came up with a base that had hills and valleys. The bottom of the base was flat so I could insure the buildings would always be true and level.
This is the bakery being built.
And this is the finished Patisserie, (Bakery), on the upper floor and "Le Coq Hardi", a French pub on the lower floor.
Here is the facade in progress of the cafe, "Cafe de la Paix".
These are shots of the RR bridge in the background showing the beginning and the finished structure.
This photo shows the interior of the "Metropole" hotel. The top floor being Patton's quarters with his valet in attendance. The third floor is the "War Room", The second is a mezzanine, and the first floor lobby.
An overall shot of the first version of the diorama.
This is a photo of the German P.O.W.s being marched to the rear. Remember the time frame when this was built and there were only plastic figures from Tamiya, etc., and a few metal companies that produced WW II figures, such as Belgo. If I remember correctly, I could only find four German figures that could be altered to represent P.O.W.s. I used those four and altered them to the 17 figures in the column. Lots of converting!
Patton in his M-20. The figure was converted from a Tamiya Generals set. I converted him with a trench coat and worked with several photos to resculpt his face.
I always wanted to see a column of Shermans in miniature, and this gave me the chance to do it!
In the summer of 1991, Warwinds International had became VLS 6 years earlier and we moved to Lone Star Industrial Park in our new building I had built specifically for our needs. The movers inadvertently set the diorama on the sidewalk for about 4 hours in a 90 degree heat with the plexiglass cover. The sun melted everything made of plastic, which, of course, included all the vehicles and most of the figures. Also plastic used in the structures and even the streets.
After crying a lot, I went back to work rebuilding. I added another 50% of space to it, all new vehicles and figures, rebuilt all the buildings, walls and bridges, plus added another bridge and another building. I also made a far bank on the river with a WW I monument. I built a French river tug, sculpted a Doberman Pincher to go with the German policemen. The dio was backdated from 1945 to 1940.
I replaced Patton with a German General in a Mercedes Staff car, also including the motorcycle escorts.
Here in this overall shot, you can see the additional 50% that was added to the previously square diorama, now measuring 4 feet by 6 feet.
The French Gendarmerie was converted to an employment office to recruit Frenchmen to work in the Reich. The POWs in the other version was replaced with a German infantry column ogling a French tart while being watched by a member of the SS security. The only figure to survive the nuclear holocaust was a figure I have always called "Pierre". In the first version, I converted him from a Winston Churchill figure, added a beret, and made him a civilian. I used him in this one as well, he is on the far right, with the white coat, standing in front of the Cafe de la Paix.
This is a shot of one of my favorite angles of the second version of the diorama. The water in the canal was made using a flat surface, painting the edges with Matt 29 earth, (Humbrol), then cloud painting with French Artillery Green, also Humbrol. When dry, I gave it a heavy coat of polyurethane clear, then, finally, took a fine brush and painted in the ripples in the water with Humbrol clear!
The interior of the hotel was also backdated. The top floor being the commanding general's quarters, (The general and a "Friend" are in quarters! Third floor offices, the mezzanine with added stained glass windows made using a fine magic marker and transparent colored acrylic paint.
The "New" Legacies, called Legacies II, Twilight of the third, (French), Republic.
Hope you enjoyed this.
Bob
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