The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Dioramas => Topic started by: Clonehead on June 10, 2008, 06:01:02 PM
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Guess I will start by posting this pic of my geonosis dio that some of you have seen before which I made from styrofoam and papermache with some train diorama ballast "small rocks" thrown in.
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/cconrad69/geodio6.jpg)
I may have to experiment with my pic sizes here.
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The mini-dio looks good Clint! Also, the forum will automatically resize the images for you to meet our restrictions, so no worries!
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That is a cool feature! I also like how when you first log on it automatically shows you the new replies to your posts. Once again, good job on this new php site.
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That is a cool feature! I also like how when you first log on it automatically shows you the new replies to your posts. Once again, good job on this new php site.
This whole thing is more streamlined for us all! Man I do like that mini dio. I can't wait to see the customs you have been working on too!
()rr
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Thanks guys for your comments. Here are some more shots of that dio with the comic book arc trooper that I have repainted red and supplemented with a hollow removable cast of a Bacura helmet.
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That chain gun is also a piece that I have casted in the past but need to make another working mold for.
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Clint I kinda hope hasbro goes out of business so I can just start buying figs from you. I would be broke all the time, but there would be no complaints about the figs period. Daggone your just too good guy.
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Thank you very much! Here are some shots of one of Tamer's Favorites........... This is a Titanium ATAT with its stock base decorated with Woodland Scenics diorama products to represent an Endor Walker.
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Two more shots. I detail painted the walker up, a bit.
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Two more shots.....
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Man CH, that looks spectacular! I don't know if I have the steady hand or patience required to do something that pristine!
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Man I sure wish I had that skill. You couldn't have picked a better vehicle to work on though Clint. Looks spectacular. I would love to see what you would do with the full size version.
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Much thanks dudes! I would like to try one using that SW Mini walker that I spied in Tamer's collection. I still haven't gotten around to picking that one up, yet.
I think I have a couple more shots to post of this one..........
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awesome Clint. Is that Star Wars graphic special too or just looking different based on the photo flash?
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Look's pretty good, really like the weathering effect, it really brings out the detail compared to just the straight gray.
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Many thanks! That was just the flash, Tamer.
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Many thanks! That was just the flash, Tamer.
cool camera effect then. Daggone good looking vehicle. What I would give for a little bit of your skill with that small detail work.
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Here is the little shadow box diorama that I made for the AOTC snow clone that I showed you in the customs thread. I used different layers of craft foam for the background and made the grooundwork from papermache and train diorama snow glued onto two pegged figure bases that were glued and wired together.
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Man, that looks awesome! I am hoping to do a background like that on a larger scale when I get to building my Hoth dio. Cool deal.
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Thanks, buddy! It's been a while since I've tried using an actual photo for a backdrop but I was thinking that something snowy blown up at Kinko's might work for the big dio that you are planning on.
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not a bad idea at that Clint. I have to decide whether I want it to look like an outside scene or an inside Hoth type hangar scene. I probably ought to draw a rough plan kinda like you did with this one and then see if I can pull it off.
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Arn't you going to make both?
Are we talking about an Echo base snowspeeder hanger dio or a luke in the bacta tank with medical droids and friends dio? You know that with the new BMF coming out theres no reason why you couldn't go for the gusto and make a Han and Chewie working on the Falcon dio!
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Arn't you going to make both?
Are we talking about an Echo base snowspeeder hanger dio or a luke in the bacta tank with medical droids and friends dio? You know that with the new BMF coming out theres no reason why you couldn't go for the gusto and make a Han and Chewie working on the Falcon dio!
Clint, unless I can come kidnap guys like you and Wayne something like that is just beyond my artistic ability. My idea right now is simply an ATAT driver briefing on planet with Veers and a holo vader. I haven't thought about having it inside or outside. I would love to turn the smaller display areas under the large one into more Hoth scenes later down to road if this one doesnt make me loose all my SW friends and I am still sane. I do like your thinking though Clint!
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Here is another oldie but a goodie.
This dio started as two potf figure bases that I glued and wired together. I created a framework with coat hanger wire that was attached to these bases for the bottom and covered that with glued on thin craft foam. I then built up the ground work with chunks of styrefoam and covered it all with paper mache. next came paint and train diorama grass. The final step was to install some train diorama tree trunks and cover with shredded colored foam for foilage. I built this dio to support this fig I made from a saga Elite Corps trooper body with a resin Airborn head painted to match and the helmet cover from an ATTE tamk gunner fig. He is also sporting a Paper mache cape and kama painted to match the elite corps camo and a scratchbuilt ghillie cape that was made from gauze soaked in white glue and formed with an old plastic Vader cape. It was then painted and covered with the same static grass and bush foilage that I used on the dio.
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I like the sniper feel to this.
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here are some pics of the little dio that I made from an at-te gunner's base for that jungle camo clone commander. As before, I drilled a few holes for the sticks that make up the shrubs, coated the base with a watered down white glue mixture. And peppered it down with train diorama static grass. The foilage on the sticks were glued in place and then sprayed with the watered down glue mixture and sprinkled with the same static grass. I made sure to leave the foot peg exposed to ease the mounting of the fig.
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A couple more shots of the dio.
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And finally, some shots of the little dio with the figure. I love taking pics like this outdoors. there is just something about the natural light. Also I like how the dio's foilage blends in with the tree foilage in my backyard.
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Clint, does that dio grass fade at all? Is it artifical?
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Woodland scenics is the brand of train diorama grass and foilage that I use. It can be found in Hobby Lobby and other hobby stores. I can only imagine that in the sunlight that it would fade after awhile but indoors I wouldn't think so. I have had some on display here at home for years that have never faded. I think that it is actually dyed and shredded foam of some type.
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Will have to keep that in the back of my head.
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In my sunday paper, Hobby Lobby runs a full page add. about every other or third sunday, down in the bottom right corner of the add is a 40 percent off one item coupon. Keep that in the back of your head if you ever want to try the stuff.
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Do they have a website and are there sales good there too? Don't have any around here, that I know of.
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Here is a link, Chad.
http://www.hobbylobby.com/ (http://www.hobbylobby.com/)
you cannot order from here but it has a store locater. Good luck!
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Here is a link to woodland scenics home page and here you can order from.
http://www.woodlandscenics.com/ (http://www.woodlandscenics.com/)
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gonna have to check out some of those links. I love these small dios, they really make the figure stand out more imo.
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Here is another oldie but a goodie.
This dio started as two potf figure bases that I glued and wired together. I created a framework with coat hanger wire that was attached to these bases for the bottom and covered that with glued on thin craft foam. I then built up the ground work with chunks of styrefoam and covered it all with paper mache. next came paint and train diorama grass. The final step was to install some train diorama tree trunks and cover with shredded colored foam for foilage. I built this dio to support this fig I made from a saga Elite Corps trooper body with a resin Airborn head painted to match and the helmet cover from an ATTE tamk gunner fig. He is also sporting a Paper mache cape and kama painted to match the elite corps camo and a scratchbuilt ghillie cape that was made from gauze soaked in white glue and formed with an old plastic Vader cape. It was then painted and covered with the same static grass and bush foilage that I used on the dio.
Just awesome!!
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Much thanks, kind sir! ;D
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Here are a couple of shots of a dead droid snow dio alot like Tamer's that I did. I think that John got this one but I can't remember for sure.
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Daggone I love that snow mando is that same snow camo paint app that you do Clint. The GM is great too, don't get me wrong, but I love that snow mando.
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Thanks, buddy! I like that one too. I will dig around tomorrow and post some more pics of the snow mando.
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Some more lil dio shots from the photo archives. The first is a shot of two little green dios. One in a further stage of production than the other. You can see the rocks cast in white plaster from a rock mold on the one and what they look like painted on the other. On one I have posed a battle droid for scale.
The other two shots are of a little snow dio with a custom fig I did using a GM body, a cast resin snowtrooper backpack, and a hollowed out resin ATAT drivers helmet. If I were fishing for Tamers, this would work as bait. LOL
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Clint, I am once again loving that snow clone as usual. Consider me hooked and landed! 8)
Man I am really liking that atat helmet with the snow camo paint job.
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Really well done :D
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Thanks guys. You know, Tamer, the more I post about this stuff, the more I want to start messing with it again.
Why, I even caught myself digging around in the unfinished customs pile, yesterday. There are 3 of em for sure, all with custom mixed helmets, and two have partially completed dios. I know that you have seen them, can you remember which ones they were?
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Is one of those one that is supposed to have a "purply" figure?
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Yep, that is one. That fig is nearist to being complete but not the one I was going to pick up first.
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I am gonna have to have one of those atat troopers Clint. I love the way he looks holding that helmet in his hands. If you ever get any down time (haha) consider an order put in for one of those!
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I did want to do another one of those but was wondering about a different body to base it on. That helmet is a bit bulky looking to me on the GM body. I might have to experiment a bit. I still have that headless atat driver's body that was to be for you........
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Sounding good to me Clint. Now remember don't tease!
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Skills you have...
Expand you must !! (http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/wink/1bluewinky.gif)
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I know Rodger. You would like to see bigger bolder dios from me. Let me clean out my basement and perhaps I can try a bigger one.
Now Tamer, I would never tease you. you know better than that. ;D
Here are a couple more shots of the GM ATAT driver clone on his snow dio and also there is a shot of a Tattooine dio that I did for a ST contest.
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A couple more shots of that Tattooine dio. John, in this one, I used the Woodland Scenics train diorama snow applied with the water/white glue mix and then, painted it to look like sand.
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I never knew that! That was a cool idea.
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It worked pretty well. I imagine that you could use real sand but it would be quite a bit heavier. It didnt take as much paint as you would think. I just thinned down some acrylic paint and brushed it on. An airbrush might have worked a little easier.
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You can use sawdust too... Works fine (depend of the wood)
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Daggone I am really starting to want that GM ATAT Driver! That Tatooine dio looks great too. I am gonna have to remember that Woodland scenics snow!
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You can use sawdust too... Works fine (depend of the wood)
Sawdust huh? I will have to try that DR, thanks.
Ok Tamer, I will get you some kind of driver figure going soon. Consider yourself on the list. See, persistance pays off, my friend.
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I don't want to hustle you guy, but I do love your stuff! If Hasbro had you I would still be buying one of each! ()rr
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I don't want to hustle you guy, but I do love your stuff! If Hasbro had you I would still be buying one of each! ()rr
LOL now that is funny! I just found another hoard of custom pics including pics of the fig and dio that I wish to start working on.
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Found a couple of pics of my snow mando posed with that atat/gm trooper on his little dio.
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Just package those up and send em Clint!
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Do you still have the first snow mando, Clint?
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Just package those up and send em Clint!
LOL, I got a good chuckle out of that one. ;D
Yes, John, He is out in front on one of the shelves in my display case. I'm glad that you let me have him back as he is still one of my favorites.
I've still got him, the red comic book arc with the bacura helmet, a jungle camo atte gunner with bacura helmet, and two scorches. One snow camo and the other, jungle camo. Those are the complete ones still in my possession.
There are also at least 4 incomplete ones around here. I just found another one today based on a saga Death star gunner.
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I found some pics of another snow dio that I did where I had a clone wars kenobie fig that I made from an rots clone with a Ben head that was interchangable with the helmeted clone head and a scratchbuilt cape, posing over a freshly hewn super battle droid. I had cut parts of the SBD's limbs off, added interior details, and painted neon orange to simulate glowing hot metal from a light sabre cut.
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A couple more shots of that dio. I will post some shots of the figures in the customs thread, tomorrow.
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Droid's cuts are really good :P
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Thanks DR! I had a lot of fun doing that one. Here are a couple of more pics of that dio. In these photos, another snow clone that I had done around the same time made it to help the clone General with his dirty work.
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Man, the lightsaber cut droid is over the top Clint! Where have you been hiding that one! I love the snow camo airborne too.
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Thanks buddy! I just found those pics last night. That one came and went probably a year and one half ago. The cuts on the SBD was just an idea that I had on how to use the neon paint before I started using it for the visors and lightsabers. I will post some more pics of the snow camo airborne in the customs thread.
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Just package those up and send em Clint!
LOL, I got a good chuckle out of that one. ;D
Yes, John, He is out in front on one of the shelves in my display case. I'm glad that you let me have him back as he is still one of my favorites.
I've still got him, the red comic book arc with the bacura helmet, a jungle camo atte gunner with bacura helmet, and two scorches. One snow camo and the other, jungle camo. Those are the complete ones still in my possession.
There are also at least 4 incomplete ones around here. I just found another one today based on a saga Death star gunner.
Some time after I started to paint one up to resemble that mando only thing is he dosnt have the gm/fett helmet, just the fett and havent gotten around to making the cape either. When you asked to keep it I totaly understood I tryed the making and selling thing but never could bring my self to part with them. Dont get me wrong I did part with a few but still to this day have in the back of my head to re-clone them.
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I hear you there, buddy. I always had in the back of my head that I would re-make the ones that I let go as well. But it always seems funner to try something new.
I sure had a ball making and selling them but I sure miss some of those creations as I have said.
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john had mentioned the camo Cody fig that I did some time ago so I dug out some pics of him and his little diorama that, like a couple others I have made since then, I made using the ATTE gunner's jungle type figure base.
I just painted the base up to hide the shiny factory finish, added some woodland scenics static grass with a mix of water and white glue, drilled some holes for sticks, glued on some fine leaf foilage, and then touched it up with acrylic paint.
The first shot shows the dio before the fine leaf foilage was added.
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A few shots of the fig on the dio. At this point, this had been the best jungle dio that I had created, for SW figures anyway. I was pretty juiced about it.
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A few more shots. I should have kept this one, also. I think that I am all out of ATTE gunner bases.
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Pretty sweet! Just when I think you are all out of pics you post more! Excellent.
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Yeh! Now see thats something I want to do for my next dio., Clint! That small dio. with the camo Cody. The little one two man display. I want to do a few for my elite clone unit. I have the material, could use some helpful info when you get a chance.
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I keep hoping that sometimes Clint will start from scratch and post pics of the entire process he goes through to create the various small environments. I know he did a few on the old forums and am hoping we can twist his arm to give us some more! Especially ones with snow as I am biased!
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Oh, there are still more dio pics around here, buddy. I'll get there eventually Tamer. I'm just glad to be kind of working on the stuff again. Trust me, the next time I start a new one, you guys will see every step.
John, just make sure you have the materiels handy when the time comes ,and I would be glad to walk you thru one as time allows.
The snow dios are a bit easier but start out about the same as the green ones.
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I still have that dio. set I got from you and I also picked up some other dio. sets my father had from his trains. So Im ready to go when you are! Tamer, thats one thing you will benefit from is having this guy in your corner when you start your own custom projects. He has walked me through many of projects.
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I still have that dio. set I got from you and I also picked up some other dio. sets my father had from his trains. So Im ready to go when you are! Tamer, thats one thing you will benefit from is having this guy in your corner when you start your own custom projects. He has walked me through many of projects.
And you are quite the Padwan learner there, John. You see, Tamer, I had to stop tutering John lest he were to over power my skills............. ;D
I am serious buddy, your skills have really grown since we first met. You make me proud to be a Clonehead.
I have to post some more dio shots so Tamer won't think that I am running out.
I had mentioned that I still had a jungle camo Scorch in my possesion. Well, here he is in some glorious jungle dio shots.
The first shot here shows Scorchie gracing two dios that are placed next to each other. I believe that I had made these two to fit together like a puzzle for a contracted order. The next two shots are of him on just one dio. I really like how the plaster rocks turned out after they were painted on this one.
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Some of those rocks were plaster of paris casted in a model train diorama rock mold and some are just fish aquarium gravel that was glued on and painted.
The last shot here, shows scorch with a couple of his buddies. Jungle camo atte/Bacura, and jungle camo clone commander.
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Thanks Clint, I owe it all to you! Had I never had your help Id never been doing half the things I am...I know for sure the casting and the dios. I probably never would of attempted a dio. Now those dios. are awesome!! Remember we where talking about making smaller dios. that would connect or be displayed separate, these are exactly what I visioned of making for my elites.
Yes Tamer, Clint has been a wonderful teacher and a great friend! " The force is strong with this one"
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I remember this! Man I am loving that RC. Shoot, I like em all! Send em with that modified GM! O0
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TY buddy. Now tamer, I thought that your collecting focus had narrowed to TESB only. >:D So, you remember that huh? I was really proud of those jungle dios. I think I still have one of those.
Now John, what are you planning on using for the base of your green dio. Are we talking a wood plaque, a picture frame, a coffee can lid, or what? I don't need another green one yet but I guess I could make a little one along with you just for explanation purposes.
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You got that right Clint! I almost forget seeing all the great Clone stuff.
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I found some shots of the dio that I made for the jungle camo biker scout that I did prior to the elite corps troopers coming out. The first two shots show a couple stages off the dios construction. As with some other dios that I did, this one started out as a plastic figure base where I drilled in and superglued lengths of epoxy coated tie wire to form a larger framework. I then cut and glued 1/4 craft foam cut from a sheet around the figure base and onto the wire framework that I had made. These craft foam sheets are covered on the bottom with a layer of paper, otherwise, superglue would not work as styre foam and super glue don't like each other.I had left some vertical spires of the tie wire sticking up and cut the base foam around it so that these spires were protruding up from it. Then, I ripped and glued chunks of styre foam and glued them onto the base where the spires were with white glue. Next, I covered the base with tissue paper soaked with a mixture of water and white glue.
In the first shot, the chunks of foam have been glued onto the spires and the craft foam/figure stand base.
In the second shot, this dio, in the upper right hand corner has it's tissue covering. ( I was making 3 at the same time here)
After a base color of paint, I applied some woodland scenics fine turf and some talus (fine rocks) which was held on with the white glue and water mix, I then drilled some holes and glued in some sticks of the same companys fine leaf foilage, added some more fine turf to this to make it more leafy and of a more varied color, sealed it with another layer of the water/white glue mix, more paint touchups,and there you have it.
I still have this one as well, in the basement somewhere.
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TY buddy. Now tamer, I thought that your collecting focus had narrowed to TESB only. >:D So, you remember that huh? I was really proud of those jungle dios. I think I still have one of those.
Now John, what are you planning on using for the base of your green dio. Are we talking a wood plaque, a picture frame, a coffee can lid, or what? I don't need another green one yet but I guess I could make a little one along with you just for explanation purposes.
No its cool! Ill wait till you do another in time, Im going to try doing one using the atrt gunner stand in the mean time. Oh! I got some bad news... The molds I made turned out ok, but the resin I have is no good. The resin base ( the darker liquid) the bottle having less than a quarter left the air in the bottle must of harden it to the point its not mixing well with the hardener. Im going back up north at the beginning of Feb. and If I dont get a chance to get some there Im going to need you to grab me some, when I get back Ill let you know whether I got it or not so if you see any coupons that you dont need for your self hold one for me. Another thing, hows work? Isnt it around that time of year? Not too bad I hope!
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Believe it or not. I've been busy at work. I have worked 8hrs or more a day since new years. I have been trying to work on a cutom fig, though. First time in a year. I have posted some pics in the custom thread. I have just made 4 new molds also. I plan on testing them out, tonight.
I do have one more atte gunner base that is as of yet" unspoiled" that I might just go green on. Just let me know about your resin nececities and I will get you fixed up.
I have problems with the resin's shelf life sometimes. I will have to post about that in the casting thread.
resin casting thread (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=476.0)
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I found a couple more shots of the elite forces airborne fig on his dio that I hadn't posted here, before. On this dio, I integrated some wisps of yellow long grass for the first time in one of my green dios.
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Is that a mix of airborne and atte gunner (rots) helmet? Looks good! I love the looks of the mini dio base too.
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Is that a mix of airborne and atte gunner (rots) helmet? Looks good! I love the looks of the mini dio base too.
That is just the atte gunner's helmet cover slipped over the airborne helmet. I wonder if i could mold that little piece. Thanks on the dio. I didn't use many rocks on that one but the drybrushing on the groundwork makes it appear that some rocks are poking out.
Tamer,Your posts always manage to make the page switch. I will have to dig up some more dio pics to color this page up.
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I found some more pics of the clone general diorama to post.
In the first shot, you can see some light footprints that I put into the woodland scenics snow while the white glue/water mix that serves as the snows fixative was still wet.
The next three shots show that same dio with a Vader and Snowtrooper fig posed to get Tamer's hothy side itching.
I found a few in-production shots of this dio and will show them next.
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Sweet stuff Clint. That pic of that snowtroop by himself coming down over that dio look extremely realistic.
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I like it, I strive for realism in my stuff and have to say the snow looks dead on and snow isn't easy to do
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Much thanks guys! I got another one going where a disabled destroyer droid will be partially buired in the snow. As soon as I get my latest snow camo fig done, I will finish the dio up. Perhaps I should go grab it and snap some pics.....
Actually, with some practice, this woodland scenics snow is fairly simple to get looking good. Tamer will know when he gets his hothy dio going.
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As promised, I took a few shots of this in-production snow dio that will feature a dead destroyer droid partially covered with snow. Here, the inital layer of snow had been applied and I have mounted a destroyer droid from the waist up onto the dio with wire and super glue. The head isn't on the droid in the first few shots.
In the one shot, you can see part of what makes up the dio's base and framework. As with some other dios, I used a couple of plastic figure bases, glued together with pieces of coated tie wire drilled and glued into these bases to make a wire frame. Then a thin layer of craft foam was cut around and glued over the framework.
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the snow in the first layer seems a little dirty problably from the handling of the dio while mounting the droid body.
This will clean up when I add the second layer. I have posed my snow camo scorch in a couple of the shots and introduced the droid's head in one of them. I may end up mounting the droid's head tilted to one side or something.
After the second layer of snow is applied, only half of what you see of the droid will be exposed.
I intend for this dio to be the new home of that snow camo fig that I am working on in the customs thread.
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Turned out great, the depth is very nice and I liek the fact you add extras into the piece, rather than just a base for a figure.
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Turned out great, the depth is very nice and I liek the fact you add extras into the piece, rather than just a base for a figure.
Thanks buddy! I'll see if I can't finish this one up in the next week or two.
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Got some in production shots here of a couple of the dios that I have shown so you can see their beginnings.
first shot......Here, I have glued two figure stands together and am drilling holes to accept the wire framework.
second shot.....Here are the base and framework combos that will make two different dios. on the oone that I am holding, you can see the vertical spires that some of the wires terminate into.
third shot.....Here, I have traced and am cutting some thin craft foam to glue onto the wire framework to serve as the primary foam base. See how I cut around the figure base and have pre cut holes for the vertical wires to pass through. These vertical wires are what help support the upper layer of foam groundwork.
fourth shot........here the two dios have had their groundwork layer of foam added and one has been covered with tissue soaked in water and white glue.
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Here are the beginnings of the clone wars general snow dio where I used the base from the AOTC C3P0 and Battle Droid in the droid factory set.
First shot....I am drilling those framework wires in again.
Second shot....this was before I started using that thin foam as a primary layer and here, I have just built up the groundwork with random foam chunks supported by the wire and lots of white glue.
third shot......shot from above of the foam groundwork prior to the soaked tissue layer.
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Two more shots of that one.
first shot, here is the dio wearing its layer of tissue soaked in water and white glue.
Second shot.......here is what it looked like after the woodland scenics snow dried but before I added the hacked up SBD. "I wired him onto the dio, you see"
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I found some close up shots from a couple of the completed green dios where you can see the details a little better.
In that last shot, I have posed some of my 1/35th scale plastic model German WW2 figures in the dio to see how their scale looks with the foilage. Yep, I painted and assembled those guys as well. They are around half the size of a SW figure. See the strap on the one figure's rifle? That's the sort of customizing I would do to those figures back before I even thought of customizing a SW figure.
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I really like the looks of the snow base with the metal decking on it. I would love to be able to do something similar for my large dio if I ever get around to it. Man that woodland scene look realistic as usual too. As usual for you Clint!
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thanks buddy! I guess that they did have some decking spread out over the snow in echo base, didn't they.
You know, I always had wanted to do a hoth trench dio. I think that would be a lot of fun. I have one of the radar dish cannons but need to get one of those Target UBP gun towers. I guess I could do it in mini unleashed form. That would be fairly easy.
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I think your first full scale dio should be Hothy! When you coming to WV?
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I think your first full scale dio should be Hothy! When you coming to WV?
You supply the walkers and the ding-dongs and I will supply the dio making materiel.
Uh, you guys got a hottub, right? ;D
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I think your first full scale dio should be Hothy! When you coming to WV?
You supply the walkers and the ding-dongs and I will supply the dio making materiel.
Uh, you guys got a hottub, right? ;D
My brother does! I have plenty of walkers and we can work on the ding dongs! Man wouldn't that be awesome! I would love to get the Yarders together here sometime, would love it if it meant my dio get off the designing stage too. Ah, dream little dreams.
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I think your first full scale dio should be Hothy! When you coming to WV?
You supply the walkers and the ding-dongs and I will supply the dio making materiel.
Uh, you guys got a hottub, right? ;D
My brother does! I have plenty of walkers and we can work on the ding dongs! Man wouldn't that be awesome! I would love to get the Yarders together here sometime, would love it if it meant my dio get off the designing stage too. Ah, dream little dreams.
Somehow I doub't that your wifey would be too pleased once we start rolling on the ultimate Hoth dio in your family room. I'm talking hills, trenches, Ion cannon, the works. I'm sure that your daughter would love it, though.
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I had posted about one of these little Tomy SW dio kits over in the model kit review thread (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=495.0)and thought I would snap some pics of all 5 of them so you guys could see.
These little dio kits were produced in 2006 and available only in Japan.
The first shot shows an AOTC slave one in fight through an astroid field.
the second shot shows Obi's JSF flying through an astroid field.
the third shot shows anikan skywalker on his swoop bike flying in the desert of Tattooine
the fourth shot shows jedi master Yoda in Dooku's hanger."he is about the same size as a Yoda action figure"
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The first shot shows my favorite lil dio from this line, the equipment carrying gunship flying away from a freshly deployed ATTE. I would like to modify one of those new gunship Model kits to look like this.
The second shot shows all 5 kits assembled ontop of my dvd rack. These kits are pre decorated and not too hard to assemble. I have extra copies of a couple of them if anyone's interested.
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Today, I am working to finish the dead destroyer droid snow dio.
Since the added droid headed past the borders of the original dio and I wanted him to be mostly covered with snow, I needed to extend that end of the dio's base to support the snow.
I traced and cut out a piece of the same thin craft foam for the base extension. I then cut a length of 16 ga tie wire and shaped it to connect to the exsisting framework while being at the right elevation to connect to and support the new base foam extension piece. Then I superglued the wire to the exsisting base and glued the new piece of foam in place ontop of the wire. I built up a kind of frame out of the thin craft foam to help support the next tissue layer of grooundwork to the desired elevation.
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I have now assembled the materiels that I will use to set the tissue layer and add some more snow.
Woodland scenics scenic cement is essentually white glue and water mixed but more expensive. The great part about using this stuff is that it will leave no glossy sheen to whatever you spray it on as it dries.
Woodland scenics snow is basically shredded foam and is the best materiel that I have found, thus far, to replicate snow.
The tissue, I am using to build up and shape the groundwork in the area around the droid using the scenic cement as a fixitave. I then sprayed the whole dio, shook on some snow, and then sprayed the dio, again. I probably should have touched up the original layer of snow with paint in the dirty areas, first, but forgot about it. i can do that later, if it is necessary.
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I can see I might just be able to pull this snow stuff off!
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I can see I might just be able to pull this snow stuff off!
It's pretty easy to work with, my friend.
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While the current layer of snow is drying on this dio, I thought that I would snap a few shots of my custom ATAT driver fig on it before Tamer snatches him away from me.
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It's time for a blast from the past. Trying to clean up my camera's memory card for my upcoming Florida trip, I came across these pics of some of my first SW snow dioramas.
First is the shadow-box snow dio which I have shown here, before but with an additional snow clone that I did around the same time.
Second is the same snowclone on his own little dio in front of the shadow box dio
third is the same without the shadow box
and 4th is my very first dead droid dio that I made for a snow camo Scorch fig.
And you thought that my current dios were small. Look at these dinkey things. All used some variation of a SW figure base as a base and that was back when I used baking soda for snow.
The one with the ATTE gunner body and AOTC helmet's dio included some pieces of gravel that I picked up out of the driveway and glued on before I applied the snow. I'll bet that I made these at least 3 years ago. Wait, when did ROTS come out?
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And here's some more pics of that little dead droid dio with mr snow camo Scorch. The droid was wired to the base prior to the snow application.
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looking good!
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looking good!
Thanks, Shawn!
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I am curious.. How do you display your collective works ?
Keep up the Good Work Clint (http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/wink/1bluewinky.gif)
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I am curious.. How do you display your collective works ?
Keep up the Good Work Clint (http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/wink/1bluewinky.gif)
Well, Rodger, since I haven't kept that much of my own stuff, It still fits on one shelf in a display case that I have two of in my living room. I shall take a pic of the two cases and after I finish the snow dio that I am working on, I will snap a shot or two of that shelf .
Thanks for the compliment, buddy.
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I found some shots of a little desert dio that I sold on ebay with an unbuilt military model one time.
This was decorated to be a rocky, grassy environment and featured more long grasses than I had ever incorporated into a diorama, before.
The rock is aquarium rock and smaller train diorama talus. There is some woodland scenics fine turf in there, along with some woodland scenics fine grass which is made out of horsehair, I think. I used a hobby Lobby $1.50 wooden plaque, for the base which I finished with Thomsons nutmeg brown water seal.
(http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/465/a11212.jpg)
(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8526/a11215.jpg)
(http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2702/a11213.jpg)
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I still haven't gotten rodger his pics, yet.
I have decided to make a little one figure desert dio to go with the desert camo mando that I've got going in my customs (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=189.msg9592#new)thread.
To start out, I have chosen a little $0.50 wooden plaque that I bought at a Hobby Lobby, some time ago. To keep the watery scenic cement that I am going to use to fixate the groundwork from soaking into and warping the wooden plaque, I am sealing the top of the plaque with clear packing tape to drape over the sides. After the groundwork dries, I will cut the tape around the upper edge of the dio leaving the tape under the groundwork and exposing the bare wood around the parameter to be stained with thomson's water seal later. I used scotch tape to make walls to contain the groundwork when it's wet and will peel them away later. I also drilled a hole into the middle of the top of the plaque and glued in a piece of 16 ga coated tie wire that will be trimmed shorter and serve as a footpeg for our figure, later. I primarily stuck the wire in the hole using superglue and then sealed the hole with Elmer's white glue. "I don't want water getting into the wood that way, either"
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I went ahead and glued some pieces of aquariem rock to the base using white glue to possibly poke out of the groundwork depending on how deep I pour it.
Not having any fine sand, I am using woodland scenics train diorama snow which I will paint to look like sand, after it sets up. I poured in a nice amount of the snow, leaving some of the rocks partially exposed and then soaked it down with woodland scenics Scenic Cement which is like white glue and water mixed. After the snow was nice and soaked, I sprinkled on some more aquariem rock, some finer and even finer train ballast and then gently pushed the bigger chunks into the snow, a bit. I sprinkled some more scenic cement over the rock to help them stick and then put the little dio aside. It will take three days for the snow to fully cure.
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I really like the wood bases on these.
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I really like the wood bases on these.
They look pretty sharp after you throw some stain on that exposed edge.
I may have to pick up some more of those plaques. I forgot how easy it is to make a little dio using them.
A little snow dio like this would be perfect for you to try Shawn.
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I really like the wood bases on these.
A little snow dio like this would be perfect for you to try Shawn.
So I hear Clint, so I hear! O0
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I really like the wood bases on these.
A little snow dio like this would be perfect for you to try Shawn.
So I hear Clint, so I hear! O0
I mean, what better way to do a test run for that big snow dio that I know that you want to make?
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I really like the wood bases on these.
A little snow dio like this would be perfect for you to try Shawn.
So I hear Clint, so I hear! O0
I mean, what better way to do a test run for that big snow dio that I know that you want to make?
When I do go for it, its gonna be big time dio. Sink or swim!
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I really like the wood bases on these.
A little snow dio like this would be perfect for you to try Shawn.
So I hear Clint, so I hear! O0
I mean, what better way to do a test run for that big snow dio that I know that you want to make?
When I do go for it, its gonna be big time dio. Sink or swim!
Now that's what I like to hear! Big Honking Snow dio at Tamer's house! You could sell tickets!
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While I was considering putting my groundwork materials away, I thought "That one started so easily that I might as well make another for an ebay sacrifice." so I did.
If I keep this up, I am going to have a whole kitchen full of diorama brownies.
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They do look kinda yummy.
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Didn't get too much time for custom stuff, tonight. I did unwrap the contest mando's diorama brownie and got some paint on it, though. I started with a super thinned down desert yellow over all of the groundwork of a shade darker than the mando's armor. Then I used the same base color of his undercoverings and brushed it on all of the larger chunks of aquarium gravel and talus. Then, I drybrushed that same yellow color over the rocks again allowing the brown to show through. I'm thinking that If I add a few random clumps of desert grass, it would make this little dio pop. They will look like the clumps of long grass that I applied to the last dio that I posted pics of but the clumps would be more sparsely placed. Perhaps 4-5 clumps of 6-8 blades apiece. Once I get that done and touch up paint the grass areas, all I have to do is trim shorter the tiewire footpeg and paint it, cut and remove the tape from the bare wood border and stain it, and then I'm done.
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Four more desert dio shots.
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Lookin' slick Clint! This is shaping up VERY nicely!
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Lookin' slick Clint! This is shaping up VERY nicely!
Thanks, Pat! It's coming together more quickly than I would have imagined.
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reminds me of Saudi Arabia and Iraq!
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reminds me of Saudi Arabia and Iraq!
That was kind of the idea, buddy, although I've never been to those places.
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Let's get along with the contest mando's little dio, shall we?
As I mentioned, I want to incorporate some clumps of desert grass into our dio, here. I'm using another Woodland Scenics item, Harvest Gold Field Grass for our grassy clumps. This stuff is finer than human hair but makes for a nice effect when all is said and done.
First, I am using a 1/8 inch drill bit to bore some holes into the groundwork. "I drilled 5 holes in random locations away from where the fig was to be placed and I just spun the bit with my fingers" Then, one at a time, I squeezed a generous drop or two of Elmer's white glue into one of the holes. Using my fingers, I grabbed a bundle of about 8-10 strands of the field grass,grouped and spun them together and using scissors, cut a 1 1/2 inch bundle. "It makes things easier for placement if the end of the bundle has strands that end together and cutting is the easiest way to do this" I then place a small drop of the glue on the cut end to help hold the strands together and poke that end into one of the pre glued holes. After placing two or three sprigs like this in each hole, I kind of fan the fibers out evenly with my fingers or a pair of tweezers. After I placed clumps in all 5 locations, I added another drop of glue at each location to help fill in the rest of the hole and to hold the clump strands better.
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After the glue dries, we will trim the clump strands to a more desireable height and then paint the strands to make them stronger and to give them some more definition. At this point, the strands are still so fine that they are hard to see and with some paint, each strand will get thicker and easier to see. That will give me an excuse to use the same color as the armor plates on the mando for the grass which will visually pull the piece and figure together even more. "it's nice to be able to do the camo mando first and then talor your dio's colors so that the figure's camo is more convincing" We need to touch up the areas where the drilled holes and the glue are, anyway, as well as the now trimmed foot peg.
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First, you have a pic of the two dios together, one is painted but not quite done and here is this other diorama brownie. What will I do with that one, you say? I have decided to paint it more of a Ryloth/Mars rusty color so that I can make it work for the Ponds figure that I plan to list on Ebay, this weekend.
I started by mixing a watery rust color lightened with some white and then thought that it might look more like the pale rust color of Ryloth if I mixed in some flat yellow, as well. I brushed on this watery mixture over everything, including the rocks allowing it to soak into the diorama snow as I went. I then drybrushed on the same color of light brown that I used for the contest mando's undercoverings, concentrating on the rocks, big and small, and lightly drybrushed the sand/snow groundwork, also. The plan was to do this and then mix a lighter rust and drybrush it, also but after drybrushing the brown, it looked good to me so I left it like it was.
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In the third shot, the flash makes things a little too bright but in the last shot, the colors of the two dios are right on.
All I have to do now, is trim and paint the grass and touch up on the desert one, cut the footpeg shorter and paint it on the Ryloth one, strip the tape around the borders and stain the borders on both, and I am done with both.
Man, when the Ebayers see Ponds on that Ryloth dio, they are likely to crap eggrolls. That auction will put me back on the ebay map, for sure.
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Well, I got the grass painted and did the touchups on the contest dio and then, trimmed the footpeg wire and touched up the Ryloth dio and now it's time to trim off the protective tape from the bare wood border of each dio. Using a hobby knife, I carefully cut around the parameter and then, peeled off the tape on each. All that's left now, is to stain the parameter of each dio. Wouldn't you know it, I haven't a drop of stain in the house so I will have to make a run to the hardware store to get some.
Got one teaser shot there, of the contest dio with painted grass detail.
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I returned from the hardware store with some Colonial Maple colored Minwax brand Wood Finish which I shook, opened, stirred, and brushed onto the exposed edges of our dioramas. I didn't get too sloppy so no wipeup of excess stain was required. I'm liking the color of this stain.
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Two more inside shots and then, some outside shots.
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Four more shots of the contest desert dio, outside. I like those last two shots with the sky in the background.
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Here's some shots of the Ryloth diorama inside but in the sunlight. I kind of like these shots with the subject in the sunlight and the dark shadow background.
I am going to post the rest of the Ryloth dio outside shots in my customs thread.
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Outside shots of the Ryloth diorama with the Ponds figure.
Man, that Ryloth dio didn't take much effort and the longest part of it's production was waiting for the Woodland Scenics snow to dry.
That does it! I'm going to Hobby Lobby, tomorrow, for more wood plaques.
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The stain looks good. I like the natural wood too. Heck, I love the look of wood and to me the dio on top really sets everything off. I really the like the look that grass gave to that contest dio. Awesome. Just a little bit of gree, really sets of the brown of the desert. The only thing that ticks me off is I can't win the daggone thing.
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The stain looks good. I like the natural wood too. Heck, I love the look of wood and to me the dio on top really sets everything off. I really the like the look that grass gave to that contest dio. Awesome. Just a little bit of gree, really sets of the brown of the desert. The only thing that ticks me off is I can't win the daggone thing.
Thanks, buddy. I'm like you and feel that the stained wood really sets these little dios off.
Now don't get ticked off too much as there isn't one hint of anything snowey in that contest dio. Besides, you are in good standings with it's creator dontchaknow. Also, don't feel alone in this as I want it too, and can't have it........LOL
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Hot on the heels of the two little dioramas that I completed, Friday, I broke out the dio materials again and whipped out two more diorama brownies, today. Every step was the same as before except that these two pine bases are square instead of rectangle. They are shorter but wider than the rectangles so probably have about the same surface area.
I want to do another Ryloth colored one and the second will either be like the contest mando's dio or I will do it in shades of black and grey for another project that I have in mind.
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Oh yeah, I like the square dimension. Not wanting to add insult to injury, but these would look fanastic if you could get an acrylic or plexiglass cover to slide over top of these after the figure is added. Chad played around with these a bit and I really liked em, but I think cutting the plexiglass was a chore. Still, maybe an idea if you ever run out of any. Like that will happen. Anyhow, really like the sqaure dimensioned ones.
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Oh yeah, I like the square dimension. Not wanting to add insult to injury, but these would look fanastic if you could get an acrylic or plexiglass cover to slide over top of these after the figure is added. Chad played around with these a bit and I really liked em, but I think cutting the plexiglass was a chore. Still, maybe an idea if you ever run out of any. Like that will happen. Anyhow, really like the sqaure dimensioned ones.
They were the same price, a paltry 2-$100. They have a bigger version which would work well to do a dio for say, my incomplete desert camo atrt with a figure or 3. How bout a Hothy trench scene?
Like the pexiglass idea. I used to pick up those model car display cases for just that purpose. I probably have a few of those on hand. That one Military model diorama that I made was based on one of those cases but I dont display it with it's topper.
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I love the sound of a bigger one too. Don't get me wrong, I like the open dios, but with the small hands in my house a "topper" would be great to keep it intact. Does hobby lobby or the like sell anything like that for model displays Clint?
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I love the sound of a bigger one too. Don't get me wrong, I like the open dios, but with the small hands in my house a "topper" would be great to keep it intact. Does hobby lobby or the like sell anything like that for model displays Clint?
Yep, I was looking at some, the other day, that were designed to hold baseballs and footballs that looked somewhat fancy. There were also some model car ones that looked a little less fancy. I don't have a price filed away in my memory but I will pay closer attention, next time.
I figure that you might install an alarm on the door on your custom walker display case.
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I am gonna have that bad boy behind glass under my basement steps where the knobs for even the door itself screw into the framing so she can't get into that, not for a long time.
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I am gonna have that bad boy behind glass under my basement steps where the knobs for even the door itself screw into the framing so she can't get into that, not for a long time.
LOL
Oh, but Shawn.........you have her curious about "Clinthead" customs, now.............couldn't you could at least let her play with it a little bit, and then lock it up?
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One word for you.
NO!
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One word for you.
NO!
Well at least keep her away from your computer so she doesn't start asking me for stuff. ;D
What a terrible temtation that would be, that cool looking walker behind glass..........................kind of like the way all of that MOC stuff tempts you, eh, Tamer.
I'm just giving you a hard time, of course.
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LOL. This one no one but "daddy" plays with.
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Here are some more final reveal shots with the contest mando and his desert dio.
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Still more contest mando and desert dio shots.
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And here are the last two contest mando and dio shots for now. Except for these two shots with him and his dio next to Ponds and his dio.
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Simply outstanding Clint. Definitely top ten from your great custom list.
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Simply outstanding Clint. Definitely top ten from your great custom list.
thanks buddy. It must be good if it is in the top ten. They will only get better, I'm hoping.
Remember, I have those two recent diorama brownies to work on.
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I just kicked off the contest to win the Mando and his dio, here (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=656.0). Good luck!!
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Here is the little dio that I'm working on to go with the CW incinerator trooper. My plan is to make this a dark rocky surfaced scene reminiscent of Mustifar except without the lava. After I peeled the parimeter tape off, I used white glue to tack on some aquariem gravel pieces around the outside edges of the groundwork.
Like before, I started out with a very watered down flat black to coat all of the groundwork. After this has dried, I will drybrush the rocks with a lighter color. In the past, when I drybrush is when the groundwork starts to look convincing. Hopefully this one will look as good as the Ryloth dio.
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One more shot in the sunlight prior to drybrushing the groundwork.
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looks good to me already.
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looks good to me already.
TY! I ended up using two different colors to drybrush the details on this one. First, I used a dark grey and then the lighter brown from the contest mando's undercoverings. Turned out just like I thought it would. When I went to stain, I noticed some wood sap seepage that kind of messed with the stain finish on a couple of sides.
Final reveal pics are coming, tonight.
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As promised, here are some final reveal pics of the dark planet dio and some with the CW incinerator trooper.
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A few more shots with the skinny incinerator trooper. You know, working on this dark dio has givin me an idea for a little Mustifar dio. I'm even thinking about breaking out the Fluorescent Paint again for some UV glowing lava.......
I am going to post some more pics of this dio and the figure in my customs section.
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Man, the way you are cranking em out now I don't know if I will ever catch up when I get back to updating the customs and diorama threads.
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Man, the way you are cranking em out now I don't know if I will ever catch up when I get back to updating the customs and diorama threads.
I have been thinking that for several days now, buddy, but didn't want to say anything. :-[
I love that shot with him sitting cross legged. That might be a good shot for the FP, when the time comes.
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Knowing that I'm going to miss the desert dio that will leave when it's time to give the contest mando away, I figured that I would do another one for my desert ops RC figure to stand on. I had already made this dio when I made the CW incinerator dio but haven't gotten around to painting it, till now.
as before, I removed the parameter tape that held in the diorama snow while it was drying, cut shorter the piece of protruding tie wire that will serve as a figure foot peg, and applied a wash of the same watered down yellow paint that Ii used for the contest mando's dio.
Next, I will do some detail painting on the rocks, glue in the sprigs of desert grass, and glue on some more rocks to the outside parameter of the groundwork.
Don't forget, you only have till the end of this month to get your entry in for the contest mando and his desert dio.
Here (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=656.0) is a link to the contest.
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looks good. How do you keep the paint off the wood edges? I would assume there is some overspray with the airbrush?
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looks good. How do you keep the paint off the wood edges? I would assume there is some overspray with the airbrush?
Thanks Tamer! Now I thought that you had been paying attention.........................as you will remember, I covered the entire top side of the wood plaque with clear packing tape prior to putting on the wet groundwork. The first purpose of this act was to keep the groundwork's water out of the wood, the second purpose, is to keep the finished edges of the wood clean until I cut and strip the tape off of those areas prior to staining that exposed edge.
I am hand brushing this color on, buddy. I still haven't re aquainted my self with my airbrush, yet.
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I remember you tapeing up the edges, but man the thought of handpainting all those small details, I should have known it was done that way by you!
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It doesnt take that long really. What you see here is the original color of the rocks showing through that thin yellow wash of paint that was just soaked on with a mid sized brush. Drybrushing those rocks later goes fairly quickly as you don't have to be precise really.
I have been working on this one, this morning and am continuing to do things in a different order than last time.
First, I glued some aquarium gravel to the sides of the groundwork where the containment tape used to be. Then, I drilled some holes and glued in some more sprigs of the desert grasses. I have 5 patches like last time. As mentioned before, in its factory state, these "blades" of grass are almost invisible to the naked eye as they are so fine. I will trim the grass shorter, later, and put some paint on the blades to thicken em up a bit and then I will drybrush and touch up the groundwork.
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looking sweet Clint. Very nice.
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looking sweet Clint. Very nice.
thanks, buddy! I am making a nice home for that custom RC.
Do you notice that I am more prone to keep stuff that I do than I used to be?
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looking sweet Clint. Very nice.
thanks, buddy! I am making a nice home for that custom RC.
Do you notice that I am more prone to keep stuff that I do than I used to be?
I am noticing that. Still, you offer up enough to keep all of us happy. LOL.
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LOL, I do what I can, buddy.
I managed to work some on the desert ops RC's dio, this morning.
I trimmed the desert grass blades down a bit shorter and then thickened them up, blade by blade, with a light yellow paint. You know that these blades are fine when, with my enhanced near-vision, I still cant tell where in space the blade is, as I'm painting it, with my eyes 4-5 inches away. "could be closer, could be further away, ah there it is" I then applied two layers of drybrushing to the big and little rocks on the dio. First, I used the same light brown that the figure has. Then, I used the same medium yellow that the figure wears.
We are almost done with this little dio. I posed the as of yet, incomplete figure on it for a couple of shots.
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Boy that sure reminds me of Saudi Arabia and Iraq! Desert it is. That grass looks perfect. Great pose by that RC too.
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Boy that sure reminds me of Saudi Arabia and Iraq! Desert it is. That grass looks perfect. Great pose by that RC too.
His poses are so limited.............He will look good in a sunshine lit pic that is, if the sun ever comes out, here.
thanks about the dio. I would have liked to have seen those places. I'm sure that being stationed there would be a bit suckky but it would be cool to see. All I have to do to wrap this dio up is to remove the protective tape and stain the parimeter wood.
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I got a couple of update shots of this one as he was headed twards completion. There are still some paint touchups to do where the groundwork meets the finished wood.
Next time I do this, after I remove the protective tape from the finished parimiter of the base, I need to sand it a bit prior to staining. It seems that the tape fixative may corrupt the top surface of the wood in places and affects how the stain soaks into the wood.
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Nice, very nice. Daggone I would love to see some type of acrylic or protective case fit down over the wood section encompassing the mini dio and figure. Chad did some plexiglass cases like this. The glueing of the plexiglass was a pain as I recall though. Still, awesome Clint.
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Thanks buddy. I have done something like that in the past for one of my military dioramas and need to show you.
I actually have a plan for a future dio built to fit in a little protective glass and wood display case that is going to blow your mind when I get to it. I got a project or two that I need to tackle prior to going there. if I tell you too much, it will give away the surprise but I can tell you that no clones or imperial presence will be depicted..............
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No clones or imperials?! Well now, what are you up too?
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No clones or imperials?! Well now, what are you up too?
If I were to tell you than you wouldn't fret about it as much or rather, you would fret about it that much more. TEE HEE
That's a future project, buddy. We have a bigger fish to fry on the burner, currently.
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Here are a couple of shots of that WW2 diorama that I was telling you about that was built to be enclosed in an acrylic box. These shots are a bit dark and I will take some more with it's topper on a day when the sun is shining.
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Now that is what I am talking about! Sweet WW2 dio!
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Now that is what I am talking about! Sweet WW2 dio!
Thanks, buddy! that was the first successful attempt with the green train diorama products that I use.
If you could see the stack of unbuilt ww2 kits in my basement, you would realize that I had planned on making ww2 dios for the rest of my life. Then, Star Wars customs reared it's ugly head and took me without mercy.
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I love a good WW2 dio too. Still gotta agree I am glad SW got you. Reread that old post about something that would cause me to fret. Can't wait to see what that is.
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I love a good WW2 dio too. Still gotta agree I am glad SW got you. Reread that old post about something that would cause me to fret. Can't wait to see what that is.
It's always nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it? Even when you don't know what it is. :D
Just put it out of your mind, buddy. You will have plenty to lose sleep over before I dive into that one.
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I love a good WW2 dio too. Still gotta agree I am glad SW got you. Reread that old post about something that would cause me to fret. Can't wait to see what that is.
It's always nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it? Even when you don't know what it is. :D
Just put it out of your mind, buddy. You will have plenty to lose sleep over before I dive into that one.
Daggone you! You know what a one track mind I have when I get curious like this! LOL.
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I love a good WW2 dio too. Still gotta agree I am glad SW got you. Reread that old post about something that would cause me to fret. Can't wait to see what that is.
It's always nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it? Even when you don't know what it is. :D
Just put it out of your mind, buddy. You will have plenty to lose sleep over before I dive into that one.
Daggone you! You know what a one track mind I have when I get curious like this! LOL.
Yep, and you know how much I enjoy teasing you.
You are just setting yourself up and I'm not telling, at least, not yet.
I can see it in my head, though, and you are going to want it for another trophy piece, I can just imagine.
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Allright, I will quiet down. No rushing the artist I know!
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Doc,
I've been browsing through this post and am stunned by the quality of your dio's and customs. Your work on creating ground effects is amazing, all of the numerous creations shown here are really superb and I've really enjoyed browsing through this great post.
Your customs are some of the best I've seen. I see a WW2 diorama, is that where you have honed your skills?.
I've been very rude by not posting a comment on your fine work sooner, my apologies.
Jules
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Jules, please call me Clint. Why thank you very much. Since you are a diorama guy, I'm surprised that you haven't found your way to this thread sooner. Yes, it was my passion for the military and car model building that prepped me for what I love now.
Thanks again, buddy.
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hehehehehehehehehehehe
Speaking of yer awesome WWII dio's, *I* can't wait to see what you do with those halftracks and the scout-car!
Ok, back for more coffee...
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I haven't even tried to show you my ubuilt armor model collection. It is impressive in itself.
Yep, watching those old masters work in the seventys military modeler magazinesbis where I first got the desire to build dioramas. I still have some of those old issues aroundnthe house.
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I have two more diorama brownies going here. One is to be mine and the other is to be part of the prize in the next shipyards contest. Contest details will be revealed soon. Stay tuned.
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Cool deal, I love a good contest! And one of your dios to boot. We call that a win win!
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To simply say that I'm impressed by your work would be a huge understatement.
These dios really bring your well executed customs to another level of cool.
I stand in awe of your work. Exemplary, to say the least.
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Well thanks again there, R1bb1t!
I'm so busy at work here, lately that I haven't found time to work on any dios here, lately but that is about to change.
I have never tried anything on the scale of the ones in your collection room but I would like to one day.
I am actually in the planning stages of building one that will be bigger than any other diorama that I have ever built, thus far.
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I had to say so long to the little desert dio that Dawn won in the build off contest today so I figured I could squeeze off a few shots before I packed it up. I have posed the desert ops sniper fig which I still havent made accessories for upon it.
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one more shot.
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Clonehead, that is fantastic, I'd love one of those for my office....I've seen other items you've done and these seem very unique to you.
Great idea and really cool custom figure, I love all of the small details and added parts.
Jules
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Thanks Jules! At the rate you are going, I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up with one.
It seems strange that no one else makes little figure dioramas like this.
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I really like these little dios. I love that snow one you made for me. I clear out some of my non Hoth items this is coming out. I would like a little plexiglass cover for it though so no little fingers get on it!
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Thanks Jules! At the rate you are going, I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up with one.
It seems strange that no one else makes little figure dioramas like this.
Your mini Dio's remind me of the 18th Century Lead Soldiers on bases that my Father used to paint.
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What kind of paint do you use to get the effects you want and do you use a air brush
awesome dio's
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Thanks Jtrooper! Compared to the monsters that you create, my little dios must seem like the other end of the spectrum. I dont use an airbrush but use a mix of testors owned paint companies.
testors, model master, pactra, and floquil acrylics.
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These aren't my dios. I found these shots on sirsteve'sguide.com
In the past, I know that I had talked about making a forced perspective diorama where vehicles of the same design but different scales could be used in a dio to emulate a greater distance as perceived by the viewer from a certain angle.
This technique was used in the dio in these first two shots.
That third shot shows a different dio of the rebel trench defenses on Hoth, I would like to cobble together a smaller version of that one of these days.
(http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/3773/forcedperspective.jpg)
(http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4877/forcedperspective2.jpg)
(http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5219/forcedperspective3.jpg)
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Very Cool! I love forced perspective
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Oooooohhhhh, thanks for sharing these pics. I had planned to do something just like that first shot but an entire Hoth battle. I have enough action fleet and micro machines to pull of something decent. Too bad I don't have my SW room now....wah wah waaaa.
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Colonehead, Did you use styro on that because my kids would love that in a forest format of indor like Jules stuff awesome pics
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which one, Jtrooper? Those recent pics of the hoth dio arn't mine but yes, on all of my more 3-d dios with hilly or rocky ground work, I use styrofoam covered with white glue and water soaked tissue paper.
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good looking Hoth Pics.
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It's interesting that you should show these images as today I was reading a book about the special effects from Star Wars, one part was about the different sized Imperial Star Destroyers and the forced perspecticve shots.
That Hoth dio is simply stunning.
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LOL, I started these little single or double figure sized dioramas back in july and they have been looking at me ever since. I finally stripped of the upper containment tape ring and dressed up the outer edge of the groundwork with two different sized types of rock held on with white glue. That black rock is aquarium gravel.
One of these is to get the long grasses and yellow paint like that last desert dio that I did, and the other is to be a rusty red like the ryloth dio that I did for one of my ebay custom Ponds figures before Hasbro released one.
I still need to cobble together some footpegs on these bases, also.
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These should be about ready to paint now.
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Clonehead, you really are something else! I have seen you do these before and I think that they are so cool.
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I agree, these are very cool. They would be great in an office, well anywhere for that matter.
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Thanks fellers. I used to make these things all the time. Using these same materials,one could build a convincing large sized diorama but I neverfelt that I had the space for em.
I do want to make a bigger desert one large enough to comfortably display 3 figures but havent decided if i want to put it on a plaque or if I want to make a foam paper mache base like I have in the past.
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I decided to get the primary color for the Ryloth type dio on and used Model Master flat rust mixed with plentyof water.
the woodland scenics snow that, other than the rocks, is the goundwork base, soaks up watered down paint like a sponge. As memory serves, next I will brush on a dark brown to al of the rocks and then drybrush a lighter color to all the rocks, possibly that old concrete color.
I will get the other dio's painting and long grasses app done before I stain the edge ofthe plaque. That way, I can do em both at the same time.
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today, I wanted to go ahead and finish up the paintwork to this first little dio before I started painting up the second one. I chose two model master colors. The same dark brown that is used on my Veers and Gunner figures and a desert sand. First, I started with the brown and basically covered all of the bigger rocks completly and put a heavy drybrushing on the smaller pebbles. This was the point where I could cover any white areas that had been missed when applying the main grounwork color. Also, any major recessed areas were hit to simulate shadow with that darker color.
Next, I opened up the desert sand and lightly drybrushed the whole groundwork paying special attention to all of the smaller pebbles and the bigger rocks too. On the sides of the groundwork where the rock placement wasnt as heavy, the drybrushing of the two colors helped blend in these areas as the snow that was used for the groundwork has some texture of it's own. I used a different lighter drybrush color than I did on the last dio I did like this and the effect is different but no less pleasing.
All that's left for this one is to drill in a figure footpeg if I wish, peel off the protective tape from the wood base, and stain the wood bases parimeter.
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4 more shots
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NICE!!! I like the way it looks very nice indeed. Great Job I like all of these that you have done thy get better and better
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thanks buddy. When free time allots, in the near future, I would like to make a couple of bigger ones.
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looking good Clint. I would love to have some type of shell that would surround these guys so little fingers couldn't get am em!
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I decided that today, I wanted to get some painting done on that second rocky dio that I had and wanted to do another conventional looking desert one. I started off with a model master British desert armor light yellow and plenty of water and mixed it to about the consistency of water and began brushing it on liberally to the groundwork not hitting the larger rocks as much as I will paint em a different color. Occasionally, the "snow" would have enough glue impregnated into it that the paint wouldn't soak in as well and I used thicker paint straight from the jar to color these areas.
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In these first two shots, I have painted all of the rock with a Polly s Khaki color, slightly thinned, applied liberally with a brush. On some of the darker rock, I have allowed some of the under color to show through and in the recessed areas of the ground work and under some of the bigger rocks, I have darkened areas to simulate shadow. I have also dry brushed some of this khaki color onto some of the less detailed areas of plain snow to kind of tie the colors together a bit more.
In the last two shots, I have used a polly s soviet desert sand color to lightly drybrush the entire diorama, paying special attention to each rock, big and small, and also the rougher textures of the snow groundwork. This brings out the detail of the rocky surface and also ties everything more closely together, color wise. When I install some long sprigs of grass, I will paint them with this same lighter color to tie things together even more and to give that fine grass some more definition.
After I do that, it will be time to install a foot peg on both dios and then, I can stain the perimeter of both and call em done.
My plan now is to include that first rusty colored dio into my secret Santa parcel.
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Two more shots of the dio thus far. That last one is with a flash and has the recently butchered Thire figure posed on it.
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Clonehead, I love what you are doing with these bases...I love the dark rock one. Do you varnish the wood when you are finished?
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thanks, Jules. Yes, I do varnish these when I am done with em. It's hard to see but there is a layer of clear tape that is protecting the outer perimeter of the bases at this time from paint and what not. When I consider the ground work done, I just make a cut, around the perimeter of the ground work where it meets the base, strip off the lower part, and then I am ready for stain or varnish. The tape that is under the groundwork protected the wood from the moisture in the thin glue that holds the groundwork together as I was applying it while protecting the outer finished perimeter that would be stained later at the same time.
So, you like that darker rust colored one, eh?
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that looks awesome! clint those dio's really set off the figs one day i'll have to commission one
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Those look good enough to Eat !! ;)
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outstandig dios
I'm big fan of the upgraded AT-AT Titanium stand. I think I try to make one.
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outstandig dios
I'm big fan of the upgraded AT-AT Titanium stand. I think I try to make one.
well thank you very much, FF!
I had alot of fun with that little atat stand. I should have never gotten rid of that one.
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outstandig dios
I'm big fan of the upgraded AT-AT Titanium stand. I think I try to make one.
well thank you very much, FF!
I had alot of fun with that little atat stand. I should have never gotten rid of that one.
Daggone, that must have been before you met me or I would have been all over that one!
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I belive that it was, Shawn, but not by much.
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I am running behind on these but here are those two little single figure dios that I have had in the wings.
I stripped off the protective tape from around the wood edges of the bases and put some stain on em. I decided not to put any grasses on the yellowish desert one, this time. All that remains is to mount a coated tie wire foot peg in each one and to some touchup painting and they will be finished.
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Looking good Clint, you're the master of these small bases, that's for sure
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they look awesome
:D
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Looking good Clint. I also noticed we have the same Wallmart headers that you used for the background. I also have the ones before these with Vader, Storm trooper Han, Leia and Luke with the Mail away Mace mail away promotion. I have a ton of Wallmart, Taco Bell, and KFC promo displays. I even talked a Frito Lay guy into giving me one of the EP1 potatoe chip racks. sorry to get off topic...I got a little excited...
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thanks dudes. Actually, you were close, L.E. That is part of the 4 mini poster set offered when EP1 came out as a promo for taco bell, pizza hut,kfc, seems like there was another one, was it Dairy Queen? I will have to look and get a pic.
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they look awesome
and I'm sure Neyo is also happy to have a nice stand now ;)
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Oh ye, thanks for jogging the old memory. I don't think DQ was a part of that though. Mine is all in the attic. We should have a promotions thread and get pics of all this. I even have the huge stickers they would put on their windows.
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Sweet looking dio's Clint whats been happening on the customs front mate? any new ones planned?
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Thanks fellers. I have plans within plans, Trev.
I needed to wrap up these two dios as I'm going to ship em out soon but I do want to continue with the
Arf Boil figure and I have been tossing around the idea of doing something mandoish.
My custom fodder bins are overflowing here lately, it seems.
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Well, I finally got around to finishing those two little dios. I chucked a 3/16th drill bit into the cordless and drilled a couple of holes through the groundwork and into the wooden base of each dio. I then clipped a couple of lengths of some 16GA coated tie wire and superglued one in each hole. After the glue dried, I snipped each length off to the size of a foot peg and then touched em up with acrylic paint. I also touched up the outer edge of each dio, where I cut off the protective tape, where the ground work met the wooden base, just to pretty em up a bit.
I am going to ship these two out into the world tomorrow but before I do, I wanted to take some shots with a couple of my favorite figure projects of the year.
On the reddish rocky dio is the 501st GM that was done not too long ago.
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And on the desert yellow rocky one, I put that Desert Ops Arf Commander figure that also was done, not that long ago.
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looking absolutley the nuts mate ,can i ask how much do you charge for ..say a two figure clone wars type dio ?
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Thanks buddy. I don't know. Depends on what would be in it, I suppose.
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How did I miss these? They look awesome Clint. On the FP no later than tomorrow I assure you. I love these small dios. I have mine out with my GM stomping on the droids. The snow on it still looks great.
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Thanks buddy. I don't know. Depends on what would be in it, I suppose.
hadn't really thought about it just fancied a dio to really show off a couple of my customs ,its my fortieth b/day on jan17th and i fancied maybe treating myself
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Well, I will have to see if I can't get something together by then, mate.
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Those look great Clint. I love both of those figures too.
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awesome
the desert ops ARF commander looks fantastic on the mini dio
I try to make one of those dios
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Clint totally awesome dios my friend I remember seeing some of the older ones but the news are just impressive.
Ron
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Nice arf trooper.
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Thank you much, gents! Those two dioramas are on their way to their new homes. One of em went in my secret santa parcel.
Hey, CAA, you can find some more pics of that arf headed trooper in my custom figure thread.
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Looks nice Clint. I love these mni dios.
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Looks awesome.
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I love the mini dio's, and i love the sash on that guy! have you ever thought of making one big dio? maybe some sort of battle?
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Thanks guys!
Clonemedic, It's possible but I just don't have the room available to create the sort of battle scene that I would want to. I wouldn't mind doing one in Tamer's garage, though.
That sash was partially made from the bandolier cut from a Clone Commander's pauldron. Go back a few pages in my custom figure thread and I document how I made it.
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These aren't my dios. I found these shots on sirsteve'sguide.com
In the past, I know that I had talked about making a forced perspective diorama where vehicles of the same design but different scales could be used in a dio to emulate a greater distance as perceived by the viewer from a certain angle.
This technique was used in the dio in these first two shots.
That third shot shows a different dio of the rebel trench defenses on Hoth, I would like to cobble together a smaller version of that one of these days.
(http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/3773/forcedperspective.jpg)
(http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4877/forcedperspective2.jpg)
(http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5219/forcedperspective3.jpg)
dude, nice Rebel battalion!!!
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Simply awesome
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Clint yet again mate simply aweosme work keep em commin bro.
Ron
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CLONEHEAD ADDED TO "CUSTOMS I WISH I OWNED"
http://customsforthekid.blogspot.com/2011/03/clonehead-added-to-customs-i-wish-i.html (http://customsforthekid.blogspot.com/2011/03/clonehead-added-to-customs-i-wish-i.html)
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That was an awesome video, Daddy. I am honored. You did have your work cut out for yourself putting that video together. How long did it take for you to gather all of those pics?
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I just got done watching it and sure did enjoy that!
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Love these false perspective shots of the imperial walkers. very impresive scale manipulation. i would have never thought to do that. fantastic diorama!
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Not my dio with the walkers. I have always wanted to try a forced perspective shot like that though.
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Clint, thanks for sharing. I never even thought about that visual perspective of sizes. I may have to attempt one of those dios in the future. Ed
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here are some pics of the little dio that I made from an at-te gunner's base for that jungle camo clone commander. As before, I drilled a few holes for the sticks that make up the shrubs, coated the base with a watered down white glue mixture. And peppered it down with train diorama static grass. The foilage on the sticks were glued in place and then sprayed with the watered down glue mixture and sprinkled with the same static grass. I made sure to leave the foot peg exposed to ease the mounting of the fig.
(http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=139.0;attach=200;image)
How annoying for me that I didn't see this before! What a terrific idea! I love it!
0/
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Thats some old stuff, Justin. I used to really enjoy making those. I have some of those bases laying around just waiting and plenty of the dio material to make it with.
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My, this one is dusty.
So I have got a project that I’m into that might well compare to Dryfuss building Devils Tower in his living room.
I’ve been bustling about from phase to phase of the project and had been taking some pics that I thought looked pretty cool.
Seems spooky to post after so long. A lot has happened around here, it seems overwhelming
No, this isn’t for a train set layout but something more up Wayne’s alley.
I’ll start out with saying I was painting butterflies two days ago and that I was Re working sign bases yesterday with plastruct
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Man, great to see you back around. I have been wondering if you were still kicking.
I can see your eyes are still awesome to build and paint in that small a scale. Off to share.
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I agree with Tamer! It’s a blessing that you’re back, Clint!
This looks like H0 scale...or is it 1:64? Anyway I’ve never seen butterflies in that scale - SO tiny! Your eyes must be sharper than required for the Air Force!
This layout looks fantastic!
Thank you for your return!
- Philipp
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Great to see you back, Clint.
Your newest project is amazing.
I wish I would have your steady hands.
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It’s good to receive such welcomes
Ugg! It was a late night last night. Nothing beats soldering resistors on under a table for hours. I got 10 more ground effect leds installed around the two outer curve infields and I’m glad to have it out of the way. The butterflies are from a kit geared towards ho but their size suggests 1/24th or larger. They would work well for 1/18th. I’ll have to try to pose on on a mandos hand for a shot sometime.
This is a slot car layout I’m working on, by the way. It seems to be turning out fairly stunning for something I’ve never tried before. I’m running both 1/32 and 1/24 scale cars. 1/32 cars are in these shots.
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:o :o :o
THIS looks fantastic!!! WOW! I love slot cars! I used to have a slot car track from Carrera, too! It was 1/32 scale. My father collects G scale model trains, which are 1/24 scale as well.
Clint, this is so awesome - I can't even tell! Everything looks perfect - man, look at that light posts along the curve back there...
Thanks for sharing this project! The butterflies look beautiful! Such details make a track like this extremely special.
- Philipp
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Damn impressive work buddy.
Ron
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Fila, Ron, Darth More, good evening. Still fresh, I’m scared to even look at your threads yet. Skill sets have advanced since I was posting last. That much screams at me from the front page. Shawn, it’s good to see your typed letters, buddy!
So it is a carrera 1/32-1/24 track and I race both scales of cars.
I may have had a slot car track when I was a kid but it wasn’t like this.
I was shopping around for a little set for a holiday gift for someone’s kid and started seeing this stuff out there and got interested. I bit the bullet and bought a 1/32 digital set and got it running on the floor. About the time I drifted my first car around a corner, I realized I had something special.
For years, I had dreamed of having this huge trainsrt layout in the basement to thrill grand babies and myself with. I had constructed the table, covered it with foam, and had built a complicated track system with complex elevation changes and digitally controlled switches all over the place. I was to have structures/bridges/plenty of ground and rock work, a town, trainyard, the whole works. I had accumulated all kinds of kits to build and detail and light, as the broader picture of the scope of work became sharper, it just turned into too large of a project to approach to me.
So, I stripped the 12”x4” table of all its track and elevation changes and set up this racetrack that I had bought. I configured it to fit on the table and then started adding track until I filled the table. Still not satisfied, I enlarged the table to 4 ft 6 x 14 ft 6 and filled it with track again. Now satisfied with this thing that reminds me of an arcade skeet shoot table from the shape, I started to decorate with led lights fashioned into streetlights by an overseas machinist who peddles em on eBay, and scattered some of those animatronic signs around that the train guys like. I have broken out the static grass and groundwork materials box and have started to fill the remaining parts of exposed table with little diorama inserts built remotely and then installed onto the table individually. I have just installed the third piece this week, and now need to revisit the first two sections again and bring them closer to what the third piece looks like. That’s the bad part about making them individually. Each time, I would experiment and add a new effect and would end up liking it better.
Enough long winded banter. The cursed cloud is holding my older pics ransome tonight so I’ll have to take some new shots to show you the whole layout
Here is another from yesterday, at the pit row, looking towards the area where I put the new lights.
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Ok, I scrounged up a couple of shots from before the sign bases got reworked. Shows the 3 inserts in one shot. The other is an overall track shot that I mostly could fit into a square for posting. The led light effect isn’t as noticeable here. I have a lamp on the far end where the high banked curve is. I need to move it to the other end.
This thing looks crazy when the lights are out and the cars are going.
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Wow Clint. You are taking the ole slot car track and supercharging it to say the least. It just looks phenomenal bud.
Daggone its great to see you back. I knew you would be working on something grand. And your skills looks to be evolving too.
Back on the front page.
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Wow!! Thank you for taking the time for this detailed update and for telling us the great story behind your project! I can understand everyone who is caught by the fever of slot car racing! And I think you used the space to build the track most efficiently!
Seeing all the lights in the dark is just pure joy!
It was a great choice to buy this digital! Just awesome, Clint!
On one of my last toy hunts, I came across a decent Carrera section and felt all the nostalgia! See reply #62 to see what I found there:
http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1012.60
- Philipp
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Thanks guys! Philipp, I seen your post. That a pretty good selection.
I have been watching the leaked slot car info from the toy fair this week.
Took a few shots today. You can see my touch up groundwork project going on in the infields. I’m adding flowers and rocks. It’s tough to lean over those streetlights around the parimiter without toasting a glued mount or two.
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I can imagine some pretty awkward angles dealing with this. Off to share the latest.
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Clint that is one awesome looking track mate but the ground work you have been doing is brilliant.
Ron
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Ron, i have dreams of walking through your foliage, it looks so real.
I’m having the time of my life working on this stuff! The pile of experiments I’ve undergone during this project has widened my scope in an exciting way. More experiments are definitely on both the groundwork and lighting horizons for sure. The two larger of the four pieces I have left to make I plan to be more elaborate than these three.
Added blooms, grasses, and rock on the middle one. Thouch ups on the signs and a trim on one set of posts will finilaze the two infields. Need to cover nails and screws on the outfield
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Its looking pretty rad Clint. Off to share your update.
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I've never been a slot car racer, but this track looks so amazingly realistic. Absolutely excellent work!
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Starchaser, thank you. I was never a slot car racer either. I guess I was looking for something different to work on.
Quick update:
Template and foam board piece are prepped for the area behind the pod fence and I’ve started planting static grass again. I build the grasses up in layers of height Of the fibers.
First shot is the freshly mowed looking 2mm fibers.
Second shot is after I applied a layer of 4-6 mm fibers. I’ll let that dry and come back with a layer of taller 12 mm fibers.
The floor of my hobby room is occasionally messy. I do apologize
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Looks like you are definitely bringing this one home Clint.
Off to share.
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Quick update, I skipped the 6 mm only layer and mixed it in with a 12 mm layer. When it dries, it’s time for flowers or posts
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Time to take this to the front page too.
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The vegetation looks incredibly realistic.
Excellent work.
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The vegetation looks incredibly realistic.
Excellent work.
Thank you sir!
I apologize for stopping work on that last infil piece. You see, the layout of the course on my track is in more of a constant flux than I would have considered possible. I had used the tightest Radius curve pieces on my whole layout except for the high banked curve because of room restrictions and because they were the most common. Sometime back, about the time my work halted here, I started acquiring larger radius pieces and then it was on. The middle run and parts of the two flat curves have been changed to accommodate for faster cornering and to make room in the middle for a third lane section when I expand the length again.
Some days I’ll work on cars and some days I’ll work on the track. Yesterday, I worked on the track all day changing the middle layout and departure from the first curve again. After coming up with something I liked, I put all the shoulder back together and trimmed pieces to fit or mesh together as before. Some were scraps, I used the dremeled to cut this time. On the two curves with infield areas, the inner shoulders have been changed but the connecting straight shoulder sections haven’t been replaced and have a gap that I filled with extra tire stacks. The cars don’t travel in those areas and it provides a quick fix.
Once again, it’s time to fill the remaining gap areas where the track is close and the shoulder is skipped with smooth it plaster from Woodland Scenics. Gaps are prepped with plastic wrap and smooth it is mixed and poured wet. Some light finishing with a flat foam piece was worked in and the areas were left to dry.ill trim off the excess plastic and stain the plaster to look like asphalt and the cars will be able to slide cleanly across as their rear ends drift out in the corners.
Exciting stuff
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The continuing delimma is that I know that parts of this track will change again as I stage a broader expansion. It’s like I’m ttying to develop the most easily convertible version of what it will become.
Here are the wet plaster shots. I haven’t been down there yet today to look at it.
Wish me luck
Could have looked worse, after trimming away the extra plastic and some cleanup, im ready for asphalt too coat.
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I think its great you are already planning on expansion so its not a massive undertaking when you are ready for it. Sure should have done something similar with my collection room.
Off to share. Looks great Clint.
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After some dry time and some cleanup, the plaster is ready to stain using this asphalt top coat. Next to that bottle is my Ronson gas powered soldering iron that has a handy heat gun application I have been using to quicken the plaster drying process a bit.
Filling these gaps in between shoulders and opposing lanes here will ensure for smoother drifting action from the cars while cornering.
Several of the outer paremeter streetlights are in constant states of remounting as some of the cars drift out so far that the spoilers will catch and take out the lights. I have moved the mounts out for these lights by 1/2 inch and they still get taken out. It’s a learning process
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Looks like you are getting there.
Off to share.
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Clint, no matter what you do, you always take it to a new level, nobody ever has been before - your slot car track is a dream come true! I'm very glad to see this project gives you so much motvation and joy!
Thanks for sahring this joy with us!
- Philipp
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Clint, no matter what you do, you always take it to a new level, nobody ever has been before - your slot car track is a dream come true! I'm very glad to see this project gives you so much motvation and joy!
Thanks for sahring this joy with us!
- Philipp
That’s enough to make one blush. Just being included in such a sideshow of talent in this place is a treat, Phillip
Sorry for the break, I still switch from workin in cars to working on the course to driving on the course, etc. I miss driving when the course is down for changes.
Got my top coat down this morning and have a bit of cleanup still to do.
I like the shape of the inner course now for prior expansion design. That middle run will grow to three lanes wide one day as the pit lane will grow longer, have a second pit area, and another switch to enter or egress the pit lane in the middle of the pit run. “That way, two racers can pit to get fuel at once and enter or exit the pit independently from one another”
Next up, two fence sections are to be added to pit row with lights and then, back to diorama inserts. “ been missing making those as well”
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I can't imagine something like this being in my hobby room. Awesome Clint. Off to share the update.
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Dude. This is way beyond badass!
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JD is right!
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Thanks guys, it’s going to get better
For months now, I have been planning on a major expansion to my track which has halted production of diorama elements for long enough to seem uncomfortable. To do the expansion, I must first move the track to another, different part of the basement. This should be its Final location and I’ll finish the basement around it with it being scooted back and forth to complete the task. The existing table for the track is made of several sections that are connected together at the top with a wrapping of two by fours. I need to wrap the bottom in a similar fashion and then find and mount some castors so I can roll the current version into its new location and then set about building another table section so we can attach and add another 4-5 foot. We will be getting a bit wider overall as well.
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Sounds like you have the move figured out well.
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Like engineers ideas that I have to fiddle with in the field at work, I can see my concept for getting the beast in place as probable but not possible until properly applied. Or, I’ll cross my fingers.
The amount of work I’ll have to perform after it’s moved is piling up bit by bit so I need to hurry and get it moved so I can get started.
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That is looking amazing Clint.
Ron
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The racetrack keeps getting better and better.
I love all the small details and the vegetation.
Excellent work my friend.
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This is where I wish I lived closer to help you move this. Talk about a fun time.
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I would love the help
We wouldn’t get anything done.
Got a couple single lane extensions on order after they were unavailable for months and I think I need two more.
I have most of the expansion components assembled but these and the straight shoulder pieces have become hard to find this year. I think more people embraced my new hobby last year than was expected. Good for them, this stuff rocks.
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We might get something done. Well maybe. ::)
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So it was a busy year from then on for me and I never got enough time to properly approach this until now.
Finally got a break from work and I’m at it again.
I have been framing out the parimeter walls of my basement and I was getting close to needing to move the track to continue so, last week, I moved the track twice and finally settled on a home spot for it.
I got to thinking that although I had an extra foot in the new spot, that I would extend the table by 3 ft instead of 4 to try to give walking room around either end. There were a couple of elements I wanted to add that required some length to incorporate. Specific track sections and configurations such as a longer pit lane with two separate working fueling areas and a way to enter and exit one without disturbing the other “ so two drivers can pit at the same time, around each other in the same pit lane.”
So, I had strengthened up the lower part of the once multi sectioned table, got it moved, and put together a 3 foot addition to the table and attached it on the high banked curve end. Once covered with 3 layers of 3-4” foam to deaden sound and allow for digging down later, I chose and added 3 more feet to each of the 4 runs in my switchbacked course. 12 Linear feet!
Pictures are forthcoming, hopefully
Been troubleshooting with lights to get things all working post-move, some wiring systems to upgrade, and new elements to add.
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The light troubleshooting went south on me and needs some more attention as we continue but here are a few shots. It’s hard to get far enough away to fit it in the frame from the side now, it’s so long. My 3 foot extension was still a bit short and I had to scab on a bit for the high banked curve. I had dropped the elevation on that end and had not planned for the extra linear space it would now take
About seventeen feet and five inches long now. The width is currently now four foot seven inches and should widen by another foot when phase 2 of the expansion comes.
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Got the little monitor mounted above the far end to use the race app with but haven’t hooked it up yet. One of the additional amenities included with the length expansion was the longer pit lane with 2 separate fueling areas and ways to enter and exit either to exclude the other. That way, you don’t have to wait to pit hopefully.
I have a change to incorporate in one of the middle runs that will make it 3 lanes for a ways instead of two that I may tackle later tonight.
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Hey Clint, I've thought of you lately! I actually talked to FialaFernbrugg yesterday and we both agreed: You're missed on here! It's good to see you back. And your race track is just beyond limits! Man, would I love to accelerate on that one! Another awesome project of yours!
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Yep totally agree, it's great to see you posting again buddy and I'm loving the race track.
Ron
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The Clonehead is back. Its great to see you posting bud.
Off to the front pages.
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Hey Clint, I've thought of you lately! I actually talked to FialaFernbrugg yesterday and we both agreed: You're missed on here! It's good to see you back. And our race track is just beyond limits! Man, would I love to accelerate on that one! Another awesome project of yours!
thats why my ears have been itching lately, mr Darth More.
Nice to see your names as well, Ron, and Shawn!
I worked for a couple of hours last night changing a couple of things on the course.
Roundabout in the middle, I placed a check lane which will interact with the car chip’s electric eye, to give us split times now while using the phone app.
I installed some 5m factory carrera jumper cables putting fresh power and info to the middle of the track from the control unit. “ the increase in power and contact stability from this has been dynamic. I thought I was close to needing a variable power booster like a big trainset would but apparently not yet”
I put a left to right switch close to the beginning of the long run to allow the driver in the outside lane the option of switching right twice to end up in the pit lane just short of the second pit. It’s a quick double switch but it could be pulled off with some practice to not overshoot the second fuel area. I can limit the number of pits allowed per driver and can make the pit lane count or not count as crossing the finish line so you keep your lap count.
The bigger change, I don’t even think I took a pic of.
I had used some pieces to stretch the first inside run by another lane on the left side. The two transitions took 4 ft and you only had 2 foot of straightaway to run next to the other straight part with the double switch.
While driving it, I realized that the six foot went by too quickly to make the extra lane very effective and the thrill of hat two lane straightaway plus the linear way that it looked made me want to change it back. Took a while and there was some cursing but now I’m excited that I can focus on some of the groundwork in the middle shortly after I do some more light work
That pit lane is going to be a challenge to re light but it should be stunning when I’m done
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I bet you have every kid in the neighborhood waiting in line when you get home from work. Heck, I would pay admission to come race on this track a bit. I remember even being a younger adult going to a race track that wasn't this cool and spending way too much on a slot car that wasn't even half as good as what you are showing us.
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I’m sure they are all scared of me. I can get grumbly at times. The grandkids love it when I let em down there. I was a little less in awe of the new track size and actually got something done last night. The miller six sign converter on the low curve end had gotten too hot at some point and failed on me so I replaced it with a new power supply that is supposed to power 10 and a nice plug in splitter board to tidy those wires up with. I have since shuffled the signs a bit on that end and added a couple more on that side going towards the high banked curve.
Pics are forthcoming.
I do remember having an HO track set that I thought was cool when I was a kid.it didnt last long, as I remember.
That set was interesting in that it didn’t have slots. Rather, the dual sets of power rails were inlaid flat on the track and with the flip of a switch, the drive motor would put power to either the left or right rear tire, still driving the car forward, sliding down the lip at the side of the lane, when switched, the car would roll across to the opposite lip and continue down that lane. Made for some interesting crashes.Way before digital, they had a pace car that would just hug the inside lane as it went around. The cars were pretty fast, I remember that.
Pretty innovative technology for the time. This would have been in the 80s Tyco TCR was the line.
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This is aaaamaznig! Lots of planning goes into something of this scale and the a lot of experimenting going on to get it the way you want - I admire your persistence. The track looks great. I think it would fun to see a video of cars racing on it at some point.
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Pics
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Still haven’t tried the video thing, starchaser. Going to have to mount the phone or something. Can’t figure out how to shoot myself and drive at the same time.
You are right as far as planning goes. When there gets to be this many variables, it’s best to approach in sections. Less stuff to keep track of at one time that way.
Here are some shots of the backsides of some of those signs. Various versions of some of Miller’s microstructure bill boards and parts were used with tape and nails to secure to the track. I did prop up the bottom of one with foam down on the high curve end where the track elevation raises.
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Looks like a real race car track to me. Such detail. Off to the front pages.
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Shawn, thank you buddy but it gets better.
Got a bit sidetracked last night and went to re do the lights inside the hairpin curve and broke out some of woodland scenic’s Just Plug LED goodies to put in there. 2 sets 3 lamps each of ho scale double bulb street lights and one o scale US flagpole, complete with string detail and a brass bulb top. That one came with a little 20Ma spotlight-warm white, to shine up on the flag.
The street lamps came with the hard to feed linker plugs that connect to a power hub unit. The flag spot came with a larger newer designed linker Plug that was much more friendly to work with.
All the linker plugs have resistors where they plug into the hub so I don’t fry any of these. Tedious little wires! I wired all of these up in separate banks in a series, running through several lights to make one circuit instead of wiring them individually. Takes less juice that way, easier on the power source that way. Also, if you run a big enough series, at least six of these 20Ma, you can go without a resistor without fear of frying them at the 9-12 volts my power source pushes.
As I climb further back into the saddle on this thing, I remember the do’s and donts by trial and error sometimes.
I fried the two red flashers on the high curve last night. It was a brain fart, I knew better, tried an alternate power source for those last night and forgot where the resisters were. A little snap is what I heard when they went. Gotta replace those now.
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Here is that flag and some shots with the lights off. Now I do have groundwork and a water feature to incorporate into this area so this array that I put together is kind of a mock up. Just wanted to see what it would look like lit up.
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Thought Tamer would like the flag.
That long run of tall lights heading towards the high bank curve is next
Got six of em to wire up on that side
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Damn this is looking awesome mate and I love the fact that the cars have lights and that your adding lights to it, it just make it more realistic.
Ron
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Thanks my friend
I’ll get back to the greenery scenery soon, Ron
I just have to get all these lights worked out.
Here are shots of this mornings work. Got the rest of that one parameter row of tall lights wired up. 6 lights, separate bank, I threw in a 4w resistor for safety’s sake.
Oh, I replaced those red flashers I fried yesterday, with a resister/flasher circuit this time.
Took a while to feed those wires through the little spire posts I have em mounted on. I’ll remember not to do that again, hopefully
I also replaced one broken streetlight on the first 60degree curve. “The rear end of the larger cars will drift over enough to clip it. We are talking 6 inches away! It’s hilarious When you take one out.
Moved the coffee and shell sign over a space each. It was also in danger of getting clipped. Not sure if it’s safe now
Going up and around the high banked curve next. Got 6 little and perhaps a big or two with the next bank.
It’s like revamping to a longer better version of what we had so far.
I need to get that monster of a pit lane fence re worked as it’s going to pack a serious punch. The longer remaining infield, I want to ground cover first and then run lights through like before. I’m anxious to get started on that as well.
Much to do.
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Oh yeah, I do like the flag. This just looks real to me Clint. I feel I am watching a scene out of Grand Tourismo or something. Good stuff. Off to the front pages.
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Not real enough, my friend. I’m going to keep going and hope I don’t run out. Now understand, some elements I doubt I’ll employ. For example, my Pitt lane won’t have pit crews or equipment. Some areas that should probably contain barriers won’t, for the fun of it.
Work reared it’s ugly head and I unloaded steel and built foundation pieces for a Quicktrip store an hour from the house. I hadn’t missed work much these last two weeks I’ve been off but it didn’t seem like I had gotten rusty.
All day long, I thought about the track. I had did a bit of troubleshooting down there on the next bank of lights last night but didn’t get anything hooked up really.
Ran a few laps with the favorite cheetah and the favorite large scale corvette last night. I’m still pleasantly surprised at how much more power the cars have all over the track since I added that set of jumpers. I thought it was fun before.
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Got the high bank curve lit up again with the smaller HO scale street light poles. 2 banks of 6 this time
3 more long ones on the other side and perhaps a sign and I’ll move back to the middle again.
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4 more shots
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WOW Clint this is just awesome and the lighting really brings it all to life.
Ron
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Man that is sweet Clint. So awesome. Off to the front pages.
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Thank you much, as it grows, so does the excitement.
Itching to return to the track, I didn’t find the time to go down there tonight. I did wire up another car though.
And I did pick another just plug light controller from hobby lobby on Saturday. I figured it could help with the remaining infield and pit row lights.
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No kidding, I think you're doing this on the highest possible level, Clint. You've created such an epic racetrack for your slot cars!
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No kidding, I think you're doing this on the highest possible level, Clint. You've created such an epic racetrack for your slot cars!
that makes me blush, Mr More, so much that I went down early this morning and added 3 more streetlights and another neon sign to the other side, exiting the high banked corner. I may add another sign or two on that side end but will probably quit with the tall street lights for now.
That long pit row is the next phase of refinement and lighting. I plan to have 6 window signs and 10-11 of the shorter street lights in that area.
It should be glowing by the time I’m done.
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Looks real to me. Off to the front pages.
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Absolutely real! This is a dream come true here. Can't stop looking at all your slot cars and the lights that constantly become more like stars up in the sky. You got me hyped, mate! I'm quite a fan of your masterpiece project here!
- Philipp
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Philipp, thanks buddy, I think there will be a sky of stars, eventually.
If I thought I could pull off convincing clouds, I could put lightening in them, complete with dual subwoofer thunder. Just having fun getting more convincing with each step
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Damn that is looking brilliant mate.
Ron
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Ron, I thank you. I am looking for a diorama scenery piece from your and I’s past to possibly be placed under the flag in our proposed water feature area. It’s an italeri item. Can you guess what it is?
I should have one, I’ll have to go and look
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So I haven’t continued lighting for the last few days as I knew that as I approached the middle areas, there was some track shoulder refinement I needed to attend to.
New pieces were cut and shaped with that new dremel tool I have been harping on.
I’m not quite done with this first area and I need to cut another piece for the second but it’s looking pretty straightened up now.
The before shot says it all. Scraps and plaster.
Since I was working in this end I also changed a couple Of things.
The single lane change section before the first turn got upgraded to a double lane change section and the 60 degree lane change curve in that end got traded out for just stock straight
And curve pieces. Components of that lane change curve would cause a wipeout slightly more easily than if they weren’t there so I gave it the axe and, so far, it has worked and that curve is a smoother experience than it used to be. And the area I’m patching, even with the hole that’s still left in the road, drifting wide over that area is smoother also.
Better finish up so I can get back to the other stuff
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Had to take a closer look at your pictures, but then I saw what you did. Solid work on the tracks! The new Dremel definitely paid off already!
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Had to take a closer look at your pictures, but then I saw what you did. Solid work on the tracks! The new Dremel definitely paid off already!
Oh yeah, I am digging the new dremel, DM. It seems like overkill to Doctor all of these shoulder areas until you see how the cars drive on the track. It’s just as important to provide a continuous smooth area for the cars to slide on as it it is for them to drive on. The tops of these pieces need to be even with each other where they meet so while in a slide, the tires won’t slide into and be affected by the ridge of a shoulder piece 1/16th above it’s connected track piece. In some areas, I may fix these transitions with a dot of superglue in between track sections to reinforce their tips being even.
It’s like when the street in front of your house gets re paved. It drives differently now.
Tedious but rewarding, got some more of that to do this morning.
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Looks like everything is going together nicely.
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Took it a little further last night. Got the center piece cut and placed and Went as far as making little filler pieces out of scrap shoulder to fill in at two barrel locations and where the pit fence starts. I can patch and paint what’s left and I think I’ll add a warm white light at each spot, illuminating the hazard from down on those patch pieces. I’ll fab up a can shade for them out of shrink tube or something. I did go and spot weld some of the seams where pieces meet with superglue, to keep all surfaces in the same plane where they meet.
I’m so happy with this area that I think I’ll fill in the other large area as well
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Looks great to me Clint. Off to the front pages.
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More of the same, Shawn.
I tackled most of the next area over the weekend and finished up tonight.
I need to clean up this mess so I can try the new shoulders out and see what they drive like.
Then, back to what we were working on.
Wet spots are superglue accelerator that hasn’t evaporated yet.
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Looks good to me Clint. You filled in those gaps nicely. How long does it normally take the superglue to not look wet?
Off to the front pages.
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That’s just the accelerator, Shawn. It’s a spray on application that makes superglue instantly bond for people like me with no patience. It evaporates fairly quickly.
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Oh thats right. I remember you telling me about that. I bought some a few years back. Bet I need a new bottle. I don't have to patience for superglue sometimes either.
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Absolutely loving this Clint, awesome work mate.
Ron
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I'm just amazed at this project. It is really inspiring to watch your work on this.
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Thank you much fellows, it is becoming more my pride and joy as I continue to work on it.
Two of my grandsons came over this weekend and you should have seen their eyes light up when I suggested we went downstairs to play with it. Nobody forgets about the racetrack.
I’m still getting used to driving the smoother shoulder areas I had givin attention to. A vast improvement over handling during a drift/slide in those areas. I can drift my favorite vette smoothly through about the whole course now if I choose.
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Replacing infield lights that had gone dim. These must have a shorter life or something. The best way I’ve found for feeding these tiny little wires through the styrofoam and wood of the tables thickness is to drill a small diameter hole through the table, and then feed your wires through a tube that can then be fed through the hole from the top, delivering your wire ends to the bottom side. Pull out the tube through the bottom around the wires and, presto, your wires are ran.
Replaced one here, and another here. That middle one is a bit dim but I am fixing to re do the pit area so, I’ll let it wait.
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That looks great too. Off to share the update.
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Thanks Tamer! Sharing is caring, yuk
I had started the pit row fence line rebuild yesterday. I started by hot gluing each section to the track, and to each other at the wall section tops. I still need to clean up my glue mess. Then, I troubleshot all of the section lamps, replaced a couple, and began the long task of powering the twelve lamps in a configuration that they seemed to like so all lamps would illuminate.Funny little buggers, I still replaced one or two more and ended up with parallel banks of 5 and 6 together with no resistor and one by itself with a resistor, powered by an extra trainset transformer I had laying around.
Finally, I have them lit, I need to solder the connections and protect before stuffing away and covering up.
Now is the time to get the neon window signs up and running.
I’m filling every other fence section hole, two different Bud designs, as a track sponsor on each end and vintage fuel companies in between.
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So I skipped a step and didn’t turn the power off to the lights prior to soldering or protecting and lost over half of em to a short. Kicking myself, I scrounged all of the similar lights I had mounted on the high bank curve and used them to replace the ones I had blown, and blew those up also. I know what I did wrong but have to import more before I can get it lit up again. 5 out of 12 are still alive on the pit row fence. Breaks my heart.
I did begrudgingly mount and wire up the rest of the window signs on the fence. I have 6 of those hanging on the fence. That last bud sign didn’t even work so I replaced it with a 7up sign that I had.
Going to have to shift focus now as I can’t finish the front or back of the pit row fence area until I get those lights replaced
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Man, you tell me I'm a madman? Well, I am, but what are you, then? You make every square Inch look incredibly realistic! Love it!
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Sorry about the lights blowing up. Sounds like you have figured out the problem. Looks great to me. Back on the front page.
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This madman is still reeling over those lost lights. Coming from China of all places. The Corona virus will probably slow down their shipment and possibly kill me when it arrives.
Onto another area
You guys may remember this last static grassed groundwork insert that I had made for the track some time ago. I have changed configurations since Then and this piece will no longer fit. With some careful measuring and cutting with an exacto, I was able to split our piece in half and saved nearly all of its length to fit into the narrowest channel between the tracks heading dwarf the hairpin infield area.
The pieces were a bit curvy so I wet Them down to flatten them down and fastened them to the table with deck screws. That’s more than 4 foot worth down in an easy procedure.
I’ll paint over the screws, sow more static grass if I like, weeds, flowers, fenceposts, groundlights are all owed to this area.
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Guess I had better make some posts first
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I did save a scrap of grass material to stuff into this one spot next To these barriers. I like the shoulder and tire stack configuration on this end of the backside of the pit. I’ll have to mimic that on the far end also.
At the far end, the static grass piece was already cut for barrels so I put a set down there where The piece ended. We will pick up on that end to continue our groundwork at a later time
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Wow, even more realistic. The grassy areas look awesome. Off to the front pages.
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Thanks Tamer, it gets the juices flowing.
Switched out the western auto sign for this larger Champion sign with billboard base. I put together another billboard base and used it on the other end side to support the old wonder bread sign
I cut up what dowel pieces I had for fence posts in that new middle grassy area and came up with 10 that I painted white and stained to weather before spacing 3” apart this time to Poke and glue into our new turf. I need around 10 more to finish this run.
gotta go and buy a dowel today.
Long grasses and whatnot first then, more lights in this area.
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Oh yeah, looks nice Clint. Off to the front pages.
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Got some longer grasses planted around our posts yesterday afternoon.
After a trim and vacuuming on the longer stuff, I can add some flowering elements like the other infield areas.
Got my dowel posts cut and painted for the other half. It’s time to go and get those in.
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After I planted fence posts and long grasses in the second half, I came back to the new dry first half and gave the long grasses another trim and vacuuming, then it was time for big flowers and little bloom clusters like before. Tacky glue for the flowers and scenic cement for the blooms.
I didn’t intend to go as crazy with the bloom clusters this time but couldn’t help it. It’s too fun putting that stuff on. Happy with the results, that area is drying and the second area Is now ready for its haircut and flowering.
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Nice, that greenery looks real. As does most of this. Off to the front pages.
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Got the post, long grasses, and flowers in on the rest of that run. Time for lights next.
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This is really epic! I guess it would be the equivalent to G scale, that's huge. Between the cars the signs and landscaping it's looking phenomenal!
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Wow Clint. When I think you can make this look more realistic you go and do it. Just awesome.
Back to the front pages.
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This is really epic! I guess it would be the equivalent to G scale, that's huge. Between the cars the signs and landscaping it's looking phenomenal!
yiu are correct, JDECK, G scale would be 1/32nd
O scale is 1/43rd and ho should be 1/87th I would have to look up the Tiny n and z scales.
Thanks for the comments, bit by bit, it is becoming what I had envisioned. I hope to never run out of things I can do here.
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This is looking awesome mate!
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This is looking awesome mate!
thank you thank you RCW
I have been tracking my imported led light order from China and I should get em tomorrow. Got to replace what I have lost.
I had an idea for 2 or 3 cautionary blinking yellow lights to warn of 3 particular tire stacks, mounted low to flash at the tire stack in question
I’ll wire up those with the pit lights using a lighting hub again. These hubs have power dials for each power bank going out so you can adgust or dim your lights. When wired to a flashing circuit, that power dial will change the flash speed or leave it on all the time if you set the current low enough.
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I got my lights!
Got em today, hoping the Corona stayed off my parcel because I can’t wait to get into it.
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I bet I know what you are doing today.
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I’m actually a day late getting my big light project done. I’m ready for some reveal shots but wanted to show you a couple of things first.
Part of the light up was incorporating these two yellow flashing cautionary indications aiming up towards two different tire stacks on the course. After running the wires to a flashing circuit, I drilled holes in my shoulder pieces to mount the nanos. Then I used a piece of shrink tube and cut some shades to mount to shield the drivers from the flash.
I’ll get some video of this when I get a chance.
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A week or so ago, I came across this moon lamp in a menuards store.
Rechargeable, it can be changed from a blue color to a new moon yellow.
My vision for this piece was a full moon in the sky over the racetrack and it works and looks perfect. I can’t get my camera to take a good pic of it though. The light it casts out reflects too much off the surrounding surfaces and any distance pic seems to wash out. I may have to hang it.
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After getting pit row lit up again, I had the idea of using some extra guardrail and hot gluing it to the backside of the pit wall, to cover up my wiring and clean up that sides appearance somewhat.
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And a few reveal shots of the re lit pit row
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Wow, bet that feels great to get it lit up again. Man that moon light is awesome.
Off to the front pages with these new updates.
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Check out these printed 1/32 scale vending machines that I imported from the U.K. each includes a paper insert with product images and a thick piece of clear plastic that snaps into place over the insert. I think with a little work, I can install lights in the things.
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Wow, first I hav seen 3D Printed Vending Machines. Neat stuff Clint. I hope you get lights in em.
Off to the front pages.
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Great stuff! Can't wait to see how you add all the magic to 'em!
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Wow, love that lighting. The moon lamp is a great find! Where did you find the vending machines? Those look really cool. It will be fun to see them lit up too.
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Wow, love that lighting. The moon lamp is a great find! Where did you find the vending machines? Those look really cool. It will be fun to see them lit up too.
the eBay sellers name is waspslots, SC. He has a small variety of simple printed scenery items, mostly geared towards 1/32 scale slot car tracks. Trash cans, I seen another set of pop machines, tool boxes, oil drums, porta potties, I’ll need some of those.
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Damn Clint, the race track is looking amazing and the moon and the vending machines are going to look awesome.
Ron
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Thank you for your comments. In between this and the grand stands, and something else,I’m going multiple places at once. I think I may concentrate on that area behind the pit wall for now, but looking back at my recent pics makes me think I need to go ahead and run some lights down that grassy middle run.
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Clint it just looks real bud. Very nice.
Off to the front pages.
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Clint it just looks real bud. Very nice.
Off to the front pages.
That's exactly what I thought. Really amazing work on this.
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wO3Tq3jxazI (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wO3Tq3jxazI)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eS7vGQLv2lE (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eS7vGQLv2lE)
Did I never post any videos of this track??
Here are 2 from a couple of years back.
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If they had a coolest man cave competition you would in the top ten for sure. So awesome.
Off to share on the front pages.
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Thanks buddy
Here is a longer one with a ton of stills and some more video spliced together.
The slot car guys will love it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WIB5oEbGzPM&t=84s (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WIB5oEbGzPM&t=84s)
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Clint, I always tell myself that I cannot collect everything. Therefore I enjoy looking at your projects even more! I had a Carrera track when I was little and had hours of fun with it! Many good memories here. My slot cars weren't digital nor did they have lights.
And the contact strips would always fray. That was the time of Carrera PROFI back i the 90s.
Now when I see how you arranged your basement, I can say that you made one of the nicest places one can be. I mean who else got his or her private arcade in the basement?
And your race track is THE most detailed one I've ever seen! Love all the lights and LED advertisement.
In German we say Leuchtreklame (neon signs) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOZiTTfkzUs).
Thank you for sharing your amazing man cave with us!
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Nice, off to share.
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That's sweet! The lighting effect is great for night driving. That looks like such fun.
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Thanks Shawn. Mr More, I loved hearing that history. This is something I could see you getting into. Thanks starchaser, I have been neglecting the track lately with my other hobbies, she is ready for an update.
I need to shoot a video so I can show how the phone app works.
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The lighting effect is great for night driving.
Agreed. And this is my favorite album for driving at night: Night Drive by Timecop1983 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Al63L2LzA)
Just a masterpiece this album and Clint's race track are...good times.
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I’m not familiar with the tune, mr. More.
Thrash metal?
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I didn't even know this was a legit type of music! lol No, it's not trash metal, it's retro music in style of the 80s and does sound as if it was released back then. This album really is worth to listen to.
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Sounds like something I would enjoy then.
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Timecop 1983 is a Dutch electronic musician, the style is "synthwave" if that helps at all. Its got some 80's vibe, but in the style of say... The Alan Parsons Project or an exceedingly mellowed out version of Erasure.
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Thank you so much for the specification, Starchaser! Much I learned here...synthwave, that's it. Didn't even know he's from the Netherlands! Shame on me. I just enjoy music too much.
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WOW Clint, the racetrack looks brilliant mate.
Ron
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I’ll definitely have to check it out then
Thank you Ron, it’s about time for me to give this project some attention again
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That's pretty awesome! Looks real.
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Looks like a real track to me.