Well, here goes. I decided to make a work in progress thread for the G1 ARK diorama I've started. I figured I would post it in a way that keeps a tally of how much it will cost to make this, as well as show the steps I'll take to create it as I go. I posted this mock-up in another thread, but this picture shows the BASIC layout of how I envision this diorama to be. It's going to be huge, roughly 8 feet by 4 feet by 3 feet tall to accommodate the CHUG size figures for display. The first section on the left will be the interior of the Ark, with a Teletraan-1, a med-bay and LED lights throughout the tunnel to the outside on the right. The middle section will be the mountain and the Ark itself, and the section on the right will be the road leading to the Ark with room for larger figure display. The first thing I did was try to find a flat, sturdy board that would act as a base to build upon. Since I plan on building this in 3 sections that seamlessly come together, I wanted something lightweight, inexpensive, but absolutely rigid and hard enough that there would be no bowing or bending whatsoever. After looking online I found the perfect thing: At the local Home Depot they have 4'X8' 1/2" thick MDF board. They are even nice enough to cut it into 3rd's in the store for no charge. Next, I got 3 rubber totes of various sizes. I happened to have extra at home, but they are pretty cheap, around $3.00 to 4.00 apiece at various stores. Earthrise Grapple is my construction assistant shown for scale: Next, I got some foam board for a few bucks at Target to build the Ark with. I will probably end up getting more, but started with two 22"x28" pieces. Next, I watched a ton of videos on what kind of different material to use for the bulk of the mountain. I decided on using Spray Foam for the bulk of the rock face. These will be used and glued to the base frame that the rubbermaid totes will provide. I also searched for the right kind of glue for the foam. If you're not careful, certain kinds will actually disintegrate the foam. Don't want that. Next, I have a limited supply of cardstock I was able to print out years ago of the Ark files that Mandingo Rex made available. These will line the inside of the Ark base, walls, floors, etc. Back when I had Photoshop, I made a few custom ones with windows showing the rock on the other side: And that's where I am now. My next step is to look at spray paints that will work on the foam, plastic, etc. and then start anchoring the totes to the base. So far, the total cost is: 4'x8' MDF Board: $21.25 2 packs of silicone adhesive: $9.14 2 packs of spray foam: $7.56 2 sheets of foam board: $5.98 Sales tax: $3.01 Total cost so far: $46.94
Wow! This will be a pretty massive project. Good luck. You want to use acrylic paints unless you cover the foam with plaster ( to smooth out). Enamel will eat the foam.
Made a few adjustments to the overall size of the Ark itself. I decided to make it larger, but more hidden in the mountain. The tunnel leading into and out of the Ark will be roughly 8" H x 8" W x 17" L. I want it large enough for Voyager class figures to walk in. I will probably have to scratch build it, so that I can drill holes for LED lights to illuminate it. I found some spray paints to work on the Ark and the mountain for future use. My next step will be to get some 1/4" screws and use those and glue to set the tubs firmly in place.
At the back of the volcano I'm going to have the interior of part of the Ark. I plan on having the closer container tub be more than or less hollow, for 2 reasons, one so that I can have access to the LED lights and control box so I can change batteries, and two so that I can potentially have a partial cave for the Dinobots. There was a Custom Ark done a few years ago I saw on YouTube where they had a light up top to the volcano. As cool as that is, because my diorama will be larger, I really won't have a traditional "top" to the volcano. It will just go up and level out.
Interesting. I had seen the printed off wall with the rocks sticking through the window and wondered about the dinobot cave.
Originally I had a cardboard printout to assemble on cardstock for Teletraan-1, but for the life of me I can't find it. And I don't have the capability to print one out for free like I used to. I may just buy one of the 3rd Party ones, or build one from scratch. That will be one of the last things I put in at the end of the project though.
Made a little more progress today. Cut the cave/Dinobot/LED access entrance of the tote. After that was done, I glued the two Rubbermaid totes to the base, and then screwed them securely into place using 1/4" gutter screws, since the threading was better and it had a flat head. Once those were in place, I started measuring out the foam board panels into three 8.5"x15" sections to build the Ark's entrance tunnel. I used heavy-duty Gorilla Tape to build the tunnel itself and then put it in place along with a floor panel for position. (Gorilla Tape worked great, but be very careful, once it touched the foam board it was permanent. If you try to take it off to readjust, it will rip the foam board apart. Measuring is your friend.) My next step will be to secure the tunnel in place and start lining the walls with the Ark paper, along with some details and lighting.
Made a trip to the local hobby store and picked up more supplies today. Started cutting and measuring the Ark panels for the tunnel. Once those were ready, I laid some glue down and secured them to the tunnel. Next, I started drilling holes for the mini LED lights I picked up on sale. Then it was a matter of taping two of them together and using the gorilla tape to secure them in place. I couldn't find any battery powered LED lights I liked, so I went with some I found on sale that plug in. I'm going to set up this tunnel in such a way that if I change my mind down the road, I can switch them out. I have a plan to hide the plug as well. Now that the tunnel is more or less done, I can switch my focus to securing the larger rubbermaid tote on top of the other two and prepping the mountain.
Last update for a few days. I drilled holes in the top rubber tote and secured it to the bottom two using a mix of adhesive epoxy and threaded screws with a fastening nut. When I was at the hobby store the other day I picked up corrugated plastic board. Relatively cheap and lightweight, it's also paintable and more durable than cardboard. More importantly, it's bendable. This is what I will be using for the curved rear section of the exposed Ark. My next step was to trace the outline of the Ark where the plastic would go. Then it was the painstaking process of cutting the slot for the plastic Ark frame into the rubber totes. I decided to do this using a box cutter blade. I didn't want to use a saw, for fear the vibration might loosen the adhesive. Then it was time to do a rough fitting for placement. I will have to add a small section of plastic in the upper and lower right sides. Now that the basic frame is in place, my next step in the next week will be to measure and frame out the rest of the rear of the ship and assemble it. Then I will have to work on gluing and fastening it securely to the totes. My progress so far: I also had to pick up a bunch more supplies the last week. Those were: 2 packages of LED lights: $23.98 2 more pieces of 20"×30" foam board: $5.98 1 piece of 1/2" thick 20"x30" foam board: $6.99 3 pieces of corrugated plastic board: $13.47 Assorted sharpie markers and small model paints: $10.00 Rustoleum spray paints: $8.19 Gorilla tape: $12.36 Snap knife: $1.97 Screws and nuts: $6.00 Grand total project cost so far: $135.88 My original goal was to keep this project cost around $150ish. I have a few ideas for parts to the Ark (Thrusters, details, etc.) using common household items that won't cost me a penny. Some things I already had around the house, others I had to just go out and buy. But I think the bulk of the spending is mostly done. Now it will be time to get creative.
This project is coming along nicely. Are the totes going to be hollow or will they be rooms/ storage? I bet those containers that Oats come in would work good for thruster tubes.
