Bob Walker 5th Annual Open House (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

In the Library, Bob has one of the rare 1/32 scale Figarti HMS Victory models on display which he bought sight unseen. I believe that only ten of these were made.

 

[ucla1967]

Now for something completely different, Bob's two bathrooms are unique, to say the least. One is done in a Roman motif and the other in a Czarist Russian motif. I hope you get a kick out of them.

 

[wds0855]

I am in total awe....wonderful!! Thank you for sharing!!
Walt

 

[ucla1967]

I am in total awe....wonderful!! Thank you for sharing!!
Walt

Thanks Walt. It is an awesome collection that my photos just don't do justice to. The human eye takes in so much more than a camera does and, in person, you see the collection in the total context of its surroundings rather than through a drinking straw like camera view.

 

[ucla1967]

The small Napoleon Room, which is a different room from the the earlier posts from the French Room, is one of my favorites for its intimacy. When the morning sun pours through the window it is almost a magical place. Most of the figures are Mignot and Lucotte with some Imperial Productions.

 

[debrito]

Nice bathrooms...

Now for something completely different, Bob's two bathrooms are unique, to say the least. One is done in a Roman motif and the other in a Czarist Russian motif. I hope you get a kick out of them.

 

[ucla1967]

The first photo is also from the Napoleon Room and shows the Mignot set depicting the coronation of Napoleon. The second photo is of the sitting room. The last three photos are from the medieval feeling dinning room.

 

[ucla1967]

Before moving into the Diorama Room, I thought I would include a few more photos of Bob's magnificent house. The first two photos are from the library. The third is from the entry staircase. The last two are from the sun room which is my wife's favorite place.

 

[ucla1967]

Here are some photos from the Diorama Room. The center of the room is dominated by a two-level diorama of the Egypt/Sudan with figures from Britains, Bob's own creations, Imperial, and others. In the last photo, note the clever use of a bridge which is in front of a window which would normally be lost display space.

 

[ucla1967]

Some close-ups of the diorama.

 

[ucla1967]

More Diorama Room photos including another diorama close up, recent Britains British Napoleonics, a Neal Crowley Boer War armored train, Hiriart World War I in Palestine Australian Camel Corps with King & Country Australian Light Horse , and U.S. Military with a Tradition set of ACW Union Navy in the front.

 

[ucla1967]

The first three photos are from the closet in the Diorama Room which Bob converted to display his collection. I can see Britains, Bob's own creations, and Hiriart among others. Looking at the third photo, I just realized that other than the mounted British officer, top right, I sold all those figures to Bob. The Indian firing line is from an unknown manufacturer that I originally bought at auction while the British, Egyptian, and Sudanese Camel Corps sets are from Hiriart. The fourth photo is a Hiriart Italian Artiglieria a Cavallo "Le Voloire" set; below them on ther lower shelf are Bob's Italian Bersaglieri and Hiriart Italian Dragoons from 1891. The fifth photo is of various Spanish troops. The large formation of Spanish Infantry could either be Britains repaints or, more likely, Bob's own figures. The mounted figures, far left, are Hiriart Lanceros de Farnesio, Escolta Real. The mounted dragoons in red could also be Bob's figures.

 

[ucla1967]

Continuing in the Diorama Room. The first photo has the current Britains Redcoats and Bluecoats lines with an interesting Scottish castle background. The second photo is of American Revolutionary War and French & Indian War figures from Britains and Bill Hocker. The third is Bob's own figures of 19th Century Italian Infantry at the ready. The fourth photo has 19th Century American Military headgear with an infantry shako and cavalry helmet. The last shows a British Napoleonic Highlander square.

 

[lancer]

Just unbelievable. All that huge collction and so tastefully displayed. The HMS Victory is magnificent. I would like to get a closer look at the Handley Page Bomber I spied hanging from the ceiling.:wink2: -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

Just unbelievable. All that huge collction and so tastefully displayed. The HMS Victory is magnificent. I would like to get a closer look at the Handley Page Bomber I spied hanging from the ceiling.:wink2: -- Al

Al,

It is hard to believe, but the fact that it is tastefully displayed makes it even better than it would be otherwise. Sorry, I don't have any other photos of the Handley Page bomber. However, Bob holds this open house once a year on the first weekend of November. You and any other Forum members are welcome to attend. You can make it a toy soldier weekend by including a visit to the Hall's Sierra Toy Soldier shop in Los Gatos, too. Southwest Airlines has very reasonable weekend fares to San Jose or you could use your frequent flyer miles and come out and see his collection for yourself. When flying, in the past, I have stayed at the Marriott's Fairfield Inn near the airport for as little as $59 a night. You don't even have to rent a car, since they have a free shuttle. So...what's keeping you?

 

[ucla1967]

Here is a series of photos of a Dehli Durbar shelf in the Diorama Room, taken from left to right and hopefully somewhat over lapping. It includes sets from Britains, Marlborough, Hiriart, and others. In some of the photos you can get a glimse of the shelf below when has various Indian Army infantry and cavalry sets.

 

[lancer]

Al,

It is hard to believe, but the fact that it is tastefully displayed makes it even better than it would be otherwise. Sorry, I don't have any other photos of the Handley Page bomber. However, Bob holds this open house once a year on the first weekend of November. You and any other Forum members are welcome to attend. You can make it a toy soldier weekend by including a visit to the Hall's Sierra Toy Soldier shop in Los Gatos, too. Southwest Airlines has very reasonable weekend fares to San Jose or you could use your frequent flyer miles and come out and see his collection for yourself. When flying, in the past, I have stayed at the Marriott's Fairfield Inn near the airport for as little as $59 a night. You don't even have to rent a car, since they have a free shuttle. So...what's keeping you?

Flying? Frequent flyer miles? Last time I was on a plane, it had propellers (just a slight stretching of the truth). It has been 45 years since I have flown (the one time in my life) and I have never been west of Mobile, Alabama. Not a big traveller. But I do appreciate the invitation. Your outstanding pictures are my trip.:wink2: ^&grin -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

Here is the sixth photo of the Dehli Durbar shelf. I counted 18 elephants. The other four photos are some of the various displays in the Diorama Room including Royal Navy, Australians, and Fiji (Samoan?) sets; a Roman turtle formation; pontoon and supply wagons; and in the last photo, not only do I not recognize the manufacturer, I can't even identify the country they represent. They look French, but the flags are throwing me off.

 

[glossman]

Hi Mike,

Thanks very much for sharing the pictures of the amazing Bob Walker collection.

It must be the accummulation of a lifetime of collecting.....20,000 figures.:salute::

I never knew how many elephants made for a decent Durbar procession, but 18 is good.

Your wife knows where to sit. ^&grin

Cheers, Raymond.

 

[ucla1967]

The first photo is of a rare, but unassuming set that sold at a Phillips auction in the 1980s for $10,000. It is a Boer War Army Service Supply Column produced by Britains, but sold under the CFE label. It includes two canvas covered wagons each with two seated drivers, each pulled by a four horse team with two riders, an escort of ten City Imperial Volunteers marching at the trail, and a mounted officer. Bob's wagons are missing their canvas coverings.

The second photo is of various Indian Army figures. The third photo shows Hiriart sets from Peru (2), Bolivia, and Guatemala. The fourth photo has 19th Century Swiss Infantry that I believe are Bob's own castings. The last photo is of various 18th Century Spanish troops.