Building a large sphere, how to frame?

18808 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Mellony, Oct 12, 2021

GodOfThunder

Discussion Starter · #1 · Aug 30, 2015

Hey everyone, I'm trying to devise a way to build, well, a Death Star prop about 5 feet in diameter or so.

I've been doing some small scale tests with paper mache and such, but my core problem is how to create the armature/framework upon which it will be built?

My only condition is that I have to retain the ability to access the inside in order to have it backlit. I'm planning on drilling pinholes through surface to light from behind, ala Star Wars.

I've contemplated chicken wire on the outer surface, but I keep coming back to my core problem--how to concoct a sphere and/or curved ribs around a core frame. And what that frame looks like. I keep running into basic overengineering issues here.

Any ideas, suggestions are greatly welcomed! Thanks!

Save

Reply Quote

1 - 1 of 1 Posts

icemanfred

· Registered

Joined Aug 18, 2005

2,081 Posts

#15 · Oct 17, 2015

I recently was thinking of a death star for my sons Birthday

and previously used a 6ft inflatable ball for an Indiana jones style boulder.

Helmet Personal protective equipment Fictional character

decided against modifying the ball for the death star and went in another direction.
I used projection onto a 4' disc. it will be munted about 12-15" from the wall with star scene setter behind it.
two side 8'x4' panel of death star wall , one on each side, back lite about 20" from the wall

a standee of darth in the middle