JediDefender.com Forums
Collecting => Customs => Star Wars Dioramas and Displays => Topic started by: Muftak on January 29, 2008, 04:15 PM
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Recently I decided it is time to get the full collection out of storage and display it. To this end, I began designing shelf displays to mount on the wall. They are pretty scene-specific, but I wanted to leave them neutral and generic enough for some flexibility.
The first one I tackled was a Cantina display:
(http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/24104/2467100070064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/25907/2758107660064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/35880/2079221400064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/11440/2024685590064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/31819/2975666930064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/31566/2831971220064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I decided to do the alcoves as a second level, figuring in my mind that since they were pick-up shots in the movie it was okay for them to be removed physically in that way. The bar pieces and tables are removable from the floor, and the curved bar sections fit in there too. The band stand accomodates 5 Modal Nodes.
I originally intended for this to double as a Jabba's Palace display, with the band stand becoming Jabba's throne and the Rebo band going where the bar is, but I have since decided to build another level on the top to hold Jabba and his goons.
I learned a lot while building this one.
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Using what I learned I next attempted an Imperial display:
(http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/33144/2222877450064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/42183/2208083810064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/40290/2566064730064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/10876/2526880130064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/41203/2243653820064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/41268/2309653250064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
One of the things I learned right away was that, once the thing was loaded down with figures, the sides of it become very noticable. You will see I detailed the outside of this shelf pretty heavily, and I plan to go back and add more texture to the Cantina as well.
This is a mish-mash of Imperial architectures, most notably the SD Bridge, with some Death Star walls thrown in at the back. I intend for this to be a base for another display, so I put the K-shaped wall pieces in as supports.
The big computer console at the back is removable; I plan to make a little window setup to swap with it for an optional Emperor's Throne Room right there.
I think I am getting the hang of these, and have quite a few more planned. Stay tuned, and thanks for looking!
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They look great! I'm really diggin' the Imperial display. Awesome job! Can you imagine this with some fiber optic lights? That would be Rad! Keep up the good work.
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amazing man. nice work.
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What a fabulous idea. I may definitely be stealing this idea for my own use!
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I wish I could see them. I've got red x's.
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I assume these are made from styrene?
Really amazing work on both of these. The rougher edges of the cantina are beautifully captured (I can't get over the paint job on the walls), as are the clean, precise lines of the Star Destroyer interior. I cannot emphasize enough how cool these are...they serve both as playsets and display shelves wonderfully.
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WOW. This is amazing work, Muftak. Very cool!
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Thanks all for the kind words.
I mounted the shelves the other day, and got around to placing my figures:
(http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/32389/2934071170064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/20792/2192037320064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/5095/2637704320064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/31409/2482666030064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/39704/2128442770064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)<--- "Death Star Class of '77"
(http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/30770/2383309740064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/26314/2366566090064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
The Imperial shelf has nearly all of the figures it was designed to hold...not many left to get there, though the EU figures will eventually be leaving for their own space. The Cantina is pretty sparse looking though...here's looking forward to all the characters left to be made there.
I assume these are made from styrene?
Actually, my preferred medium is foamcore and foamies, so these are 100% that.
Next up, I plan to start on a Hoth shelf, and see how well that goes.
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Wow! That is some amazing work. Hard to believe that the foamcore and foamies are holding and supporting all of those figures. You have me wanting to try my hand at some of these!
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Very cleaver shelf displays. I can tell there was a lot of hard work done here and it pays off. I think it would be cool to add some lighting elements to the displays. That would add some cool shadow effects to the cantina and really show off the figures more. Excellent work!
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I love it! I'm sorry I missed this before!
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:o
Fantastic! The detailing is remarkable.
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Great work, Muftak, these are awesome. I wish Hasbro would do something like this, a display shelf diorama thingy line.
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I agree with everyone else: excellent work in combining detailed dio making with functional shelves. Looking forward to your future dioshelves! 8)
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What I love about this is that it is a cleaner quicker way to display everything with out obsessing about whether or not ther are ceiling lights in the cantina or which cubicle did the Modal Nodes actually play in. What I am trying to say is that I am trying to reproduce every scene from each movie. It's been taking me seven yrs and I think it's going to take another 7. I wish I took your root.
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Great stuff Bobb...I really love yout stuff.
Do you still have your Cloud City (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4142.msg142247#msg142247) and Death Star (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=2388.msg159560#msg159560)?
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Beautiful job on these shelves Bobb. I really love your blending of function and design. I really think this is a great way to display your figures. The tiered layout works very well in showing off all the figures at once. You really captured the feel of both environments without actually making movie accurate dioramas, which really isn't an easy thing to do. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you can come up with for your Hoth shelf.
I had just started on a tiered display for my Stargate figures and it was originally just going to be a boring old set of white foamcore steps. After seeing your work here I knew I had to do something more with it. So I'm taking inspiration from you and am going to try my hand at some diorama shelving.
Again, great work on the shelves! :)
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Thanks for all that guys.
I moved (for the last time!) in late 2005, and since then my collection has been in storage in the basement, including the Death Star and still incomplete Cloud City...there just isn't room and my wife and I agreed that when the basement eventually gets finished it will be the collection room. But until then I wanted some way to at least have the figures out. I was also secretly envious of Scott's spice-rack riser shelves (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=475.msg5752#msg5752), and I wanted something with that sort of depth and streamlined look.
This idea popped when I stumbled upon the plans for the Empire Strikes Back Pride Display (http://www.action-figure.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=ImageBank&file=index&id=69784) and realized they were making dioshelves (shelfaramas?) with specifically enough space for the vintage figures from each of the movies. It struck me as the perfect display option.
My only problem was I wanted to display modern figures, and while the number of vintage figures is pretty managable the modern ones have literally no end in sight. So before I could even begin to make shelves I had to decide the size and depth of what my "ultimate" figure collection would be. I came up with a list of about 350 figures, mainly the OT but I reserved space for some PT and EU essentials. (That list has been very liberating to my collecting compulsion, as well, because it puts a purpose to the compulsion and a definite end in sight.) With that list in hand, I could break up the figures into different kinds of arrangements and see how much space I needed. And that led to my current work.
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I just had a look at your Cloud City and Death Star sets as well, and I must say they're extremely impressive. The size is actually quite manageable, and the layout and design maximizes that space in a practical and aesthetically pleasing manner. The fact that the details are so crisp and clean (especially on the Cloud City set) really sells these pieces. Superb work all around.
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He's back!!!
Muftak, it's great to see you around. I really like these new displays. You've definitely captured a unique look that mirrors the various locations each shelf represents. Great work! I really like the detail on the piping in the cantina and the wall patterns on the imperial display.
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I agree, these are fantastic. A great way to put the figures in context, while maintaining display value-
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WOW! These are sweet!
Do you do commissions?
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Nice work Muftak! Very cool display where your figures can hang out. :)
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Okay, so I'm back with my newest shelf. I took my inspiration for the look of this one's tiers from the walls of the vintage Imperial Attack Base.
(http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/38084/2362285850064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/13925/2300894830064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I designed the top shelf around the Bacta Tank and Wampa Cave, so that they will be able to support another shelf stacked on top eventually.
(http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/22460/2655996890064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/41468/2496545930064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I had a lot of fun building this one, it was scary in a way because I've never tackled an environmental (as opposed to architectural) diorama before. I think it works.
(http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/41801/2805276430064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/31937/2962615030064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
Thanks for looking!
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Brilliant!!
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Those are beautiful. I wish I had the patience to custom build stuff like that, because I have some very specific ideas of how I'd like to display my figures. I use those white spice risers your pointed out in OCB's pics. I like to economize my space by more or less displaying them rank and file like that, as opposed to enormous dioramas and scenes. Graduated shelves are great for keeping the guys in back as visible as the ones in front. Those are a good start, but they're kind of uglyish. So, customized SW motifs like your cantina alcoves and SD bridge are perfect!
I'd also like my shelves to be pegged to keep all those boogers from falling over all the time. I tried pegging the risers with Ultarama pegs, but the holes came out retarded. (If I can't accomplish that, imagine the trouble I'd have scratch building this sort of thing!)
Have you pegged any of your display shelves??
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Looks great! I'm more of a diorama guy, but if I ever change my focus on how I display my collection, this looks like a fantastic way to go about it.
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Very nice work Bobb. The Hoth display looks great. I really like the touch of blue/grey you added to it. It really adds to the effect and I think it looks much more realistic than it would if it were just solid white.
Now if only Hasbro would make some more decent figures for you to fill it out with... :P
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That is brilliant! I definately need something like this for all my figures.
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These are beautiful! excellent work.
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Now if only Hasbro would make some more decent figures for you to fill it out with... :P
I didn't get what you meant until I went to the trouble of putting up the shelf. Now that I see 'em, I definitely want better versions. (And I discovered my R3PO is AWOL.)
Here is the shelf on the wall...
(http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/20680/2166900430064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/5322/2405445570064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/40021/2313322300064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I filled it in with the big accessories for now, but my "ultimate" list of figures will require most of those pieces to disappear...
The question was asked whether I have "pegged" my displays...I have not. While I plan to set 'em and forget 'em, I appreciate the ability to move things around too much to put dedicated pegs on there. I loved my ultaramas back in the day, but I was always frustrated by the spacing choices that were out of my control.
Thanks for all the great feedback. Looks like next on my plate is an Alliance shelf. Watch for it soon.
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Hey folks.
I was comissioned to build a version of my Imperial Display, and took the opportunity to add in some of the upgrades I will eventually be adding to my own.
(http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/42840/2914176140064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I added deck grates (made from wonderful plastic canvas) in the crew pit area:
(http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/41155/2735986820064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I changed up the computer at the back for this one as well, in the classic ANH colors this time...
(http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/42937/2512006580064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
As before, the computer is completely removable, though this time I took care to make it actually more like a stand-alone accessory:
(http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/39571/2608305560064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
And the display without the computer in the back looks like this...
(http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/39967/2593738190064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
As always, thanks for looking.
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wow that looks amazing man!
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Last two displays are amazing. Really great work. You found a great niche in the market.
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Hey guys. I've finished another one. A little bit longer than I was expecting to take, I had a heckuva spring with my wife in the hospital and all sorts of work stuff, but I have completed my Home One Shelf.
(http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/2906/2186704250064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/18308/2534801160064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
A big part of the slow down in work here for me was due to trying to figure out how to build the step-ups. I seriously redid the three levels four times before settling on this configuration (which of course is almost exactly the same as my first version.) That got me burned out on this thing for long stretches of time, and I think it's more of an abandoned project than a finished one, (some areas are not as good as I'd like) but so be it.
(http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/43865/2532757320064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I have to say I really enjoyed the back wall and all that panel work.
(http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/41798/2225450750064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/42495/2596268110064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
Once again it is designed to hold another, slimmer shelf above, this time thru the jutting doorways.
(http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/22920/2624274630064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I did more sticker design on this one than I've done since the Death Star. I'm pretty pleased with the results of the big wall terminals in particular.
(http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/15552/2259333800064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
Look for updates more frequently, as I'm gonna tackle some of the smaller shelves for the second tiers of these things, and I totally expect those to go much quicker. I've got one more big one to do, but as it is going to be EU themed I haven't quite decided what the motif will be.
Thanks as always for looking!
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Wow! Fantastic work on all of these. Hope the family is doing well.
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Thanks Matt. Everything has been settled down for the summer, so hopefully the drama is behind us.
I finished up the first of my "second-tier" displays this weekend, a home for my Yavin IV figures.
(http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/39975/2966326650064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
I was excited to do the Death Star plans scene because it was the first scene I thought of when I decided to do these shelves. Somehow that wall was iconic Star Wars backdrop for me. The screen is a custom-made image.
(http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/39940/2720562570064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
The medal scene was pretty obvious as far as what I needed to have here, too. I plotted the spacing on the essential characters that go here...and cheated size on the steps. The middle one is just wide enough for Luke and Han to stand on, the rest are way too skinny to be used.
(http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/40963/2077595430064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
For the last third of the thing, I left a pretty open area. Soon it will probalby be where the transport sled is parked (I can't wait!) but for now I made a tactical table to fill it, just for the fun of it. It's underscaled to fit, but I had a lot of fun making the screen.
(http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/19700/2109774020064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
AS I said, this is a second-tier, so it's a lot more shallow overall. It is designed to sit on top of the Home I shelf I already built. I think they work well together.
(http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/41776/2194681070064808477S600x600Q85.jpg)
That's it for now. More to come soon.
Thanks for looking!
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Another gorgeous shelf! Excellent work as always. :)
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Another set of well done pieces.
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Those home-made decals may be the single best thing of these perfect displays!