Looks good. One question, have you considered making the back one piece and grooving out an area so that it would fold in on itself?

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Yep, that's what I do. I run a router cut and to fold and glue it. This one, being the first, I did the same but I busted it free a couple of times trying out different things. But I've done another one and got it working the way it's suppose to. I've started doing all of by background displays the same way as well as any other item that requires it instead of the original gluing and screwing idea. Larger folds I still put tacks in though for extra support.

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Man they look awesome, excellent work.

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Could we see one done that way?

Also, could you different backgrounds for different scenarios?

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Yeah I'll have pics up tomorrow with the official one when I add it to the site. The one picture does have the router cut. You can see the 45 degree angles on the 2 parts.

The different backdrops, well anything can be done. That's pretty much what all the other backdrops are on the page. Plus I always can do custom versions of any one of the backdrops. I usually just charge an extra $2 for it when I have to do clean up on the image sent to me.

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Those that were waiting, the Hall of Armor is up for order:

http://djtoys.muchtobuy.com/figure_backgrounds.html

I tried to set it up in a way to allow multiples to be bought, but I figure 5 is bound to be the max that most will want to do at a time. More can be added in the comments though. I may delay shipping for about 2 weeks due to the next batch of Cobra Bases about to ship, but go ahead and get on the list and your order will be filled pretty quick.

Also, here's a close up of the base with the router cut. It's kind of hard to see with the white plastic and flash of the camera, but that's also due to how smooth it is flush when folded:

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Got my order in, can't wait to get 'em!

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Could we se the light up armor set sitting on your new hall of armor (I'm curious as to how it would look).

Once I get a chance I'll do it. It's not a good fit though since I made mine to fit the figure and these have that large base. I'd have to make a whole new one that would be made to fit these, and I might actually do that.

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Well once I complete the move perhaps we could use my house as a meeting point, it'll still be 4-5 hours for you Joe, but I can offer over-night accomdations for you and the wifey and the house will be wifey accessible since we have to make sure it's father-in-law accessible.

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Yeah that might be a good option for later on. Once you get settled and stuff we'll look into this idea.

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I'm trying to decide on doing the stand alone individual Hall of Armor different. Nobody has ordered it since I put it like. People do seem to like the full shelf and really I can say I'm not 100% happy with the individual sections either.

I've got a 3D carving machine. I've point that out several times. I'm just no good at designing in 3D so the machine has been an expensive paperweight for now. I'm trying to learn though and I did design something for the Hall of Armor:



This pretty much is just all out using the movie idea with some changes. I could carve this add dividers that'll allow these to attach or I might make something else to hold it all in place. I don't know yet. I just know I do want to do something different and I want to use the 3D ability to make something a whole lot better.

Oh and as you see, the designs are created in color codes to get different depths of cuts. That's what's so confusing to me and keeping me from really doing all the stuff I want to do.

Tell me what you all think. I'll be keeping the full shelf as is since people have liked and ordered it. Also it wouldn't work as well in 3D without totally redoing it anyway. If I was going to do that I'd just have another one in addition to the one there. But I doubt i'd do that.

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If I might make a suggestion...

The main reason I haven't bought any of the individual HoA pieces is price. In order for me to make a five slot Hall, I would have to get 3 of the full kits @ $7 each, plus 2 with no walls @ $4.50 each. That puts the total at $30 for a 5 slot display. Since a person can get your 6 slot disply for $16, it doesn't surprise me that it is more popular.

Is there some way that you can change the 6 slot display in to a 5 slot display, and widen the gaps between the slots a bit? Then you could just add the dividers directly to the display to create the stalls, and possibly cut some of the work and material involved and cost?

Just an idea.

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J_Man, you have some really cool ideas, this will be my only Critique, would be to offer pics showing off how cool it looks with figures.

For me, the Mattel thing does apply. Where Mattel is saying it costs this that and whatever else. For me, doing individual stuff and all the designs being added, that's where it adds a lot of cost. That's also another reason I was looking at redesigning the individual displays. Believe it or not, carving the 3D shelves will be cheaper since it won't have all the designs having to be made and applied. Plus really it'll look better anyway I think.

The full shelf can stay as is and it works as it was meant to. These newer versions will be their own thing too. I just need to figure out the best way to have them connect without driving up cost. If I can do it with easy materials I already have.

Cost is always a thing I keep in mind, but of course I have to apply the price to how much it costs me to make items.I'd love to be able to out-source this stuff one day which should in theory bring all prices down. Right now that's just a dream since I don't know any outlets other than doing it all myself. People doing casting know what I'm talking about with the production costs.



Oh I will. Once I get this other one going I'll do shots. I did with the other one too. The Hall of Armor that Hasbro made doesn't work with that other version, which is why I never did any shots with it. I'll probably make sure this new version does work with it now that I actually have Hasbro's in hand to work with. I didn't have it when I finalized the other one.

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