The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Dioramas => Topic started by: JDeck on April 22, 2020, 11:49:57 AM
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I'm starting a new thread because this is going to be an ambitious project. I'm planning to make a space station, built on a 30"x70" table. I'm just going to build one building at a time. The goal is to display a majority of my figures and vehicles in one giant modular display. The Spaceport will be based on my fictitious world of Galgrebaa, during the Imperial Era. However I will incorporate figures from other eras and universes that I think are cool.
This is just a mock-up of a Droid workshop. Everything is held together with toothpicks, but it gives us an idea of the basic layout. Some of it is subject to change, but this is what is in my mind.
I made a Droid oil bath prop for cleaning droids and reversing dust contamination.
The next step is to spackle the floor and walls then sand them for a concrete look. I'm usually apprehensive about trying new products but I bought this DAP spackle with dry time indicator. I like it already. It goes on pink and turns white when it's dry. Amazing! It should be done by sundown. I'll sand and maybe add another thin layer sand put the walls up and spackle the seams.
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Wow, there you go! A solid selection of droid parts! I can see lots of B-A-D parts here! You realized your idea very quick! Looks awesome already!
I think your table will see a brilliant modular station! And one section/building at a time sounds like the perfect way! This is the way...
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What a great concept! This is going to be a fascinating process to watch and I can already see its going to look stunning when its done. I really like the droid bath. I've used the pink to white DAP before, but not for a diorama:) But both my wife an I like it for fixing holes in our house's drywall. Glad you tried it, our experience has been positive. I will be excited to watch this project unfold.
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This is gonna be fun. It already is off to a great start.
Off to the front pages.
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What a great idea and love that Chopper
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Wow, there you go! A solid selection of droid parts! I can see lots of B-A-D parts here! You realized your idea very quick! Looks awesome already!
I think your table will see a brilliant modular station! And one section/building at a time sounds like the perfect way! This is the way...
Thank you DM! I'm keeping the interior sets simple, I'm not going to put too much thought into it, I'm just going to do it. The main focus will be the exterior because that's where most of the figures will be.
I have a handful more BAD parts coming, so I probably won't need any more. Initially I was thinking I'd make it bigger, but 1sq foot is good.
What a great concept! This is going to be a fascinating process to watch and I can already see its going to look stunning when its done. I really like the droid bath. I've used the pink to white DAP before, but not for a diorama:) But both my wife an I like it for fixing holes in our house's drywall. Glad you tried it, our experience has been positive. I will be excited to watch this project unfold.
Thank you. It'll just be build as I go. I have planned a Droid workshop, Bar/casino, docking bay, for the Slave I, maybe a truck stop convenience store. After that who knows? It'll just be an ongoing thing I guess.
This is gonna be fun. It already is off to a great start.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you. I had an epiphany. I've been very selective about what figures I buy, because most don't doesn't fit in my collection. I was basically just buying imperials, Jabbas guys and ewoks. Kind of limiting, especially with TVC being as it is, it's difficult enough to get one figure, let alone army build them. Also, you would not believe the amount of greebles and model kit parts I have, it's insane. In the world if 3d printing you can just buy whatever screen accurate thing you want, and the art of modeling is kind of dead. So I'm just going to build my own world. I don't have to concern myself with screen accuracy. So, we'll see what I come up with.
What a great idea and love that Chopper
Thank you. It's the Disney parks Chopper. He comes with his extra leg, which I thought was neat.
Right when I got home today it started raining, so I skipped the second coat of spackle, and started adding my greebles. Also Bad Mother Customs made me some signs to go in my Droid shop and throughout the Spaceport. Cool thing is, the ink is translucent, so I can backlight them! I think I'll assemble the walls, patch the seams and paint the walls next.
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Mostly using that extruded foam? I've noticed using that drywall mud directly on foam leads to cracking and chipping (chunks of drywall falling right off the foam). Any problems with that?
I'm going to try a small building this weekend using Mod Podge on the foam first.
Your project looks exciting! I'll be turning on notifications for this thread!
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Mostly using that extruded foam? I've noticed using that drywall mud directly on foam leads to cracking and chipping (chunks of drywall falling right off the foam). Any problems with that?
I'm going to try a small building this weekend using Mod Podge on the foam first.
Your project looks exciting! I'll be turning on notifications for this thread!
Thank you, and that is correct I use bluefoam for all of my dioramas. I've had no trouble with chipping. First I sand the surface I'm going to apply the spackle to, to get a good grip. Then I'll water down the spackle slightly to get a tacky consistency. I apply the first layer thick, then sand until I see blue in spots then add a thin coat sand, repeat. I usually do three coats or more, but I might just do two for this interior.
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Sanding the surface first, and watering down the mud are things I didn't do. Salvage what I can, and learn from my mistakes. Thanks.
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Sanding the surface first, and watering down the mud are things I didn't do. Salvage what I can, and learn from my mistakes. Thanks.
If it does chip, just pick out the loose spackle, sand it, then go over it again and sand it down. Should work. On my Stormtrooper diorama I used air drying clay and it dried into a cracked up mess. I just sanded it down and added spackle, and it's as smooth as a baby's bottom.
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Those decals are awesome. Man, great to put some light behind em too.
This project is getting some great comments on Facebook.
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Those decals are awesome. Man, great to put some light behind em too.
This project is getting some great comments on Facebook.
Sweet! I don't have a Facebook, but we have some great comments on here.
Indeed they are awesome. I had to decipher some of what I didn't recognize just to be sure it's nothing obscene, just bar signs and restroom and warning signs. I messaged him Easter morning with the idea of what I wanted and some examples, he responded with a few questions and the next day had it ready to print. Great service and product. It does require a white backing, because of the translucent ink, but for signs it's cool. It'll have an old-school advertising look.
Didn't get any work done today, but that was providential, because while I was napping it rained so it would have ruined any work I did do.
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Here is an update on my Droid Workshop. I just finished spackling and painted using Woodland Scenics watercolors. I added some lights I had still in package from Evan's Design. I made a lampshade out of a chrome plated spaceship parabolic dish. I think it was the Odyssey kit. I added the red light next to what I am going to call a trash compactor door, or It could be an incinerator/smelter door, made from the door off the AAT kit. The ventilation system is made from a Tiger tank deck and a fan from an old broken DVD player, plus a few little bits added on. The circles on the walls, what I'll call access ports for vital components, are from a millennium falcon. The light switch/control panel is from 1/12 Darth Vader chest piece. The workbench is one of those crayon boxes from Walmart, I just flipped it upside down and put the lid on top, and painted it.
I just need to finish weathering the workbench/table, then work on the ceiling. I would like to hang my Droid limbs from the ceiling like Babu Frik's shop. Maybe have a crane mech for moving droids into the oil bath or onto the workbench.
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That is amazing! All those additional parts really make this look authentic, and what a good eye you have for finding the bits you need. You should be proud of this build.
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Wow, talk about kicking things up a notch. This looks awesome! Man, just great work.
Off to the front pages.
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That is amazing! All those additional parts really make this look authentic, and what a good eye you have for finding the bits you need. You should be proud of this build.
Thank you! You wouldn't believe the amount of Model kit parts I have. For a while I would just buy up incomplete kits just for parts to build stuff like this. I've been able to pick through some of the parts that I think are cool looking and put them in a box. I take mental inventory of what I have in case a part would work best for whatever I'm making. Sometimes I just put parts together and if they fit that's what I use.
Wow, talk about kicking things up a notch. This looks awesome! Man, just great work.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you! I now have an idea of the basic architecture of the Spaceport. It'll be reminiscent of WW2 bunkers. The idea behind Galgrebaa is it's a system of ancient fortifications that have been modernized retrofitted and repurposed into a modern Spaceport.
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Wow this is looking amazing mate!
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Wow this is looking amazing mate!
Thank you! I'll tell you the woodland Scenics watercolors are fool-proof. When I applied the watercolors on this new type of spackle, it reactivated it and it became soft. But it all dried up just like it was supposed to. Of course you want to dab instead of brush, had I brushed it would have been a disaster.
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Time for the Weekly Update! I decided to use Ugnaughts for my droidsmiths. I thought about making a special custom figure, but Ugnaughts kept coming back to me. I made the crane mech and Droid leg holder that hangs from the ceiling. I added a few signs and Droid parts. I finished the table, glued the protocol Droid skeleton and parts, so they don't fall off. That about does it for the interior.
Next week will be the start of the exterior of the building.
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Excellent work on making this feel *alive.* The small details are always what make a diorama for me. Keep it up! Would love to see in progress shots.
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Indeed! Really like the details you added with all the decals! Your first module is ready to go I think!
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Oh yeah, Ugnaughts are right on. Looking great. Off to the front pages.
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Oh yes, those ugnaughts fit right in there. I love how the workshop turned out with all the small details. Keep up the good work!
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Excellent work on making this feel *alive.* The small details are always what make a diorama for me. Keep it up! Would love to see in progress shots.
Thank you. There aren't many WIP shots. It's all about the lighting. With this interior I was able to create basically a light box, with 5 sides closed and a single LED droplight. Also with the super matte paint there is no glare or reflections. Most of these guys that do figure photography, they have really good lighting. It makes a huge difference. For the exterior I'll take more WIPs, same concept except they will be outside corners which is easier.
Indeed! Really like the details you added with all the decals! Your first module is ready to go I think!
Thank you! I just have to make a removable facade for the building.
Oh yeah, Ugnaughts are right on. Looking great. Off to the front pages.
Thank you! I imagine Ugnaughts make good mechanics, and technicians. Although not so great for reprogramming.
Oh yes, those ugnaughts fit right in there. I love how the workshop turned out with all the small details. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! The Ugnaughts work great I think, because the overhead lighting casts shadows on their wrinkles and folds, making the figure pop.
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This is excellent mate.
Ron
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Wow :o ..some of the best work i have seen, great job!
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This looks awesome! Nice work mate.
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Better and better! This thing is rad!
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JDeck, I really like the crane - what an excellent detail. I think the Ugnaughts totally make sense (plus you can always add a special custom figure to the team at a later time!). This is looking so exellent. Keep up the good work.
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Very realistic diorama
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This is excellent mate.
Ron
Thank you!
Very realistic diorama
Thank you, just some simple tricks and bad lighting.
JDeck, I really like the crane - what an excellent detail. I think the Ugnaughts totally make sense (plus you can always add a special custom figure to the team at a later time!). This is looking so exellent. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. I imagine the Ugnaughts are simple store owner operators. Galgrebaa is home to many species from around the Galaxy, looking for a better life. I like to think Ugnaughts make up the single largest species population. Followed by Twi'leks, Snivians and Gotals in that order.
Better and better! This thing is rad!
Thank you. I like a dirty dingy used universe in Star Wars.
Wow :o ..some of the best work i have seen, great job!
Thank you. The paints did most of the work, these watercolors are great.
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Wow this is looking amazing mate!
Thank you. Your spaceport looks amazing too. I wish I were that far along, but this is going to be a long project. Just something I can work on one piece at a time.
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I pretty much finished the outside. I might add some signs or something, but the construction is done. The front is made to be removable to reveal the Droid Workshop. I did add some greebles and a Droid Depot decal on the front, and a C-3po on the side. I like the C-3po it reminds me of Banksy street art.
First I made the box to fit. Then trimmed the edges to give it soft corners. Then I spackled and sanded, two coats. Then Woodland Scenics Water colors. First, Concrete, then Burnt Umber, Concrete, then Black. It turned out pinkish, but I wanted more of a brown. However it works perfectly, because it reminds me of an Antique Store I worked at in Galveston, called Antique Warehouse. Galgrebaa is loosely based on Galveston. That building used to be a Brothel if you go upstairs, you can see the prices written on the walls for the different ladies of the night Anyway enough reminiscing. So I like it. It's designed to add a second story, so I'll make the second story a sleezy Hotel/Brothel/ Spice-den.
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Loved hearing about the history of the building your worked at and how that made it into this design. Just so reminds me of what we would see in our SW Verse. Love the placement of the stickers and artwork. Makes it more real imo.
Off to the front pages.
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Loved hearing about the history of the building your worked at and how that made it into this design. Just so reminds me of what we would see in our SW Verse. Love the placement of the stickers and artwork. Makes it more real imo.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you! Yeah Galveston has cool history. Famous pirate Jean Lafitte set up a base there. He basically turned the island into a smugglers paradise. Some of the castle ruins still exist, called the stairs of Jean Lafitte. I lived across the street from first Cathedral in Texas. During WW2 there was a huge Artillery base there, some of those old bunkers are still there. But it's definitely a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Definitely Star Wars inspiration there. Especially since I lived there following the Hurricane Ike. It looked like a war zone, but instead of wrecked x-wings, there were boats scattered all over the streets. It was a sight. The sulfur mines on the north port looks like Kessel. At night all you see are ships lined across the horizon coming into port. It was a neat place, in small doses.
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Turned out really great! I love that you drew inspiration from actual buildings, that's a great idea. I've got a friend who has spent time in Galveston and told me the history there was cool. Thanks for sharing. I really like the rounded elements on the front of your building.
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Wow, nice! I can sure understand the small doses point too. Neat place though.
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Turned out really great! I love that you drew inspiration from actual buildings, that's a great idea. I've got a friend who has spent time in Galveston and told me the history there was cool. Thanks for sharing. I really like the rounded elements on the front of your building.
Thank you. Yeah Galveston is neat. Most visitors are Houstonians going for the weekend. I went back to visit a few years ago. I didn't have the foresight to rent a car, so it was literally a pain to get around. I had to hire a limo just to get on and off the island from the airport. I'd like to go again, but meh, I'd rather go to Galaxy's Edge. Anyway I did add a few more greebles. I think it's about done. Now I'll work on the top floor.
Wow, nice! I can sure understand the small doses point too. Neat place though.
Yeah, so I'm going to use some of this architecture in my Spaceport. Like the landing pad will be like these artillery bunkers. Also Zagreb Croatia is another inspiring element for Galgrebaa. Talk about history. Every day at noon they fire a cannon to commemorate the victory of some battle that took place hundreds of years ago.
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Really love the details and weathering mate and thanks heaps for the info about Galveston, it's always great to history on a place.
Ron
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Really love the details and weathering mate and thanks heaps for the info about Galveston, it's always great to history on a place.
Ron
Thank you. I spent a majority of my time there renovating a house for the local historian. I didn't get to talk with her that much, because I was busy working whenever she came over. One day work was stalled, so she had us consolidate a couple of storage units. Talk about Antiques. This woman, between League City and Galveston had at least 6 storage units full of Antique furniture, one filled completely with dolls. She even had one of those harpsichords from the 1700s. It was a long day.
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I've been working on and off on a supply Depot. Just collecting crates and cannisters and things like that.
Today I built an old Tibanna gas cylinder from a mining platform. It leaks, so they just keep it in the depot. It's made from a TUMS bottle and model kit parts. I made a weld effect on the end caps using wood glue, then painted and weathered. I went to various stores today to find odds and ends, but I couldn't find anything I didn't already have. Specifically I was looking for water-guns, but couldn't find any at all. I guess mid July is a bad time to try to find water-guns.
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Man that looks perfect in there. I really like your spaceport. So cool. Now this is a real playset. I thought tibanna gas before I even read your description.
Off to the front pages.
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Man that looks perfect in there. I really like your spaceport. So cool. Now this is a real playset. I thought tibanna gas before I even read your description.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you. I would like to just have more diorama accessories or small stuff like this gate thing and the POTF2 shield generator bunker. The rest I can do. I think half of this project will be repurposing junk into star wars junk.
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The barrel/cannister in the back looks excellent and the spaceport gear also looks excellent.
Ron
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It sure makes sense to me. These work so well in dios, etc.
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The barrel/cannister in the back looks excellent and the spaceport gear also looks excellent.
Ron
Thank you the thing in the back is a Hoth cannon. I was thinking of having defense turrets throughout the port.
It sure makes sense to me. These work so well in dios, etc.
I have some neat materials and things coming in the mail. I'll see how well they work.
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I am loving this! Can't wait to see more!
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I really like how creatively you build up your spaceport from scratch! Love the story of the leaking Tibana gas tank!
I also like the containers from CHINA SHIPPING! I think you've already collected a great selection of different parts! If you want, I can at least look for some water guns for you here in Germany to see if there's evidence of a global shortage of such. lol
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I am loving this! Can't wait to see more!
Thank you! There will be a lot more. This project is still in it's infancy, more like in it's fetal stage. I'm just mocking things up, building small things to see what works.
I really like how creatively you build up your spaceport from scratch! Love the story of the leaking Tibana gas tank!
I also like the containers from CHINA SHIPPING! I think you've already collected a great selection of different parts! If you want, I can at least look for some water guns for you here in Germany to see if there's evidence of a global shortage of such. lol
Thank you! The idea behind Galgrebaa Is for me to just make stuff, not worrying about screen accuracy, no 3D printing, just use the stuff I have. I don't know what I want to do with the CHINA shipping containers. I got them in a HO Scale container lot. I was thinking about making a wall out of them or something.
I can get water guns on Amazon. I'm telling you Amazon always comes through, this is why brick and mortar is dying. Not having water guns in store during the hottest week of the year in our region is beyond stupid.
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I made a fuel tank. I haven't painted it, just primed and sanded. I'm debating on what color to paint it. I have some Texaco decals, I kind of want to use them on this. I gave it a white wash just to see how it would look. White with a heavy weathering would be cool, then again a rust brown would be cool too. It has a dieselpunk look, which I like. That's what I like about the prequel designs, they're very art deco/dieselpunk, Buck Rogers pre ww2 look. So I want to have something like that, but heavily weathered, as if it went through a war. I want to tie it into a gas station type setting, maybe on the landing platform, whenever I start on that. So I kept the pipes loose in case I want to change it's position later.
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I finished painting the fuel tank. I mixed up some brown and red to make a hull red, similar to the A-wing color. Then painted white, and washed it away. Then gave it a black wash. I added a couple of Texaco decals. In hindsight I should have added them before I washed out the white, but meh it's a background piece.
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Now this looks awesome. Love the Texaco sticker too. Man, this is great for your spaceport.
Off to the front pages.
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The depot looks great. I love how you are re-purposing "empties" into diorama material. That fuel tank looks really good, and the wood glue idea totally makes sense. Thanks for sharing! (I didn't know that Texaco was interstellar - those Texans go everywhere)
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Now this looks awesome. Love the Texaco sticker too. Man, this is great for your spaceport.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you Tamer! I'm building a matching gas pump.
The depot looks great. I love how you are re-purposing "empties" into diorama material. That fuel tank looks really good, and the wood glue idea totally makes sense. Thanks for sharing! (I didn't know that Texaco was interstellar - those Texans go everywhere)
Thank you StarChaser! I enjoy turning junk into star wars junk. I used to do it more, but I got out of it, now I'm coming back. My Spaceport is loosely based on Texas, so I wanted to incorporate the Texaco signs, it was either that or GULF oil.
I'm making a matching gas station pump for my fuel tank. It's made from a Coco powder container flipped upside down, model kit parts and the hose is from the aquarium gravel filter kit. The thing with using containers like this is, the bottom that when flipped becomes the top, so I have to cover all the stamped words and things that give it away as a container. What you do is cut out cardboard, chipboard, styrene, I used the cardboard from a Bandai kit, cut it to fit inside the lip, and glue it down. I gave it an art deco/ Buck Rogers look, but it's going to be weathered.
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You need to do a dio with Han thumbing back to the Falcon with filler her up and wash the windows while your at it!
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You need to do a dio with Han thumbing back to the Falcon with filler her up and wash the windows while your at it!
Well actually I was going to do something like that but with Boba Fett and the Slave I. I'm not buying the BMF2, it's too big and too expensive. The Slave I repack is my tops as far as size and cost.
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I finished the paint on the pump. Same exact thing I did to the tank. I like how it turned out. It's better than what I had originally thought of when I was dreaming up this project. It reminds me of an old school gas station pump, but with a sci-fi star wars touch.
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This is another great creation. So cool.
Off to the front pages.
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That turned out soooo cool! I really love the fuel pump design and totally get the "art deco" feel. It would be at home in the 1930's Flash Gordon serial.
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This is another great creation. So cool.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you Tamer! I need to make a shield generator next.
That turned out soooo cool! I really love the fuel pump design and totally get the "art deco" feel. It would be at home in the 1930's Flash Gordon serial.
Thank you! Art deco represents wealth and prosperity, so to have it rusty and in disrepair, would mean a recession. Galgrebaa was prosperous before the Clone Wars, then the Trade Federation and corporate Alliance destroyed it. Things got better under the Empire but it was still a shadow of it's former glory.
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A shield generator sounds awesome. I for one always had a problem with the lack of defenses around the shield generator on Hoth. I mean there was nothing around it. It was the main thing to protect!
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A shield generator sounds awesome. I for one always had a problem with the lack of defenses around the shield generator on Hoth. I mean there was nothing around it. It was the main thing to protect!
Ironic. It could save others from death... But not itself.
That's kind of the thing about Star Wars. The endor shield, the Hoth shield, the SSD shield and the shield gate on Scarif. They were vulnerable, for being the one thing that saves the day. If I were the Rebels or Empire I'd fortify the shield generators. With Galgrebaa, there is a vast network of shields that combine into one. If one single generator gets destroyed, there are others to compensate. That's why Galgrebaa has never been successfully conquered. Galgrebaa's problem always comes from within. Mainly due to the corruption of the ruling class, something no shield can defend against.
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Now that logic I understand.
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I'm continuing to make little machines and props made from junk. I made a power generator out of Bubble Tape containers, bottle caps model kit parts and a plastic lid. I think I will attach it to the side of a building. Also an air conditioner thing made from model kit parts.
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Wow, that looks spot on! I like that a lot. Man talk about from trash to treasure. Did you chew all that bubble tape?
Off to the front pages.
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Wow, that looks spot on! I like that a lot. Man talk about from trash to treasure. Did you chew all that bubble tape?
Off to the front pages.
Thank you! Once they're painted, they look cool. I gave it a dieselpunk look, with the sprocket and metallic colors. Maybe an old corporate Alliance generator.
No, I didn't chew the bubble tape, I started to, but it was too sweet. I'm not a gun chewer anymore. They were 3/$1 at Dollar General, I got two, so I have one half left over.
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The paintwork looks phenomenal, JD! The metal colors really pop! I remember chewing that gum tape after school in 3rd and 4th grade. Haven't seen these Hubba Bubba rolls for a while...excellent idea!
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The paintwork looks phenomenal, JD! The metal colors really pop! I remember chewing that gum tape after school in 3rd and 4th grade. Haven't seen these Hubba Bubba rolls for a while...excellent idea!
Thank you! It's not my idea entirely, I've seen guys use bubble tape containers to do similar stuff. A few years ago I used similar containers for a generator, in really small scale. I wanted something bigger for 1/18, but this will do for some wall greebles. Yeah I used to chew gum religiously, until 8th grade I had a teacher that sentenced some over reactive punishment for chewing gum, after about the tenth time getting caught, I just quit. Then I started smoking lol.
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man these pics are awesome can't wait to see them all together that will be a cool dio.
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That generator turned out awesome! Great idea to use the Bubble Tape cases. I might have to borrow that. I echo the comments that have already been made regarding the paint job - it looks stellar.
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I could so see that power generator Hothized up in a dio protecting an evacuation area or a back up ion cannon or something.
In my opinion it is the things like this that really push diorama making into the next level.
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man these pics are awesome can't wait to see them all together that will be a cool dio.
Thank you. I think before I get in too deep I'm going to change the design slightly. Less like tatooine and more like corescant. So the facade I made will be replaced here shortly. It'll look better.
I could so see that power generator Hothized up in a dio protecting an evacuation area or a back up ion cannon or something.
In my opinion it is the things like this that really push diorama making into the next level.
Yeah, that's why I like scratch building or kitbashing, junk building whatever you want to call it. You could give ten people the same materials and they'll make completely different things. Like with this generator, you get the idea of what it is, but it's different. I think that's lost with 3D printing. There is a lot of personality with scratch building.
That generator turned out awesome! Great idea to use the Bubble Tape cases. I might have to borrow that. I echo the comments that have already been made regarding the paint job - it looks stellar.
Thank you! Bubble Tape is getting harder to find these days. The two halves aren't exactly symmetrical, I had to shave off a little excess plastic. Then there's the little casting dimple too. That's why I did 3, put the asymmetrical one in the middle.
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So I decided to redesign the spaceport, from a concrete fortress city, to more of a stone castle city, while I still can. So I redid the facade for the Droid workshop. It's a stone base made of XPS Foam with a homemade modge podge made from wood glue and black craft paint. Then added a door frame and different materials to it. The outside lampshade is a Astro droid dome. It still needs much work, but this is the mock-up.
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That Droid shop looks awesome!
So cool to see that light made out of the droid dome. Just good stuff.
Off to share on the front pages.
I also totally agree with your point about 3D printing rather than taking parts and putting stuff together.
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That Droid shop looks awesome!
So cool to see that light made out of the droid dome. Just good stuff.
Off to share on the front pages.
I also totally agree with your point about 3D printing rather than taking parts and putting stuff together.
Thank you! I pretty much finished it, but I need to order some more LEDs, might as well replace the Droid shop lights for 9v, and run them off the same battery.
I was painting the plastic parts, and the wind blew my cardboard mat, and all my parts went flying. I recovered all but the Astro droid dome light, so I had to rebuild it, but I made it even better. I got the idea from Galaxy's Edge, they had something like that. I'd like to go, but nobody else does, It would be lame by myself.
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Nice. Sorry to hear your stuff got swept away it was one windy day yesterday.
It sure turned out great though. I like it.
Off to share it on the front pages.
I know I sure wouldn't mind going to Galaxy's Edge sometime. Course not till the covid stuff is way in the back burner.
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So I decided to redesign the spaceport, from a concrete fortress city, to more of a stone castle city, while I still can. So I redid the facade for the Droid workshop. It's a stone base made of XPS Foam with a homemade modge podge made from wood glue and black craft paint. Then added a door frame and different materials to it. The outside lampshade is a Astro droid dome. It still needs much work, but this is the mock-up.
That's awesome, love the use of the shuttle doors 8) ..would you have one of the double cannons from the end of the wing tips for sale by any chance? ..mines missing one
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So I decided to redesign the spaceport, from a concrete fortress city, to more of a stone castle city, while I still can. So I redid the facade for the Droid workshop. It's a stone base made of XPS Foam with a homemade modge podge made from wood glue and black craft paint. Then added a door frame and different materials to it. The outside lampshade is a Astro droid dome. It still needs much work, but this is the mock-up.
That's awesome, love the use of the shuttle doors 8) ..would you have one of the double cannons from the end of the wing tips for sale by any chance? ..mines missing one
Thank you! They are Shuttle wings, however they are from the 1/92 Revell kit.
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Nice. Sorry to hear your stuff got swept away it was one windy day yesterday.
It sure turned out great though. I like it.
Off to share it on the front pages.
I know I sure wouldn't mind going to Galaxy's Edge sometime. Course not till the covid stuff is way in the back burner.
Thank you. It worked out, it's just I only have but so many Astro domes. I have no idea where it blew off to.
It'll be quite some time before I can get to Galaxy's Edge. I've been promising my brother I'd come visit for years. Just yester I had to pay a guy just so I can train him to work a weekend for me next month. It's been 2 years since I've had any time off.
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This awesome mate, well done.
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So I decided to redesign the spaceport, from a concrete fortress city, to more of a stone castle city, while I still can. So I redid the facade for the Droid workshop. It's a stone base made of XPS Foam with a homemade modge podge made from wood glue and black craft paint. Then added a door frame and different materials to it. The outside lampshade is a Astro droid dome. It still needs much work, but this is the mock-up.
That's awesome, love the use of the shuttle doors 8) ..would you have one of the double cannons from the end of the wing tips for sale by any chance? ..mines missing one
Thank you! They are Shuttle wings, however they are from the 1/92 Revell kit.
I should of realized that from the size lol ;D ..thanks anyway ;)
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Looks great! I like the new facade design a lot. Stone-ish feels like its got more character than concrete (more room for backstories on the buildings too, maybe). Sorry that nobody else in your world in interested in Galaxy's Edge. My family is all hoping to go and excited about it, but we're waiting. Maybe next summer, we plan to visit family in CA.
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This awesome mate, well done.
Thank you. I think I'll experiment some more with making stone work, but the homemade modge podge gives decent texture.
Looks great! I like the new facade design a lot. Stone-ish feels like its got more character than concrete (more room for backstories on the buildings too, maybe). Sorry that nobody else in your world in interested in Galaxy's Edge. My family is all hoping to go and excited about it, but we're waiting. Maybe next summer, we plan to visit family in CA.
Thank you! It's a lot quicker to do this than the way I was making concrete effects. But yeah this has an older ancient look to it.
GE is basically just a bunch of shops and two rides. They should make a Star Wars themed truck stop on the way to Disney. Like South Of The Border, but Star wars instead of Mexican. That I'd go to in an instant. It seems like a long ways away for what it is, because I'm not interested in the rest of the park really.
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I'm experimenting with weathering my pencil box crates. Like I've done before I take these Walmart/Michael's pencil boxes. I take off the lid and lid latches, then super glue two together. Then spray primed then spray painted in this case Tamiya Dull Red. Then I started dry brushing using different shades of red then silver. Then I added the decals. In this case I wanted a more private sector as opposed to Imperial crates, so I used Black Sun decal and the letter A in Aurebesh, on the bottom is a sign of some kind, I haven't deciphered it, but I imagine it's some kind of warning sign or instructions. Then I used a black wash, then. I made a paste using pastel chalk and my black wash. Smeared it all over and wiped it off.
I have a bunch of these, and I have some custom decals I was going to use for signs, but they would look cool on these crates. They are logos such as Amazon, Black Spire Coffee, Droid Depot, a star wars version of the NASA sign and TESCO some kind of European grocery chain.
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These look perfect! Man, we so need more stuff like this in our hobby.
Off to share on the front pages.
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These look perfect! Man, we so need more stuff like this in our hobby.
Off to share on the front pages.
Thank you. We can definitely use more diorama accessories. The 3d/resin crates are great if you only need a couple, but I need a lot. You know what I really want? The cargo containers from the GR-75 Rebel Transport in 1/18.
I was supposed to get my Star Wars excavation crates but they got lost in the DC post office which is the Bermuda triangle of mail. They're still sending out letters from WW2. I'll be pleasantly surprised if I get them this century.
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I finished the first batch of crates. I used the decals I got from Bad Mother Customs (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fstr%2Fbadmothercustoms%2FStar-Wars-Decals%2F_i.html%3F_storecat%3D25219285011&campid=5337373868&toolid=10001&customid=). I really like the Amazon one. The fading on the blue one came out cool. I used grey to give the more colorful decals more contrast. I need to make more, at least twice as many.
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JD, you're showing us so many facets of creativity at their peak! I'm glad that you're happy with your choice of changing the design for the entire Spaceport. That was a big one. The first version of your Droid workshop reminded me of the Endar Spire from Knights of the Old Republic. The color pattern also matches the design of the Republic Attack Shuttle. Both walls look absolutely awesome and my favorite detail is the Astromech dome used as lamp! Awesome texture, weathering and addition of the strip on the floor!
I'm blown away by all the items you've already created for your Spaceport like the fuel refill station and the generator! The paintwork looks amazing on both! On my toy hunt on Monday (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1012.msg221046#msg221046) I had trouble finding those gum tapes. Every grocery store had them here 15 years ago. I only found them in a dollar store for 1.10€ each - a 10% price hike probably due to the pandemic. Amazon have a full case of them still, but since I want to chew them this time, I'd like to get a mixed bag.
Also I haven't found such pencil boxes here in Germany, yet. If I won't find those at all, I'll have to look for them next time I'm in the U.S. - you got such brilliant ideas utilizing all those items! The decals look so perfect on the paint and I just love love love the NASA one in Aurebesh. It's a nice vision that we get in touch with a galaxy far, far away some day...
Seeing your project come together even with the smallest detail is a festival! It'll be epic to see the entire port all setup in your shelf! Thanks so much for sharing all this - to me this is what STAR WARS is all about. Being creative telling a story on a low budget.
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These are just rock solid perfect. I mean, you couldn't get em any better imo.
Off to share on the front page.
By the way folks here is a link to Bad Mother Customs. There are some awesome items:
Bad Mother Customs Link (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fstr%2Fbadmothercustoms%2FStar-Wars-Decals%2F_i.html%3F_storecat%3D25219285011&campid=5337373868&toolid=10001&customid=)
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I will admit I lost about a half hour this morning just looking through all the cool stickers and tatoos. So cool.
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Darth More Thank you. I tried finding these box s for you on Amazon. There is a company called Really useful boxes, but the Amazon prices are insane. Here in the US they are found at some Michael's. I went to Virginia Center, they had none, but Broad Street did. Then there are the Super Stacker brand boxes found at any Walmart they're 89¢ for the smalls and $1 for the larger sizes. (Might want to check Amazon for these). I kind of like the Really useful boxes brand, the small ones are shorter and they have a cool honeycomb pattern on the bottoms. I hope you find some.
Tamer Thank you! I sent a message to BMC for some custom decals so I can make some other crime syndicate and mining guild crates along with another decal. I wanted to get him to make me some Planet Express decals from Futurama. I think that would be cool on a crate. We shall see.
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Tamer: Thanks for the link to bad mother customs! It looks like he/she used the same emblems as I did. I found some of them on google images and already made some A4 pages full of them. Now I just need to print them out to finally finish my Imperial Purge Troopers (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10186.msg210959#msg210959).
I hope it works with the professional printers at the copy shop. Bad Mother Customs have some pretty nice designs as well!
JDeck: Thank you so much for looking for these boxes for me! I really appreciate it. I think I'll just go to Walmart when I (hopefully) come to the U.S. next year. I'll also stop by at Michael's for sure. The last time I was in NY and MI was back in 2014.
What do you think about Hobby Lobby? And do you have an Ollie's in your area?
I've taken a look at those Really Useful Boxes (what a smart product name) and now I know what to keep my eyes open for. I'll go to two different dollar stores today and I might find something similar.
Thanks so much again! That is really kind of you, J! I'm also extremely happy that your package with the crates finally arrived. Had some questionable laugh in disbelief that they still find lost mail from WW2...CRAZY!
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JDeck: Thank you so much for looking for these boxes for me! I really appreciate it. I think I'll just go to Walmart when I (hopefully) come to the U.S. next year. I'll also stop by at Michael's for sure. The last time I was in NY and MI was back in 2014.
What do you think about Hobby Lobby? And do you have an Ollie's in your area?
I've taken a look at those Really Useful Boxes (what a smart product name) and now I know what to keep my eyes open for. I'll go to two different dollar stores today and I might find something similar.
Thanks so much again! That is really kind of you, J! I'm also extremely happy that your package with the crates finally arrived. Had some questionable laugh in disbelief that they still find lost mail from WW2...CRAZY!
I don't really go to Hobby lobby because it's in Short Pump and people can't freggin drive. That 1 mile stretch has the most accidents than anywhere in the State. Ollie's is out in the middle of nowhere, long ways away to possibly find something.
I was listening to a story on the Radio, there was a person who received a letter from the 1940s just recently. Right now people are buying crap online because of the Cornholio virus and clogging up the system, and the USPS rates are so low they're losing money on it. But it was a pretty heavy box it was mostly sand.
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I do hope that Uncle Milton still exist. I mean why would they still maintain their customer service then? Maybe you or Tamer can just copy and paste my message without the introduction and just re-send the message to them in case mine just didn't get through from outside the U.S.
Well, that's an interesting reason to not go to Hobby Lobby. It was quite far away from my location. I think it was in Muskegon, MI - so were TARGET and Toys "R" Us. Despite the fact that I had my license in Germany already, I wasn't allowed to drive in Michigan back in 2010. Luckily I haven't had a single accident since then. But traffic here becomes crazier every year from a subjective perspective. And I think I know what you mean regarding insecure drivers in the U.S. - many of which can't even drive vehicles other than automatic gear.
Sometimes I so wish to live in the U.S. - but I like living in Germany, too, even without those Xcavation Crates! lol
So glad you could find them. Are they still available at Walmart. too? I think I will just stick to empty bottle lids and similar packaging.
Did the prices for shipping by USPS really go down due to Corona? That's amazing! Wish they did the same here. Had a good laugh when I read your comment on the virus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCutOI9F8Ws) ;D
Just had to watch this again...
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I do hope that Uncle Milton still exist. I mean why would they still maintain their customer service then? Maybe you or Tamer can just copy and paste my message without the introduction and just re-send the message to them in case mine just didn't get through from outside the U.S.
Well, that's an interesting reason to not go to Hobby Lobby. It was quite far away from my location. I think it was in Muskegon, MI - so were TARGET and Toys "R" Us. Despite the fact that I had my license in Germany already, I wasn't allowed to drive in Michigan back in 2010. Luckily I haven't had a single accident since then. But traffic here becomes crazier every year from a subjective perspective. And I think I know what you mean regarding insecure drivers in the U.S. - many of which can't even drive vehicles other than automatic gear.
Sometimes I so wish to live in the U.S. - but I like living in Germany, too, even without those Xcavation Crates! lol
So glad you could find them. Are they still available at Walmart. too? I think I will just stick to empty bottle lids and similar packaging.
Did the prices for shipping by USPS really go down due to Corona? That's amazing! Wish they did the same here. Had a good laugh when I read your comment on the virus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCutOI9F8Ws) ;D
Just had to watch this again...
Short pump has a very diverse population. European, Asian, Indian, all over and none of them can drive. It's not just Americans I can assure you. What I don't understand about Europe is why does the yellow light come on before the green? I think that encourages people to just go on Yellow. Here Yellow means clear the intersection.
USPS rates have always been really low compared to UPS or FEDEX, by a long shot. USPS is a mix between a public service and a business. I guess they make more money off of stamps and letters, but in 21st century letters are a thing of the past. I can't remember the last time I mailed a letter. Maybe a decade.
Anyway back to Galgrebaa. I got my LEDs yesterday so I'm going to rewire the Droid shop. Then I'll start on the docking bay.
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These are really great JDeck, they look so realistic. I appreciate your sharing the process (and the decal information). These crates (both the pencil boxes and the Xcavation crates) will look wonderful in your city.
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These are really great JDeck, they look so realistic. I appreciate your sharing the process (and the decal information). These crates (both the pencil boxes and the Xcavation crates) will look wonderful in your city.
Thank you! These crates are great especially if you want a lot. I'll be making more next week.
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I made another batch of crates. Mostly crime syndicate crates. In my world crime syndicates marked their crates to deter thieves. I have Pyke Syndicate in Yellow, Hutt Cartel in red and Crimson Dawn in blue (large). I already made a Black Sun crate. Also since I'm a Futurama fan I had to make a Planet Express crate in light grey. Finally, a Mining Guild crate in blue (small).
This is a rough mock-up of the docking bay/shady "storage facility". I want everything to fit in this 22"x24" footprint, so I took the wing off the far side of the Slave I, so I can push it back further. It's way out of scale anyway so the farther back the better. I might move some stuff around before I make a final decision, but that's the gist.
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Talk about nice. I like them.
Off to share on the front pages.
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Wow, your containers look absolutely amazing! This setup looks like fun already! You really captured the esthetics of the Star Wars universe.
The traffic lights here in Germany have a 2 second phase of red and yellow before the green phase so that people can react to get started and not being honked by people behind right away. It helps to shift gears and get your foot on the gas pedal again during the yellow phase. The yellow phase between green to red has got the same function: to clear the intersection.
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Nice work on those crates. Love the color choices, and weathering.
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Nice crates. I really like your color palette. You are packing a lot into a small space on this one, it reminds me a bit of my mechanic's shop - crates and tool storage containers all over surrounding the vehicles. By the way, where did the gates you are using come from? They work really well.
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Talk about nice. I like them.
Off to share on the front pages.
Thank you Tamer!
Wow, your containers look absolutely amazing! This setup looks like fun already! You really captured the esthetics of the Star Wars universe.
The traffic lights here in Germany have a 2 second phase of red and yellow before the green phase so that people can react to get started and not being honked by people behind right away. It helps to shift gears and get your foot on the gas pedal again during the yellow phase. The yellow phase between green to red has got the same function: to clear the intersection.
Thank you DM! It'll look better with a floor and some walls, maybe some lights. I'm just trying to get an idea of how this is all going to work. A 30"x72" table seems big until you start building.
I guess it makes sense, but it wouldn't work here. The first week there would be a crash at every intersection.
Nice work on those crates. Love the color choices, and weathering.
Thank you! I wanted them to resemble shipping containers here on earth. I would like some green ones, but I think I have enough.
Nice crates. I really like your color palette. You are packing a lot into a small space on this one, it reminds me a bit of my mechanic's shop - crates and tool storage containers all over surrounding the vehicles. By the way, where did the gates you are using come from? They work really well.
Thank you! The gate is from the SOLO Vandor playset. It's pretty much the only thing I bought it for, and it was worth it really. I'd like to see your mechanic's shop, sounds awesome! It is a lot packed into a small space. I added some figures to see how it works and it looks like Where's Watto. But that's the point of this project, to display a majority of my figures and vehicles. Kind of like Where's Waldo, where there's a lot of things going on and you could look at it for a long time and not notice everything.
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D'oh, shows how much time I've spent with my Vandor set, which I bought on clearance because it was...wait for it...on clearance :)
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Very cool containers, they fit the Star Wars universe perfectly!
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It's been a while since doing any work on my spaceport. I ordered the Razor Crest to go in it, but i had to figure out how. Anyway, I just made the left side wall of the Droid shop, facing what will be the docking bay for the Crest.
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Looks awesome to me. The Crest is gonna like that parking spot.
Off to the front pages.
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Looks awesome mate and I love the gritty feel to it.
Ron
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Looks awesome mate and I love the gritty feel to it.
Ron
Thank you! Galgrebaa has seen some hard times. I always thought of Star Wars as being a dystopia, especially after the clone wars.
Looks awesome to me. The Crest is gonna like that parking spot.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you. I can't wait to get the RC. I'm going to display it fully dismantled, as if it's being repaired.
I started on my Star Wars Bodega. Im using the wacky packages minis. I love these things. I just now discovered them and I'm obsessed. I bought these at Target and ordered an embarrassing amount on Ebay. Truthfully it's cheaper to buy them in lots on ebay, than a case of blind bags and getting 3/5 duplicates. Anyway I will have enough to fill my little Bodega/Kiosk convenience store.
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What a great idea for a diorama. You are knocking this Spaceport out of the park JDeck.
Back to the front pages.
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What a great idea for a diorama. You are knocking this Spaceport out of the park JDeck.
Back to the front pages.
Thank you. This project is going to incorporate a lot of just stuff I like, that don't fit into my collection. Like these wacky packages, this is a way I can make a diorama and display them at the same time. They're so funny. I get a good laugh looking at them. There's about 150 different packages just in the two waves. I can make two bodegas lol.
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Dude? Those wacky package minis are cool. I didn’t even know that they existed.
Great work on the spaceport thus far. Any ship would be proud to be parked next to it.
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I mean you know spacers on long missions have to stock up on pogey bait before they leave. Any good soldier/long hauler knows pogey bait is a must!
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Dude? Those wacky package minis are cool. I didn’t even know that they existed.
Great work on the spaceport thus far. Any ship would be proud to be parked next to it.
Thank you! Yeah I had no idea these existed until I was looking for something else. The cards have been around since the 60s, but the minis came out last year. Before then, they had the erasers, which is basically the same thing but less quality. I found them in the trading card section at Target.
I mean you know spacers on long missions have to stock up on pogey bait before they leave. Any good soldier/long hauler knows pogey bait is a must!
Heck yeah! Get you some "RATZ" Crackers and "SKIMPY" peanut butter and you're good to go!
Im kind of making it as satire for the Bodegas on my route, with incredibly old knock off products, no one ever buys. Only thing they sell is beer and lotto. I see the beer vendors all the time, they put a whole pallet of Mickey's in those little stores.
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I finished the basic construction of my Bodega. Its all made from XPS Foam and foamcore poster board. The LEDs are from Dollar Tree.
Also started on the outside. Made a sign using a garage sale sign from Dollar Tree, and decals from BMC.
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Wow JDeck, you are really creating a spectacular display and play space. I love all the detail on the droid wall, it looks really industrial. The bodega is a great idea, it totally makes sense that something like this would exist in a spaceport - all you have to do is look around an airport! I also didn't know about the wacky packages, haven't seen them at my local Target, but you're right, they are pretty funny. I got a good giggle reading the titles in your pictures. Looking forward to how it all turned out, but its great so far.
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Wow JDeck, you are really creating a spectacular display and play space. I love all the detail on the droid wall, it looks really industrial. The bodega is a great idea, it totally makes sense that something like this would exist in a spaceport - all you have to do is look around an airport! I also didn't know about the wacky packages, haven't seen them at my local Target, but you're right, they are pretty funny. I got a good giggle reading the titles in your pictures. Looking forward to how it all turned out, but its great so far.
Thank you Starchaser! Yeah my inspiration for the Spaceport is a combination, airport/truckstop.
Also a little bit of the Dolac underground market in Zagreb. It's a literal underground market, with a lot of small kiosks for different types of foods and things. It's kind of a neat place.
I ordered a bunch of these wack packages from ebay, mostly wave 1. They're a scream.
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Wow, even better. I feel lights done right just do so much for dios, ships, etc. This seems like a pretty cheap way to do it too! The store looks perfect.
I bet there are other small detailed food packages and things like this too. Why do I remember seeing something like these before?
Anyhow, it looks great. Off to the front pages.
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Looks awesome JD and it's always amazing how some lights really add to the display or dio.
Ron
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Wow, even better. I feel lights done right just do so much for dios, ships, etc. This seems like a pretty cheap way to do it too! The store looks perfect.
I bet there are other small detailed food packages and things like this too. Why do I remember seeing something like these before?
Anyhow, it looks great. Off to the front pages.
Thank you. Yeah I saw those lights at DT and grabbed up all the clears and one each of the colors. 10 LEDs a batery box and a switch, I'll buy that for a dollar!
Looks awesome JD and it's always amazing how some lights really add to the display or dio.
Ron
Thank you. Every time I would start working on this project, I got hung up on how to make lighted signs. I was using thin styrene, but it was too bright and washed out. I think using this plastic sign board diffuses the light just enough.
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Amazing work! I like the dioramas an the crates, how'd you come up with that idea?
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Amazing work! I like the dioramas an the crates, how'd you come up with that idea?
Thank you! Spectre a few years ago posted the walmart boxes. It stuck in my mind, until I needed them, then just made them more like shipping crates.
I painted the interior of the Bodega. I just used a combination of woodglue and watercolor paint. Then painted the shelves black. Then I popped up a few floor tiles, because every bodega has popped up floor tiles. Also I got enough Wacky packages to pretty much cover the shelves. Theres about 50 different ones. I over ordered, and have about 50 more coming lol.
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Amazing work! I like the dioramas an the crates, how'd you come up with that idea?
Thank you! Spectre a few years ago posted the walmart boxes. It stuck in my mind, until I needed them, then just made them more like shipping crates.
I painted the interior of the Bodega. I just used a combination of woodglue and watercolor paint. Then painted the shelves black. Then I popped up a few floor tiles, because every bodega has popped up floor tiles. Also I got enough Wacky packages to pretty much cover the shelves. Theres about 50 different ones. I over ordered, and have about 50 more coming lol.
You're weclome! Really amazing work
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What is the green alien from in the bodega?
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What is the green alien from in the bodega?
Remember Chet from wierd science? Well when Kelly LeBrock turned him into slimer? That was a great 80s movie.
Nice Bodega update. So on the front pages.
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Nice! I really love the signage! Good stuff!
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Sweet that you got ole Chet in there!
Your paintwork on the shelves and the walls gives something for those wacky packages to pop off of, with their bright colors and sharp angles.
Looks great
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What is the green alien from in the bodega?
Remember Chet from wierd science? Well when Kelly LeBrock turned him into slimer? That was a great 80s movie.
Nice Bodega update. So on the front pages.
The figure is made by Super7/reaction, came out sometime last year.
Thank you Tamer. Yup I'm going to have to make another Bodega, but first I have another shop I need to make.
Nice! I really love the signage! Good stuff!
Thank you! The decals are from Bad Mother Customs. Cool thing is, his ink is translucent, so it makes for good lighted signs.
Sweet that you got ole Chet in there!
Your paintwork on the shelves and the walls gives something for those wacky packages to pop off of, with their bright colors and sharp angles.
Looks great
Thank you! Who better to sell gross food than a gross dude.
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Looks really good! I'd shop there - except not when Chet was sitting in the doorway. I think this is great addition to the spaceport and adds exactly the color that is needed to feel "real."
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I think you picked the perfect figure to represent the vendor of this store. And I think Lucasfilm could highlight food and the eating culture in STAR WARS a bit more - not only to sell more cooking books of course. They did in TPM, AOTC, ANH and ESB a little bit, but even more in The Mandalorian with all the different (and partly still living) dishes for little Grogru. Love the Coke emblem and the material you chose for the backdrop! Awesome update, JD!
Add: Just checked back on page 8 and saw the side wall of the building! Wow, the gum boxes look really great all painted up hanging on the wall. Thank you so much for providing this idea. You did a phenomenal job painting and "decorating" your Spaceport!
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Looks really good! I'd shop there - except not when Chet was sitting in the doorway. I think this is great addition to the spaceport and adds exactly the color that is needed to feel "real."
Thank you. I dunno man I wouldn't buy any of those products. Lol.
I think you picked the perfect figure to represent the vendor of this store. And I think Lucasfilm could highlight food and the eating culture in STAR WARS a bit more - not only to sell more cooking books of course. They did in TPM, AOTC, ANH and ESB a little bit, but even more in The Mandalorian with all the different (and partly still living) dishes for little Grogru. Love the Coke emblem and the material you chose for the backdrop! Awesome update, JD!
Add: Just checked back on page 8 and saw the side wall of the building! Wow, the gum boxes look really great all painted up hanging on the wall. Thank you so much for providing this idea. You did a phenomenal job painting and "decorating" your Spaceport!
Thank you. Yeah there's not much food in Star Wars. I liked the blue bisquick biscuit thing rey had. That seems like some processed space rations.
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I made a crate handler droid. It's designed to carry the crates I made out of those walmart containers. It's made entirely out of Dollar Tree items, except for the middle tube, that is from the paper roll for my handheld work printer. The base is from a toy tank. The arms are made from spray bottle and firetruck parts. The cylinders are made from pump bottles with hair curler grate things on them. The back engine booster is from a toy cement mixer. I painted and decaled, then added the light fixtures. The two on top are from the firetruck, and the three on back are mini travel lightbrite pegs. So this project cost about 8 dollars, and I still have parts left over.
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Man, this is awesome. You have one of the most creative minds I have ever seen. So cool.
Off to share on the front pages.
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That is amazing. Thank you for the unpainted pic, I'll definitely hit DT looking for some of those parts.
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Man, this is awesome. You have one of the most creative minds I have ever seen. So cool.
Off to share on the front pages.
Thank you Tamer, that's quite a compliment. I've been wanting to make some kind of a crane or machine to move crates around. I wanted to use the Neca Aliens power loader, but it's $100 and I'm not sure how it could handle the crates. So I went to dollar tee knowing what I wanted to build. I was building it, and I thought it looked like a crab, which works because a crab moves side to side, back and forth, like this thing would moving crates around.
That is amazing. Thank you for the unpainted pic, I'll definitely hit DT looking for some of those parts.
Thank you! The Dollar Tree I went to was like a super DT compared to others. I spent $21, bought a bunch of stuff. They even had exacto blades and cutting mats.
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Got to love Dollar Tree! I really like that "forklift" droid. The design is great and the fact that's its basically dollar store bits disassembled and then reassembled is genius (and makes the project accessible for others). I might have to ask you for a detailed description of your process so I can build one myself, as I have started painting my boxes as well. :) Really inspiring work!
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Once again just a great build. Folks are liking this one on our FB Page too.
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Got to love Dollar Tree! I really like that "forklift" droid. The design is great and the fact that's its basically dollar store bits disassembled and then reassembled is genius (and makes the project accessible for others). I might have to ask you for a detailed description of your process so I can build one myself, as I have started painting my boxes as well. :) Really inspiring work!
Thank you! Yeah that's basically the jist of it. Basically you get a bunch of parts together and do a "dry fit" to see what parts fit together and look cool. Then I use Gorilla hot glue, it dries fast it holds well with the different types of plastic, and if it gets sloppy it looks like welds. But yeah thats the cool thing i can replicate by using the same parts at the dollar store.
Once again just a great build. Folks are liking this one on our FB Page too.
Thanks again. I'm glad it came out so well. I was determined to make a crane or a forklift thing. Not sure what to make next.
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This droid is very, very nice. Reminds me of the power loader from Aliens.
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This droid is very, very nice. Reminds me of the power loader from Aliens.
Thank you! I was thinking of getting the Hiya Toys loader, but i figured I could make something cheaper and more designed for my needs. The loader was an inspiration.
I thought I would add some graffiti to my alley. Nothing special, as I'm not a graffiti artist. The alley was just missing something. I used "Painter" paint pens from Wal-Mart. The ones I bought from Michael's was just expensive junk magic markers. Waste of money.
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Looks nice to me. Off to share on the front pages.
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I think the graffiti turned out really well. Now you just need a Sabine Wren figure with a spray paint cannister lurking around Galgrebaa (or the Roblox painter/skater figure).
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I like the mastiff spraying your vaporator too. You have definitely captured a day in real life.
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Looks nice to me. Off to share on the front pages.
I like the mastiff spraying your vaporator too. You have definitely captured a day in real life.
Thank you. Yeah they were just figures I had handy, just to get an idea of how many figures I can comfortably get in that section. I'll end up making some scenes later on, when it's more complete.
I think the graffiti turned out really well. Now you just need a Sabine Wren figure with a spray paint cannister lurking around Galgrebaa (or the Roblox painter/skater figure).
Thank you! The Aurebesh kind of gives it a foreign look. Like Central/Eastern Europe graffiti, which looks like gibberish but it's not. I actually translated words and sayings like Echuta, Dank Ferrik, maclunkey, just stuff kids would write. I had a sabine, but I don't know where she is, and im not paying the asking price. I'll use the Ready Player One figures for my punk kid delinquents.
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Jdeck, this is great! What a detailed and lively scene. That Graffiti sure is fun.
I could see that corner during the evening, lit up a bit here and there with some other alternate color light cast towards it, perhaps a little smoke or vapor drifting out of somewhere. I think you guys are stirring me up.
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Awesome work on the Grafitti mate but have to say that new droid is absolutely brilliant.
Ron
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The Ready Player One figures will work great for that! The Roblox Digital Artist (Imagination Collection) is 3.75 inch scale and has spray cans on her hip, I think she's $9.70 on Amazon if your interested :)
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Jdeck, this is great! What a detailed and lively scene. That Graffiti sure is fun.
I could see that corner during the evening, lit up a bit here and there with some other alternate color light cast towards it, perhaps a little smoke or vapor drifting out of somewhere. I think you guys are stirring me up.
Thank you! Yeah lighting is very important and it's always on my mind while I'm building. I don't think I'll worry too much about it now. I've lost and broken several LEDs and switched from 3v to 9v, so I might end up doing AC/DC converter, and run everything off that. I want one of those mini smoke machines, but they're expensive. Maybe if I get into figure photography, which I probably will once this project is done.
Awesome work on the Grafitti mate but have to say that new droid is absolutely brilliant.
Ron
Thank you! It was a fun project, that took less than a day's work. Need an idea for my next thing.
The Ready Player One figures will work great for that! The Roblox Digital Artist (Imagination Collection) is 3.75 inch scale and has spray cans on her hip, I think she's $9.70 on Amazon if your interested :)
Thank you for the tip. I went on Amazon and bought one. I can definitely use the cans and the hoverboard. I was going to get the Super 7 Future Marty from BTF2, but this will be much better, and less than half the cost. Thanks again!
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Love the graffiti! I may need to learn how to make some!
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Love the graffiti! I may need to learn how to make some!
Thank you! I just used paint pens, and wrote random stuff. I'm sure with practice, you can make cool lettering and something much much better than I did. It's just trying to get the Aurebesh lettering right. I didn%u2019t want to get too fancy my first attempt.
Hey Starchaser, those Roblox accessories really did the trick. Now my punk kids are complete. The boombox is from the Mezco cockroach guy i used for that last figure I did.
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Looks good. It really adds a nice effect overall. I keep thinking maybe Sabine should be there to give them some tips. LOL.
Off to the front pages.
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Looks good. It really adds a nice effect overall. I keep thinking maybe Sabine should be there to give them some tips. LOL.
Off to the front pages.
I have a Sabine somewhere. I bought the R1 release because I actually found it in a store. I put it somewhere so I wouldn't loose the guns and helmet, and lost the whole thing.
So it's either buy a new one at $25 or get a Hiya toys Robocop 2 with the graffiti on him.
I found her. Repeat, I found her. She's missing a blaster. It'll turn up somewhere. Now I can get the Robocop.
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I figured out what I wanted to make. I decided on a Cafe Speeder. Kind of a small dieselpunk style speeder. It's basic construction is made from spray bottle parts and a vallejo bottle. Even the seat is the spray bottle trigger, and it works great for a two seater. I still need to make the handles and foot controls, but I got tired.
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Went ahead and put the handles on. Theyre disposable razor and e11 handles. Also I added more greebles. After I took the pictures I started painting. Should be done soon.
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The Ready Player One figures will work great for that! The Roblox Digital Artist (Imagination Collection) is 3.75 inch scale and has spray cans on her hip, I think she's $9.70 on Amazon if your interested :)
Thank you for the tip. I went on Amazon and bought one. I can definitely use the cans and the hoverboard. I was going to get the Super 7 Future Marty from BTF2, but this will be much better, and less than half the cost. Thanks again!
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Happy to share! Especially if it can keep costs down:)
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Love the graffiti! I may need to learn how to make some!
Thank you! I just used paint pens, and wrote random stuff. I'm sure with practice, you can make cool lettering and something much much better than I did. It's just trying to get the Aurebesh lettering right. I didn%u2019t want to get too fancy my first attempt.
Hey Starchaser, those Roblox accessories really did the trick. Now my punk kids are complete. The boombox is from the Mezco cockroach guy i used for that last figure I did.
Yeah. I agree, the whole scene looks really awesome! I'm so glad it all worked out. The scene gave me a huge smile!
That speeder is brilliant! I love what you are doing with the spray bottle parts - how very creative. The design works really well and totally fits in.
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Hard to believe this is just spray bottle parts. It looks perfect; and what a way to create a quality vehicle for just pennies and ingenuity. Man looks perfect with that primer on it.
Off to share on the front pages.
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Hard to believe this is just spray bottle parts. It looks perfect; and what a way to create a quality vehicle for just pennies and ingenuity. Man looks perfect with that primer on it.
Off to share on the front pages.
Thank you. Yeah the spray bottle is where it's at. A month ago I would have said it was crazy.
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I finished the Dieselpunk Cafe Swoop. I'll call it the Gremlin, (named after the ww2 terminology for unexplained aircraft engine malfunctions). It was built by the Twi'lek Rhea, out of a broken down airspeeder engine that was laying around her shop. She uses it for swoop racing in her spare time.
I like how it turned out. I'm a fan of dieselpunk art, and ww2 era aircraft technology. I didn't have a true blue, so I mixed light and dark blue, and it turns out to be the same color as the pilot, so it worked out. I used the ak interactive Aluminum on it as well. Some of the engine parts are Tamiya copper. Something's a little off, the handlebars aren't lined up exactly with the seat. I think the back half rotated slightly, before the glue set. So I'm going to just have it parked as opposed to having a rider in flight. It works for a one day build, from scraps.
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That totally works. I like the paint scheme a lot.
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I agree this is spot on perfect and would fly off the pegs if offered by Hasbro. Thanks for sharing the idea and how youd did this.
Off to the front pages.
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That totally works. I like the paint scheme a lot.
Thank you! The color reminds me of the 63' baby blue Falcon my grandpa had.
I agree this is spot on perfect and would fly off the pegs if offered by Hasbro. Thanks for sharing the idea and how youd did this.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you. Next time I get the urge to make something out of junk, I can do another dieselpunk swoop. Originally I wanted a twin over-under engine design, but I didn't want to go back to DT. When I get in the mode, I can't stop.
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Thank you! The color reminds me of the 63' baby blue Falcon my grandpa had.
That'd be one weird baby blue :) Though a '63 could seriously use a paint job! (I've got an '87 Chevy that looks pretty rough)
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This awesome, I love it!
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That'd be one weird baby blue :) Though a '63 could seriously use a paint job! (I've got an '87 Chevy that looks pretty rough)
It wasn't that weathered, but it was a light pastel blue. Now days most cars are either white, black or grey.
This awesome, I love it!
Thank you. I think I'll make more of these.
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I picked up a couple more different types of spray bottles. I keep finding new designs. I decided to build my original idea of a double intake swoop. At this point, its 95 percent spray bottle parts, outside of a piece of tube, a pipe and the "granny grate" screen. I was going to have exposed engines, but i decided to make a cowl, which made from a spray bottle. I painted it, just to see how it would look. We'll see how this one goes.
I added some greebles and wings. Mostly model kit parts but the orange section is from a dart gun. I can't wait to paint it, but I might make some changes first.
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That's another cool design. You're really smashing these custom speeders.
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Pretty sweet! Man, you are creating some awesome stuff from just fodder. Thanks for sharing it.
Off to the front pages.
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This is brilliant, I love this!
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That's another cool design. You're really smashing these custom speeders.
Thank you. Yesterday told myself to quit while I was ahead after accidentally breaking a part I was going to use, and just take a break for the rest of the week, but I couldn't help it. Once you have momentum it's hard to stop.
Pretty sweet! Man, you are creating some awesome stuff from just fodder. Thanks for sharing it.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you! I'm going to greeble it up, and get it ready for paint. I just don't know exactly what color. Black is too obvious, and it shows every mistake. I'm thinking a grey green. I dunno. What's a "bad guy" color other than black or white? My next one will be red, if there is a next one.
This is brilliant, I love this!
Thank you! It's coming along. I want it to be dieselpunk like the last, but bigger and badder.
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I finished my second Dieselpunk Star Wars Swoop. Last night I finished Greebleing, then tonight I painted.
I painted the bike and the cowl separately, and simultaneously. The bike I painted it a mixture of Tamiya chrome and dark iron, to make a steel. What I do is I stab the paint. With the metal it gives it a cast look, and with the painted parts stabbing gives it a weathered look. Then I base coated the cowl german grey. Then did a matte clear spray coat. Then I painted the cowl and wings a mixture of german grey and green. Then clear coated. I decided the cowl needed a dash of color, so I dabbed on some red around the intake. Black washed both parts and cleared again. Then I used the AK Interactive Aluminum dry brush to the metal parts, black washed and cleared again. And that's it. I wanted it to resemble a JU-88 Stuka divebomber. Maybe I went too far with the Dieselpunk, but you can never go too far with the Dieselpunk. The pictures came out bad, it got dark on me. Maybe tomorrow I'll take better pictures if I have time.
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That turned out nice too. So cool to see how perfect this is and how it is just spray bottle parts for the most part.
I mean can you imagine what Hasbro would charge us for making something like this? How much with everything do you think you have in materials for this?
Just a great project and I appreciate you showing us how you did it. Off to the front pages.
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That turned out nice too. So cool to see how perfect this is and how it is just spray bottle parts for the most part.
I mean can you imagine what Hasbro would charge us for making something like this? How much with everything do you think you have in materials for this?
Just a great project and I appreciate you showing us how you did it. Off to the front pages.
Thank you. It's hard to put a price on the materials. I used 3 types of spray bottles, then the dart gun, so that's $4 for the basic structure. The greebles, just pennies, no real significant parts I'd buy a whole kit to use again, just stuff I had. Didn't use a whole lot of paint, maybe the cost of a matte clear spray can. Less than $10 altogether. I made two in one week. It's probably at least as good as the Forcelink 2.0 enfys nest swoop, that was $19.99 original msrp. Actually I was going to buy the tfa reys speeder but it would have cost me more both in money and effort to make it the way I wanted.
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I love the design aesthetic on this one. The paint job is really outstanding. I love the red around the front intake, that was a great decision. Thanks for sharing the painting process, so helpful! You are really doing outstanding work with these speeders.
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I figured it was under ten dollars. Just goes to show you how much better you can make something yourself. You creation is so much more substantial and detailed looking too.
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I love the design aesthetic on this one. The paint job is really outstanding. I love the red around the front intake, that was a great decision. Thanks for sharing the painting process, so helpful! You are really doing outstanding work with these speeders.
Thank you! They were really fun. I put a clear coat between coats, just so the black wash doesn't wash away the basecoat. It's been known to happen, then sometimes I do it on purpose.
I figured it was under ten dollars. Just goes to show you how much better you can make something yourself. You creation is so much more substantial and detailed looking too.
Thank you. Yeah these spray bottle parts have a lot of structural reinforcement, that gives it a cool mechanical look. Whoda thunk?
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I went to the model shop yesterday to buy a kit I can make into something. I was getting tired of looking at the same parts I have. I picked up a 1/48 vintage gas truck. It has the old school look that I like. Not quite 1930s or 40s, but maybe 50s truck. Anyway, I looked at it and decided to turn it into a beer kettle/ keg thing at a beer hall or tavern. So I painted it black then added the AK Interactive Aluminum.
I'll put the keg thing on the Tavern back wall, behind where the bar will be, obviously. I wanted it to look like an old world tavern, so I made a stone arch. I did that by tearing small bits of foamcore, with the paper removed. Then i woodglued them onto the archway. Then mixed woodglue, water and watercolor to seal it like you would modge podge. Then behind the arch i applied spackle/water/watercolor, maybe I'll do a stucco effect. I will wait for everything to dry and figure out what I want to do next. It's going to be sunny and warm for the next few days, so I'll take advantage of it.
I decided to grout the stonework. I used watered down spackle. Then wiped it with a damp sponge, like grouting tile. It has a more blended look. It's better. Just not dry yet, or painted. This stuff shrinks, so I'll do another coat. This is experimental for me. Of couse I do things the hard way, but it'll be unique at least, good or bad.
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Its totally a 1950's Sinclair fuel tanker truck - I saw an image of one just a few days ago :) I really like the design of the back bar wall - using the fuel tank for a dispenser is a great idea. The rock effect is great! Did you paint the foam bits all different colors before you mounted them? The look prior to your "grouting" them reminded me of old buildings I've seen in Scotland and Ireland.
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Wow, that will work great for your tavern. Nice.
Off to share this on the front pages.
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Its totally a 1950's Sinclair fuel tanker truck - I saw an image of one just a few days ago :) I really like the design of the back bar wall - using the fuel tank for a dispenser is a great idea. The rock effect is great! Did you paint the foam bits all different colors before you mounted them? The look prior to your "grouting" them reminded me of old buildings I've seen in Scotland and Ireland.
Thank you! I didn't paint them individually, thats the woodland scenics slate grey watercolor i added to the homemade modge podge. It's like Frank's hot sauce I put that S#!t on everything, except figures. Yeah I was going to have it groutless but, it had some gaps. At one time I wanted to go to Ireland to see where they filmed TLJ Ach-to but my friend kept making excuses.
Yeah it's definitely a 50s truck. That's when even the gas trucks had style. I'd love to get an old truck and put it on a modern chassis. If I have to pay 50-100K for a truck, might as well have style.
Wow, that will work great for your tavern. Nice.
Off to share this on the front pages.
Thank you. The keg reminds me of a really big art deco cappuccino machine. I even put a spigot on it. That would be a lot of beer. Probably 500 galons at least.
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I saw the spigot. And yes, that would be a lot of serving. I can't wait to see who is gonna be the bartender and the tavern waitresses. You can have so much fun with this one.
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I saw the spigot. And yes, that would be a lot of serving. I can't wait to see who is gonna be the bartender and the tavern waitresses. You can have so much fun with this one.
I just need to make three more walls pretty much the same way, then the fun begins, hopefully by Wednesday, but I think I'm running out of foamboard. I've been thinking of an owner operator bartender. I might use a headswap figure I made a while back.
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Yeah, that would probably be what you would see in a rough and tumble spaceport. A one person jack of all trades. Then, when he or she hits it rich, they could expand their offerings down the road.
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I ran out of foam board, and I'm going a different route with the tavern. Next time I go to lowes ill get another sheet.
I just wanted to build something quick and easy that I already have parts for, so I'm making another swoop for my guy, that I forgot what I named him. I just got the front engine done. I wanted to give it a rotary engine look. I used a mini hand sanitizer bottle, a Mott's squeezable apple sauce top, and many model parts including B-wing. The handlebars/guns are from the tfa sandspeeder thing, not reys but the one that never made it in the movie, but hasbro made it anyway. I just need to make the back half.
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Nice, a new swoop bike! Looks good already.
Back to the front pages.
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Nice, a new swoop bike! Looks good already.
Back to the front pages.
Thank you. Coincidentally I made the figure for this swoop exactly a year ago today. Didn't get any work done today, I've been a bit sick lately. Some kind of strep thoat or sinus infection.
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Love the podracer look!
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Hope you feel better.
A lot of new cases of that Delta Variant around here. Go get yourself checked out if you feel worse!
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Love the podracer look!
Thank you. Yeah the concept i had was something crossed between a pod racer and ww2 planes. The story behind it was the Empire banned pod racing so mechanics stripped down the old pod racers and built swoop bikes out of them. This resulted in widespread illegal swoop racing by amateurs, which was exponentially more dangerous than podracing, especially when the swoops were outfitted with weapons.
Hope you feel better.
A lot of new cases of that Delta Variant around here. Go get yourself checked out if you feel worse!
I think it started as strep and downgraded to chest cold. I had different symptoms than covid like earache and phlem. Im probably at 75% recovered.
I finished the construction and shot a black primer on it. The middle and rear sections are made from a spray bottle parts. The tail section is made from a dollar tree fire truck, model airplane wings and an a-wing part. Added some struts and braces from an aircraft model. The seat is from a loctite superglue container. I have no idea what color I want to use. The matte black is cool though. I dunno. I might just keep it black and add some silver here and there.
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I decided to keep it all black, but I did add an aluminum dry brush using AK interactive Aluminum, then I gave it a black wash to soften the dry brushing, for a more naturally worn look.
To recap, it's main construction was made of a mini hand sanitizer bottle, motts squeezable apple sauce cap and spray bottle parts. The detail parts are mostly aircraft model parts and various star wars ship model parts. I like building these, they're easy, and they all end up unique. So far this is my favorite one. I might cannibalize the blue one (my first attempt) to make it better.
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Nice Swoop! I like it a lot. I really like the back end better on this one compared to your other one, but like the front end on that one if that makes any sense.
I also like the idea to keep it black. Nice and stealthy.
Off to share on the front page.
I am glad to hear you are feeling better.
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Nice Swoop! I like it a lot. I really like the back end better on this one compared to your other one, but like the front end on that one if that makes any sense.
I also like the idea to keep it black. Nice and stealthy.
Off to share on the front page.
I am glad to hear you are feeling better.
Thank you. I think if the tails were swapped they would look better, but I'm not doing that lol. I wanted them to look like stripped down planes or something from mad max almost like the OT Y-Wing, was a stripped down prequel Y-Wing, with missing plates and parts. I like aircraft engines for some reason, they're like peices of art made of exotic metals. My grandfather was an engineer and built experimental aircraft. If I had the disipline I would have been an engineer, but I hated school. Lol. Honestly I'd probably end up doing exactly what I'm doing now, with the recession and everything.
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That's awesome. I love the design elements like the rear stabilizer wings. I think the black works (I think you said the character was an assassin - named Obo?). I appreciate the list of elements you used as well, it provides inspiration to think outside the box a bit.
Also, glad to hear you are feeling somewhat better. How cool that your granddad worked with experimental planes!
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That's awesome. I love the design elements like the rear stabilizer wings. I think the black works (I think you said the character was an assassin - named Obo?). I appreciate the list of elements you used as well, it provides inspiration to think outside the box a bit.
Also, glad to hear you are feeling somewhat better. How cool that your granddad worked with experimental planes!
Thank you!
Yeah obo yitsa the former scout trooper turned assasin.
Im feeling 100% now. I don't know how I got sick but situation normal.
Yeah my grandpa he and a few friends went in on building an experimental modular airplane. They could break it down and load it into a truck to avoid paying tiedown fees. One day his buddy assembled the plane, and my grandfather got in without preflight inspection, evidently something came loose and he crashed soon after takeoff. He was in the hospital for a long time, that's when my dad was a kid. Moral of the story, always do your own inspection. I need to get my pilot's license.
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Interesting story about your grandfather. I can definitely see that same spirit in you.
Go for it man!
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Interesting story about your grandfather. I can definitely see that same spirit in you.
Go for it man!
Yeah dude was badass.
I really need to. I've been wanting to get my licence since I was a kid. About the time I was really getting into it 9/11 happened and all flight schools were shut down, then when things started getting back to normal the economy collapsed. A PPL at that time cost about $3,000 now its $10,000. But the cool thing is, you basically pay as you go. The groundschool isn't bad, but the flight instruction is about $100/hour, so if you're a fast learner it's not too bad, but it's a minimum 40hrs combined. My warehouse is actually right across the street from a flight school.
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Well I didn't realize it was that expensive, but it would be awesome to be able to fly yourself around. I don't even know what the cost of an aircraft would be either. I assume you just don't rent one of those.
I also don't mean to jack your thread here, but if you start this process I would love to see where it takes you.
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Well I didn't realize it was that expensive, but it would be awesome to be able to fly yourself around. I don't even know what the cost of an aircraft would be either. I assume you just don't rent one of those.
I also don't mean to jack your thread here, but if you start this process I would love to see where it takes you.
I might start a thread when I get the ball rolling. I want to pay my car off, build up my savings, before officially starting the process. In the meantime, I need a new computer, so I can take an online groundschool course and practice on a flight simulator. I think something like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 would help practice, especially with instrument training. Also I can get Star Wars Squadrons, lol. Wouldn't hurt, that game does look badass though. Then at the end of the ground course, I take a written and oral test . After that, I'll have 24 months to complete my training, which really it shouldn't take more than 9 months. Then I'll be certified! Not really that difficult. I already have a decent amount knowledge going in.
Yeah planes are expensive. A standard Cessna 172 new costs about $400,000, but a sport plane can be as low as $20,000, not out of the realm of possibility. You can definitely rent a plane, with gas a cessna 172 probably costs around $100/hr.
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Wow! Fantastic!
I love these swoop bikes and the whole trash to treasure concept.
I have a box of interesting little greeblies too.
I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed to say that I recognize a lot of the parts on your construct. 🤓
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Wow! Fantastic!
I love these swoop bikes and the whole trash to treasure concept.
I have a box of interesting little greeblies too.
I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed to say that I recognize a lot of the parts on your construct. 🤓
Thank you! I have an embarrassing amount of model kit parts. I'll use some and end up buying incomplete lots or use kits i never put together.
Speaking of trash to treasure, I bought this 3d printed dumpster, and made a dianoga to go inside using epoxy putty and armature wire. I could have scratch built some kind of star warsy dumpster, but with this, you get the idea without explanation. Really I just need to wait for the epoxy to cure then paint. Dianoga is pretty simple to make.
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That's a funny idea! Good way to squeeze a single-scene creature into a big broad diorama.
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Now that looks awesome. It will go well in the Spaceport.
Off to share on the front pages.
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Nice job sculpting the Dianoga, it looks really good. The dumpster idea is great, and fits really well with your graffiti wall.
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I finished the Dianoga dumpster prop. It's a cool little background peice, as well as a main object. I've been procrastinating on this, been doing other things, but it's sunday, no football I really want to watch so I decided to finish my Dianoga.
The Dianoga are an invasive species on Galgrebaa, stowed away on merchant ships, to find homes in sewers and dumpsters. They feed on organic waste, rodents, other invasive species and small sentient beings such as Jawas, who often scour dumpsters looking for anything they can find to sell. The Galgrebians don't care much for Jawas, so they allow the Dianoga to live among them, feeding on undesirables, until they get big enough to feed on humans.
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This is fantastic! How could you not have one of these guys in any kind of trash pile. Great work.
Off to the front pages.
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This is fantastic! How could you not have one of these guys in any kind of trash pile. Great work.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you! I always wondered why there was a trash monster on the Death Star, so I did some research and it was a stow away. Got me thinking they would be everywhere in spaceports.
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First off, I think your skills are a true inspiration! Your vehicle (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10766.msg226190#msg226190) is the definition of what Star Wars when it comes to our thread for Materials we use. I think you did an outstanding job on the design. It reminds me of a WWII Curtiss P-36 Hawk, but still got the total Star Wars feel to it!
And I also like how you made the aluminum dry-brush dull with a wash.
Your dumpster with Dianoga is another cherry on the pie! You did a fantastic job on sculpting that monster. Monster by Lumix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWNFj9rm6tc) comes to mind. It's amazing how much attention to detail you pay on your Spaceport, Sir.
So glad about these Offworld Jawas with softgoods in a darker fabric. I mean the wall is a piece of art already. This is just top notch and I finally got to rest a little to leave this comment here.
I wish you and your family a merry little Christmas, JD. It's been an ongoing great journey this year with much progress! Thanks for sharing your projects with us on here.
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I keep thinking of dumpster fire when I see this, but its dumpster dianoga!
Just a great chuckle gather as well as being a great custom.
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Final presentation of the dumpster is perfect. Another eye catcher
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First off, I think your skills are a true inspiration! Your vehicle (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10766.msg226190#msg226190) is the definition of what Star Wars when it comes to our thread for Materials we use. I think you did an outstanding job on the design. It reminds me of a WWII Curtiss P-36 Hawk, but still got the total Star Wars feel to it!
And I also like how you made the aluminum dry-brush dull with a wash.
Your dumpster with Dianoga is another cherry on the pie! You did a fantastic job on sculpting that monster. Monsterby Lumix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWNFj9rm6tc) comes to mind. It's amazing how much attention to detail you pay on your Spaceport, Sir.
So glad about these Offworld Jawas with softgoods in a darker fabric. I mean the wall is a piece of art already. This is just top notch and I finally got to rest a little to leave this comment here.
I wish you and your family a merry little Christmas, JD. It's been an ongoing great journey this year with much progress! Thanks for sharing your projects with us on here.
Thank you, and I hope you are having a merry Christmas as well. That music video is pretty cool. That's kind of what im going for in a way, just more gritty.
I like the swoop bike too, with the ww2 look. I like the ww2 analog, mechanical look.
Im not usually a big fan of soft goods, but the new jawas do look great.
This next year im going to step it up a notch, and also try some new things. I hope you have a great new year.
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I keep thinking of dumpster fire when I see this, but its dumpster dianoga!
Just a great chuckle gather as well as being a great custom.
Haha yeah i like to make some light hearted customs sometimes. Like the wacky packages bodega. The dumpster is a little "earthly" but it gets the point across. The galgrebaa project is a combination of the star wars world, our world along with a splash of other franchises and satire.
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Final presentation of the dumpster is perfect. Another eye catcher
Thank you. I'm trying to get my feet wet in toy photography. I have all these customs and dioramas, i need to learn to take pictures of them.
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Been "off the grid" leading up to the holidays, so I missed this final product shot before Christmas. I think it turned out really well, I like the way you weathered the dumpster. I also really like you color choice for the Dianoga. Well done. I got a kick out of your images too. Poor little Jawas, always getting picked on.
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Love this weathering, and h the diagona is the cherry on the top of the cake. Makes the piece pops like the sun.
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Been "off the grid" leading up to the holidays, so I missed this final product shot before Christmas. I think it turned out really well, I like the way you weathered the dumpster. I also really like you color choice for the Dianoga. Well done. I got a kick out of your images too. Poor little Jawas, always getting picked on.
Thank you! I was wondering what you were up to, haven't seen you around. Glad you're back!
Love this weathering, and h the diagona is the cherry on the top of the cake. Makes the piece pops like the sun.
Thank you! I thought it would be a fun little thing to make. Soon I will start on a new building I've been planning for a while. I was just waiting for the mythrol, more accurately his accessories to come in. I was thinking of a pawn shop/ currency exchange/ bounty bondman's office. Like a primative form of a bank. Just waiting for my foam board to come in. I ordered 6 1' squares as opposed to a 4'x8' sheet. I think it'll reduce waste overall.
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Unexpectedly I had today off instead of Wednesday because of some logistical problems so to take my mind off things I started "Fleezum's Exchange" a pawnshop, currency exchange and bounty broker's office. Of course I have to modify Fleezum N. Cheetum's backstory.
Fleezum N. Cheetum, the local Ranat money changer and bounty broker on Galgrebaa. He often cheats his customers especially when exchanging currency. He buys stolen priceless antiquities from pirates looking for a quick buck. His exchange is conveniently located between the ports and the casino district. Gamblers can sell items for quick cash and head back to the casinos. Of course this is all a front for his more lucrative black market where he sells everything from weapons, exotic animals, spice and even body parts and organs collected from "dead" bounties.
This is all just a mock-up, held together with toothpicks and tape, it meets my approval, so I'll do some fine tuning, glue it all together, and paint it up. The inside will be filled with exotic curios and antiquities. The wanted posters are disney parks pins. Im going to add some nano LEDs behind them to make them stand out as holograms. The different currencies are 3d printed coins from ebay. The positions are subject to change but I do want to use them.
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Like the backstory for Cheetum. Though maybe a smart customer might take notice of the last name :) The shop looks great. Those Disney pins were a great idea.
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LOL. Love the name. Fleezum Cheetum. Perfect. Nice shop.
Off to share on the front pages.
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Like the backstory for Cheetum. Though maybe a smart customer might take notice of the last name :) The shop looks great. Those Disney pins were a great idea.
Thank you. I saw the wanted signs and thought they were perfect. Not cheap, but I like them. I'll try not to destroy them.
His first name is no better. To fleece someone means to deceive them. Pulling the wool over their eyes. Throughout history money changers have had a bad reputation of fleecing and cheating travelers. Same today at those currency exchange kiosks.
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LOL. Love the name. Fleezum Cheetum. Perfect. Nice shop.
Off to share on the front pages.
Thank you! Yeah I probably watch too much three stooges, they always have some punny names for doctors and lawyers.
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Like the backstory for Cheetum. Though maybe a smart customer might take notice of the last name :) The shop looks great. Those Disney pins were a great idea.
Thank you. I saw the wanted signs and thought they were perfect. Not cheap, but I like them. I'll try not to destroy them.
His first name is no better. To fleece someone means to deceive them. Pulling the wool over their eyes. Throughout history money changers have had a bad reputation of fleecing and cheating travelers. Same today at those currency exchange kiosks.
Yes, money changers and money lenders (along with tax collectors) have often been considered a necessary evil and classed as "piriahs." I hadn't made the connection between "Fleezum" and "Fleece them."
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Nice work! Love the hologram pictures, they would look great on the piece I'm building.
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Nice work! Love the hologram pictures, they would look great on the piece I'm building.
Thank you. Im not sure if ill add a backing to them, to make the pictures and text stand out better, or just go with LEDs. The nano leds should be shipping soon, so I'll find out. Something I found as a good backing is the plastic carboard type sign board. It really diffuses and spreads the light well. Here's an example, from when I was playing around with it. It was my original idea, but decided to go a different direction.
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That corrugated plastic tip is great. It really does produce a nice effect.
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Wow, what an awesome way to do your posters. I like it a lot.
Off to share on the front pages.
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I absolute love all the found parts and scratch builds...all so inspiring. I need to start taking more photos of my stuff and start my own thread as well.
Such an awesome group of makers on this board
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I absolute love all the found parts and scratch builds...all so inspiring. I need to start taking more photos of my stuff and start my own thread as well.
Such an awesome group of makers on this board
Thank you! Yeah id like to see your creations. There is indeed a lot of talent on this forum.
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I've started reworking my Wacky Packages Bodega, using the Mini Brands shelves. I bought the grocery store kit and the convenience store kit, and kind of mashed them up. I used foamcore for the walls and XPS foam for the floor. Painted with white paint and modge podge and weathered using WS watercolor. The decals and back door are from relivingthepastagain on ebay, along with some other decals I had. Just need to make a few final touches and the interior is done. I'll use the same exterior I started on, a long time ago.
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I love that! The display shelves are great and the other bits - microwave, etc. are simply too fun! I also really like the Space Invaders video game...so cool! Nice, new design. Glad to see you back to Galgrebaa!
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I with you Starchaser, that's a neat arrangement. Nice use of the bar counter for all the cool accessories. Did you find the kitchen devices and food on ebay? I've seen many different ones in 1/12 scale on AliExpress (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10896.msg229610#msg229610), but also in 1/18 and 1/24 scale. That arcade is a really nice touch and reminds me of Clonehead's amazing project. I'm happy you found some time for your Spaceport, again! In a couple weeks I'll be back at the workbench, too!
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Love the kiosk feel of this. Nice. Weird Science rules.
Off to the front pages.
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I love that! The display shelves are great and the other bits - microwave, etc. are simply too fun! I also really like the Space Invaders video game...so cool! Nice, new design. Glad to see you back to Galgrebaa!
Thank you! I put everything on hold because I wasn't sure how to display it. Now that I've decided to use another Gladiator 24×48×72 5-tier shelf, I can go bang busters on it. My buildings have mostly been 1 cubic foot, so 3 or 4 buildings per shelf, and I can put the RazorCrest docking bay on top. It'll be snug with 2 inches front and back and 9 inches on the sides to spare, if placed directly in the middle. I guess I'll get the N1 too, put it on either the bottom shelf or second from top. It's all modular to I can take it off and set up a photoshoot.
I with you Starchaser, that's a neat arrangement. Nice use of the bar counter for all the cool accessories. Did you find the kitchen devices and food on ebay? I've seen many different ones in 1/12 scale on AliExpress (http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10896.msg229610#msg229610), but also in 1/18 and 1/24 scale. That arcade is a really nice touch and reminds me of Clonehead's amazing project. I'm happy you found some time for your Spaceport, again! In a couple weeks I'll be back at the workbench, too!
Thank you. The shelves, register, drink dispensers and microwave were all from the Mini Brands stores.
Look forward to what you got going on.
Love the kiosk feel of this. Nice. Weird Science rules.
Off to the front pages.
Thank you! I get most of my inspiration from these convenience stores in the hood I go to. This one, I don't even go to anymore, because he was paying me in loose change, like $300 in change. But it worked out because someone got shot out there the other day in broad daylight. I don't need to be going over there.
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FYI everyone, those Mini Brand sets are available on Amazon.
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Thank you so much JDeck and Starchaser! What a smart move by all the brand managers to directly aim at kids. Twinkies must not be missing at any Space Port for sure.
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Thank you so much JDeck and Starchaser! What a smart move by all the brand managers to directly aim at kids. Twinkies must not be missing at any Space Port for sure.
I use Wacky Packages minis instead of mini brands. They're satirical punny brands like instead of Cap'n Crunch it's Cap'n Crud, or Ratz Crackers instead of Ritz. I imagine aliens eat really wierd food. Like a Wookiee might eat Alpoo dog food or something.
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That looks very cool mate, well done.
Ron
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Don't want to jack JDeck's thread, but here is a link to the mini brands stuff:
https://amzn.to/3YrOdNa
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I got the N1 on an ebay auction for half price minus the Din figure. I figured I'd repaint it into a hotrod N1. I decided on red, like a Ferrari, it gives it more contrast than chrome on silver on grey. I just masked some of the parts, sanded the plastic sheen off and sprayed it with Liquitex medium red, then alternated with Tamiya hull red for a weathered variation in color. I touched up some of the spots where paint bled through the tape seams. Maybe I'll add some washes.
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I think changing up the paint color was a great idea. The red looks really excellent. If its a "hotrod" don't dirty it too much, maybe the owner actually washes his/her super speedy starship. Maybe you can call it the Orbak (Ferrari uses the mustang, so why not space horses). ;D
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Yeah one trend I like are "barn fresh" hotrods. They take an old car that's been sitting in a barn for decades, the rod it out but keep the body untouched. So it has faded paint, surface rust etcetera and they just add a clear coat to protect it. I might add a tiny ferrari decal or something for flare.
You know I'm half tempted to repaint the Crest like a breadtruck lol.
Paint jobs in star wars don't last long lol. Look at boba fett, he puts a fresh coat of paint on his armor and the next episode it's already chipped up. They don't have primer i guess.
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What? No primer?!? Fett ought to hire you to do his paint jobs...I bet he'd pay well. Don't think I've seen a "barn fresh" hotrod, just demolition derby vehicles.
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What? No primer?!? Fett ought to hire you to do his paint jobs...I bet he'd pay well. Don't think I've seen a "barn fresh" hotrod, just demolition derby vehicles.
I didn't even use primer. I actually broke the cardinal rule. I mixed enamel with acrylic. Im so used to using tamiya enamel that I forgot I had switched to liquitex acrylic so I can use it on foam. Anyway it ended up giving it a cool weathered texture. Almost like orange peel, but 2 different shades, kind of like the sandcrawler. I like it. It wasn't what I was looking for, but it works.
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Yeah, that works really well. Got to love serendipity. I like it! 👍
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Good to hear from you. Nice ship too.
Off to share.
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Good to hear from you. Nice ship too.
Off to share.
Thank you! I've been working on a non Star Wars hobby since October. It's been taking my money time brainpower and patience with limited success. I was building a self sustained Riparium (aquarium with terrestrial plants) ecosystem with biodiversity from the microscopic level. I had it perfect, then my filter gave out and the whole system crashed. I need a break.
I finally ordered a hot wire foam cutting table. I'll really start working on this spaceport project.
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That sounds involved. I get needing to step back from something a bit. I get over-involved sometimes on things too. Glad you are back though!
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That sounds involved. I get needing to step back from something a bit. I get over-involved sometimes on things too. Glad you are back though!
I always have a way of overcomplicating things. What started as a regular fishtank turned into a science project. Plants are doing great at least.
I got my praxxon thermo cutting table Proxxon Thermocut 115/E Auto-CAD Hot Wire Cutter with Large Table - Accessory for Thermocut Fence TA 300 - 37080 https://a.co/d/0SuX2ji (https://amzn.to/42D3Nbt) , for cutting foam board. It's pretty snazzy. I need to rewatch the tutorials how to use it effectively. I also ordered a circle making jig on etsy. I'm going to build a hangar for the N1.
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Cool project! Sorry it didn't go to plan. That foam cutter is serious!
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Wow, now that is awesome. I need to go share that.