These pictures are heartbreaking.
https://www.facebook.com/charlie.pritchett.79/media_set?set=a.1399919963370840.1073741839.100000585506196&type=3
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Goodbye Verlinden
Buckeyes57
Joined: September 14, 2010
KitMaker: 135 posts
Armorama: 130 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 03:21 AM UTC
WXerock
#450
Joined: July 19, 2015
KitMaker: 672 posts
Armorama: 668 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 04:31 AM UTC
I haven't bought anything Verlinden in many years. I used their stuff a lot in the 1990's as they were the only game in town. They also had a bad habit of using inappropriate storage items that just wouldn't be used on many of the latest vehicles out there. Their casting quality and hand drawn photo etch just didn't keep up with what the new companies are doing. I may be wrong about that but that is my experience. It is however sad that all of those dioramas have been destroyed. It is very short sighted. Too bad a home couldn't have been found for them.
Regards,
Eric
Regards,
Eric
milojko
Joined: July 24, 2002
KitMaker: 143 posts
Armorama: 124 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 04:37 AM UTC
Does any one know the whole story, retirement, bankruptcy, what's the rest of the story.
Buckeyes57
Joined: September 14, 2010
KitMaker: 135 posts
Armorama: 130 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 04:46 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Does any one know the whole story, retirement, bankruptcy, what's the rest of the story.
He decided to retire. That is all I know.
Pave-Hawk
Joined: May 05, 2006
KitMaker: 900 posts
Armorama: 510 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 05:14 AM UTC
Any other links to info for those of us who don't facebook?
A Google search has turned up no info.
A Google search has turned up no info.
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 05:42 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextDoes any one know the whole story, retirement, bankruptcy, what's the rest of the story.
He decided to retire. That is all I know.
I don't blame him- Francois Verlinden has been in the business since the 1970s, if memory serves...
I've still got quite a bit of VERLINDEN resin figures and stock in my inventory- (No, I am not a hobby shop) I really liked his 120mm Figurines, especially those of the Napoleonic Era...
Too bad-
I wish him well in his retirement...
PS- Guys- Try Dragon-Hobby on ebay if you need VERLINDEN items- They carry(ied) a LOT of VERLINDEN stuff the last time I checked...
JPTRR
Managing Editor
#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 06:00 AM UTC
Shocking. I wonder if they did try to sell the molds? Alas, too many children who inherit their parent's legacy have no interest in it. Some may even resent it if they feel it took the parents away from their adolescent life. Dunno.
I don't recall the story but when Verlinden and Letterman split, perhaps there was some legal thing that prevented Verlinden from passing the inventory along? Pure speculation on my part.
I was never that big a fan of Verlinden (I was more of a Shep Paine disciple); I appreciated his contribution to the art of the hobby, and I believe that he was very influential in setting the bar higher that coaxed mainstream manufacturers to improve their products.
Yes, the end of an era. His work deserves better than the dumpster. Even model railroading icon Allen McClelland's beloved quintessential Virginia & Ohio RR had sections salvaged and preserved for posterity.
Farewell, Verlinden. Happy retirement.
I don't recall the story but when Verlinden and Letterman split, perhaps there was some legal thing that prevented Verlinden from passing the inventory along? Pure speculation on my part.
I was never that big a fan of Verlinden (I was more of a Shep Paine disciple); I appreciated his contribution to the art of the hobby, and I believe that he was very influential in setting the bar higher that coaxed mainstream manufacturers to improve their products.
Yes, the end of an era. His work deserves better than the dumpster. Even model railroading icon Allen McClelland's beloved quintessential Virginia & Ohio RR had sections salvaged and preserved for posterity.
Farewell, Verlinden. Happy retirement.
ericadeane
Joined: October 28, 2002
KitMaker: 4,021 posts
Armorama: 3,947 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 06:48 AM UTC
Here's a post I made on TL where I uploaded some of Charlie Pritchett's photos.
http://www.track-link.com/forums/news_general/52374
The diorama being dumped was one that was damaged and lying in some corner somewhere. Charlie said the nicer pieces were sold off. What's inexplicable to me is the trashing of the many masters.
http://www.track-link.com/forums/news_general/52374
The diorama being dumped was one that was damaged and lying in some corner somewhere. Charlie said the nicer pieces were sold off. What's inexplicable to me is the trashing of the many masters.
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 08:34 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I haven't bought anything Verlinden in many years. I used their stuff a lot in the 1990's as they were the only game in town. They also had a bad habit of using inappropriate storage items that just wouldn't be used on many of the latest vehicles out there. Their casting quality and hand drawn photo etch just didn't keep up with what the new companies are doing. I may be wrong about that but that is my experience. It is however sad that all of those dioramas have been destroyed. It is very short sighted. Too bad a home couldn't have been found for them.
Well all I know is that if you wanted a 1/35 M42 Duster driver's compartment, a 1/16 civil war mortar, the M61 for a 1/32 F104, Verlinden was your only hope. There were tons of other stuff he had that couldn't be found from other manufacturers-- and in scales from 1/72 to 1/16th. How about a 1/16 B17 waist gunners compartment, tons of Napoleonics, WWII Germans, Brits, Allies, US Civil War figures, camels, horses, dogs, ready made diorama bases, and yes, sometimes inappropriate stowage stuff. Sometimes it was a little crude in the casting and the PE, but it was still better than nothing at all. I for one will miss Verlinden stuff, but there's probably enough left out there to go for several years too!
VR Russ
m4sherman
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 08:54 AM UTC
Aside from the one showing the diorama and models, the pictures seem to show the boxes uses to make the molds. Are the masters mentioned resin copies of the originals used in the mass molding process, or the original pieces?
I would think originals could be sold on E-bay if only for someone to say they "got it".
I would think originals could be sold on E-bay if only for someone to say they "got it".
Trisaw
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 09:59 AM UTC
I guess I'm one of the few proud owners of Verlinden's 120mm Cyborg Hunter kit, a 120mm figure so rare that there's only two built figures (mine included) that show up in a Google search.
I emailed Verlinden a while back and asked if he had anymore 120mm Cyborg Hunter kits to sell. He told me he could sell his original Cyborg Hunter he painted for a few hundred dollars...
It's too bad no one bought the molds for the Cyborg Hunter figure. I've seen quite a few figure modelers posting "Wanted to Buy" for this figure over the decades.
In any case, enjoy your retirement, Mr. Verlinden. I will be holding onto my VP figures from now on.
I emailed Verlinden a while back and asked if he had anymore 120mm Cyborg Hunter kits to sell. He told me he could sell his original Cyborg Hunter he painted for a few hundred dollars...
It's too bad no one bought the molds for the Cyborg Hunter figure. I've seen quite a few figure modelers posting "Wanted to Buy" for this figure over the decades.
In any case, enjoy your retirement, Mr. Verlinden. I will be holding onto my VP figures from now on.
fhvn4d
#159
Joined: April 07, 2008
KitMaker: 803 posts
Armorama: 564 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 11:25 AM UTC
My greatest sadness is for the people who worked for Verlinden......Yes congrats, retire, but I would bet there are more than a couple people who are now out of work with a big question mark in their budgets. Sad.....
SEDimmick
Joined: March 15, 2002
KitMaker: 1,745 posts
Armorama: 1,483 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 06:29 PM UTC
Quoted Text
My greatest sadness is for the people who worked for Verlinden......Yes congrats, retire, but I would bet there are more than a couple people who are now out of work with a big question mark in their budgets. Sad.....
Actually from what I heard the place was running on auto-pilot with a few new releases here and there...and who ever worked there was only there part time.
Obviously there wasn't much demand for his products in the past 10 years or so. The resin business isn't really worth it with all the new kit releases. I've seen lots of places close their doors over the past 5-10 years because of the lack of sales or interest or it taking over all their free time so they can't actually enjoy the hobby...then lets not get into the guys in the EU that are great "artists" but horrible business men that can't get their products out in a reasonable time frame or even out of their country.
barron
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 666 posts
Armorama: 598 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 06:47 PM UTC
Very sad. I met the man once very nice guy. His work was what inspired me to get into the hobby. His company will be missed by me. 
drabslab
Joined: September 28, 2004
KitMaker: 2,186 posts
Armorama: 190 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 07:48 PM UTC
bankrupcy? retirement? poor molding? not keeping up with new companies?
In my view all this is fairly irrelevant!
I do remember those days when Verlinden started contributing with pictures to the yearly Tamiya catalogs. In those days for many of us these were breathtaking, raising the bar for what could (and had to) be achieved with modelling to very high levels.
Is the Spitfire less of a plane because now we have F-22's? Has the Sherman become a failure because now we have the Abrams ?
Let us remember Verlinden as the pioneer he was, who inspired us to become better modellers, and who inspired many people to bring their own line of resin parts, decals and so on to the market.
In my view all this is fairly irrelevant!
I do remember those days when Verlinden started contributing with pictures to the yearly Tamiya catalogs. In those days for many of us these were breathtaking, raising the bar for what could (and had to) be achieved with modelling to very high levels.
Is the Spitfire less of a plane because now we have F-22's? Has the Sherman become a failure because now we have the Abrams ?
Let us remember Verlinden as the pioneer he was, who inspired us to become better modellers, and who inspired many people to bring their own line of resin parts, decals and so on to the market.
OliveDrab
Joined: March 05, 2016
KitMaker: 6 posts
Armorama: 6 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 07:56 PM UTC
Just a few days ago I pulled some Verlinden figures from the stash to use on my next build, how ironic it is to hear this news. Sad indeed, but I do intend to use the figures and perhaps they will serve as a small tribute to the Verlinden era.
dhines
Joined: November 17, 2015
KitMaker: 407 posts
Armorama: 373 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 10:06 PM UTC
Sad to see him gone but I hope he has a great retirement. I wonder if he will still build from time to time. I have a lot of Verlinden in my stash. I have almost all of the ready made dios,just add figures and an armor piece or softskin and you have a reasonably nice dio. It was convenient to have everything you need in one box. Just wait a while and someone will publish a book of his lost works or something similiar.
tigerproductions
Joined: November 13, 2006
KitMaker: 238 posts
Armorama: 201 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 10:22 PM UTC
I really believe it's not only sad, but evil as well. By dumping all of this in the garbage it says "if I can't have it, no one can". Goes right in line with the thinking that this individual has had for all of his business life. He may have been a creator in the aftermarket industry and one of the first founders of it, but his attitude towards other manufacturers and small business people trying to break into the business was abysmal and almost criminal.
I remember Dutton Enterprises and Alfred Dutton breaking into the market in 1991 and Verlinden telling distributors that if they tried to carry the Dutton Enterprises stuff they could not carry any of his products. This caused undo hardship for a start up company and led to their eventual downfall. This was not the first or last time he did that. For all the deserved hobby praise people give him, there was a darker side to the whole story. It's a shame, he could have been as good a human being as he was a hobby talent.
When my day comes and I can no longer operate Tiger Productions Diorama Products if I can't sell it for $, then I will turn it over "FREE" to someone young, talented and worthy to receive it. A person who will continue to put it out to modelers around the world. I will never put it into a dumpster or into a landfill................The hobby should be passed on to others who will enjoy it, and carry on it's tradition. It's very selfish for someone to destroy and discard things just because they can't or don't want to do it anymore. Shame on those who do that!
I remember Dutton Enterprises and Alfred Dutton breaking into the market in 1991 and Verlinden telling distributors that if they tried to carry the Dutton Enterprises stuff they could not carry any of his products. This caused undo hardship for a start up company and led to their eventual downfall. This was not the first or last time he did that. For all the deserved hobby praise people give him, there was a darker side to the whole story. It's a shame, he could have been as good a human being as he was a hobby talent.
When my day comes and I can no longer operate Tiger Productions Diorama Products if I can't sell it for $, then I will turn it over "FREE" to someone young, talented and worthy to receive it. A person who will continue to put it out to modelers around the world. I will never put it into a dumpster or into a landfill................The hobby should be passed on to others who will enjoy it, and carry on it's tradition. It's very selfish for someone to destroy and discard things just because they can't or don't want to do it anymore. Shame on those who do that!
BigfootV
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 10:27 PM UTC
Sad day.
Dumpster diving anyone!
Dumpster diving anyone!
Maki
Senior Editor
Joined: February 13, 2002
KitMaker: 5,579 posts
Armorama: 2,988 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 11:01 PM UTC
I've read somewhere that masters were not trashed, but will be sold instead... I think it would be stupid to trash something which could make your retirement a bit easier, so I'm more inclined to believe this rumor instead.
I've heard similar stories about his treatment of sculptors who worked for Verlinden Productions. Yes, although he made an enormous impact to the hobby, there is a darker side to the man.
Mario
Quoted Text
but his attitude towards other manufacturers and small business people trying to break into the business was abysmal and almost criminal.
I've heard similar stories about his treatment of sculptors who worked for Verlinden Productions. Yes, although he made an enormous impact to the hobby, there is a darker side to the man.
Mario
brekinapez
Joined: July 26, 2013
KitMaker: 2,272 posts
Armorama: 1,860 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 11:09 PM UTC
Last I heard there was no buyer for the masters and they have been binned as well.
retiredyank
Joined: June 29, 2009
KitMaker: 11,610 posts
Armorama: 7,843 posts
Posted: Friday, September 16, 2016 - 06:11 AM UTC
IMHO Verlinden interiors bridge the budget gap. Specifically, I refer to the Panzer III and IV interiors. They were fairly accurate, much more affordable and easier to work with. I started, with TWS and CMK and botched both of them. Verlinden filled this gap. I am already on a mission to pick up as many of these gems as I can.
sinistervampire319
Joined: May 07, 2009
KitMaker: 189 posts
Armorama: 98 posts
Posted: Friday, September 16, 2016 - 09:01 AM UTC
Crazy ebay prices here we come!
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Friday, September 16, 2016 - 10:50 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Crazy ebay prices here we come!
One would think so, but not as bad as some retailers charge for their wares. Check the Asian vendors- They usually sell for quite a bit less than our domestic vendors. It's not very hard to figure out why...
Paulinsibculo
Joined: July 01, 2010
KitMaker: 1,322 posts
Armorama: 1,239 posts
Posted: Friday, September 16, 2016 - 02:14 PM UTC
Quoted Text
bankrupcy? retirement? poor molding? not keeping up with new companies?
In my view all this is fairly irrelevant!
I do remember those days when Verlinden started contributing with pictures to the yearly Tamiya catalogs. In those days for many of us these were breathtaking, raising the bar for what could (and had to) be achieved with modelling to very high levels.
Is the Spitfire less of a plane because now we have F-22's? Has the Sherman become a failure because now we have the Abrams ?
Let us remember Verlinden as the pioneer he was, who inspired us to become better modellers, and who inspired many people to bring their own line of resin parts, decals and so on to the market.
So right you are!
Changing the modeling world as a pioneer, he inspired many of us.
Let's wish him a wonderful retirement.
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