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View Full Version : How To - GIJoe Pit Exterior Building! Woot!

fifthconspiracy
11-29-2009, 02:40 PM
A totally amateur how-to on creating a hardened concrete bunker. I am totally flying by the seat of my pants here and pretty much have no idea what in the hell I am doing. Comments always welcome.

Ok, first off, my apologies for the missing pics from my previous how-tos (from like almost 2 years ago). I let my personal virtual hosting account lapse and never did get the data etc. If you are interested, you can find most of the pics on my flickr account here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fifthconspiracy/collections/72157605011989469/

Anyways, onto some new dio-building action!

Having been inspired by the SDCC 09 photos of the GI Joe Pit display, I decided to embark on my own concrete bunker-style building. I decided that thin plywood from a hobby store was a good building material (foam board crossed my mind, but I have yet to see anyone truly work detailed wonders with it). And for a bottom dio base, I went with an old piece of thick plywood (as there will be no dirt or grass etc).

Here's the start, Chuckles is checking for head-room clearance:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3858329582_5dfea0ae04.jpg


Totally making this up with my table saw and a hack saw as I go. Working with super-thin plywood and making accurate small cuts is difficult.... Vader9900 noted that a small scroll-saw would be the proper tool to use. I may still pick one up...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/3858329362_4dbfc28b60.jpg


Using super-thin plywood, adding on the blocks... going for the general look of the SDCC diorama display. And you'll notice I lost the third window... I wanted more wall space to work with. Looking good. Paint app with texture or hammered finish should give it the desired texture.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/3858329130_7f96c3a585.jpg


Onto the paint!

Woot!

Cheers! ~ Paul.
Flatline
11-29-2009, 02:55 PM
It's about time you threw down some more of these....maybe now I can get off my duff from football 80's cartoons and the internet porn and be inspired to make new sets.....MAYBE ;)
fifthconspiracy
11-29-2009, 03:09 PM
[QUOTE=Flatline]...maybe now I can get off my duff from football 80's cartoons and the internet porn and be inspired to make new sets.....MAYBE ;)[/QUOTE]

Football and 80's cartoons sure... but let's not be too drastic with Internet porn. Ease out of it...

Cheers! ~ Paul.
Flatline
11-29-2009, 03:16 PM
[QUOTE=fifthconspiracy]Football and 80's cartoons sure... but let's not be too drastic with Internet porn. Ease out of it...

Cheers! ~ Paul.[/QUOTE]
Baby steps my brotha...baby steps.
Sonneilon
11-29-2009, 03:35 PM
I'm curious as to how this will look in the end.
fifthconspiracy
11-29-2009, 04:04 PM
Added some paint... now there's a method to my madness. The building will not stay red! I just happened to have a 5 year old can of red speckled spray paint lying around... and I wanted the texture.

I will be going over the building in various greys... and adding some darker washes to the edges of each "block" on the wall. We'll see. I may change my mind in the end and spray-bomb the whole thing ;-)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4144816407_de5eeb8538.jpg


It's getting there!

Cheers! ~ Paul.
fifthconspiracy
12-01-2009, 11:25 PM
Using acrylic paints, I started with a good coat of light grey, followed with a dark grey, then a very dark grey... and then finally a light grey again. My son, who is 9, assisted in the paint application. Involve the kids I always say...

In these photos, the paint was just applied a few moments ago, so it should mellow out when it dries. The sticks on the catwalk will be for the railing. Going to go with a rusted look for the railing.

Anywho, coming along nicely.

Cheers! ~ Paul.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/4151835187_cf266d7e5b.jpg

Woot!
Flatline
12-02-2009, 08:02 AM
WOOT, WOOT Looking fresh 5th!!
The L.O.C.
12-03-2009, 06:29 PM
Looking good so far! Can't wait to see the finished product you do great work.
fifthconspiracy
12-04-2009, 12:12 AM
Thanks guys... it's coming along... doing the details work now, adding electrical conduit on the exterior etc. Will have take some more pics this weekend. Too many xmas parties I had to attend this week ;-)

LOC - are you the dude with that crazy huge GIJoe base on Hisstank? If you are, man that thing is looking wicked awesome. Looking forward to seeing how you progress on that monster dio.

Cheers! ~ Paul.
silencer
12-04-2009, 05:10 PM
Whoah, that's cool! I can't wait to see the shots you take with it
fifthconspiracy
12-05-2009, 12:39 AM
Finished the paint and the railing. Added the electrical conduit with junction boxes (not yet finished).

It's progress folks... lots more to do!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4159146883_be152aec2e.jpg

Cheers! ~ Paul.
The L.O.C.
12-05-2009, 07:50 AM
[QUOTE=fifthconspiracy]Thanks guys... it's coming along... doing the details work now, adding electrical conduit on the exterior etc. Will have take some more pics this weekend. Too many xmas parties I had to attend this week ;-)

LOC - are you the dude with that crazy huge GIJoe base on Hisstank? If you are, man that thing is looking wicked awesome. Looking forward to seeing how you progress on that monster dio.

Cheers! ~ Paul.[/QUOTE]

Yup, it's me. This is looking really cool, as always! What did you use for the conduit? Dowels and small wood blocks?
Flatline
12-05-2009, 08:15 AM
Way cool It's looking Great [SIZE=5]WOOT WOOT!!![/SIZE]
fifthconspiracy
12-05-2009, 10:29 AM
Working on the ladder to the catwalk now....

Yup, it's me. This is looking really cool, as always! What did you use for the conduit? Dowels and small wood blocks?

Thanks! Yes, just thin wood dowel with wooden blocks. Not exactly super-detailed, but a few "greebles" helps the realism a little. It would be easy to get carried away with adding copious amounts of details, but then I'm concerned it will look too busy for the photos I plan on taking ;-)

Cheers! ~ Paul.
Tracker
12-16-2009, 09:39 PM
incredible just incredible
Rambo
12-17-2009, 03:50 AM
Super nice!
fifthconspiracy
12-17-2009, 07:27 PM
I call this one done!

Since the last pics, I added the ladder, a sign, some more electrical conduit and touched up the paint in a few areas...

All in all, we feel it turned out quite awesomesauce. Your thoughts?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2513/4194346176_8ccbc4597a.jpg

Thanks for your comments guys, much appreciated. Now my son and I have to dream up some action scene to put this diorama to good use!

Cheers! ~ Paul.
Flatline
12-17-2009, 07:49 PM
[SIZE=6][COLOR=Red]WOOOT WOOOOOT!!!!![/COLOR][/SIZE] Amazing stuff where can I put my order in for two?
WildBill
01-13-2010, 09:29 PM
Just saw this. Awesome!