How to Build a Star Wars Tatooine Diorama (Large House Tutorial)

From our Star Wars Celebration Diorama Builders Series...
Welcome to the Tatooine Mos Eisley Large House - Video Making Of Tutorial
1:03 Final Build Preview
2:07 Materials List
4:49 Slicing Styrofoam Balls
9:07 Large House Door Templates Options
11:08 Designing and Building Core of the Large House
13:48 Making a Archway for the Inner Rectangle Door
17:58 Making the Jawa Wall with Inner Rectangle Door
19:42 Making a Beam Extrusion
22:43 Making a 2nd Floor Room
23:55 Making a Rooftop Balcony
25:22 Making Tatooine Stairs
30:33 Hot Glue your Stair Extension to the Large House
32:28 Hot Glue Domes to the Large House Roof
33:02 Building a Inner Rectangle Door Frame
42:10 Hot Glue Inner Door Frames to the Large House
44:06 Completed Large House skeleton structure
45:04 Introduction to Plaster Bandages
46:32 Applying the Plaster Bandages Base Coat
54:33 Completed Large House with Plaster Bandages
57:01 Applying the Plaster of Paris Top Coat
1:08:20 Painting your Large House - Base Coat
1:12:06 Painting your Large House - Dark Stain
1:14:02 Using your Inner Rectangle Door Decals
1:17:41 Carboard Crimper Tool - Door Inner Frame
1:20:31 Foamie and Decals - Door Inner Frame
1:27:00 Hot Glue Foamie to your Door's Inner Frame
1:28:57 Completed Mos Eisley Large House
To see the list of materials you need to build this diorama...
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Originally Designed in 2002 by Frank Diorio for the Star Wars Celebration II Diorama Builders Workshop booth - The convention's Mega Mos Eisley project has always been a fan fave.
With this tutorial, you can now continue your Celebration adventure in your own home or if you didn't have the opportunity to attend the convention, you can now build just like the fans did at the convention in Indianapolis May 2002 but with improved doorway arch options not available to the fans in 2005.
TATOOINE DIORAMA - MOS EISLEY LARGE HOUSE - LEVEL "B" - BEGINNER ages 10+
For this specific build…
Mos Eisley Large House BLUEPRINTS LINK - dioramaworksho...
Mos Eisley Large House DECALS LINK - dioramaworksho...
SAVE 10% when you purchase BOTH at the same time in KIT form.
Visit my Etsy Shop to see what other Decals and Blueprints are currently available for purchase : www.etsy.com/c...
The MOS EISLEY LARGE HOUSE is a modular BUILD option for you to build and connect with my other TATOOINE designs to allow you to create your very own MEGA MOS EISLEY/MOS ESPA DIORAMA. There is no limit to size and layout but your imagination.
Visit my website's SPEED INDEX LINK PAGE - dioramaworksho... - to see what other rooms are currently available for you to build. All you need to do is purchase your materials from your nearest Dollar or Art Supply store.
The TATOOINE MOS EISLEY LARGE HOUSE DIORAMA is designed to display your Star Wars Hasbro 3.75" Action Figures.
If you like Star Wars Action Figures and Dioramas, make sure to visit my site... dioramaworkshop...
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and Facebook ... / frankdiorio.dioramawor...
and Instagram … / frankdioriodwc
If you have ANY QUESTIONS about this build or want to share your diorama builds for the website’s VISITOR GALLERY you can email me at [e-mail].

[@RansomeStoddard]

Great job. I am turning my basement into a Star Wars cantina and you gave me some great ideas.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thanks for taking the time to say such nice compliment. Oooh your project sounds so cool. Have you seen Agatha Vincent's Cantina project ? Its thebest I have ever seen ever made. Please share photos of your progress. I have yet to make my own. I have all the figures for it just waiting for a home :) Frank.

[@alyciamarrison2916]

I really like your video, it's gonna be so great both for kid's & I'm sure for cash strapped parents that you show both basic simple tools & cheap or even free/findable materials. Plus I'm sure many kid's will find this fun too do & not too complicated & get a wonderful house for their figures & to play with. I'm sure there could easily be adapted a back side to show the interiour if one wanted to model a house interiour too. Thanks so much!

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thanks Alycia, the designs you see in my tutorials are my original designs I created for all of my Star Wars Celebration conventions Diorama Builders booths. We had parents and their kids and adults too :) come to build their section that would all fit together to form a giant diorama scene by the end of the show on Sundays. Even though I knew Lucasfilm was paying for the materials in order to allow me to offer a FREE experience at the convention, I also knew many would want to build this at home, either to continue their Celebration experience or those who could not attend, and therefore wanted the design to include art supplies and materials that were easily found and affordable for home use. You could for sure use this as a starting point and work on an interior for extra play value vs only display of your collection. If anyone has done so, I would LOVE to see the photos. Artists inspiring Artists :) Thank you for the kind words. Frank.

[@nickben1447]

One of the most enjoyable diorama videos I ever watched. Very easy to follow by a beginner.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thank you Nick, that is the kindest thing anyone has taken the time to write me and let me know. Glad you discovered the channel and spiked your interest in joining the hobby :) can't wait to see what you create. Frank.

[@Michael_Johnson_5446]

I love the architecture of Tatooine. This must be a fun build. Great work, as always.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Indeed Michael, it is truly iconic and instantly recognizable. Plus it truly is the best choice for first time diorama builders because of the run down look of the city. There's no perfection needed here as opposed to say Death Star or Bespin. The more mistakes one does makes it look more like the movie :) Kids had a blast when I showed them how to make these at the birth of my Star Wars Celebration Diorama Builders workshop booths. And I had indeed lot of fun revisiting this technique 20 years later. I can't wait to one day soon finally attack a deluxe Cantina :). And thank you for taking the time to say such kind words. Frank.

[@mauriceshannon5503]

AWESOME. LOVVVE YOUR CREATIONS.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thank you Maurice, it really means a lot to me to read that. I have so much fun making the scenes and when fans enjoy watching the tutorials, makes all the long hours editing well worth it :) if i just inspire 1 person to start make dioramas it is good thing :) Frank.

[@JD-Media]

Great job!

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thank you JD. Truly appreciate that. Frank.

[@steveknarr8053]

Man I was thinking the same thing about the structures and houses in Summer Lovers too!

[@dioramaworkshop]

Great minds think alike :) need to visit Greece before I die.

[@petebutler5139]

3:23 someone got themselves a Tentive IV corridor from the vintage collection! 🤔😜

[@dioramaworkshop]

Yes, 2 of them :) It is a cool toy, but when I do mine with decals and foamcore it will be more movie accurate ;P Now if only I could clone myself to get to it faster LOL. Frank.

[@audradlpn3287]

Awesome as always Frank! Everything I read or watch from you improve my dioramas, so thanks bunches!!😁

[@dioramaworkshop]

Awe thank you so much Audra for taking the time to tell me that. It's why I create my content, to motivate and help others with the most fun hobby :) lots more to come.... Frank

[@mixmix1487]

Awesome! Thank you sir!

[@dioramaworkshop]

You very welcome MM, do you think you will try making one during hollidays ? Send a photo what it looks like if you do ! Frank

[@alyciamarrison2916]

Just a little thought for the doors if kid's wanted to use it as a play house the one side of the doors could be taped with something like "Gaffatape" onthe one side so the door could be opened & shut for play.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Yes that could work well. You could even cut a slot in the entry and slide the door open and close by placing the door decal on a wider piece of foamcore. I don't show play value in my videos due to time restraints with just showing how to make them, but modifications are certainly easy to adapt in many of the scenes I teach. Make sure to share with your friends and family :) Frank.

[@yeslatino21]

thanks mos

[@dioramaworkshop]

Very welcome Jose, spread the word to your friends and social clubs and send me photos if you make one :) Frank.

[@RadtoyzGalaxy]

great video,gave me some ideas for the massive dioramas I do for my channel!

[@dioramaworkshop]

That's great Nelson, artists inspiring other artists, thats the way to do it :) Glad I could help a fellow diorama artist out. Send me some photos of your build when you are done. Frank.

[@emilflognoid1532]

Just an opinion, but you might try a big serrated bread knife to chop the domes in half 👍

[@dioramaworkshop]

Good idea. You could also use heated wire or knife. Frank.

[@lockdownproductions435]

Hoi hoi! I’ve seen your first Tatooine build when I was a bit younger. In my garden I have a plot of sand, I’m building 6m x 6m one. Your videos are great for inspiration. My daughter and I are building as it’s her summer holiday. Do you have any suggestions for the electronics for inside the house? I’ve found a plastic cake mould of a train, I’m using plaster of Paris, filling up up to just before the wheels and it’s turning out really well. If you have any other suggestions (on the cheap), please let me know! I love you channel, been watching you for years. Keep them coming.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Hey LP, thanks for taking the time to write such wonderfull words. It really means a lot. Making these tutorials alone take a long time, sometimes week to edit, and i love it but it really makes it special knowing that they are inspiring fans to build at home and join in the diorama fun. So thank you for that. You ave a huge advantage many do not...space. That sounds like it will be so amazing when you are dome. I cant wait to see photos. Now for part im little confused, you mention electronics inside the house. These tutorials for small n large house n upcoming Tatooine streets are to show you the techniques I taught the fans at the 2002 convention. We didnt have the luxery or time to add that. And even today, im not sure i understand what you see in your vision. Are you going deluxe, and having your roofs pop off to show elaborate rooms ? With furniture etc n want to have lights in there ? Gimme more details so I wont lead you in wrong direction. Frank.

[@TheDavidPoole]

I've got an idea for the stairs. Don't know if it will work, but id looks right in my head. Rather than cutting individual steps and risers, could you just score each "joint" on alternate sides 2cm apart each side, but offset by 1cm. You could then "fold" the staitcase into shape. It might be a bit stiffer and so need a little "finessing" to get exactly right, bit it might be easier than cutting each piece individually. I could be talking a load of old bollocks, what do you think?

[@dioramaworkshop]

That could be a good technique indeed. It is all covered in plaster so the structure technique differences would not be visible in say the final look but indeed in the time saved. Good thinking, thanks for sharing. Frank.

[@TheDavidPoole]

@@dioramaworkshop Hey, you're most welcome! I'm just glad something akin to a not too terrible idea managed to crawl it's way out of the remains of what I like to think of as my brain 😜. Cheers Frank! I must say your technique is superb. It gives me the confidence to have a go myself. I might try it at a smaller scale, probably 1/12 scale as I have some figures begging ro be put in a diorama. Some bandai, some black series. But first I've got to get my finger out and create a workspace. All these ideas, and nowhere to work on any of it 🤬🤣

[@porskywalkerr02]

Hey! I saw you on one of the Star Wars diorama groups on Facebook. You make really nice dioramas, sir. Subscribed!

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thank you Por, that is very kind to say and I very appreciate the sub. Have you ever been to a Star Wars celebration convention ? I did the diorama booths there for 2 decades. Now bringing the fun to the home. Today I should finish my next Mega Death Star room, should be here before end of week. Frank.

[@porskywalkerr02]

@@dioramaworkshop Never been there simply because I live in Thailand. 😂😂 Don't worry, one day I'll be there. It's one if my biggest dreams.

[@Serenityindailylife]

It looks like the house on st tng where Wesley found out he was an alien.

[@dioramaworkshop]

I remember that episode :)

[@palpatine1975]

You have done well apprentice.... May I ask the main paint the sand colour, I see it is in a tin can... Is it regular wall paint or special paint from art store?

[@dioramaworkshop]

Hey Palpi :) thank you. Are you asking the colour of paint used for the building walls ? It is regular latex matte paint used for your home walls, with added water. Home depot. Cheaper than art store. I do buy little plastic bottles for smaller projects. The sand colour is not painted, it is the colour of the wood.

[@palpatine1975]

@@dioramaworkshop thanks for the reply... Can I confirm the colour of the matte paint again?

[@dioramaworkshop]

@@palpatine1975 I don't know if this EXACT colour is available in your region, but in Canada, you can go to any paint / hardware store and get SICO latex paint, the name is called CYPRESS CONE and the number is 661-42. Outside Canada it may be similar colour under different name. And then I just add dollar store brown to make it darker with the weathering drips. Hope this helps you Palp. Frank.

[@palpatine1975]

@@dioramaworkshop thank you my friend.. Appreciate it 🙏

[@mrphicen8249]

hi mate loving the videos of yours but i have a question. If i build a cantina in 1/6 scale with a window looking out on a street scene how far away would the buildings you build have to be to make your buildings in scale to 1/6 scale using distance ? if you know what i mean, thanks mate.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Hey Mr. P, you giving me MATH problems - did I tell you I hate math ? :P LOL. To be honest I really don't know, it all depends on the size you make it, you can use the same techniques on any size house really, that's the beauty of Tatooine. You can play forced perspective as well, making say 3 sizes going from big to small and even when placed close together, the eye will be tricked to thinking they are all the same size but its the distance that's scaling it. If we return to the math part of your question for a bit, if you scale any of my decals or measurements x1.6 or 160% in the computer, you will get the matching dimensions you need for the 6" figures. for 12" like in your case, x3.2 or 320% hope that helps a bit. Let me know how your scene turns out, I would LOVE to see photos. Frank.

[@mrphicen8249]

@@dioramaworkshop thanks mate, will try that

[@brunakeys9036]

hi to all, please can someone tell me what kind is that white material? Thank you in advance

[@dioramaworkshop]

Are you refering to the white material used for the structure ? That is foamcore or foamboard. Basically thin sheet of styrofoam sandwhich with coat of paper on each side. Easy to cut, architects have been using this for models since forever. You can find it at most dollar and art supply stores. Frank.

[@renderedinoperable]

How hard does that plaster get?

[@dioramaworkshop]

It dries solid hard, but if you hit it with a hammer it will shatter, it's not like cement when it dries, if you drop it on the ground it can break into pieces, but won't chip away if you touch it with your hands when say, moving it around. Frank.

[@renderedinoperable]

@@dioramaworkshop Does plastering the inside of the box help reinforce the structure?

[@dioramaworkshop]

@@renderedinoperable Plaster bandages are relatively expensive, to cover the full inside cardboard surface would be a waste of money in my opinion and not really add to structural integrity because the outside and inside would not be touching. You will be surprised at how stronger it is than you think. Frank.

[@renderedinoperable]

@@dioramaworkshop Thank you for your advice

[@alexmercer_6356]

1:08:57 what paint is that please

[@dioramaworkshop]

Hey Alex, it's basic latex paint. With added water to make it "cry" down the surfaces. You can use the small 2$ dollar store art paints or if making more buildings, can go to paint store and get any brand of latex paints in quart or gallon that you want. As long as it is NOT OIL based, you are good to go :) Frank.

[@alexmercer_6356]

@@dioramaworkshop thanks Frank, always good videos

[@Serenityindailylife]

Ok i bought plaster, water, peanut butter, honey and band aids....im going to try to build this.

[@dioramaworkshop]

@@Serenityindailylife band aids or peanut butter, not sure which is scarrier lol. Have fun with it PV. And remember its Tatooine, the less perfect the more it looks like the movie :) show us your result when you are done. Frank.

[@fatkungfu1972]

☑️ SUBSCRIBED!!! 🤩🤩🤩🪚🗜️🪛🔧🔨

[@dioramaworkshop]

Thank you FKF, that means a lot to me. Remember to send me photos of any builds, I love seeing how the fans use my tutorials, blueprints n decals. Frank.

[@Serenityindailylife]

Cant believe you are messing up a hasbro carton

[@dioramaworkshop]

@@Serenityindailylife can't keep it perfect forever :) Frank

[@Serenityindailylife]

Btw, i thought this was a 3d print.

[@dioramaworkshop]

Well that is a great compliment PV :) thank you. Frank.