Jabba The Hutt Diorama (The Viewing Frame WIP)

As far as the lights, yes, that’s a good option. I was going to use an acrylic sheet covered with a diffuser film, test the lights, and see how far away they need to be. I found a website where this person made backlit movie poster frames using strip lights and they looked amazing. They used reflective HVAC tape to line a 4” deep box, taped the lights in rows about 3” apart inside the box, and then just used a cheap store bought poster frame as the front. Painted the boxes and mounted them on the walls in their home-theatre. Really looked cool. I’ll look into those acrylic covered rails, though. Thanks for that.

shovelchop81 wrote:Strange I never heard about the plexiglass gas issues in my material studies during product design, must be a recent discovery (as in the last 20 years lol), I'll have to research that! Those prices are nuts, more like bulletproof glass prices! Yeah I've got no idea how much that costs either...lol. Why do you call the backdrop the BBQ pit? Great looking work blackpool!

It's an easier way to identify that back room. And that's actually what that weird thing is behind the throne -- a BBQ spit/pit.

As far as the gas leaking from acrylic/plexiglass -- I found it in a rather roundabout sort of way as I was looking for unusual-sized glass. I ended up finding a post from several years ago on a forum for guys who make a living making picture frames. Which led me to finding out about the cost of glass, etc. They were complaining, of course, that customers wanted to know why a "mom&pop" frame maker had to charge so much for glass, when the customer found they could go to a craft store and pay half the cost. Anyway, long story short (too late), that led me to researching "museum grade" glass, acrylic and plexiglass. Now, granted, maybe the places that make and sell Museum Grade were just trying to scare the crap out of people, but it was in their explanations as to why Museums (not just Art, but History) use a specific type of material when building their cases and frames -- and that is to preserve the artifacts, etc. from exposure to not just light, but air, and destructive chemicals.

Blackpool, that background image is looking gorgeous, even in this smaller-sized or incomplete (wasn't sure what you meant exactly) state!

I put you in the wetransfer loop GF, you can have a look at the full thing

It’s awesome, Guv. Take a look.

They would probably have to come up with an even better word for awesome, because it really is even more awesome than awesome. Just checked it out. The level of detail is unbelievable. Although much of it would be hard to see with clarity in the installation, it will still be there and add tons of realism to the image.

I'm super impressed, I must say! :O

GubernatorFan wrote:They would probably have to come up with an even better word for awesome, because it really is even more awesome than awesome. Just checked it out. The level of detail is unbelievable. Although much of it would be hard to see with clarity in the installation, it will still be there and add tons of realism to the image.

I know right. Everything I’ve done pales in comparison.

use a specific type of material when building their cases and frames -- and that is to preserve the artifacts, etc. from exposure to not just light, but air, and destructive chemicals.

Aha, that doesn't mean the plexiglass produces the gas or chemicals though. I've been trying to work this out as a product designer with my knowledge of materials and fundamental chemistry and I'm still not buying it, I could easily be wrong as I'm no specialist by any means but aside from any scientific evidence it just sounds dodgy and a bit of sales spiel to me. Most museums wouldn't be able to afford glass or plexiglass like that, they often can't even afford to restore or acquire items from recoveries/discoveries; sorry been watching back to back Time Team episodes (original UK series) while I work, I think I'm definitely getting old! LOL. On a side note that rotisserie BBQ is awesome! Never noticed it before, definitely reminds me of Greece where I grew up! Gyros and whole lamb on the spit, kokaretsi..mmm..delicious! That guy in the pic next to the BBQ and Jabba looks a lot like Dr. Evasan reincarnated from the Cantina in ANH! LOL I guess there were a lot of 1970's 'horseshoe' moustaches around...

Well, like I said, it could be a sales pitch, but based on the number of places I contacted about glazing, I think there might be some truth to it. Most of them offered several types of “glazing”, ranging from cheap to super expensive — the super expensive is the type commonly referred to as museum grade. My guess on the museums is since they buy more than one piece of glass, they’re probably given a much bigger discount than some fool building a Jabba diorama in his basement — who isn’t getting a discount at all, and is asking for an uncommon size.

Stryker2011 wrote:

I know right. Everything I’ve done pales in comparison.

It certainly does not pale in comparison!

Stryker2011 wrote:Well, like I said, it could be a sales pitch, but based on the number of places I contacted about glazing, I think there might be some truth to it. Most of them offered several types of “glazing”, ranging from cheap to super expensive — the super expensive is the type commonly referred to as museum grade. My guess on the museums is since they buy more than one piece of glass, they’re probably given a much bigger discount than some fool building a Jabba diorama in his basement — who isn’t getting a discount at all, and is asking for an uncommon size.

Very good point! LOL.

shovelchop81 wrote:
It certainly does not pale in comparison!

Well, I appreciate the support, Brother. Thank you.

Received the third power supply for the LED spot lights today, so I was finally able to light up both overhead lights above the band.

Looks effective and cozy!

Yep. Thanks to the photo I can see where I need to do a little repair work.

Stryker2011 wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:They would probably have to come up with an even better word for awesome, because it really is even more awesome than awesome. Just checked it out. The level of detail is unbelievable. Although much of it would be hard to see with clarity in the installation, it will still be there and add tons of realism to the image.

I know right. Everything I’ve done pales in comparison.

Naaaaaaaah no way, you put the bar so high I had to step up my game a little in fact lmao.

And yes most of this is to be in the shadow, behind the figures, so most of it will be lost, but we know it's here, and it's the purpose of a background...
And in some rare photographic moments, the low resolution or low quality of a background can sell the trick and ruin the effect quite fast, I wanted to make something sharp and clean for the eyes and matching the level of mastery of the whole dio (so my little pots and vases don't look pale, blurred, or cartoonish lol)

Btw Jabba has some solid tastes, I picked the vases from a museum catalog, they are real antic mamluk brass bottle vases from Syria, about 13th century (if I remember well)

I'll work on your characters suggestions this weekend, update to come soon!

blackpool wrote:Naaaaaaaah no way, you put the bar so high I had to step up my game a little in fact lmao.

And yes most of this is to be in the shadow, behind the figures, so most of it will be lost, but we know it's here, and it's the purpose of a background...
And in some rare photographic moments, the low resolution or low quality of a background can sell the trick and ruin the effect quite fast, I wanted to make something sharp and clean for the eyes and matching the level of mastery of the whole dio (so my little pots and vases don't look pale, blurred, or cartoonish lol)

Btw Jabba has some solid tastes, I picked the vases from a museum catalog, they are real antic mamluk brass bottle vases from Syria, about 13th century (if I remember well)

I'll work on your characters suggestions this weekend, update to come soon!

Well, you certainly know how to step up your already excellent game! And modest to a fault!
That's what I was thinking -- better have the detail and not need it, than not have it and need it. And the Mamluk jars/vases are totally appropriate for the setting -- I thought the patterns looked very realistic. Can't wait to see your next iteration of the view in all its glorious detail.

It’s all those little details that make that backdrop shine. It’s beautiful. I actually thought the vases were ones you made from the film; the Syrian ones look perfect for this setting. I still need to figure out a couple additional hookah pipes hanging from the ceiling in the dio itself.

Finished painting up the Rancor Pit Grate last night.

Nicely done!

CHEERS!

Thanks, Roger.

I agree, very nicely done. This is really coming together now.

Thanks, Guv.

At this point, I’m done with what I can do. Though I do need to make a cross-cut sled for my table saw to continue with the cabinet build.

Amazing, makes me so happy to see this coming together! Good luck with the cabinet....

Thanks, Skywalkersaga. Appreciate it.

DAMN!!!! I cant even get over how good this is looking. The paint on the Rancor pit grating is a perfect aged metal, and the texture of the sand floor is amazing. The lighting is so atmospheric. Seriously man, you are absolutely killing it on this.

Appreciate the compliment, Brother. Glad to see you back with more Radio Kings.

Stryker2011 wrote:Received the third power supply for the LED spot lights today, so I was finally able to light up both overhead lights above the band.

Man, Your palace is such a Masterpiece. When i watch this picture i hear the music in my head, and it was many Years ago i watch the movie