The long awaited "Lunar Terrain" Diorama Bases Simon Mercs has been trying to get produced for over a year now, is finally reality and ready to be made in quantity! Hewent through a lot of hoops and hurdles as some of you may know. The Prototype pictures are still showing it in "the rough", but it will give you the idea of it's enormity. Measuring 15 inches by 15 inches, the possibilities are endless and will work on a heck of a lot of kits. It can be sanded, drilled, painted to suit any decor required, and has a hollow section underneath to allow lighting or sound, whatever you desire! Add a little foilage and shrubbery, ( ..."a shrubbery you say?") you've got a fantastic display for the Spindrift. Paint it white and texture it like snow, you have got the Planet Hoth, and yes, I will do one like this to show those AT-AT's in the ultra cool scene from "Empire....". How about using the Ertl Runabout on it too? Pics are now posted today, and a big Thank You to AW Studios for finally getting it done right! Pics can be seen on the product page of Strange Stuff Studios (http://www.strangestuffstudios.com/) today. We are looking forward to comments on this new release.

Simon Mercs, of The Kit Factory (http://www.simonmercs.biz/) will be going to yet another surgery on his left leg; shattered years ago during hurricane cleanup. 3 ops within 2 years so far, hope they get it right this time. Simon will be away from the workbench for a little while, but as soon as he can hop again, back to work he goes! Any questions over the weekend of 8/11 through at least 8/14 can be directed to me, Jack Brunner, at either Fuzznoggincreations (http://www.fuzznoggincreations.com/) or the "info@strangestuffstudios.com (http://www.strangestuffstudios.com/)" email.

A speedy recovery is in order for Simon Mercs.

Jack

New Lexan Presentation bases have arrived at Strange Stuff Studios. They can be seen at:

Strange Stuff Studios (http://www.strangestuffstudios.com/one.htm)

Jack

The long awaited Sci-Fi base is now photographed and available to view at: Strange Stuff Studios (http://www.strangestuffstudios.com/one.htm)
:cool:
Enjoy,

Jack

Strange Stuff Studios (http://www.strangestuffstudios.com)
FuzznogginCreations (http://www.fuzznoggincreations.com)

Just posted pics on the New Website thread fokkerpilot! In the "Star Trek modeling....." section, check these out! Some high quality pics to be released soon! But these are pretty decent and will give you a good idea if you have not yet visited the site....

http://www.strangestuffstudios.com/MountainJ2.jpg

More pics in the other section's thread....

Man I could sculpt something better. Looks like a big cake with a lot of frosting on it to me.

It would just be cheaper to sculpt this out of foam and paint it wouldn't it? Why waste the money?

From the posts that I saw before, it looks like both Simon and Jack don't like compitition. It's always going to be there there boys, like it or not. :tongue:

Well genius, it's spelled "competition" by the way, you spell like a very, very messed up guy from up north, who had the chance to do just that, and blew it. You joined this site just days ago, went right for our thread, posted one post, (Your first and only), to attack our Base posting, and got banned. Sounds like you didn't like the competition that was "out there" more than anyone, and with a bit more venom than normal, slight to medium grudge I think. There's only very few guys who are on that list, should be easy to figure out with a little detective work. You ever hear of "slander"? You go right ahead and make better stuff to your hearts content. I accept competition, it's what drives you to be better and grow, it's competitors who resort to this kind of "bad-mouthing" tactics I have a problem with. Prove it, big mouth, make a better version, post it, so I can bad-mouth it too. With that attitude, your no competiton at all, never were, and never will be. Oh, thats right, your banned,...gee.... guess you can't post squat! Oh well, no great loss to the model building community. You, and your lovely attitude have a swell day now! Better get going on that better version, since your so talented and all....

http://www.strangestuffstudios.com/Landscape.jpg


Here's an eye level picture from the left quadrant of the Base done in a "Mountain Terrain" version. Notice the way it looks like the Mountains are a long way off in the distance? That's Stage trick called a "False Perspective", often used on real sets on stages with small proportions. By dropping the Mountains slightly behind the flat "Platform/Plateau" area, you create the illusion of depth beyond what is actually there. Lighting also plays an important role how well you can fool the eye. As I said before, this is a true stage/set, just very small, but still using the same techniques that many TV shows and Theater productions used then, and still today. CG has replaced many of the ways things are shown now, but these concepts are integrated in all CG programs. So take a look at the "Big cake with the frosting on it"... :p


I have been promised some clear, professional images with a landed Klingon Bird of Prey, and a Voyager with Gear down as well, and many other cool builds, but I'm still waiting on those. Will post them as soon as I get them. I realize these pictures are a bit fuzzy, none of us are great photographers, and they are not the final posts on these items. Cake anyone?

the possibilities for these bases is unlimited superb work simon.

the possibilities for these bases is unlimited superb work simon.
Thanks Bert! One thing though, the special introductory price is good only for a few more days, 149.95, plus 39.95 shipping and handling, lasts until 9/4/06 on all pre-orders. At that time, the units will be in stock and ship out when orders come in and Bases go up to 174.95 plus 39.95 shipping and handling. The 10% off offer to site members also expires 9/4/06, so if you were kind of waiting around, don't wait much longer! These items use high quality resin and are time consuming to produce, not cheap to create. Just a word to the wise, and all you guys were the first to know. So if you want "your cake and eat it too", this the best deal on these items you'll ever have on them. Sorry, I just couldn't resist one more cake pun......:)

So if you want "your cake and eat it too", this the best deal on these items you'll ever have on them. Sorry, I just couldn't resist one more cake pun......
sounds like a "SWEET DEAL" LOL

So if you want "your cake and eat it too", this the best deal on these items you'll ever have on them. Sorry, I just couldn't resist one more cake pun......
sounds like a "SWEET DEAL" LOL
Until 9/4/06, I'm almost giving them away to get people to see how nice these realy are, "sweet as cake", oh God another pun!!!! So sorry....couldn't resist!....:)

an underwater scene for the seaview or flying sub

pirate ship maybe ?

pirate ship maybe ?
Why not! Little Mermaids, Godzilla, a Smurf Village, whatever, it's the size and the way you can detail any kind of theme with it that makes it so versatile! Now let's talk modeling, I'm starting to feel like an infomercial.....

Anybody out there that visits my Kit Factory site download that little set of film clips I had posted about 8 months ago, of the small 9 inch Wilco Martian War Machine I made? I had a PC go splat a few months ago and lost some image files. I know some of you like to keep snippets off different sites, no big deal, unless your selling them! I would really appreciate it if you could e-mail me those clip files if you happen to have them. I asked fokkerpilot about them, but I haven't heard back from him. Any of those big Martian War Machines I made over the last 3 years or so, if you have those clips, I lost those too! Just got the hope that someone may have saved them for reference. I hate it when that happens, PC just decides, "today is a good day to die", and wham!

Well 'ol Papa is going to sponsor this section again, I just like hanging around here, and the free cake is yummy! Hank should have all this updated soon. So do visit the new website so I can pay the bill! Thanks all!

(Sorry Bert, I just couldn't stop myself!) :)

sounds like a "SWEET DEAL" lol
http://sporttruckworld.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/cake.gif (javascript:emoticon(':cake');)

sounds like a "SWEET DEAL" lol
http://sporttruckworld.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/cake.gif (javascript:emoticon(':cake');)
...STOP IT!!!!....it's turning into a running gag, we could all go insane and get no cake!!!! ...Oh God...it's already too late...... :eek:

:jest: Lol ok back to business

heres something i thought you may like simon !

heres something i thought you may like simon !
Awesome, been looking for one of those! Thanks dude!

Awesome, been looking for one of those! Thanks dude!
my pleasure

Hey Bert, go to the info page on the Kit Factory site, scroll down a bit to the picture of me sitting at my desk. Who's the little fellow dancing on my desk?

;)

That looks GREAT simon, glad i could find him and send him to you. looks great on your desk !!!!
Bert

OK,this one's insane Bert! Go to the Contact Page, on the Kit Factory site, and look at the picture where I'm sitting down in front of my Wall Unit. The secret is out, it's the Smurfs that build the models!! There's hundreds of them living under the house in these weird little "Mushroom" houses, it's freaky dude! I just run the show, and get the supplies. :jest:

"they're taking over the entire ship captain "! but they do look good simon.

"they're taking over the entire ship captain "! but they do look good simon.
I think they're a riot! Thanks again for the file. I've been looking for one that was on a now defunct site. They are similar Smurfs, but they're chasing each other armed with Star Trek TOS Phaser II's! Never been able to find those.....

when i saw the smurf, i just had to get it for you.

Well it's appreciated Bert, cool little image. Let's get back to modeling!

I will be getting a supply of the Bases in early next week, and plan on using one to do some "experimenting", most of the rest are to fill pre-orders. I really want to do a Sea bottom version with the Flying Sub, and Seaview. Got to get some plastic Aquarium plants to make it look authentic, then paint those and try to simulate the vegetation that was commonly seen on "Voyage...". I'll be posting that Diorama as soon as I get some time to do a session with it. Any other suggestions, anyone? You can have some input on this version. A "Hobby Talk Members/Kit factory" version! Might be interesting to see what you guys have to add. A good site link for Aquarium stuff would be helpful, images of the vegetation off an episode in color, you can kind of get the idea how one uses reference material in modeling and prop building by going through these steps with me.

I hearing that Hampster Dance music when I look at all those smurfs!

www.hampsterdance.com (http://www.hampsterdance.com)

here simon , try this
http://www.pets-warehouse.com/aquacart/artificial_plants.htm

here is my 100 Gallon amazon aquarium as an example of "aquascaping a scene"

here simon , try this
http://www.pets-warehouse.com/aquacart/artificial_plants.htm
Good site link Bert, now we get some tall "Sea Algae" looking ones, short "Bush" type ones, and we'll figure out arrangements on the Base when they arrive.

I hearing that Hampster Dance music when I look at all those smurfs!

www.hampsterdance.com (http://www.hampsterdance.com)
I agree hieki! Thanks for the link, those hamsters are all on meth if you ask me! My little Smurf army are all serious Coffee drinkers! :p

i went over here to petco and they have some saltwater plastic plants that look like the seaweed plants that were on voyage to the bottom of the sea. i think they are called sea cabbage. if you look at the picture of my 100 Gallon tropical tank, i have Amazon sword plants from south america and 2 pieces of drift wood from malaysia. they also have those sword plants made in plastic and come in 3 different sizes.

http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/attachment.php?attachmentid=32909&stc=1&thumb=1 (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/attachment.php?attachmentid=32909)

picture shows better in the post above

We have a Petco here, I'll check that out!

see if these show

i will e mail them to you, they come in colors like pink , blue, etc. they also have fake corals of all kinds in irwin allen style colors so that would be helpful.http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/7/7119800321A.jpg

or something like this

http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/7/7119800156A.jpg

here is a blue one
http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/7/7119800322A.jpg

or green
http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/7/7119800166A.jpg

this is good bottom cover
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-85300140756196_1909_106186746 (http://www.aquariumguys.com/breedinggrass.html)

one last one
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-85300140756196_1912_98756722 (http://www.aquariumguys.com/anemone1.html)

Those are all good Bert, well done! OK, now we need tall wispy leafy ones like Kelp undersea "forests", those were always prominent in Irwins Sea bottom dioramas! Anybody can participate, if you can beat Bert to it! :p

We're also still missing some color episode clips of various "Voyage..." show Sea bottoms. Now, I have reference material, but I'm trying to give you an idea how you gather this stuff up for a project. Anybody got those to add yet? It's sort of a recipe were doing here, need all our "ingredients" before we can cook. Once we get all the stuff together, we're actually going to use it all to create a new Diorama version of the Base ! Then the results will be posted to show how all of it came together. Thought this would be fun, and show exactly how it's done.

heres onehttp://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0002AQIP4.01-AKBEEAREXEMT3._SCMZZZZZZZ_V1099065764_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002AQIP4/sr=1-430/qid=1157320151/ref=sr_1_430/104-6534327-0574335?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=&s=&v=glance)

and anotherhttp://www.pets-warehouse.com/pic-a/AIOSG17.JPG (http://www.pets-warehouse.com/Vpasp/shopexd.asp?id=112721)

Perfect! Those will do nicely, were these also found at the link you supplied? When I order this stuff, I need to know which site, and stock/item numbers. Post that so anyone can follow what we did, this is an interactive project. This method can be applied to any project, so if your a diorama builder, you may want to join in. It's not Rocket Science, but later, when we have all our "stuff" together, I'll impart some more interesting techniques on this type of project.

there are some sea weed and long kelp plants that have the pointed edges on the leaves, i see them in the store at pet smart and petco. they just don't show all of them on the website. they are a pale green and some are made out of silk material and look very real. hope this helps

More than anyone else Bert, thanks. Let's see if anyone else has something to contribute to the project.