Death Star Playset - Jumbo Kenner Prototype

With Gentle Giant releasing the 12 inch retro jumbo "Kenner" style action figures, I had this evil idea of building a scale Death Star Playset, just like the vintage set for the smaller figures. This is the prototype. After getting this far, I need to shift and use the foam board shapes to trace onto wood, and cut the wood.

Also, I figured the large cardboard tube used for concrete shaping isn't tall enough...will have to figure out a way to get the tractor beam machine and the top floor/cannon added.

Materials so far:

Three pieces of 36 x 26 foam board from art and craft store: $15
Cardboard tube for concrete pouring: Loew's: $11
Thick styrofoam blocks...1.5 inch by 20 inch by 12 inch: $27

The styrofoam blocks were used for the base walls and the columns. They weren't as strong as I though they would be. I used a box temporarily for the trash compactor.

Photo 1: Materials with Blue Snags and old death star for reference.



Photo 2: Build first "floor".

Photo 3: First level cut including garbage chute.

Photo 4: Drawing second floor.

Photo 5: Second floor cut.

All three floors cut.

Starting the elevator shaft.

Ground floor entry way cut.

Side by side: Elevator, trash compactor, first floor next to original.

Connecting first floor to elevator shaft door.

Models.

Ground floor panels made of thick styrofoam. Box used as trash compactor for now.

Second floor columns and floor added. Not as sturdy as I hoped it would be.

R2, C3PO and Death Squad Commander.

Luke Skywalker and the Princess prepare to swing across the chasm - OK, will need to build that. I have ideas on how I would do that.

Once again, side by side with the original.

The prototype took about two hours. Not sure when I willhave time to cut this in wood yet. May at least paint the elevator and second floor in their darker colors.

To be continued...

Gentle Giant Blue Snaggletooth

Gentle Giant Ltd (www.gentlegiantltd.com) has been releasing Jumbo 12 inch reproductions of the vintage Star Wars figures. Their latest exclusive from San Diego Comic Con 2012 was the repro of the rare Sears Blue Snaggletooth. The Blue Snags could only be found in the Sears Cantina set exclusive. Because the toy designers only saw a few photos of snaggletooth (from the chest up), they designed him with a blue outfit and full height. Later on, the shorter Red Snaggletooth was released on a card.

GG celebrates the legendary Blue Snaggletooth with this great 12 inch reproduction. The figure came in a blue bag. Inside, the package was protected with a white slip cover box. Finally, the packaging was reduced in size (the figure never came carded).  On the back, the Celebration VI exclusive Lando Calrissian is previewed.

Walking Dead Diorama - Dale's RV

Who knew that a Tonka Indian Camper from the 1950s/1960s? would fit in so nicely with McFarlane's Walking Dead figures. Just like Dale's camper in the AMC TV show. Scales nicely. Here, Rick and Daryl hold off a hoard of zombies (figures from TV Series 1 and Comic Book Series 1).

Korean War Artillery

I had made a large scale diorama of an epic Korean War battle. In late November 1950, hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops infiltrated North Korean as the Allied forces pushed north to end the war. The entrance of the Chinese took the Allies by surprise. The bitter cold weather in the mountains of North Korea was also an enemy to all sides. In this diorama, I used the awesome 1/6 scale 155mm Howitzer from Hasbro along with some of the Korean war troops.

Kenner Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark

I used the great Kenner Well of the Souls playset, along with the vintage Sallah and Indiana Jones for these shots. Also used the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con Marion Ravenwood figure from the Well of the Souls to finish it off.

Too bad both Indiana Jones lines (Kenner 1983 and Hasbro 2008) didn't do as well as they could have.

If you look closely, on the "stone" cover that was over the Ark, the engravings of C3PO and R2D2 appear, just like in the movie.

First X-Men Marvel Legends Collection

When I first started thinking of the jigsaw puzzle business, this is one of the first test shots I took. I simply grabbed all the Marvel Legends X-Men figures and shot some photos. Storm, Colossus, Phoenix, Cyclops, Wolverine, Marvel Select Dark Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Beast, Rogue and Iceman.

Galactic Heroes on Tatooine

Took several of the Dewback Cinema Scenes from Hasbro's Galactic Heroes line. A few Dewbacks, Sandtroopers, and Jawas, chase poor R2D2 and C3PO through the deserts of Tatooine.