1/6 How it is made: DETOLF Death Star diorama

[Aliaz]

Looks great!

 

[Tee-Kay]

Nope. Not that bright in person. Camera seem to pick up a lot more light than is actually emitted

 

[DBoz]

My budget version arrived today. It is fantastic. Only took about 45 minutes to get it all setup (most of that time was spent moving stuff in and out and cleaning the cabinet). Since it is on the top shelf, it didn't really have anything supporting it on the top and I was worried about the back wall being a little wobbly and possibly falling forward over time, so I added a couple of strips of double sided tape to the back and stuck it to the Detolf support posts. It's nice and firm now.

I did manage to scratch the floor plate on mine. It's not bad and you can't see it when the figures are in place. I know the back wall is powder coated, but I was wondering if the floor was powder coated as well, or just painted. It seems like powder coat shouldn't scratch so easily. Anyway, not a major concern, just curious.

Here's a few crappy iPhone pics. And, yes, I am a stand person. I know it kind of ruins the effect of the display, but 1) I like the stands and 2) I live in earthquake country.

 

[Roders]

My budget and deluxe arrived! I've just started putting one together, they're going into a display cabinet as I don't have a detolf. Looks great so far.

 

[shadybunch]

Alright. A few days later... I am still very happy with the diorama but...

Meanwhile, i believe that the double-sided-strips were not the best solution. Probably the roof is too heavy and every day the connection becomes more spongy/loose. I am aware that this diorama is primarily intended for a installation in an Ikea Detolf. The main- and sidepanels are still quite stable. It mainly affects the upper plate.

As I mentioned a few days ago - i ordered a custom-made acrylic-display-case and got it today. The tight fit gives the diorama extra stability. I think this should fix the problem. I try to take pictures of the "box" tomorrow.

 

[hudav]

Forgive my crappy phone photo, just got a chance to set it up.

This is such an awesome piece. Thanks to Joost for giving us a chance to own it.

 

[Texas Finest]

Not the best photos in the world, but these will have to do for now. Im still waiting for my power adapter to arrive, so im using the ikea dioder lights.

 

[momaw]

Alright. A few days later... I am still very happy with the diorama but...

Meanwhile, i believe that the double-sided-strips were not the best solution. Probably the roof is too heavy and every day the connection becomes more spongy/loose. I am aware that this diorama is primarily intended for a installation in an Ikea Detolf. The main- and sidepanels are still quite stable. It mainly affects the upper plate.

As I mentioned a few days ago - i ordered a custom-made acrylic-display-case and got it today. The tight fit gives the diorama extra stability. I think this should fix the problem. I try to take pictures of the "box" tomorrow.

Don't the side panels support the roof?

 

[anwe]

And, yes, I am a stand person. I know it kind of ruins the effect of the display, but 1) I like the stands and 2) I live in earthquake country. [/QUOTE]

Since the figures can stand on their own just fine in normal conditions, can't you just use double sided tape under their feet or something? I remember reading on the forum somewhere that someone used toupe tape, very good adhesion but still very removable. I can't honestly say if it was used to tape the feet of the figures or somerthing else, but that was the first thing that came to my mind when reading it as maybe a way to keep the Sideshow figures upright without using a stand.

 

[JazzInc]

Don't the side panels support the roof?

yes that's how it's designed

 

[momaw]

yes that's how it's designed

That's what I thought.

My budget arrived. Haven't opened it but it's packaged up quite well. Looking forward to assembly this weekend.

 

[shadybunch]

Everything lined up perfect and the corner profiles with the double-sided-tape keeps the construction together. But after a few days the roof slowly sunk and it looks like this on both sides.

 

[DBoz]

Since the figures can stand on their own just fine in normal conditions, can't you just use double sided tape under their feet or something? I remember reading on the forum somewhere that someone used toupe tape, very good adhesion but still very removable. I can't honestly say if it was used to tape the feet of the figures or somerthing else, but that was the first thing that came to my mind when reading it as maybe a way to keep the Sideshow figures upright without using a stand.

Yes, you could use double sided tape to keep the feet in place, but that wouldn't prevent the figure from pivoting at the ankles and falling forward or back in the event of an earthquake. These figures are pretty stable, but like I said, I actually like the stands, so it doesn't bother me.

 

[Trunkz]

So the deluxe was to big for my Detolf, full mounted was 40cm x 40cm x 30cm.

I bought some stronger Aluminum L Profil and build it together, After this i painted The Sidepanals gray incl the Aluminum L Profil.
Today i Finished a arcylbox and Set it up, Only missing The Lights, but i ordert Already some LED remote controlled Strips.


Again sorry for the Bad english.

 

[Hoody999]

Nice effort Trunkz. Can also look great as stand alone diorama box display.

Did you buy acrylic sheets and simply drew them together for the "outer case" ? Does the front open easily ? Or does it need to be unscrewed ?

Could you post some close ups of the screw joints ? Am interested to see how you assembled this.

 

[JonEl]

Looks great!

 

[LexLuthor]

So finally got done. I managed to build it outside as well and I slid it into my detolf at the top level. Now it was two wide and the top wouldn't go down fully so what I did was shave the groves that the glass goes in on one side and It fit like a glove. Ecstatic this worked out. I also like to point out that I removed the mounting tape when I put this together and got something even stronger like the 3m double sided clear tape (10lb). I only did this because I know for sure I am not taking this diorama apart ever.

I have not decided what my final layout will be but for now, used the Darth Vader Deluxe...need to take Leia out of the box already.

 

[LexLuthor]

So the deluxe was to big for my Detolf, full mounted was 40cm x 40cm x 30cm.

I bought some stronger Aluminum L Profil and build it together, After this i painted The Sidepanals gray incl the Aluminum L Profil.
Today i Finished a arcylbox and Set it up, Only missing The Lights, but i ordert Already some LED remote controlled Strips.

Again sorry for the Bad english.

This is Superb. Looks excellent

 

[James426]

I'm jealous of you guys I just couldn't fit it into the shelf without issues.

I will say I'm aweful at this kind of stuff lol.

The biggest challenge was the width with the aluminum rails attached. It was just too tight.

I ended up only using the top and bottom railings (that attach to the back wall) and skipped anything on the sides that would make it too wide. I used black gorilla tape as a replacement for these side railings and so far it's doing the trick (albeit it's not as pretty/clean on the outside).

I took the advice of some of the members and actually built it outside of the detolf and eventually slide it through the top of the detolf (with the detolf lid removed).

No pics yet but it all worked out

Jazz thanks again for this diorama and your overall contribution to the 1/6 community. This thing looks AMAZING!

 

[JazzInc]

I'm jealous of you guys I just couldn't fit it into the shelf without issues.

I will say I'm aweful at this kind of stuff lol.

The biggest challenge was the width with the aluminum rails attached. It was just too tight.

I ended up only using the top and bottom railings and skipped anything on the sides that would make it too wide. I used black gorilla tape as a replacement for these side railings and so far it's doing the trick (albeit it's not as pretty/clean on the outside).

I took the advice of some of the members and actually built it outside of the detolf and eventually slide it through the top of the detolf (with the detolf lid removed).

No pics yet but it all worked out

Jazz thanks again for this diorama and your overall contribution to the 1/6 community. This thing looks AMAZING!

Thanks man, though I have to say I am totally amazed at the variety in the dimensions of the IKEA DETOLFs out there. Since with all my other IKEA stuff from years apart keep fitting when I fit a replacement part, I wasn't expecting this at all. I have more than enough with and height left in my two DETOLFs I tried it. Anyway, we will be building different construction from now on to make it more universal.