Hi model builders - Hopefully you're not all in too much shock over seeing this build reemerge, with some slight progress! Finally dealing with the security guys posted above, but, now installed!

As it's been a long while, maybe a concept update date is in order - yes, loosely inspired by the movie Bladerunner - in this setting, some security guys in hot pursuit of a stolen futuristic AFV - whose thief-drivers have lost control on the city street - and slammed into a concrete pylon- they've run down the block and are waiting to ambush the guys chasing them down - the crowd is gathering to see what the heck is going on!

I'm still sick of wiring, so that is still not getting finished!

Please take a look:

















so its getting there - what you can't see in the images above, are the 'bad guys" around the corner - or a lot of the rest of the scene. Now that it's been a while since I last saw this...wow - there's a lot going on! lol -

who knows? ideally done before 2018!!

Cheers

Nick

I swear I thought the guy in the trenchcoat was Photoshopped in.

That's amazing.

Awesome update, Nick! ... SO much to take in! Your attention to subject interaction really makes this scene work beautifully!

Cheers!🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺+🍺
—mike

Wow ! Man o man this is getting freekishly good ol buddy. The figs are great.
J

Well there goes what’s left of the thesaurus flying out the window – just sick, Nick, sick everywhere. What’s left to wire – traffic signals/streetlights?
PS those fat t*res on the AFV...teeny bit more road-wear/dust like you’ve got on the guard’s ride perhaps?

Very , very cool Nick , outstanding work everywhere on this .
These pics tell a thousand little stories from the overall mural of the dio .

Cool .

Now all ya gotta do is watch the new Bladerunner movie and build something off that ..............................

Just came across this and I'm lovin the process, incredible!!!

Hi guys - thanks for having a look, and taking a few minutes to leave a line or two!

I think I will eventually finish this. I think most of the model work is done - I've added one or two more key figures, but also made some changes - I tore out a building/bridge that crossed the street - I think it was getting claustrophobic, or, I was wrong! It's now gone in either case! As to what's left, each building is wired, but the leads are dangling - I need to make a wiring harness and provide two power sources - easy enough, right....? In this case it probably won't be that hard to do, but it's just tedious and I don't feel like doing it! It will happen tho -

Hi Joe - funny you'd mention the guy in the trench coat - he's real, but for such a simple (no camo, nothing fancy about him at all) he looks pretty realistic - which is good as he's in the middle of the action - thanks for dropping by!

Hey Mike - good to hear from you! Well, I'm glad the staging seems to be working - I tried to keep in mind all the "dio rules"....yeah - but, at least things you can see on the build have a purpose - the buildings for mood, the vehicles for interest - and, thanks! The figures interacting, which I've found to be easier in concept than application.

Hi Jerry - thanks for the nice words - I really appreciate them - it's taken me many mediocre attempts at figures to get them into the realm of credible!!! And, you were right long ago - practice sure helps....I'm working on it!!

Hi Tim - I know you've got a real eye for making convincing builds! Thanks!....and about those tires....you're right - but I'm not sure at this point how to change them...everything is glued down and while a huge build, there's not much hand arm room left in there....TBD...maybe I'll figure something out - ? Thanks for stopping in!

Hi Cheyenne - fellow constructor of big projects!! Hmmm, the new Bladerunner....maybe my 2018-20 project!! Lol - thanks!

Hi Joe - thanks for leaving some thoughts - yeah, the process is fun - in this case getting the "feel" at least close was a process by itself! But, that has kept this interesting! Maybe that's why I'm not that eager to wrap up the wiring - then, it's done - and off to the land of forgotten dios it will go!

Thank for having a look - happy model building!

Cheers
Nick

Looks super, Nick. Where did you get the guy in the trenchcoat?

Nick
Great to see you still chugging along on this outstanding project.
Nothing like a heavily populated dio (figures and bldgs, vehicles, street debris etc) that can still tell a story.
Your efforts are well worth it bc this a treat for us to view.

Cheers
Dave

Nick - everything is looking great!

I know you don't need ANOTHER suggestion but here goes anyway. Next time you do a night shoot how 'bout letting some of that SF fog (cigarette smoke) roll into the studio to make things even more "atmospheric"? Maybe just around the upper floors of the buildings.

And searchlights - it seems that Blade Runner had lots of tight beam moving searchlights. (Not sure why as they did not seem to be looking for anything/anyone.)

Just incredible.
If you want to add smoke or fog I know Sep Paine did it for photos by blowing some cigarette smoke through a straw.
Tom

Wow.....just...just.....wow



Dan

Where ya been man ?? Fighting fires maybe ? Pretty bad out there on the left coast. Awful in fact.
J

Really nice watching this come together.
Looks awesome.

I have not been on Armorama in ages. Your diorama makes it SO worthwile coming back. I really enjoyed the whole process from A to Z. Congrats!
Have a wonderful new year!

Hi gents, happy new year to all!

Sorry about my slow response on this, and thanks each of you for having a look! I will eventually actually finish this - but, first want to finish what's on the bench now. I managed to get a lot tired of this project - honestly, I was/am surprised that it actually came together as it has. So - no excuses, I just have to get back to it.
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Edit:

Hi guys - I reread this and realized I didn't mention thanks to three of you for comments - sorry!!

Hi Peter - I think the trench coat guy is from MAIM - not sure at this point!

Hi Dave - yes, about all the people - it took a long time to collect them all! In the movie there are lots of people on the street - which makes an urban place look urban! So, anytime I saw a basically "acceptable" looking fig on sale, I picked him or her up! Not at once - would cost too much for me!

Mike - yes! As you've provided a lot of good ideas to this build all along, you're points are great - the fog/smoke - as I mention next to Tom, yes...but how to do it to look "right" - essentially like other things, how to get the smoke or fog to scale and lingering and not just puffs of smoke....hmmm? And yes, the spotlights...I don't know how to do that either....?? Good challenge tho! Thanks!
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Tom, hi, and thanks for taking the time, and leaving the idea! Now...I need to start smoking!! Haha - I might try one way or other to do what you've suggested!

Hi Dan, thanks for leaving a note! The words are appreciated! This can get a bit slow going....

Hi Jerry, first, thanks for asking about the NorCal fires - I haven't looked at this post in a long time...! I'm sorry that I didn't reply before. And, yes, it's a big mess in Santa Rosa - really bad for many folks. My mom and dad were evacuated from their nhood for two weeks! Fires burned along three out of four sides of their nhood. Thankfully, they're fine - but garden was covered in ash and very wind blown - looked like a hurricane blew through and the house was engulfed with smoke! The city is just now getting cleaned up. Thanks again for asking, Jerry

Hi Warren - thanks for the encouragement - it helps!

Hi Jan, welcome back to Armorama! I fully agree with you on the benefits of this site and it's community! I check out many of the Kitmaker forums - there are so many great projects going - a really nice resource! - lots to be learned, and to be inspired by - including the work of Jerry R (above)!

Thanks again for having a look, and yes, I will finish this!

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Nick

Nick,
Amazing work for sure. Thought of your work when I saw this: https://imgur.com/a/9DYP5

[quote}
the fog/smoke - as I mention next to Tom, yes...but how to do it to look "right" - essentially like other things, how to get the smoke or fog to scale and lingering and not just puffs of smoke....hmmm?
[quote}

Gee Nick, living in SF can't you just open a door or window and wait for the evening fog to roll through your studio?

I was once at the officer's club on Treasure Island and I was watching, through the big picture windows, the departure, near the Embarcadero, on it's maiden voyage, of a new luxury cruse liner. The city was hosting a big fireworks show upon the ship's departure. The ship started to move out, the fireworks show ended and as if on perfect cue, the fog rolled in like a stage curtain to close the show. The timing was amazing!

After that you couldn't see more than 50 feet in front of your face.

(Sorry , I think I may have told you that story before - I have made A LOT of very happy memories in SF!)

Hey Nick (you too Tim Martin a.k.a. Diomartin) you will like this one! AND THEY BLOW IT UP!!!!!!

https://touch.facebook.com/peter.bailey.73/posts/pcb.967911363358784/?photo_id=10213183054945974&mds=%2Fphotos%2Fviewer%2F%3Fphotoset_token%3Dpcb.967911363358784%26photo%3D10213183054945974%26profileid%3D733523955%26source%3D48%26refid%3D28%26_ft_%3Dqid.6528548211671299476%253Amf_story_key.6600874999914091416%253Atop_level_post_id.967911363358784%253Asrc.22%26__tn__%3DEH-R%26cached_data%3Dfalse%26ftid%3D&mdf=1

Hi James - thanks for sharing that link - very interesting process to see. In fact, I wish I'd seen it before I started! The builder seems to boil the whole thing down to its simplest elements and let the observers eye do the rest...good to keep in mind for the next time I try something this ridiculous! Turns out you don't need to show every single detail to get it to look right! Now I know haha - thx

Mike and Tim - turns out your timing is pretty good on this subject - not as much for special effects but for what to do with these when you're done?!?? I have several now and a few are pretty big. Coincidentally I ran across a story about Lori Nix - she builds and photographs some remarkable dios - certainly worth looking up if you haven't seen her stuff. When she's done - she just takes them apart! Keeping some part for reuse - the rest straight to the trash!

Got me thinking that I need to have a model dumping party! Provide: beer, wine, pliers and some music and get going! There are at least two full dios I want to keep - one, for sentimental reasons - Romain had a lot to do with the outcome - including kindly making and painting some figures for (tho I'm betting he might say forget being sentimental!) and another (the abandoned gas station) that I just like - rest - off to the trash!

I'd gladly donate to any group that might be interested in having them, but I haven't a clue how to go about that. The battle of Debecka Pass for example - pretty accurate and a good build - or the ca 2004 Iraq urban battle scene with the Cat D9 and Bradley Linebacker (Gino thx for the help along the way!) - both are good representations of events that took place based on a fair amount of homework.

It's about the process for me - and when it's done - it's time to think about what to do next! Which is what I'm doing now. I decided not to wait for the start of the scratch campaign so have something going and have thought more about what to try for the campaign - I'll finish the Bladerunner - then what??

Ok guys - happy model building! I'll send out invites for the model demo party!

Cheers - Nick

Thanks for the Nix tip Nick – amazing work, never heard of her before. If you really want to offload yours a school might be interested, you’ve got enough very persuasive images to show after all. If the AFVs are going too (?) maybe some military training base or museum might want them, as long as they come & collect I guess.... But surely this Not-Bladerunner dio isn’t going to the tip? At least auction it off & recover some losses...I’d sure put in a bid...er after calculating the trans-Pacific airfreight costs

Although I like the party idea too – set ‘em all up in an open unpopulated area after dark, a few well-placed charges, fire-extinguisher handy, roll video & light fuses. With a live feed so we can all drink a toast...or toast a drink, whatever hic

I'd maybe try a comic book store. I'm not into that stuff myself, but I'm sure they'd actually buy the thing, because it's amazing.

It is probably the only reason I decided to get rid of adblock on this site, was to come see your progress. It reminds me of Batman or something like that.

Nick - I just saw the "Extras" tape that comes with the latest "Blade Runner" movie on iTunes. There is one segment I think you would particularly enjoy. It focuses heavily on the model building aspect of the movie. Also the director wanted to work heavily with practical sets rather than green screen so a lot of the model building was in 1 : 1 scale.

(Personal Opinion:) I am a dyed in the wool Syd Meed fan but of all things, I never cared for his exterior design on the Police Spinner car, especially that rounded bubble butt back end. I think the star vehicles in this latest film are a great improvement.