The Corps Collector
TheCorpsCollector.com
PLANET HOTH
Materials:
3 sheets 2" x 12" at 36" plastic foam;
4 sheets 1" x 12" x 36" plastic foam;
two 28"-square sheets corrugated cardboard (cut from appliance cartons-save scraps);
two 3' lengths 1/8"diam dowel;
two 2"- diam plastic-foam balls;
pair of 4"-diam embroidery hoops;
1 pair blue rubber gloves;
pair 12"-long black plastic-tipped shoelaces;
monofilament nylon fishing line;
1/4 yd each self-adhesive plastic in following colors; black, green, red, yellow, blue, white;
1 pkg each gray and pale-blue tissue paper; black and red permanent felt-tip markers;
spray adhesive;
white glue;
super-strength glue;
straight pins;
wooden toothpicks;
fine-toothed sabersaw blade or sharp serrated steak knife;
compass; ;
scissors;
utility knife;
coping saw.
Enlarge patterns - each square is 1" ( link ) -Easiest is to use a copier!
Cut 1" thicknesses of foam with utility knife and 2" thicknesses with serrated knife. When gluing, use wooden toothpicks, broken in half, or long straight pins.
To start, use spray adhesive to glue two 28" squares of cardboard together, crossing corrugations. For the first layer of plastic foam, out two 28" long pieces (use full 12" width) and one 28"-long, 4"-wide strip, all 1" thick. Glue with white glue to base with 4" piece at back (see Image). Insert straight pins at an angle through edges of foam into cardboard. Set aside to dry.
Cut out patten for fifth (top) layer from 1" foam. Cut out 4"-diam and 2"-diam circles as shown; save Cut circles for round console. Put top.aside. To enlarge pattern for fourth layer, follow solid outlines on Image. Cut out from 2" foam. For third layer, make pattern in two pieces; one for back and one for island (created by tunnel Y). For back, follow same solid line as for fourth layer from ramp side to area I, then follow dotted line around I and solid line to II, dotted line around II to dotted line at back of tunnel Y to area Ill and dotted line around III, ending along solid line at side. For island, follow dotted line along tunnel Y, area IV, tunnel X, V and VI and solid line to complete island.
Cut out the two pieces from 2" foam, piecing if necessary for widths greater than 12". For second layer, cut from same pattern as layer three, but vary the edges along the dotted lines by 1/4" to 1/2" to change configuration a bit. The solid lines should match. Cut second layer from 2" foam.
Aligning the back and right side, glue layers 2, 3 and 4 together on waxed paper. Glue island pieces for 2 and 3 separately first, keeping the solid lines of pattern aligned, than attach to bottom of layer 4, creating tunnel Y and top of tunnel X.
When dry, cut notches for sliding shield, using a fiat file.
Glue assembled layers to first layer on base, lining up all four layerson back and ramp side (allow 1" at left side for section to be added later)
Cut pattern pieces A, B and C from 1" foam. Glue on vertically at left side as shown. Cut ramp from 1" foam, beveling ends to fit, and glue in place. Cut 1/8" dowel pegs (to fit into feet of action figures). Insert in ramp following image.
Glue top layer 5, lining up back and sides.
Cut ice triangles D through Q from remaining 1" foam, using dimensions at bottom of image. Vary shapes as desired. Glue in locations shown in plan. We added ten small triangles to the top of layer 5 at random (see image). For the rubble, break off scraps of foam and squeeze into rock like shapes.
To cover edges, keep blue tissue folded as purchased and cut 1" strips Unfold into long strips. On newspaper brush white glue along strips; position on foam edges as shown in image. Cut some strips narrower and overlay with glue to create a striated effect.
To make the persennel launchers, cut two 5"-diam circles from rubber glove.
Glue one circle to each embroidery hoop, stretching around to inside rim and securing there with super-strength glue (glue one spot first, then opposite side and continue around inside rim). insert in 4"-diam hole in plastic foam. One hoop-the outer one-will be slightly larger; cut foam hole in first layer slightly larger to fit.
To make the round console , glue the two (saved from above) circles together and cover with yellow and red self-adhesive plastic
To make the sliding shield, cut two 5" x 10" cardboard pieces with corrugations running vertically. Glue together; color edges with black marker. Cover with green self-adhesive plastic and follow diagram to decorate.
To make the radar screen (goes on top of sliding shield), cut two 2" x 3" cardboard pieces with corrugations running vertically. Mark edges with black marker. Cover one side of each with yellow plastic and other side with black. Score 1/2" from each short edge on both yellow sides (dotted lines on diagram). Glue yellow sides together at center; fold scored areas apart as shown in diagram. Cut white plastic for center grid on both sides and mark with black lines (see diagram). Cut 2" dowel for pivot; color black; insert and glue in center bottom of radar screen and in center top of door.
To make computer panel, cut 6" x 8" cardboard piece; score center back for fold line. Cover with black plastic and follow diagram and photograph to decorate.
To make refueling station, cut six 1 1/2" x 2" cardboard pieces, two with corrugations running vertically and four horizontally. Glue three together twice, with vertical corrugations in center; color edges with black marker
Cut 7"-long dowel, color black and insert in center of each lengthwise as shown. Follow diagram to decorate. Thread shoelaces back and forth through horizontal corrugations, leaving trailing ends to make hoses.
To make two ladders, glue together two 1 1/2" x 7" cardboard pieces with corrugations running horizontally. Cut into three 3/8"-wide pieces. Cover two with black and one with red plastic. Cut five 1 3/4" pieces dowel; color black; insert with glue at ends into black strips to form rungs of ladder. Glue next to ramp, following image Make footholds in foam above each rung by inserting feet of action figures. For other ladder, cut six 1" pieces dowel; insert and glue through red strip as rungs, about 1" apart. Place near 2"-diam hole in top layer and glue in place.
Out 1" x 1" x 2" piece foam for foot bracket; shape and glue to top layer's bottom as shown in diagram.
Cover 2"-diam balls with gray tissue paper and suspend from monofilament nylon.
