HIRIART Get Together Saturday (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

When each new Hiriart shipment arrives from Uruguay, we customarily meet at Bob Walker's house to distribute the sets for those collectors living in the Los Angeles area. We also invite anyone else who would like to join us. Typically, after we hand out the sets, we spend some time looking over the latest additions to Bob's collection, discuss toy soldiers, and then we have lunch at Bob's favorite Mexican restaurant.

For the first time, I thought I would share some photos of a Saturday get together. I usually don't bring my camera, but this time I did. I won't dwell on the Hiriart sets at all, since they are shown in the other delivery thread.

First photo seated, left to right, Bob Walker and Ed Ruby. Standing, left to right, is Gus Ramos, Alan Green, me, Mark Young, and Carl Boege (SP?). We are laughing about something, but I can't remember what it was.

Second photo, Ed Ruby.

Third photo, Mark Young, Carl Boege, Gary Fournier, and Bob Walker. Russian themed figures in background.

Fourth photo, Gus Ramos with more Russian figures behind him.

Fifth photo, Alan Green and his two sons.

 

[ucla1967]

These are Bob's new Wollner Austro-Hungarian military figures displayed in one of Bob's many castles. My best guess is that he has about 20 castles, some of which are huge, and most are pre-war.

 

[ucla1967]

I spotted a couple of Hiriart sets with extra men from the last order which have been incorporated into his dining table display. Set 1017 ROYAL NAVY WHITEJACKETS LANDING PARTY marching and set 1087 PRINCESS PAT'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY at present arms who are facing marching set 1075 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS. Set 1075 was displayed previously. BTW, you may have noticed the pink cheeks on their faces---Bob adds them, they don't come that way from Hiriart.

 

[ucla1967]

I spotted this interesting Egyptian temple that Bob recently picked up. In the past few weeks, Bob has also bought a number of Potsdamer Zinnsoldaten Heyde-like sets made by the late Joe Schimek. These two sets of Imperial German Cuirassiers and Jaegers are now on display; however, he showed me a bunch others which were still in their boxes (no photos).

 

[maddadicus]

I spotted a couple of Hiriart sets with extra men from the last order which have been incorporated into his dining table display. Set 1017 ROYAL NAVY WHITEJACKETS LANDING PARTY marching and set 1087 PRINCESS PAT'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY at present arms who are facing marching set 1075 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS. Set 1075 was displayed previously. BTW, you may have noticed the pink cheeks on their faces---Bob adds them, they don't come that way from Hiriart.

I actually like the pink cheeks. Makes them someone nostalgic..Michael

 

[nmrocks]

I spotted this interesting Egyptian temple that Bob recently picked up. In the past few weeks, Bob has also bought a number of Potsdamer Zinnsoldaten Heyde-like sets made by the late Joe Schimek. These two sets of Imperial German Cuirassiers and Jaegers are now on display; however, he showed me a bunch others which were still in their boxes (no photos).

Really like the temple, what's the material it's made of? Scale looks about 30mm/ 72nd?
Ray

 

[ucla1967]

Really like the temple, what's the material it's made of? Scale looks about 30mm/ 72nd?
Ray

I am not sure. It may be from Bob's purchases of backdrops and buildings that were made for an attorney's collection (he works in the movie industry) and has them custom-made for him by studio model makers. That scale would be about right.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

The first photo is an impressive model of a Russian Orthodox church made of, believe it or not, paper. The next photos are of Bob's special commissions from Hiriart of Russian Imperial Guard Grodno Hussars and Life Guards, both of which include 14 figure bands and 10 figure sets of hussars or life guards.

 

[ucla1967]

Since I had my eyes closed in the first post's photo, I will try again, even though I am not looking at the camera in this photo. And I remember now what we were laughing about, Bob insisted that we look at each other and not directly at the camera which seemed funny at the time. Hey, other than Ed Ruby, I am the oldest person at this get together. Now that is a little depressing.

Here we are in Bob's favorite Mexican restaurant where he eats every Saturday. Some other folks in the pics are Bob's mother; Hector and his son Michael, who work for Bob; and Lori who is Ed's caretaker and driver. My tacos and beans and rice are really getting cold since they brought them out about 10 minutes before some of the other orders.

 

[Go for Broke]

Aw Mike, you look great for being the 2nd oldest person there.{sm4}

 

[ucla1967]

AN INVITATION: If any Forum members are planning a visit to Southern California in the future and would like to see Bob's collection, please let me know and I will arrange it for you. And if you have the time, you are welcome to see mine, also. Forum member Randy (PolarBear) saw both collections a couple of years ago. Bob and I live only about eight miles from each other.

Mike