Hi Folks,

The diorama is now complete. Thank you everyone for commenting and showing their support during this build, it was my most challenging yet, the Forest was especially hard to re-create!

Here are the final images:






Here is a link to the slideshow of images shot during the build and on location on Endor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30029551@N06/sets/72157616471685709/show/

And in case anyone is interested, here are images of all of my creations so far. ENJOY!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30029551@N06/sets/72157617781357772/show/

Here are some images of the 1st completed leg section pre-weathering and panel effects painting:

Those of you wanting to see a "True Scale" re-creation must bear in mind that my intention here is to use Hasbro's interpretation of scale. As well s wanting to create something realistic for my own photos, I mainly want this to be a Playset that my kds can have fun with.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3479612433_f8823023c6_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3480422018_59f1ebe88b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3480421338_3bb291e3fe_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3480422704_49b8a0ca58_b.jpg

Oh man... I'd be so divorced after starting build like this .
That’s a great build so far! I just have one question: what are the figures (scale, producer etc.)?

I’m subscribing to this one!

Oh, and you are learning how to multiply in the same time... how nice

A.

IAndrzej,

Yes I am coming very close to the "Divorce Threshold", there might be a pause of a few days while I rack up some "wife attention points". But so far the wife has been very tolerant.

I sometimes see other fans building huge replicas and wonder how the hell they get away with it, now I'm one of those people!

I'm not quote sure of the scale, but it is t scale with the regular Hasbro/kenner Star Wars Figures and veicles that you can buy in the shops and that I used to have as a kid.

Yeah... "you can buy in shops"... "you used to have them as a kid..." happy you - I live in Poland...
OK, seriously - it's great to have internet shops shipping worldwide. I thought they were Hasbro, I just wasn't sure. I want to start my own collection of these for my son (this is explenation for my wife ).

Please forward my regards to your wife for letting you play with this stuff so we can see what you're building .

A.

++++UPDATE+++

Thanks to you two guys I have to endure MAMA MIA this evening!! The things we do for love (of Star Wars).

Relax, mate, Mamma Mia is not a bad movie (if you like musicals) . I had my laugh when I've watch this movie with my wife.

Have fun!

awesome! i hope you have a nice room to display it when its done

While this is an interesting build I fail to see what it has to do with historical armour. Shouldn't this be in a sci-fi category?

Yes, it should but as it was written before in Death Star thread, hangarbay94 and Slodder agreed that this site is more diorama focused than Sci-Fi section of Model Geek, so hangarbay94 may get more constructive feedback here than there.

A.

Karl,

Thank you for your reply.

In answer to your question, yes this post is in the Sci-Fi section as well but I asked the Editor if it could be put here also.

I have inherited my love of modelling from my Father, who was a very keen modeller making some of the most unusual and remarkable model railways I have seen anywhere, he later went on to making true to plan models of pre-war and historical Eastern European Synagogues out of wood that are displayed in museum's around the world. In my youth I used to like making WW2 dioramas and I am still very interested in military history, especially WW2 and the reasons for the rise to power of the Nazi regime. The bravery of men who fight in conflicts never ceases to amaze me and I realise the debt I owe for my freedom.

Although my models are Sci-Fi related, they are being built by someone who is very much grounded in military modelling. I have got much of my inspiration from models shown here and I am especially grateful of the feedback I receive.

Without sounding too augmentative, as I understand it, this site is for "Military Scale Models" I do not see the word "Historical" in the Web site's title, I am sure that there are Dioramas depicting current military scenarios here.

My "Diorama" is military, just not current or historical, it will be a diorama featuring a fictional model.

I really wanted ths post here because of the great response and feedback I get on this site. This post has been here for less than 24hrs and already it's had more hits and replies than it has on "Model Geek" which has been there for 3 weeks.

As I said at the beginning, I am working with unfamiliar materials not usually associated with Sci-Fi modelling and as I could do with pointers from experienced modellers I thought that here is the best place.

Many thanks,

Julian

+++ADVICE NEEDED++++ADVICE NEEDED++++ADVICE NEEDED

I need to make a decision and I need some assistance.

I want to airbrush some panel lines onto the pipe sections of the model.

I am going to dry brush a duck egg blue to give a patina effect to the corners and adges but I am not sure ofthe colour I should use for the airbushing. I am considering using a lighter grey, any suggestions would be helpful at this point.

Usually for panel lines I use darker shade than the center of the panel. I wash them as well to show dust/dirt gathering in the lines between the pannels (I use black or dark brown wahes for that).

I think that if you have possibility to make a sample surface with pannels and panel lines the best thing would be to make trials and find best-looking solution (i'd go with darker shades anyway).

A

Right! I've painted and re-painted the first leg section and I am finally happy with the results. I wasn't happy with the duck egg blue.

I have done a light airbrush in very dark grey, then have dry brushed using a pooy light brown mixed with a dull red, this gives a rust effect. then I've done a light dry brush with a light grey.

Here are the images:

Ghoooood... Ghooood... my young padawan... soon you will know the power of the Dark Side...

It looks great so far. Keep up the great work.

A.

That is an awesome job Julian

Bit of a star wars "nerd" myself still at 24 haha, love the work, the paint effects are superb. Your kids a very lucky to have you building this, I'm sure they will respect/treasure it a lot more knowing it was created for them instead of bought from a store

++++LATEST PICS+++

ELECTRONICS:

i Have to admit, I have not enjoyed this part of the build but I've fially got the electrics working and fixed into the 1st support pillar. It took me ages to get this right but I'm pleased with the results.

The red LED's are more focused beams, whereas the blue ones I have for the platform and floods are wide beams. I've fitted sockets so that the platform can be split for easy storage.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3484207351_6180935e7c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3484828139_329eaee4e4.jpg

At last I can see thelight at the end of the tunnel!

I've painted all of the parts and am finally happy with the finish, Thanks Hans, I kept referring to your post here. The last thing I did was to coat the whole thing in automotive lacquer to give it a metallic sheen.

I've just got to make the central Gantry and because the whole thing is designed to be assembled and pulled apart I've decided to make it out of Foamcore and clad it in plastic sheet. It will be fixed to the model by Velcro for ease of use.

Here are the updated images:

As to scale, I met someone years ago who was an extra storm trooper in one or two of the movies, they had to be 6' tall exactly to fit inside the armour, so you can work the scale out from that.

Cheers

Craig

Its large, impressive and welldone - looks stunning.

My only concern would be the relatively small legs making it prone to tipping over ?

Otherwise - very cool!

Cheers/Jan

Jan,

Yes, that is a concern of mine also, it was really hard to find something for the feet as I wanted it to allow for the large ATAT walker to go with it and wider feet just wouldn't have looked right. I will be fitting thick rubber sheet around the corners of the platform but also will either do 1 or 2 things:

1. have the kids play with it only if it is butted against a wall on one side.
2. Screw the feet to pieces of MDF board that I'll put a decal of a forest floor onto.

I'm probably going to go for the second option but if anyone has any better ideas I'm all ears.

Simply stunning, amazing work! That must take up a lot of room.

Very impressive. I remember when I was a star Wars fan...mmmmmmmm Still am but not enough to build models. But who knows. After looking at your work I might just as well start.

Charles,

If it hadn't have been for my 2 kids spurning me on I'd be making the Republic Thunderjet I've got waiting in my desk drawer right now. (I've got a strange facination with 50's fighter aircraft!). However, this project has sucked me in, it has meant learning a whole new set of skills and I have really enjoyed creating something out of nothing.

Next I'm going to have a go at a proper WW2 Dio to post here, I'm very apprehensive though, I've looked at some of the posts and there are some ex- and acting servicemen who really know their stuff, so I'll have to tread very carefully. At least with Star Wars no-one can tell me stuff like "The ammo pack is not to scale" after I've spent 2 weeks super detailing everthing!

Thank you for your post, I have a huge amount of respect for the modelers here as almost everything I see on this forum blows me away.

Regards,

Julian