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Although I have never played a game, I have always liked WH40K and did own (and paint very poorly) some of the original box set in the 80's. Five years ago, I started up again just as a painter and will continue as long as I enjoy it.

For the past 5 years, I have had an idea to make a larger diorama that could still be used as playable terrain in an actual game. I have always been inspired by some of the old school diorama's like this one....


With the release of the Deathwatch set a couple years ago, I decided to start collecting the components and green light the project. I have been working on it on and off ever since.

My first purchase was some of these Gundam style sets. They are called "Machine Chain base" from MSG. The scale is right and they have that industrial/ship interior look. I was able to source 10 sets on ebay for cheap.


Unfortunately, the plastic is not the standard polystyrene and model glue does not "melt" the pieces together. Crazy glue works fine but is too expensive in large quantities. I ended up using a combination of crazy glue, glue gun glue, and mechanical fasteners like screws etc.


I also picked up some of the GW terrain and spliced it together with other parts to make this "gate-house". Again, the concept was to keep things modular so they could be used as separate terrain or "stacked" together.


There are a lot of things you come across in everyday life that can be used as terrain or add-on bits. This elevator uses cogs/gears from the inside guts of one of those "white-out tape" dispensers



An early mock-up of the stacked design.


I have progressed a bit further but there is still much more to come. I am simultaneously working on the Deatchwatch mini's as well.

I went to a garage sale recently for a guy who was selling a lot of WK40K junk.. I bought a ton of it for cheap. I restored a Baneblade here .......https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/734528.page

In the same haul, I also found most of a Valkyrie. My idea is the have them deploying to fight a horde of Genestealer cultists perhaps with the aide of the Imperial Navy.


More to come as I progress further.....

Ooo.. This looks neat. Consider this project Followed!

I like where this is going.

How much are those kits?

making a zones or space hulk table would be SIIIICK

 Desubot wrote:
I like where this is going.

How much are those kits?

making a zones or space hulk table would be SIIIICK

Quick scan of Ebay suggests you can get a box for ~$20-25 USD.

 Desubot wrote:
I like where this is going.

How much are those kits?

making a zones or space hulk table would be SIIIICK

They were about $9 each a few years ago.

Off to a great start, some lovely details in your terrain there. Looking forward to seeing where you take this!

Interesting. Would you be able to post a pic of a model next to those MSG sets to show just how big they are?

Another modeler who finds a use for things other people call junk! And I remember and like the old school dioramas as well- keep on keepin' on! I look forward to watching your progress.

Ooo this looks like it could be good, looking forward to seeing more!

 Jon Garrett wrote:
Interesting. Would you be able to post a pic of a model next to those MSG sets to show just how big they are?

Forgive the potato-quality pics.

Man, the terrain you're building is looking brilliant.

Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

EDC

That is looking very cool, massive terrain pieces and old school dioramas? I am in!

Looks great so far

I love those gundam display bases, so useful. And it looks like you're really making a whole industrial zone.

Subscribed.

Looking awesome dude.

Looking forward to what you do next

Looking great man

they dont seem to be the right scale going off the little baby door on the gudam stuff.

but nothing a little modeling cant fix.

I think the scale works. It's s hatch, not a full on door. Plus space Marines and genestealers are bulkier models.

Neat project - look forward to seeing more!

Absolutely brilliant! Looking forward to how this turns out.

Those old WD dioramas were always very inspiring.

I am going to have to try to track down some of those bases.
Gundam is huge here...

I will also be following your progress.
Very nifty set.

Subbed.

Thanks for documenting the whole process too. That's a lot of work in itself.
Hope you keep on enjoying it.

I'm very excited to see this unfold.

Thank you very much for the pics. I might have to grab some of those next pay-day.