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"Legacies", Both versions.

bob letterman

Master at Arms
Staff member
When I entered "The Winds of War" in competition in July, 1982, in my first IPMS competition, The IPMS Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri, it created a stir that I never expected. 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. However, there were those that thought I could only build quantity, but not quality.

I set out to prove that wrong. During the following year, I built 52 models, (No dioramas), in every possible category. I entered all of them in the Phoenix, Arizona Nationals. I won several best of categories, many first place awards, but every single model at least placed!

Having put that to rest, I went back to what I liked to do, dioramas. I decided to do a smaller version of the "Winds of War" which was 4 feet by 8 feet. I decided to do 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. Fine Scale Modeler 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 had hooked up with Verlinden and Stok at the Atlanta Nationals in '84. 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, '85, I met Verlinden at the 1985 Indianapolis IPMS Nationals. He returned to St. Louis with me and spent a couple of weeks there. During that time, 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, 1985.

I had taken some in progress photos that would become lost over time, but here are a few I have left.

Who is that young 40 something sitting there with an Optivisor on his head???? You can see the base and I had started the stone wall. My little dog ate that wall a couple of weeks later when I had left the dio on the floor. Just one of those little setbacks we all know and love.

Legacy1.jpg


In this B/W shot, some of the buildings are coming along and taking shape. The first version was set in Metz, France with 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.

Leg-Bakery04.jpg


This is a shot of the base with the buildings removed.

base.jpg


This is the beginning of the Bakery/Pub bi-level building. The next three photos show the SBS.

Leg-Bakery01.jpg


Leg-Bakery02.jpg


Leg-Bakery03.jpg



This is a little further along.

Split.jpg


And this is the finished Patisserie on the upper floor and "Le Coq Hardi", a French pub on the lower floor.

LeCoqHardi.jpg


Here is the facade in progress of the cafe, "Cafe de la Paix".

Leg-Bakery06.jpg


Back in the early 80s, I had been taking a lot of step by step pics as I built models to later put together a book. They were all taken in black & white as magazines back then only printed in black and white! (Hard to believe, isn’t it?). After the “Winds of War” my first huge diorama, had made a stir when it was on the cover of Fine Scale Modeler’s second issue, they had made me an offer to do other articles and to publish a book. A few months later, they had some internal problems, this was in ‘83-'84. They contacted me and said that corporate had blocked all books for the next year. Not much later, I met my future partner and he suggested I let him do the book instead. I agreed and the result was “Superdioramas”. Verlinden was one of the first, if not the first, to print every page of a modeling book or magazine in full color, so, I have hundreds of unpublished B&W photographs that have been in a box for over a quarter century. I had an idea to start a thread using those photographs. If you guys like it, this is kind of an experiment, then I will do more. I will begin with the giant stone railroad bridge in the diorama, “Legacies”.

The bridge is in 1/35th scale, but in real size, it stands almost two feet high, (610 mm). I built this in a similar process as I build most of my structures. I begin with a corrugated cardboard shape constructed with white glue. I buy my own 4 X 8 sheets today, but, back then, I used boxes found at the rear of most supermarkets. BTW, with all materials involved, I probably spent less than $20 on this. That might make a down payment on a layaway plan for a 1/35th tank now! It is a very cheap way to build buildings even today.

Here is the shape I created. I always make the base first, then lay out the streets/sidewalks and alleys. That gives me the dimensions for the buildings.

RR01-1_copy.jpg


Then I add the other shapes I want using wood, balsa or bass, and white glue. I also give it a veneer of matt board, available in art stores. This gives the structure a strength that is remarkable. I have built these things as early as 1971 and they still look today as they did back then. They are far more sturdy than any plastic model.

RR02.jpg


This photo shows how the “stones” are made. I take Hydrastone plaster and mix it with water to the texture of thick paint. Other guys have tried this and took a shortcut and left out the matt board. Corrugated cardboard with collapse from the wet plaster. The matt board keeps the cardboard dry! Then i draw horizontal lines on the mattboard to keep the stones level, and begin “painting” the stones. Some I give three coats, others four and five coats. That creates a realistic texture. I have began to make the RR track base on top. With this and the river wall and the new stone pillar in the Legacies II diorama, there are over 9000 stones! Multiply times 3-5 coats each, I was really tired of making stones!

RR03.jpg


See another angle here. As you can see the arch stones have been added using Miliput epoxy putty shaped and then carved to simulate the texture of stones.

RR04.jpg


This is a birds eye view showing the upper deck progressing.

RR05.jpg


With most of the stones complete, here is a shot of what it would look like from a human’s perspective. The trestle that has been blown was made of the PVC products Plastruct architectural shapes, a very useful product that I have used as far back as I can remember. I have used it to build factories and aircraft hangars.

RR06.jpg


This is a birds eye view showing the upper deck progressing.

RR07.jpg


All stonework finished, here I have given it a base coat of paint. A flat medium gray.

RR08.jpg


Side view. The fancy trim on the top is from a lumber store used for trimming woodwork. Just a bit of nostalgia. Note the stacks of VP products I was selling out of my basement at the time, (1983). The beginnings of The VLS Corporation.

RR09.jpg


Now, I begin applying the weathering process. That begins with randomly painting the stones about five different shades of the base color. Then a raw umber “wash” using artists oils mixed with rectified turpentine to the consistency of milk. A complete coat of the mixture covers the model and then is cleaned off with a dry, clean cloth using a blotting method, leaving only the dirty color in the cracks and crevices. It also darkens and ages all five colors of paint to an extent. Then using a light gray, I painted the area that had been blown away, which replicated the fresh, unweathered stone, never exposed to the weather. A touch up using the dry brush of only one shade lighter than the stones very subtly adds visual texture. Then streaks are made from various colors of artists oils to simulate wear and tear over a century of use.

RR10.jpg


Another view.

RR11.jpg


Still working on the deck. In Legacies II, this deck was extended to 3.5 feet, (Around 1100 mm).

RR12.jpg


Now with the tracks, fencing and RR signals, weathered and rusted girders added, It is finally complete.

RR13.jpg


Finally finished, I prefer the this, the human's eye view. Compare the finished model to the beginning!

RR14-1.jpg
RR01-1.jpg


Unfortunately, the only pic of the bridge in the diorama was taken by an FSM photographer, Paul Boyer about14 years ago. I have lots, but they haven't been scanned. It is somewhat visible, just follow the steel trestle till you see the stone. This is Legacies II, after it was rebuilt into an intact bridge, erasing all the damage. It was rebuilt in 1991, and at that time the trees were green. Over time, they have bleached out to an autumn shade. Hmmmmm! How's that for having seasons in your diorama!

LegaciesBridge.jpg

Photograph courtesy of Fine Scale Modeler.

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.

Interior.jpg


An overall shot of the diorama.

Legacy.jpg


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!

prisoners.jpg


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.

Patton-1.jpg


I always wanted to see a column of Shermans in miniature, and this gave me the chhance to do it!

TankColumn.jpg


In the summer of 1991, VLS moved to Lone Star Industrial Park to 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. 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. It was also backdated from 1945 to 1940.

Legacies7.jpg


I replaced Patton with a German General in a Mercedes Staff car, also including the motorcycle escorts.

Legacies8.jpg


Here in this overall shot, you can see the additional 50% that was added to the previously square diorama.

Legacies2.jpg


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.

Legacies6.jpg


This is a shot of one of my favorite angles 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!

Legacies21.jpg


The interior of the hotel was also remodeled. 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.

page3-1.jpg


The "New" Legacies, called Legacies II, Twilight of the third, (French), Republic.

page5-1.jpg


Here is a photo of Legacies II and me.

10Oct11190a.jpg


Bob
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Hi King Bob,

I know you did this dio many moons ago, but I don't suppose you recall what size the I-beams were that you used for the railway track? (I need a small section of railway track for a base - coming soon to TnT ;) )

Thanks in advance

Rudi :)
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Hi Rudy,

No way can I remember that. If you have or know anybody that has some track from either the Trumpeter RR Kits or Dragon, borrow one and take it to a hobby shop and get a comparable I-beam. All you have to do is round off the one side to replicate the track.

Sorry, I would measure it but it is a major piece of work to remove the top while inside the museum.

Bob
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Hi Bob,

Yup, I know ;) Was just chancing it. No worries, though, I found the dims for rail lines using my old friend, Google :)

Thanks for responding though

RUdi
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

There you go Rudi,

A couple of steps ahead of me!

Bob
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Ok, I've seen that diorama before, in a book, but it didn't have Germans and an .88 in it. It had Patton! Great work, Bob. I actually can put this little article to work in the next few days building the cliffs and gate for the planet Vulcan.
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Hi Bob,

After reading this and the article in Military Modelling I realised that you had followed up Legacies with a second diorama. Is this a 'new' or a modified one from the first. I remember looking at it first time when it was in the Super Diorama's book (still have it)?

Although Ken does not mention it do you have a book/website dedicated to your rather splendid dioramas? I'm just not sure how big your display area is, your wife must be so understanding! Looking forward to seeing more of Logistics as you progress.

Please keep up the good work and the tips too.

Best wishes

Brian
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Hi Brian,

I have built 4 of the huge ones. The Winds of War, Legacies, first and second versions, Coccoon, and now Logistics. I have built dozens of smaller, (Still very large), dioramas, and when I sold VLS, we built a building specifically to house all of mine and many built by others.

My website is a non-commercial site, only for those who are my friends or just curious modelers. When Logistics is finished, I plan on publishing a book, but first I have to finish it.

www.bobletterman.com

Then go to Bob's Gallery, a link on the left side of the home page. Then all the threads prefaced with "Logistics"

You have read the article in Military Modelling? I have yet to see it! Maybe someday!

Bob
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Bob I have seen this piece before and as evry time before it inspires me , thank you for this great adition to the modeling community.
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

How did I miss this! It does bing back memories... still amazing work.

Regards,
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Saul, there is so much stuff on this website, I miss things all the time!

Thanks!

Bob
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

sharkmouth wrote:
It does bing back memories...

It certainly does!

In the early eighties I was a young teenager, still dependent on mom or dad to supply the ride to the LHS to see these things in print. Listening intently as the older, more experienced guys would discuss the work and explain how I might try to do it on my own and how they were always encouraging me to continue to push myself.

If I try hard enough I can still remember the feeling of awe as I studied the pictures carefully, dreaming up how I could apply these things in my own work on the car ride home. Salvaging bits of cardboard and sheetrock cut offs when dad did work around the house, plaster bits, odd wire from the old radio in the trash and everything and anything I could find to try and get similar effects in scale.

Sometimes now at forty, it seems unbelievable that I'm here on the same forum, speaking to the very man who inspired me so much. I occasionally get to see what I can only guess is the same look in my sons eyes when he looks at this stuff.

What a great feeling it is to relive those years even if only briefly, it's often times a bit surreal. I can't thank you enough Bob for sharing these and for teaching me all the things you have over the years, even if you had no idea that you were.

I wish I could end this post with a montage but that might be too much to ask.

Thanks again Bob.

:D
 
Scratch building a Railroad Bridge A piece of nostalgia!

Damn Ken,

How do I answer that?

The truth is, I was never aware that I was teaching anybody anything. I was hoping that what I said and SBSed wouldn't make me sound like an amateur or an idiot. I always had a little talent, not nearly as much as some of my contemporaries, and I was just trying to "Keep up". Every time I wrote a book or published an article, I would wait and hold my breath for a while to make sure I didn't become a subject of ridicule! That is not false modesty speaking! That is the truth!

I've always been kinda lucky and if I did inspire somebody along the way, it makes me very proud! Especially when your calibre of modeler says something like that! I'm not real good at this so I'll leave it at that!

Thank you!

Bob
 
Re:"Legacies", both Versions July 29, 2010

Bob that is still great stuff! It is hard for me to take it all in.

Terry :huh:
 
Re:"Legacies", both Versions July 29, 2010

Wonderful memories and still great work.

Regards,
 
Re:"Legacies", both Versions July 29, 2010

This is one of my favorites...the photos don't do it justice. The water alone blows my mind. It looks like you could just dip your fingers into it. :)
 
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