The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Dioramas => Topic started by: hangarbay94 on August 18, 2013, 03:15:11 PM
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I've recently forced myself to get back into customizing after a considerable break. My kids have now outgrown their Star Wars toys and with no real purpose except self-gratification and a chance to leave work behind I am beginning to take fresh steps back into a hobby I really enjoyed. I'm also hoping that one day my Grandchildren will enjoy the fruits of my labour.
Anyhow, enough with the mushy stuff, this little project is another example of Hangarbays quest for simple to build, easy to store playsets that are actually durable and playable. After the storage container that I use to keep the parts for my projects got sprayed it occurred to me that it could double as a diorama and playset. Once complete it would be used to store vehicles and figures, then flip it up and viola, an Imperial Field Support Base.
Here is what I've done so far. Added some greebleys and planned the build. I intend to have a removable turret that slots into the top, an opening loading bay door that will be cut in one side of the box and LED lights fitted in the roof both inside and outside, creating an internal repair bay and a landing pad. All made from a common storage box.
WIP Images:
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-18100256_zps369a9317.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-18100233_zps92cd70ab.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-18205741_zps16c3d9c1.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-18205948_zpsb327de98.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-18205748_zps59dd32a8.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-18210008_zpsd157491b.jpg)
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Oh and I've discovered a great adhesive for applying greebleys to hard to apply shiny plastic surfaces. Its a non-odour adhesive that is usually applied using a silicone gun. It's called Sticks Like Sh*t. Yes only in England would you find a product with a name like that, but I kid you not, if you want something to stick and not melt or come off period, then it does exactly what it says on the tube.
(http://www.sitebox.ltd.uk/prodimages/361946.jpg)
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I'm happy we all gonna see new custom from you, I really enjoy your projects.
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Julian, great to hear from you my friend! So glad to see you getting some time to customize and share with us. This looks to be another great project and I can't wait to see the next steps.
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Now this is one cool idea. Turn your Rubbermaid into a modular diorama playset. Its a no brainer. I am off to share.
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Great to see this, Jules. It's already starting to shape up real nice and once it's finished I'm sure it'll amaze us all.
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Thanks Mr Black, Tamer, LE & Blackthorne! Today I went parts shopping - I'd forgotten how expensive our hobby can be. So far the spend has been £45 and I refuse to spend any more.
Parts purchased:
Wood for inner roof section
Foamcore (we all know how handy that can be)
Acrylic Thinner for the airbrush
LED Lights -
4 x bright blue for the interior and 4 x small red for the outer landing pad.
1 x voltage reducer
1 x flasher unit for the landing lights
1 x battery pack
cable.
I'm now committed to finishing this baby.
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That's cool, I'm getting some thoughts from that for some ideas I've had on the back burner for a very long time. Awesome.
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Jules, it's good to see you back in action. I'm sure this project will turn into plastic gold.
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Looks fantastic... this is you at your very best!
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Very interesting idea Jules, I'm really interested how this is going to turn out.
Ron
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Thanks for all the replies folks, I'd forgotten how lively these forums were.
My LED lights arrived today along with the flasher unit, so over the next day or so I'll be making the roof section with the electronics.
When I opened my dremmel the chuck section broke so I've got to wait for a new one to turn up before I go cutting the main hangar door. I'm also waiting for some plastic hinges to arrive. I'll post some images as things start to progress further.
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Looks good so far, Jules. Fantastic idea making it dual purpose like that.
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One of the Grandmasters returns!! Love the look of this even just getting started!
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Too kind Doc!
UPDATE ---
This evening I cut out the door, made the ceiling/cable housing and added some detail. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have the lighting circuit tested. Next stage will be fitting the hangar door mechanism and detailing the interior and exterior.
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base1_zpsc8832cd2.jpg)
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Wow Jules this looks fantastic. I can't wait to see the finale of this. Let me go share this before my internet time leaves me.
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Looking fantastic, I can't wait how this will turn out to be.
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Man such a great idea the only problem I have is your updattes aren't going to be soon enough lol
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PHEW! I've just finished fitting the LED's. Unfortunately the internal blue lights are not as bright as I would have liked, but as I'm not an expert on LED's, currents and resistance I've had to go with a fairly basic wiring layout (that's my excuse anyway). However, the red lights look very nice indeed.
Next I'll be fitting the door and then onto the paint job.
I have thought about turning into a Mini-Rig Hoth Base, only problem is, I don't have any Hoth Figures. I would only be a matter of a re-paint at any cost, so I could always do that at a later date.
HB94
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-31024821_zpsf42c80b8.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-31024431_zpsd42b698c.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/2013-08-31024426_zps1db18ee7.jpg)
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Looking awesome Jules and I think the blue LED's look perfect, I can't wait to see more.
Ron
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Looks like you are making a good go of getting the LEDs sorted! I love the idea of a Hoth mini-rig base, too.
I lucked out and got a pair of very bright blue LED strips that were intended for use in the passenger section of a car and as such were pre-wired for 12volt with a plug to go into the lighter socket of the car. Wall-plug transformers are fairly easy to get and let me plug up my blue lights almost anywhere. And as a plus, they have a brushed aluminum housing, making it easy to blend them into the diorama as light-bars.
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Thanks Doc, yes that would have been a solution, though I like these things to have their own supply. I could have fitted more bulbs but the cabling would have been more difficult to hide. I've given the internal walls a thick coat of black paint to preven light bleed, Im hoping that once the paint work and decals have been applied the interior will be more visible.
My kids woke up this morning and saw what I'd done and now I've had to set up the whole Endor set to keep them happy in anticipation if their new toy. Ah happy days!
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This looks great Jules. I could easily see this becoming Hoth! [at1]
Off to share. Wow, I sure do wish I had your skills!
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Great idea here, Jules.:)
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Ok, so I'm pretty much done. It's a bit rough round the edges, but it does the job. I'd like to take some proper pictures of it this week, so watch this space. Sorry about the image quality, I've used my iphone for these shots.
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base4_zps3e3c156c.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base3_zpsa59c9403.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base2_zps7bc70c4d.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base1_zpsab25a3be.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base5_zpsb2ececb9.jpg)
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:o
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Wow, one of the coolest and most practical creations I have seen in awhile. Look for this update to hit our fp soon.
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awesome! love it!
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Awesome work Jules.
Ron
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Here are some better images taken on my old faithful SLR -
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base10_zps1dc6bde0.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base11_zpsc4644198.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base8_zpsd5134c39.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base9_zpscee6c553.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base7_zps13006a0b.jpg)
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/base6_zpsa2bd17aa.jpg)
This diorama completes my Endor Series
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/Storage%20box%20base/ENDORSERIES_zps30a861fa.jpg)
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What can I say Jules? I am sitting here right now writing this looking at about eight of the large storage containers I have my odds and ends in that I don't have out for display. The potential here is enormous. Off to share.
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WOW - the pictures look's really great :) :) :)
I like the design and your craftsmanship is (as usual) very good.
Especially I like the paintjob and the idea with the printouts.
Thanks for sharing.
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Sweet, sweet stuff! Love how the color palette of everything all works together.
(and is that an ATAP joined to an ITT??)
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Sweet, sweet stuff! Love how the color palette of everything all works together.
(and is that an ATAP joined to an ITT??)
Yep, vehicle is a meld of the two...
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That storage container playset jaw dropping. Damnit. Now I have to try this. :)
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That storage container playset jaw dropping. Damnit. Now I have to try this. :)
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I hear you. I am so wanting to try something Hoth at seeing how good that turret looks on top too.
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I just saw these pics totally awesome
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Very inspiring, Jules, very inspiring indeed. Wow, this is truly a classic "now why didn't I think of this" project. Hat's off to you, sir! Again!
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Now this is impressive! You sir are a genius! What an amazing project and mark my words, this will be the new rage amongst customizers. I have started something along these lines myself since seeing your first post. Your pack and play ideas are just brilliant. If I win the lottery and start my own toy company you, Dayton, Brent and I will rule the world!
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Well I am pleased that this idea has inspired. As you know I always look to create dioramas that are easy to store out of the way and this project takes the idea one step further.
I'm quite surprised that a toy manufacturer hasn't caught on to this idea, we all use storage boxes for toys, why not make them into toys themselves, it's a no brainier as far as I'm concerned. Anyway now the secret is out I bet someone will make a huge profit from it... Shawn If your reading this perhaps ISY can put a patent on the idea!
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Well, if "a toy manufacturer" is Hasbro, then it's no surprise they hadn't thought of this. They've been without good ideas for quite some time now 0/
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Think of how easily you could modify it for other toy lines too. What parent wouldn't want a larger size playset that packed up nicely in a storage box!
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WAOW :)
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This looks fantastic, Jules. And good to see you back in action. I miss seeing your amazing ships.
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MKOS, thanks so much for your reply, it's actually been 7-months since I finished this project... oh how time flies... Regrettably I don't have any time to devote to the practical side of my hobby at the mo, so it's nice when I get the odd e-mail from ISY telling me someones's replied to one of my posts.
Cheers.
Jules
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Very nice! I have some new fuel for my brain now. I love the custom gunner and the use of smaller vehicles in this!