Jabba’s Palace. 2019. J Robert Clark. Diorama. Wood, paper mache, latex & acrylic paint with LED accent lighting.
Actual size 22.25” wide by 26.5” tall. Built to scale for 3.75” Star Wars action figure toy line.
Jabba’s Palace. Completed. Pictured with vintage Star Wars figures and accessories: Jabba the Hutt (Hasbro, 1998), Jabba’s throne (Kenner, 1983) and Rancor (Kenner, 1984).
The finished diorama is entirely playable with a working trap door (see video below) and a dungeon door that opens and closes. Accent lighting includes 6 LEDs total, positioned in the main room, left and right stairwells, dungeon (all yellow), and behind the rear fireplace wall (red).
The build:
Cardboard prototype atop wood frame. The prototype was used as an “insert” that hid the wiring for LEDs.
Paper mache being applied. Between three and six layers were applied throughout to create a strong, relatively solid structure once completed.
Palace insert being installed. Wiring was routed to a standard construction outlet box installed in the back wall. The wiring had to be tucked between the layers before sealing it all in.
Back showing completed door (rails not yet installed) and finished power box with switch and 5 V jack for power adapter.
Wood frame and top box completed. Note polystyrene blocks applied to dungeon door below.
Latex base coat being applied. The dungeon was painted a medium gray, the palace above a light sand, and the back dark gray.
Insert installed and sealed in. The front wall was boxed in with another sheet of 1/4” finish plywood. Note the thickness of wall. The hole in the floor is for the working trap door (see video).
Black acrylic wash being applied. Sponges and damp rags were used to get the final weathered look.
Completed Jabba’s Palace, front.
Completed Jabba’s Palace, back.
The best part.