AT-AT diorama - FINISHED PAGE 6!!!

[christrom]

Hi everyone, I've been updating this build on another forum, but I thought I'd share these WIP photos with you. I'm not yet at the end of the build, but I plan on having 3 AT-ATs in a diorama.

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Next job is to take a mould of the head to make the other 2, and then I'll be getting to work on the necks! Thanks for looking

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[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Another update.

Right, I tried to cast this head and really buggered it up... ended looking like swiss cheese it had that many holes in it. I think it was because I tried to cast it in one lump. This time I'm going to do a two-part mold, and I actually built a box for it

Also there were a couple of details I wasn't really satisfied with, so I've done some more amendments. This'll be it though, I'm not pulling a George Lucas

With primer added:

 

[Scott Graham]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Looks good. Nice way to upgrade that kit!

 

[Tim Nolan]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

One of my favorite "critters" from Star Wars! Great attention to detail. I did just a box stcok Ertl kit a few years back, and it's a favorite in my collection. Look forward to seeing your progress!!!

 

[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Here is an experiment with snow I thought I'd post. Daniken72 is doing an incredible job on the Revell kit and you can see his progress here:

http://www.therpf.com/f11/revell-easy-kit-wip-134678/

I'm still slowly working on mine but I did some snow experiments recently which I think have turned out very well. For this demo I used one of the 1/144 F-Toys AT-ATs. Youtube link below:

at-at snow.mov - YouTube

And here are some pics from the experiment. What do you all think?

Thanks
Chris

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With a bit more care ^ I reckon I could apply snow to the model and it could work out quite realistic

 

[Monster Dave]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Hi everyone, I've been updating this build on another forum...

Wha....


:confused

I don't understand...


...isn't THIS the ONLY forum???


:unsure













Just kidding with you - your diorama looks great! thumbsup

 

[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Yeah the other forum is about knitting and stuff

 

[danikin72]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

I do think I like that snow effect, what was the stuff again?
I'll give it a try if I can find it locally, or I guess I can order it online.
What did you use for the rocks? I really like the look of those as well.

By the way the build looks sweet. Makes me want to pick up a few of those old kits and give it a go.

Keep US updated, and ditch the other forum.

 

[danikin72]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

ok so I just watched the video, answered alot of my questions from the previous post, I like the look of it alot actually.
Thanks for the tip I'll look into picking some up.

 

[Scratchy]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Nice vid and effects with the spackel.

As I watched, I was thinking how one could help the effects of the "snow" along,.... then I had a theory about loading an airbrush with water, mounting the diorama base on one side and spray water on the spackel, creating "snow-drifts" with the aide of gravity and the water, and cleaning the fine areas on the rocks.

Just an untested thought,.... that I'll keep tucked away in my mind for the time being. :confused

 

[danikin72]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

I would try using a dust can with compressed air. I would not want to get the snow over saturated, just put enough water in to get the consistancy you want and then start drifting.
I will try this method before I work on the final base just to test the working properties.
Thanks again for the tip and the help.

 

[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Good idea scratchy, but I've found the more water the better. You can still get the shapes easily enough with loads of water and they feel more snowy. Once the water evaporates you are left with a really nice finish. Your idea of holding the base vertically would probably work very well. I tell you what though, it is really good fun! The dust can is a good idea too... looking forward to seeing results. I tell you what, you won't even look at baking powder when you see how this stuff looks in the flesh

 

[Sym-Cha]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Nice job with the snow.

-Chaim

 

[Tony]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Fantastic job! I love the snow.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

. . . and after a little Photoshop

-Chaim

 

[Skullbeast]

How do you like that kit, I was wanting to build one.

 

[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Sym-Cha that is wicked!!!!

The F-toys kit I think is really good for the size of it, the ertl one is great in terms of proportion but in my opinion needs a lot of work to get it right. It is a labour of love though and I'm enjoying working on it.

 

[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Okay, small update.

I have cast 2 more heads to give me all 3 finished near enough. I still have to sort out the guns.

The casting was an unholy nightmare and the casts needed a fair bit of work to get them done. They are not yet 100% and as you can see in the pics some still have tiny air bubbles. I'll do another round of filling and call them done though

I'm going to be scratch building new necks as the ertl ones are too thin. I've drilled out larger holes in the back of the heads and changed the detailing. Most of this detail won't be seen, but I want to get it reasonably accurate.
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And finally for scale:

 

[danikin72]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Love what you've done here.
I should have, looking back at it, just done 1 head and cast them.
I really want to pick up some of these kits and have some fun with them but I'm just about burned out on AT-AT's.
Your builds are very inspiring, especially given the scale your working with.

Are you going to have 1 of them crashed or all of them walking?

 

[christrom]

Re: ertl AT-AT diorama WIP

Thanks Danikin, to be honest it would have been quicker not casting these, they were horrible to do. I'm having all three standing because I want to recreate that shot when they are overrunning the rebels, just before Luke grenades one. Going to have to get a largish case I think!