by generalsjoes | Sep 23, 2009 | Behind the Curtain, Dio-Stories, G.I. Joe
Throughout the week I’ve been burning the midnight oil working on the COBRA Foyer for the Darkness Falls dio-story, and am happy to report that I’m pretty much done. Pretty much all I have left is to glue some stones on the third arch, and maybe clean up some of the white foamcore showing through. Besides that, I think I’m happy where I’m at.
Now, I’ve started work on the COBRA Comm Center, which is a computer console room. My initial plans kind of went out the window unfortunately as Michael’s apparently no longer carries the “Texture Copper” scrap book paper by ProvoCraft. 🙁
So, I had to adjust those plans a bit, but construction is still going forward on that one. Check out the gallery below for the most recent progress pics on the COBRA Foyer.
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by generalsjoes | Sep 17, 2009 | Behind the Curtain, Dio-Stories, G.I. Joe
It’s been a bit of a challenge getting time aside to continue construction on the COBRA Foyer, but slowly but surely it’s coming together. Sure, some of the seams are visible in the rock wall, but that will be easily resolved with Photoshop during post-production.
Base is all foamcore, with scrapbook paper walls and floor, plus a catwalk constructed out of balsa wood, bass wood, and some black paint. The latest treasure trove I found was at a hobby store…AM Models produces an HO Scale “stone wall” that comes in pieces to be assembled, and I used those small stones as the stones surrounding the arches, which came out pretty nicely, I think. I also included some figure pictures for scale. Some serious hot glue clean up is required before I wrap this all up.
Left to complete is the two doors, stone trim around the base of the walls, and a pair of stone columns in the middle of the floor. I need some COBRA wall decorations and some other little trimming. It’s not stellar, but it’ll work.
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by generalsjoes | Sep 15, 2009 | Behind the Curtain, Dio-Stories, G.I. Joe
Production is continuing hot and heavy on the next monster Dio-Story installment, Darkness Falls. I’ve torn through set construction fairly nicely, getting the large COBRA Foyer about 75% done, and writing up concepts (and working on budgets… :shifty: ) for the last two sets required for the story. I’ve already edited the story considerably to eliminate one of the more complicated set pieces that seemed unnecessary, and have further tweaked the script.
I really think folks will like this one…until the ending at least. I have a couple things that might piss some folks off. We’ll see. 🙂
Anyway. I’m looking for your input, GeneralsJoes readers. I’ve launched a poll at MisterPoll.com trying to decide a few things. The first thing up for debate: Figure format.
My dio-stories have always been strictly old school o-ring (well, “old school” meaning new sculpts up through 2005), mainly because the Anniversary/Modern Era stuff wasn’t around yet. But I have a number of newer figures (prior to the Rise of COBRA stuff, that’s being reserved for the “next chapter” if there will be one) that I really want to use. But I want to get a barometer for what folks want to see. So, give me your input. Check out the poll below and let me know your thoughts.
by generalsjoes | Sep 14, 2009 | Dio-Stories, G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe accessory entrepreneur Joe Harris has been working on some pretty awesome products kind of quietly, but it’s about time I made some noise for him. I mentioned his great site a while ago by focusing on his excellent COBRA Missile Headquarters plastic replica, but he’s branched out quite a bit and is doing some other items as well over at DJToys.com.
One of the cooler items is a “Pit Replacement Set” which takes a number of the cardboard items that come with the Rise of COBRA Pit Playset and reproduce it in better material. Along with that is the awesome Pit Crate, which is very affordable ($3.50) and does an awesome job giving the diorama enthusiast some fodder for scenery.
Along with these, are the DJToys Display Backgrounds (which I will be reviewing shortly) that are very cool little display pieces for various scenes that go on your shelves, and with the increasing amount of displayability in G.I. Joe toys over the past few years, these are some very cool items.
Joe is one of the friendliest and most devoted Joe fans I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Everyone should at least give some of this stuff a shot. The material is great, the product is very nicely made, and the prices are right! Best of all, it’s cool stuff. Hit up DJToys here.
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by generalsjoes | Sep 12, 2009 | Behind the Curtain, Dio-Stories, G.I. Joe
So I really want to keep folks in the loop as production begins (or continues as the case may be) for my final dio-story installment, Darkness Falls. Well, over the past few days I’ve begun design and production on one of the various diorama sets that are required for the story.
One of the main focus points of the story features a battle in an underground cavern converted into a base of operations. Obviously, without giving too much away, I wanted to just sort of show off where I am so far. I did some rough sketches of what I wanted, based on what the story called for, plus what my dio building capabilities are. I am NOT an expert by a long shot. In fact, I’d say everything I know I just stole from Capolan over on JoeCustoms, and I don’t do it nearly as well as he does.
Regardless, for better or worse, I’m pressing forward and just hoping what I come up with is good enough to not draw anyone out of the story, since the sets are merely a compliment to the story itself. They should not be the focus.
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This is the very rough, early stages. For what you see above, the following was required:
- 3 Sheets of Foamcore (30″ long by 20″ wide)
- Scrapbook Paper – Nostalgiques “Rough Pavement” (for the floor)
- Scrapbook Paper – ProvoCraft “Texture Copper” (for the walls)
- Glue Stick (for the scrapbook paper to the foamcore)
- Hot Glue Gun (for gluing the foamcore together)
Both scrapbook paper patterns were found at a Michael’s Craft Store.
I did some rough measuring, leaving the foamcore at 30″ long, since a lot of action takes place on scene. Cut down the back and side walls a bit, and then cut the door designs using a straight edge and a roll of packing tape. :shifty: Very important to have a sharp knife blade to cut clean, and another VERY important thing is to cut straight down through the foamcore, and not on an angle. You want as clean and straight an edge as possible for the hot glue to seam.
So I cut each sheet and marked it as needed, then glued the back and two sides to the bottom to get the frame for the typical “3 wall stage” set up. Obviously you keep on wall either off or removable so you have a place to shoot pictures. I’ve found that gluing to the outside of the bottom frame creates a more durable seal as well (instead of gluing everything to the top of it and using it as a true base).
Then I took another piece of foamcore and cut it down to match the height of the others, and cut out the arches (again using the straight edge and trusty packing tape). I put the scrapbook paper down on the base and the two walls partially in preparation of the other wall.
And that’s pretty much it so far. This doesn’t take very long, and really, it’s almost more a matter of finding the right material rather than the work itself. Measure twice, cut once. :shifty:
Some folks have also expressed interest in seeing my collection and my work area, so I shot a few pics of that, too, while doing pictures for the in progress diorama shots. It’s a mess, and it’s in my garage, which is unfortunately unheated (so it’s tough to work out there a couple months out of the year), but it gives me a nice space to spread out and do some work. It’s also the only place I currently have to showcase my Joe stuff, though it’s not as nicely displayed as I’d like. Check these pics out below…the screw drawers are all full of vintage Real American Hero figures. On the other wall of the garage I have about 25 or so other cabinets as well.
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by generalsjoes | Sep 10, 2009 | Behind the Curtain, Dio-Stories, G.I. Joe
Long title, simple concept.
When I announced my Rise of COBRA mini dio-story project earlier this week, I mentioned that I had a finale in mind when I initially produced my dio-stories…a clear beginning and an end. What I didn’t necessarily mention was that I have actually already written the end. I have it down on paper, I know what happens, what’s next, and how I might transition to a Rise of COBRA/Pursuit of COBRA universe, if that is my intention. Click the Read the rest of the story link below to continue on…
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