Re: Classic MPC C-3PO and R2-D2 uber detail build

Well I've been working on the base lately... almost have it done.  Got all the wiring underneath it in and ready.  But ran into a small problem.  I wanted to make sure my wires were working and hooked up so I plugged the batteries into the voice circuit to test the lead wires to make sure they would work.  And nothing.  I looked closer and whaddya know, one of the speaker wires has come loose and I cannot get to it without some major disassembly. 

I am so upset.  I was so hoping that it would work.  In retrospect I should have re-wired that speaker with some better gauge wires to begin with.  So, the plans I had to make it to where it would also beep like R2 with the press of a button just went up in smoke.  So I proceeded to work on the base.  I decided to put a bolt in both of 3PO's feet to make him extra stable.

Then I started drilling out the holes in the base.  I drilled out two holes for R2 and tested it and it was too far back.  His leg would have hung over the side.  So I filled those holes in and drilled out two more holes for the bolts.  I then painted the entire surface in flat black... you won't see the top of the base so it's basically for the outer rim.

When the paint dryed I covered my holes with electrical tape dammed the outer edge.  This is so when I pour the plaster it will not seep over and be perfectly fit for the base. 

Before I did however, I wanted to make the ground look like it had been walked on many times, roughed and loose snow (decided on a hoth corridor type of feel).  So I took a piece of styrofoam and began to flake off little bits and pieces on the base before I poured the plaster.  Will give the illusion of chunks of snow/ice on the floor.

After that I poured the plaster.  In order to get the tracks I took a couple of peices of putty and molded out a couple of foot soles and while the plaster was still wet, I tracked it thru the plaster.

As soon as the plaster was dried and before I removed it from the base, from the bottom I drilled the holes in it to match the holes in the base.  This will allow it to be reposioned perfectly on the top and the bolts that run thru to the figures will actually hold it down on the base.  Then I removed it from the top of the base and took it out and painted it flat white.  Will touch up the white with some tans and mud colors.  More to come!