Space 1999 Alpha Moonbase Diorama help needed

Modeling Subjects Dioramas
1

Hi Folks!

I am a newbie to diorama modeling. I purchased the Space 1999 Alpha Moonbase Fun Dimensions reissue kit. The kit comes with 2 thin plastic (vacuum molded?) sheets for the base that must be cut and attached.

The directions for cutting the base seem relatively straightforward, but I was wondering if anyone has advice on what to use to get rid of the joint/seam line?

Thanks in advance for your help! Rob

2

I have worked with a bit of vacuform. Im not sure where you mean, about seam lines though, the vacuform makes it so there are none, one of the perks of it. If you could take LARGER pics to show us, we couild help you more, my good man

3

I would attach those pieces to a solid base. Then I’d use an epoxy putty to fill the seam. You can smooth this as it sets with a wet finger.

4

Thanks for responding guys! Would you fill in the concave underside with some sort of cement or just glue it to something solid and flat? Thanks for the epoxy tip.

Sorry that I don’t have a bigger photo! I’ve been trying, with no success, to get a free image site to host them.

5

AJ has the right idea. Ditch the vaccuform parts and fix the model to a solid base. Use celluclay to build up a moonscape around it. I also used aluminum tubing to make the travel tubes and belive it or not, split peas to make a couple of the nuclear waste domes!

6

for a free image site, I use www.picoodle.com

For the vacuform, if you want to use it, just take the excess vacuform stuff, or some scrap plastic, and put it udnerneath like butresses.

7

Thanks AJ and Big Duke! I really appreciate all of the advice. PicOodle worked well for my photos.

Both solutions seem great - resculpting the base and trying to fix the vaccuform. I may try both to see which looks better.

8

If you want to fill the underside, use somoe self expanding insulating foam. A former club member who specialized in vac-form ac used to do this to give himself a more rigid airframe as well as a larger surface for his glue.

9

Wow!

I’ve used a lot of the self expanding foam to close up rat holes on a brick wall outside. The foam tends to take on a life of it’s own and can become huge.

One would probably have to sand it down. I’ll see if I can find advice on the forum about working with it.

10

Use the expanding foam with caution. Some expanding foam will swell and shrink with a change in temperature. If you get it in a can, from the hard ware store, buy the kind that goes around window and door frames. I believe it is more stable.

Also, if you would like to make the layout of the moonbase more accurate, check this site.

http://www.space1999.net/moonbase99/technical_section.htm

Click on the image of the moonbase near the bottom of the page. But, making it more accurate means chucking the vac parts and sculpting your own.

Good luck!

11

Correct, use the window/door frame expanding foam. If you use the urethane based foam, it will eat into the styrene as it cures.
The big thing: don’t rush it ! Spray the foam on/into the depressions on the bottom, and set it aside for a day or so.

12

You could very easily fill this in with Celluclay, and it is perfectly safe. It will remain moldable for several hours afterward. You’ll be able to patiently texture it exactly as the rest–even smooth, if you wish.

For a quick tutorial on how to use it, see here:

/forums/822767/ShowPost.aspx

13

Hey Guys!

Your advice is great. Thanks so much.

And Doog - that Hetzer diorama is mind blowing!

Rob