The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Dioramas => Topic started by: Mr. Black on September 18, 2009, 05:16:51 AM
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Well, this one's been neglected by me for some time now. But after seeing Miniatureart's (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=3897003&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&fpart=1#3897003) excellent work on the Hoth Speeder Bike Patrol, I hauled myself upstairs to sit at my desk and continue on my Speeder Bike Chase Diorama.
This diorama was inspired by Starshipmodeler member Schweinhund's dio of four AMT/ERTL Speeder Bike models. This guy really went all out in modding the troopers on those bikes. I thought: I can do that too with Hasbro's and Kenner's bikes.
You should know, the Speeder Bike scene in ROTJ is one of my favourites in the whole saga and Hasbro has really let us down so far by not upgrading the speeder bike toy. Sure, we had the really good Clone Wars Speeder Bike (which is terribly hard to find for a decent price), but somehow some dr. No-Brains there thinks it's better to keep using the practically unaltered Kenner mold from the early 80s >:(
So, I started to work and this is what I have so far:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/th_SpeederChase_08.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/?action=view¤t=SpeederChase_08.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/th_SpeederChase_09.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/?action=view¤t=SpeederChase_09.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/th_SpeederChase_10.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/?action=view¤t=SpeederChase_10.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/th_SpeederChase_07.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/?action=view¤t=SpeederChase_07.jpg)
What did I change so far? Well, this:
- removed the steering vanes, replace them with custom ones made from .5mm styrene sheet
- cut out the closed sections of the outriggers
- removed the cross bar, filled up the hole with Fixit
- drilled holes for the handlebars (I've sent a pair of the CW Bike ones to a fellow customizer to make casts of)
- removed the pedals completely, replaced them with custom ones made from styrene tube and rod (the pedals themselves will also be cast)
- disabled the highly entertaining explosion feature and replaced the blanket with a piece of styrene with some pleather on top
- drilled tiny holes in the blaster cannon (hey, I just bought a pin vise, so had to try it out ;) )
That's it so far. Now I need to work on the scouts' hips so they can sit properly on their rides. Maybe I'll add a Luke and/or Leia as well, who knows.
Feel free to comment and critique, it's always appreciated!
-Incom
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This will be one build I will be watching closely, I share the same sentiments that the speeder bike is ripe for improvements and needs to be redone. The use of the pleather is a great idea, mixing mediums really adds a realistic tone and texture to a project.
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HOLY CRAP!!!! I can't wait to see this unfold! I love speeder bikes, and that chase scene was one of my favorites!
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Incom, buddy! this better not be one of those awesome projects that you start and not finish (a certain crashed tie fighter comes to mind).
You are the kind of person for who really takes time with the small details, even your work in progress images are polished. I'd love to see how this turns out as you are one of the top custom/diorama creators I've seen.
Great to see you active here.
Jules
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Thanks guys, your words are quite encouraging!
Jules, I know what you mean, friend. I'm just that kinda guy: I start something with lots of enthusiasm and, mostly because of the huge amounts of work still to be done, I tend to slack off and start something new. Also with great vigor ;D
No worries, I've got the next week off and I feel like crap, so what better way to spend my spare time working on more stuff? And that TIE is always staring me in the eye, just lying there on my desk. Come to think of it, I only need to add indoor side panels and paint the damn thing :o Then it's off to make a huge base!
I therefore envy you for your perserverance. You've made fantastic chapters of a marvelous photonovel, also dripping with splendid details and atmosphere. Can't even imagine how much work went into that!
I've also got this A-Wing still in WIP status, but that's blasphemy, since it doesn't belong here in the Imperial Shipyards :P
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Wow, this is gonna be good. I am going to the front page with this one!
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Wow, thanks Tamer! I promise to spend time on this the coming days. I can't finish the bikes themselves yet, since I have some parts shipped off to Ruprecht, of which he will make multiple casts. I will try and figure out how to make those scouts sit better on their bikes. Already found out that Microman hip joints is not the way for me to go :( Luckily, I have a dozen or so Scouts to "sacrifice" ;)
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I know you sure have us excited about this chase scene. I can't wait to see you put this together. I was just thinking what it would look like for this one when finished, hangarbay94's landing platform, and Sarge's Endor dio would look together. The thought I am having now is impressive.
Also, you mentioned Miniatureart's Hoth Speeder Bike Patrol and I would love to see this one. Have a link?
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Great mods to your bikes this far. I am excited to see this project progress.
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Also, you mentioned Miniatureart's Hoth Speeder Bike Patrol and I would love to see this one. Have a link?
http://www.yakfaceforums.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4810&sid=d188ead498dc093c5acdf81fc4af0595
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I remember seeing that before over at Scum as well.
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I know you sure have us excited about this chase scene. I can't wait to see you put this together. I was just thinking what it would look like for this one when finished, hangarbay94's landing platform, and Sarge's Endor dio would look together. The thought I am having now is impressive.
Also, you mentioned Miniatureart's Hoth Speeder Bike Patrol and I would love to see this one. Have a link?
Well, to mention my project in one line with HB's tremendous platform is quite an honor! Where can I find Sarge's Endor dio then?
About the link: I had it under "miniatureart", but it didn't show clear enough, because it was the same colour as the rest of the text. I underlined the link now.
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I forgot to check that, Incom! :-\ Yeah, I knew it was on RS, too - but I had Yak open in another tab, so that one was easier for me ta get. 8)
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Wow, I never knew the ones Hasbro were that far off, I should have guessed. Well looks like my opener one of these I am gonna have to get to someone to attempt this for my Hoth dio. I gotta have it realistic. Thanks for that link Incom.
As for Sarge's Endor dio I am not sure we have shots here of it yet. Sarge's computer sidelined and I don't think he has taken new shots as it is one mother of a dio as I recall.
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I don't want to hyjack your thread but i reposted my endor pics after they were purged as old topics when we added more space here. You can find them in my thread in the Dio section
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Not at all, Sarge. Just looked at your Endor dio pics and indeed, they are impressive. Great use of real branches and the likes set against a backdrop of a real forest. Reminds me of those awesome shots of hangarbay94!
Despite ESB being my favourite movie of all time, ROTJ does have it's cool stuff. Like the best Jabba of the saga, the best space battle, the speeder bikes and the ultimate duel! But ESB is just more..... complete.
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No problem, Sarge, already checked them out. Great stuff, man!
Here's an update for you guys to enjoy. Like I said, the bikes are on hold, until I have my casted parts back. So, I started working on a Biker Scout's hip area. RS member Blasterman basically perfected ball jointed hips (and other joints) and made great use of Microman parts on his Obi-Wan and Darth Maul, among others.
I thought I'd give that a try as well, despite the fact Microman figures are hard and anything but cheap to come by for me.
Well, I decided not to go that route after evaluating the results. I will try the old AT-TE hips joints instead. Here are two shots of my Microman jointed Scout:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/th_BikerScout_02.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/?action=view¤t=BikerScout_02.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/th_BikerScout_01.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Speeder%20Chase%20diorama/?action=view¤t=BikerScout_01.jpg)
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Small moves Incom, small moves....(but cool ones)
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Yeah I know. The problem was that the legs somehow keep popping off too easily when I place the scout on his bike. But like Baldrick, I have another cunning plan......
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Y'know... that worries me. Deeply. ;D
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Wow, thanks Tamer! I promise to spend time on this the coming days. I can't finish the bikes themselves yet, since I have some parts shipped off to Ruprecht, of which he will make multiple casts. I will try and figure out how to make those scouts sit better on their bikes. Already found out that Microman hip joints is not the way for me to go :( Luckily, I have a dozen or so Scouts to "sacrifice" ;)
Hey man, I've got the perfect solution for you. Get the brand new super arty (according to hasbro) scout troopers or kashyyyk troopers. Pop the torso appart and manipulate the lower legs so that you can graft in a 25th aniversary gi-joe general hawk lower torso, hips and thighs. This should give you the needed articulation and keep it looking very cannon. Here is a kashyyyk trooper that I did the exact same thing with:
(http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs46/i/2009/207/b/8/forrest_terrain_trooper_by_SpudaFett.jpg)
you can find a tutorial on how to get this started here:
http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1005.0
This is a very similar process to how I made that kashyyyk trooper. The resulting figure will be a little bit taller than a regular star wars figure but as you can see it fits a bike alot beter:
(http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs44/i/2009/109/7/a/custom_trooper_and_custom_bike_by_SpudaFett.jpg)
That was an older version of the same figure that I did a while back using the same sets of legs and hips. Gives it alot better articulation....
Sorry that I hadn't gposted here before, I hardly get out of the customs section! I need to do that more.... your mods to the speeders are awesome. Let me know if you get someone who can mold those new handlebars, I've still got a few POTF bikes that need an upgrade!!!
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Spud's figure sure does sit straight on that speeder, a lot better than a regular one. Why won't hasbro just make us one?