"Cheap Sci-Fi Storage Container Buildings" Topic

A while back there were a number of discussions about using storage containers for making Sci-Fi buildings. I looked them all over and stored the ideas away since I needed to make some new 15mm Sci-Fi terrain to prepare for the release of Force on Force by Ambush Alley.

While roaming Wal-Mart, I found a lot of storage containers for $1 USD and started thinking of the possibilities. There were a few translucent white cube shaped containers with round openings I thought might make some nice large buildings, so I bought them with no real idea what i would do with them. I stared at them a few nights after getting home late from work and started coming up with a plan of action. After a trip to Hobby Lobby (5 minutes away) I had my supplies and set to work. The concept was to make the containers look more like solid concrete construction with mirrored windows to make them have a deeper and more Sci-Fi appearance.

Process:
1.) I used a hacksaw to remove the handles on both sides of each container to make an area to add doors.

2.) I cut plastic card to cover the half round openings where the handles had been and added places for doors later in the process.

3. I cut the "Bottom" out of the containers with a utility knife since they had round holes in them and were FAR from level. A piece of plastic card was added to make a new "roof".

4. The entire outside was primed with spray paint for plastics so it would bond better. I then coated the outside with texture paint to give it a rough feel.

5. The buildings were spray painted gray and some additional colors of paint were added so they could bleed through the dry brushing and add some depth.

6. Progressive layers of Gray were dry brushed on to bring out details and highlight the buildings.

7. Individual round mirrors were glued in place using Silicone II caulk for each window. The caulk is more resistant to damage than most glue and is more forgiving if I get it on the outside of a mirror since I can cut it off after it dries. (This took a long time to do . . . )

8. Added a garage door on one side and a normal door on the other.

9. I plan to add some more details, especially equipment on the roofs, but have not had a chance yet.

I think the effect came out pretty good and I love how the mirrors give a very different feel to the buildings. They reflect the surrounding terrain very well and will really look good with lots of other buildings around them to reflect. Overall, they came out better than expected.

The Mat is a new custom mat from Allen of theterrainguy.com (desert with some green added for more arid country). I used this mat to add some contrast since I will most often use this type of building with my urban mats. The minis added for scale are a mix of Marines from The Scene (former MJ Figures), some Marines from Irregular Miniatures, some Laserburn Crusaders, GZG tanks and robot guns and a CAV mech.

Hope you like them.

Jeff

Pictures:
picture

picture

picture

picture

picture

picture

picture

very, very, cool!!!

nice job Jeff!

Nice work. I have some of those containers but I haven't done anything with them yet. Thanks for the idea.

My wife was not in favor of the mirrors, but now likes them after seeing how they change the look of the buildings from different angles. In some directions the windows look black, others they reflect the terrain and still others make it look like you can see straight though the building to the ground on the other side. As bright and shiny as they are on the outside, they are BLACK on the inside.

Jeff

Nice work!

I saw those today @ Walmart while looking for the storage trays with the elongated slots mentioend a few days ago.
Nice implementation.

We should look into using aluminum sheeting or tape. The rigid tape would still be shiny…would be cheaper…and would be a lot lighter :)

They look great! We are going to be cut to ribbons by our terrain…

Very nice! Now that you turned containers into buildings, how about turning some cardboard into containers?:

igshansa.de/igsorg.html

Rudi

I saw those today @ Walmart while looking for the storage trays with the elongated slots mentioend a few days ago.

I have a LOT of those I need to work on as well! :)

We should look into using aluminum sheeting or tape. The rigid tape would still be shiny…would be cheaper…and would be a lot lighter :)

They look great! We are going to be cut to ribbons by our terrain…

Captain, I know you have some sort of irrational fear of mirrors, you may need to seek professional help about it, but I used ROUND mirrors, the kind with no corners, for the project. Nothing sharp at all. [wink]

I have tape, ribbon etc., but it did not achieve the same type of depth as the mirrors did. Some of the ribbon will likely get used for the other plastic containers mentioned above.

Very nice! Now that you turned containers into buildings, how about turning some cardboard into containers?:

Rudi, I was actually looking at your shipping containers recently after searching around for some in HO scale that did not cost a fortune. I keep dabbling with paper terrain every so many years but have never really dived in. I will have to look again.

Thanks for the nice comments guys,

Jeff

In this pic you can see what I did with plastic containers I got at the dollar store, you can take one off to make a shorter building or stack another one on to make it taller.
link

Very inspiring. What I like is how quality your finished products looks. When you look at it, you don't say, "Oh, a cheap container that someone is using as buildings." You say, "Oh, those are nice buildings. I wonder if he made that out of those cheap containers." It's a world of difference and something I don't always achieve.

Awesome! You do great work, Jeff.

I had a similar idea I picked up a ton of these as well at the Dollar Tree about six months ago. I got as far as sawing off the handles before getting distracted when my MADD kicked in (Miniature Attention Deficit Disorder). Then they just sat in the corner sadly and began fulfilling their intended function of holding stuff (lead). I have been meaning to get back to them, and seeing your work definitely gives me some motivation.

Here is the ironic bit-for quite a while I used those containers to store all my 15mm stuff, which is now, well…..

I believe I saw some more containers like these but in different sizes and patterns at Big Lots on Tuesday.
It might be worth checking out.

Jason

Nice work.

Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate the praise and suggestions. @ Yonderboy, very glad they don't look too much like containers.

Jeff

I like them. What type of mirrors did you use? I did a quick google, and found some for around $0.89 USD each, but they were listed as being 4" diameter, which seemes a bit on the big side.

And do they make anything similar in rectangular shapes, as that could be handy for building skyscrapers on a smaller scale, at least if one could successfully glue a grid or frame over them.

i bought the mirrors at Hobby Lobby in bags of 12. They were 1" in diameter. I also got similar sized square mirrors. They are about $2.50 USD a bag. Lots of smaller an larger sizes. Cloudcaptain is usinf the small squares to do 10mm buildings.

Jeff