Felucia Containment
Picture Frame Display Diorama
(https://i.imgur.com/lvkKW3C.jpg)
It's finally here: My first attempt to recreate the botany of Felucia. The display stands I found on ebay recently (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10178.msg224789#msg224789) inspired me to combine them with a picture frame.
(https://i.imgur.com/VhEZT53.jpg)
I do not own this image. Source: StarWars.com (https://www.starwars.com/databank/felucia)
Felucia, known as Galush prior to the formation of the Galactic Republic, was a colorful, humid jungle planet located in the Felucia system of the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories. The headquarters of the Commerce Guild, its primary agricultural export was the valuable crop nysillin, which was largely farmed by the native Felucian tribes. Its important strategic location along the Perlemian Trade Route made it a major battleground throughout the Clone Wars.
"I have spoken with the tribal leaders on Felucia. They use a very ancient dialect which is hard to understand."
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
Source: Wookieepedia (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Felucia)
Work-in-progress:
So I decided to incorporate one of these action stands into my next diorama. My first Felucia test diorama was on my list for years now and a modified & repainted BARC Speeder is planned to follow as well. And coincidentally the arms of the displays I got recently fit some Class I vehicles perfectly.
(https://i.imgur.com/ApHJ7cT.jpg)
I used this modelling material which air-dries for the ground and covered both the base of the stand the the frame leaving out both holes for the poseable arm.
(https://i.imgur.com/e2G9xnX.jpg)
Once the area was covered, I textured the clay with this lava stone, that I found on Gran Canaria (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10814.msg224348#msg224348).
(https://i.imgur.com/UMdMF13.jpg)
Choice of artificial plants:
Even though I was already picky when I bought these plants online, I was extra picky when I finally had to choose the few that fit on this picture frame. I know they look nothing like the amazing Felucia diorama seen in Revenge of the Sith, but I aimed more for the depiction in The Force Unleashed and Battlefront II. The color scheme of the Felucian Warriors were a great inspiration for choosing these plastic & silicone aquarium plants.
(https://i.imgur.com/1u8i0w4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EaZE1rE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/84cWG0w.jpg)
You can see these artificial plants in more detail here (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10416.msg205646#msg205646). The modelling material takes about 12 hours to harden so I had enough time to place them on the diorama using tweezers and a sculpting tool:
(https://i.imgur.com/N8xOEqT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PjrsZWr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xHI32qx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IzCLSkn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vDHRasd.jpg)
Once I was happy with the botany, I left the stuff to dry.
Painting the ground:
When the clay had dried and hardened, I painted it with different acrylic paints. This time it was a wet-brush of different shades of brown and green. One disadvantage of this clay is that it retracts to a certain extent, so there's a small gap between the "ground" and the frame now. Need to add some more paint to the edges:
(https://i.imgur.com/bV1Jcqp.jpg)
After the paint had dried I glued the plants back in position using wood glue and tried if the poseable display stand still fit on there. The height of one element towers over the plants' perfectly:
(https://i.imgur.com/UJ6Mmck.jpg)
I don't have any more TFU figures here, but I plan to add Shaak Ti to duel Starkiller on a second arm - force jump air combat so to say:
(https://i.imgur.com/174Vwiz.jpg)
Enter Aayla Secura & Details:
Every time I play Battlefront II Felucia is a must play - mowing through some clankers in the jungle of Felucia with Aayla Secura is always fun. That's why I display her with two lightsabers here as featured in the original BFII game:
(https://i.imgur.com/xjaFDwz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FZits1E.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kamjM4T.jpg)
Making of the Fungi:
Initially I planned on making the base of Sideshow's Premium Format Aayla Secura (http://rebelscum.com/Sideshow_Collectibles_SSC/Aayla_Secura_Premium_Format_Figure_Sideshow_Collectibles/IMAGE15.asp) to begin with, but these display stands inspired me to make a display diorama for a BARC Speeder first.
Here's a picuture of the tool and paints I used for the sculpted plants and fungi, that are also seen in the movie(s). I used the same cheap clay for these as I did for shaping the ground:
(https://i.imgur.com/0Uk45if.jpg)
You can find sculpting tools on ebay and Amazon using the forum's affiliate links to support it without any extra costs:
ebay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=sculpting+tools&_sacat=0 (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=sculpting+tools&_sacat=0&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5337377665&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1)
Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sculpting+tools (https://amzn.to/3waY3Vf)
(https://i.imgur.com/CCyRSPN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6pv8ok8.jpg)
Couple extra details:
Today I went to my trusted gem dealer. It's been a while. Last time I was there is 15 years ago.
On my way to the workbench I re-discovered a pouch of Pyrite crystals. I thought these were perfect to cover the holes for the posable display arms. But a few moments later I was reminded by a Bornite that I got years ago. But I couldn't find it that quickly. So I decided to just get a couple more and paid 5€ for these here:
(https://i.imgur.com/SOXLJ4V.jpg)
I think these look perfect in the colorful botany of Felucia and could either be ore found on the planet or an meteor from decades ago, uncovered by Felucia's acid rain.
If you're interested, you can read more on Bornite here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bornite
(https://i.imgur.com/yhBoEus.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GrfZF53.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/r1Gj9EK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rBhV3NG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PZVNHqe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nL4nt5k.jpg)
I do not own this image. Source: ModDB (https://www.moddb.com/mods/hd-graphics-mod/images/wip-realistic-felucia-rezzed-and)
Comment:
Nothing special, just a test shot and first attempt on this toxic planet...the vibrant colors are what I enjoy most on Felucia. This planet is so toxic and dangerous that you don't know if your next step is the last one. The next diorama is going to be bigger with more sculpted plants. If you want to see a truly impressive one, you can see one in this German forum that I found during my research
https://www.sfmforum.de/index.php/topic,571.0.html
Got any questions or suggestions for improvement? Please, let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading!
- Philipp