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The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
Good morning!

I've been working on this project for a while, in conjunction with working on my latest dio-story "Darkness Falls" and I was encouraged by some JoeCustoms staff to post the Work in Progress pics as well as the final result.

I'm going to post throughout this thread showing various progress pictures.

First and foremost, I actually got inspiration for this set from a toy lightsaber I found on clearance at my local Wal-Mart. After I found that, everything else kind of fell together.

I also discovered the Diostructure Facebook group, which is full of some really talented diorama builders who mostly use insulation foam as material, so that obviously provided some key inspiration as well.

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File comment: Lightsaber in Oatmeal container
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File comment: Foamcore platform on top of the cylinder, with insulation foam base started
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File comment: Same platform and cylinder, with more walls
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
In those top images, you can see some grooves I cut in the insulation foam (which is one of its largest draws). Because of the material and the thickness, you can "groove" lines into it to simulate texture. Many people do it for brick, I was trying to approximate metal plating.

I had envisioned a blue/gray metallic floor with gray metallic walls, and I will admit I wasn't sure it was going to work.

Along with this, I added some wooden catwalks (held together by painters tape while the carpenter glue dried).

You'll notice the "rivets" on the floor... those were recommended by zombieguide, who mentioned using craft story "Googly Eyes" to get the raised surface. BRILLIANT.

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File comment: First coat of blue for the floor. A lot brighter than I wanted, obviously.
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File comment: Wooden catwalk with some black and silver wash for metallic texture
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File comment: Catwalk frame built and held together by tape
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
Thankfully after a healthy black wash (which drips into the cut grooves, adding some really nice texture detail) and some silver and black dry brush, the floor color dulled quite nicely and started to come together a bit better.

The paint was done in the following order:

1 - Black wash thinned out a lot by water
2 - Blue paint (Apple Barrel)
3 - Silver Dry Brush
4 - Black Dry Brush

Also as seen above, I used wrapping paper rolls to cover the wall joins, but the cardboard wasn't holding shape very well.

I went over the walls with thick layers of gray, silver, and black wash, and finally the metallic texture was starting to come together. I also cut a "monitor" screen hole in the far wall as well as the doorways.

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File comment: Wall texture with triangle door cut out
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File comment: Monitor screen cut out
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File comment: Close up of the floor texture with the layers of black and silver, which add some great detail. You can see the "rivets" a bit better here.
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
Now, for the monitor in the far wall, I also hot glued a "rack" on the back which holds an iPad. :)

So that gives me the option to customize a computer screen for Cobra' nefarious plans.

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File comment: Close up of the iPad screen in the monitor
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File comment: Longer shot of the catwalk and iPad monitor
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File comment: FSS 2.0 Bombardier added for scale
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
So, realizing that some space needed to be filled in, I went to eBay and dropped some cash on some extra Terror Drome computer consoles, as well as a Tactical Battle Platform computer. They were actually less expensive than I thought they might be, but the only catch is the Terror Drome computers especially needed to be filled in.

I used some common backpacks for "Tech Detail" (trademark and copyright joemichael70) and then went over them all with paint.

As a last step, I built up the TTBP computer with insulation foam, then got glued them all in place.

Also, as recommended by drbindy, I started building up a second elevated walkway into the compound.

You can also see that I built some more wall monitors using foamcore, black/silver dry brush, and some print outs from online sources. Also grabbed a computer screen template from Build-A-Rama:

http://www.build-a-rama.com/1_18/18BAR34.shtml

I used some PVC pipes from Home Depot around the wrapping paper rolls in the corners, too, to try and hide the messy cardboard edges.

Lastly, I also picked up some super cheap Cobra logo t-shirts and cut them up for some nicely hanging flags for the blank walls.

Attachments:
File comment: Data Vipers sitting at a computer console
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File comment: Computer Consoles painted and got glued in place.
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File comment: Terror Drome computers built up with "tech detail" before painting
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
At this point, things are pretty much done.

Here are some images of added wall detail with the doors installed. There was just some work needed to finish the second elevated walkway...

The railings and stairs are all from a company called "Plastruct" which makes styrene accessories for railroad enthusiasts mostly. They do 1:24 scale items, which aren't perfect, but work well enough. I think they call it "G Scale".

Hand Rail

Ladder

Stairs

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File comment: More detail for the wall monitors
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File comment: Flag and wall detail
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File comment: More detail and computer consoles
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
The finished product!

Keep in mind when looking at these pictures that I have never worked with insulation foam before, and certainly never really built anything at this scale. If I can do it, anyone can! Just dive in and give it a try. :)

The Darkness Falls Dio-Story hits the same weekend as JoeCon! Check out a trailer below.



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File comment: The finished product!
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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
More finished shots

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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
More images

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Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
and more...

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Author:  Lev [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
Excellent work! I'm really very excited for this distory. I've read your work for years and this has me all jazzed up.
Author:  General Hawk [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
Levantine wrote:
Excellent work! I'm really very excited for this distory. I've read your work for years and this has me all jazzed up.


Thank you! I'm pretty excited to start posting it, too. Been working on it for a few years.
Author:  bucky [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
I was thinking that was pretty neat, then I got to the scale shots with a figure! That playset is massive! Looks incredible.
Author:  Rambo [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
The set is awesome but excuse if I don't pay too much attention to it BUT I can't wait for you diostory. I, or should I say, we have been waiting for years.

Glad to see it will feature vintage and modern figures.
Author:  drbindy [ Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Cobra Command Compound - Darkness Falls Dio-Story
One of the coolest things I've seen, custom-wise in years.
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