"TUSKEN RAIDER CAMP DIORAMA TUTORIAL" created by Elias

So for school, I was recently given an assignment where I had to create a blog explaining the process of adopting a new skill and putting it into practice.  I had hoped I could have written a blog about anything since I had seven years of experience writing this one.  Although that would have given me an unfair advantage over my peers if all I had to do was some copy and paste to get my assignment done. Therefore, I decided to try my hand at something closely related to creating my own action figures, I figured I'd tackle learning how to make a Star Wars diorama.  

You would have thought for as long as I've been writing this blog, that I would have tried it at least once, but we never really had the space in the house to both build and display a large scale piece. Dad once made a small display piece for a few of our Star Wars Rebels action figures, but that is about all we ever attempted and I wasn't even home for that build.

I have a feeling that this may be the only diorama that I do.  Not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I have no idea where I'm going to even put this one now that it is completed.  I probably should have went a little smaller on this build.

Nevertheless, I learned quite a bit making this diorama. By the time I finished, I realized I acquired more than just one skill, but I added several new ones to my skill set.  I learned how to use plaster of paris bandages, installation and utilization of LED lighting in a display, and ways I could create an uneven surface in my display base with a variety of mediums I never used before.

I have to give a shout out to Frank D'iorio's Diorama Workshop website for providing me with a great step by step explanation on how to fabricate the outer shell of the Tusken Raider Hut.  I took it a step further and fleshed out the inside too, complete with tusked supports wrapped in real leather bindings, fur rugs, and a metal fireplace with light effects.

On top of that I had to make my first video tutorial explaining the entire build process in great detail so viewers could recreate my final result.  Dad even taught me a few tricks in post production as I edited what I had filmed.

But enough talk, watch my tutorial!

"TUSKEN RAIDER CAMP DIORAMA"

created by Elias

View inside the Tusken Raider hut. Real leather straps were used to accent the hand sculpted tusks that were painted and then used to simulate the hut's supports.

 A metal electrical fitting was used to construct the fireplace.

 Rugs and wall hangings were made from a furry fabric to simulate animal hides.

SKILL LEVEL: ADVANCED

BACKGROUND IMAGE:

_Pixelpiper. Star Wars Tatooine Landscape. Digital image. Flickr.com. Flickr.com, 13 July 2013.   

     Web. 29 Apr. 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelpiper/9280370598/sizes/o/.

DARTH DADDY's CUSTOMIZING CORNER: DioramaWorkshop.com

Darth Daddy's Customizing Corner featured The Diorama Workshop in his latest post over at The Star Wars Underworld.

CLICK HERE TO READ

With Celebration right around the corner, I can't help but get excited about one of Celebration's best attractions...The Diorama Workshop. The formal announcements have been made and The Diorama Workshop will be returning for Celebration Anaheim. The event has been a staple attraction at past Celebrations. The event lasts the entire duration of Celebration.  It's a giant team build for everyone who wants to participate.  Past builds were really amazing. Last Celebration a Jabba's Sail Barge was constructed.  All was built in the traditional 3 3/4" scale.  

The theme this time around is Bespin. The Diorama Workshop will be more ambitious then ever with THREE (3) full levels of Bespin hallways, reactor cores, and prison cells.  They will be addressing the set all the way to the peaks of the skyscrapers outside in the skyline. There will be something for beginners as well as advanced diorama masters.  The booth will be 60x60 feet of building space for the fans and 20 feet x 32 feet for tables used in the final display. For the first time EVER, The Diorama Workshop will be displayed INSIDE the actual HASBRO BOOTH !!! Giving the kids (and adults) creations even MORE exposure.

In ALL past Celebrations, fans have always been so generous and donated their unwanted or duplicate figures to The Diorama Workshop to use at the Diorama Workshops through the CIII - CIV - CV and CVI Figure Funds. Hasbro would then come on top and donate tons of toys from their warehouses to fill in the remaining gap so that ALL KIDS had at least ONE toy to go home with alongside their creation on the closing Sunday.

This year, they are again asking for your help !!. Especially with LESS THEN TWO (2) MONTHS till the show. Time is more precious then in years past. As you may also know, a diorama without any figures, as cool as the construction is, ONLY comes to LIFE with Hasbro TOYS. The loyal staff have gotten the ball rolling with 200+ figures, beasts and ships (purchased on ebay and from their own collections) but... that is just the beginning of what they need for final display. They have a page on their website with information on how to get involved.

Frank D'iorio the creator of DioramaWorkshop.com works in Movie Visual Effects as a freelance Digital Compositor. Frank has been building diorama playsets to display his Star Wars Collection and share his designs with the world since the creation of his website NiubNiubsUniverse.com in the summer of 2000. In 2011, Frank joined the 21st century with the creation of Frank D'iorio's Diorama Workshop where viewers can enjoy "FREE" decals, blueprints and step by step instructions that are great for individuals who want to build action figure dioramas in their own home for either display or as your kid's playsets.

After getting a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design at the Université du Québec a Montréal in 1990, Frank started his career working at a big local television studio doing animation and design for TV openings and their corporate videos. After several years in TV, his true passion for film led him to BUZZ IMAGE where he worked on his first film feature The Red Violin.  In 2007, Frank's life long dream of working for George Lucas came true when he went to San Francisco's ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) to work on the film adaptation of Transformers. Since then Frank has continued to work at Lucasfilm in the winters and spends his summer months at local Montreal studios. Some of Frank's other film work includes: 300, Final Destination 3, Fantastic 4, and Terminator Salvation among others. You can see his work profile over at IMDB.com

Since 2002, Frank has been working along with Lucasfilm, designing and organizing all of the Diorama Workshops for all their Star Wars Celebration conventions. An opportunity that allows him to share his love for Star Wars and diorama building with kids of all ages.

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The Diorama Workshop Index Page

Frank Diorio makes it easier to navigate!  The Diorama Workshop is one of the neatest Star Wars Custom Websites on the world wide web and it just got a little cooler with quicker and easier to use index links to put all those cool resources at your fingertips. From Frank, "Once the Index Links Cool Zone link is selected, you have a choice of 10 specific categories to select - Making of, Decals, Blueprints, Comparisons, Frames etc... Then on THAT category page you will find EVERY SINGLE LINK that is onsite for that specific category. So if you LOVE Movie Comparisons, you can now read a list of ALL the photos and click directly on their links to warp to that photo without going into every scene workshop menu. Gimme him your feedback, let him know if you think it was a good idea. Have a great weekend!

CAFN does a special podcast with Frank Diorio...

Frank Diorio is well known to customizing fans across the world and definitely a well known guest on CAFN. Chad and Tamer were looking for a reason to podcast and used this special podcast episode with Diorama Workshop.com to announce a few things that we think all will like to hear. It was great fun to hear Frank talk about his experiences at Celebration 6. Don't worry, Custom Action Figure News is gearing up for a new season. And if you would like to be on send them an email!

Frank Diorio has picked the top five choices for dioramas that he has never produced before (notice that two of them are not SW!) and now it is time vote to win one of those dioramas built by Frank Diorio himself. Please click this link to see how to vote and make sure you do so only once or you will invalidate your entry and you will have no chance to win one of 31 prizes being dolled out in this 1st Anniversary of Diorama Workshop.com Contest!

Go here to listen to the Custom Action
Figure News podcast: 

 http://www.imperialshipyards.net/cafnpage.html

If there is anything you would like them to feature on a future podcast be sure to let them know at:

chad.cafnpodcast@yahoo.com

tamer@imperialshipyards.net

DioramaWorkshop Anniversary Contest

Our pal Frank Diorio has launched Phase II of his amazing DioramaWorkshop website and with that a new contest. Head on over for the complete details.

Star Wars Celebration IV Endor Diorama Workshop Slideshow & "Flying" C-3PO / Endor Village Diorama

 

dioramaworkshop

 

TheBudgetJedi

Star Wars Celebration VI Diorama Workshop : Slave Quarters - Time Lapse Construction

CAFN: Episode 37 - C6apallooza

Custom Action Figure News discuses Celebration VI with Frank D'iorio, Sillof, Sith_fire30 and Luke Sprywalker for coming on one more time to talk with us about their awesome event. We are in great anticipation for both the Diorama Workshop and the Customizing Panel and this just made me realize it is right around the corner. 

Episode 37 - C6apallooza!

Go here to listen to the Custom Action
Figure News podcast: 

 http://www.imperialshipyards.net/cafnpage.html

If there is anything you would like them to feature on a future podcast be sure to let them know at:

chad.cafnpodcast@yahoo.com

tamer@imperialshipyards.net

Star Wars Celebration VI: Diorama Workshop & Customizing Panel

Get ready folks!  There's a reason why everybody that goes to Celebration makes an early stop and then frequent visits throughout their weekend experience to this one event that has now become the most popular event year after year.  The room for the Diorama Workshop is the favorite of children that attend Celebration because they get the experience of building their own diorama, and then being able to take their creations home at no cost, thanks to generous donations.  The children all help each other to construct a 1:18 scale Tatooine with help from the masters like Frank D'iorio.  

Hopefully, next Celebration there will be a Custom Action Figure Workshop everyone can attend.  Cross your fingers and show your support for the 1st ever Custom Action Figure Panel at this years Panel Discussion on Sunday at the Collecting Stage from 11:15am - 12:00pm.  Star Wars customizers Sillof, Sith_fire30 and Luke Sprywalker will be presenting to what we're expecting to be the panel talked about the most after Celebration VI is over.  Don't be surprised if you also see these guys over at the Diorama Workshop when you're there.  I can confirm that there will be sightings because these three artists are all diorama builders of epic proportions as well.  Definitely the place to be so fit it into your schedule.

CAFN interviews Frank Diorio

CAFN interviews Frank Diorio

Frank Diorio is a well known commodity as it comes to customizing and especially diorama building. His Niub Niub's Universe was a host for thousands of free printables that allowed many of us to build our own playsets for our figures, beasties, and vehicles. Frank is definitely back with a great new website called www.dioramaworkshop.com and he was kind enough to give CAFN a few minutes to talk about his upcoming Diorama Workshop he will be hosting at C6. Be sure to give this link a look please to see how you can help Frank make C6 even better!

Go here to listen to the Custom Action
Figure News podcast: 

 http://www.imperialshipyards.net/cafnpage.html

If there is anything you would like them to feature on a future podcast be sure to let them know at:

chad.cafnpodcast@yahoo.com

tamer@imperialshipyards.net

GREETINGS FROM FRANK

what is a NEW website LAUNCH without a COMMENTARY WELCOME VIDEO ? :)

Hey everyone, well here Frank D'iorio's jumping in on a new adventure. For all of his long time followers over at NiubNiub's this new site will soon seem familiar to you all, to all the NEWBIES discovering the fun of diorama making for the first time, well I am thrilled you have come to join us.

Frank Diorio:

"I don't want to type too much and repeat what I say in the video, so I shall let you warp on over to the YouTube DWC channel and check out my very FIRST WELCOME MESSAGE to you. (you will get a small peak at what's to come in the next several months...;p)

Make sure to spread the word and tell your friends about the Launch. Leave your comments and send me e-mails for your questions. This is all very exciting ... NiubNiub has finally grown up (well somewhat) and Joined the 21st Century. LOL."