Diorama: Imperial Detention Facility on Orinackra

This diorama recreates the level from the PC game Dark Forces, where Kyle Katarn is called upon to rescue General Crix Madine from an Imperial detention facility on the planet Orinackra.

Parts: Plywood, the bunker portion of the Endor Attack playset, the base piece from the Skiff Guards cinema scene and the launching backpack from the Episode One Sith Accessory set.

Supplies: X-acto knife, Super glue, Elmer's glue, brushes, Testors paints and Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: Screen shots from Dark Forces.

For this one, I used a plywood base and attached the bunker portion of the Endor Attack playset. The bunker serves as one of the holding cells within the Imperial detention facility. To make the walkway in front of the cell doors, I used the base piece from the Skiff Guards cinema scene.

The Kyle Katarn figure was dry-brushed with silver at the edges of his kneepads and armored vest to indicate chipped and scratched paint. Buckles and latches on his gear were painted silver. The holster was hollowed out a bit to look like the pistol would fit in it. Kyle's weapons (the Bryar pistol, Stormtrooper rifle and the Rail Launcher) were painted to match reference pictures from the novellas and the video game. They were then dry-brushed with steel-colored paint. The Rail Launcher was given a sling and placed across Kyle's back. A very tiny cut with the X-acto knife allowed Kyle's finger to fit inside the trigger guard and actually rest on the trigger. The result looked really cool.

The Crix Madine figure was made from a Grand Moff Tarkin body with a vintage Madine head attached. The rank cylinders and badges were removed from his uniform to indicate the fact that he was no longer an Imperial officer, but a prisoner. The hair was painted blond with greying highlights (the original figure was pretty much grey). I made a set of binders from some metal wire and some very small chain, cut the chain in the middle, and attached one cuff to each of Madine's wrists.

The Imperial Officer was made from another Grand Moff Tarkin body and an Owen Lars head. The Stormtroopers were all repositioned to appear slumped after having been shot. Blaster burns and holes were added to all of the Imperial figures.

The control box on the right side of the diorama is the master control to the cell block doors. To make it, I made slight modifications to the launching backpack that came with the Episode One Sith Accessory set. I knew I could use that stupid backpack for something!

Once the diorama was finished, the entire thing received a liberal coat of Testor's Dull-Cote