MW4's Steiner Colosseum

[Colt Ward]

Anyone ever make terrain to represent this set from the game?

How did you arrange the area walls?  I thought about using the trick from Star Wars Episode 1 for the race stands, which was placing dots . . . then I figured, I might as well really cheat and use pictures of NASCAR stands.

[CranstonSnord]

Here's some pics from Gen Con 2009. They used Q-tip heads dipped in paint for the crowd.

[Hellraiser]

I have that exact same color felt hex grid map & always called it "desert" but now I feel like creating some "stands" for it, LOL.

[Daryk]

That's brilliant! :)

[schoon]

That is very clever.

I may have to steal that idea...

[House Davie Merc]

Wish I could get on LOTB right now...
Until the power outage in Texas is fixed that site won't be back up.

In the Gallery section there are multiple pics of a series of games held in this arena
that someone on there built.
It was from the Vegas crowd of players years ago.

They used Q-tips dipped in paint as well.
IIRC there were in game traps with special rules as well.
I've considered making this arena as well but instead of regular Q-tips I'd use smaller
cotton swabs from the modeling section in Hobby Lobby.
Comparatively they are more expensive but denser and tiny.
They go on sale a couple times a year. You'd have to put pressure to flatten
the tips a little or you would have an audience of cone heads though!

[I am Belch II]

That is so awesome!!

Makes me wish I had the square footage and the skill to make that.

[House Davie Merc]

Here's some pics from Gen Con 2009. They used Q-tip heads dipped in paint for the crowd.

I poked around and checked for some pics of the Steiner Colosseum's that I saw.

I can't find pics from the Vegas group that I know made at least one but I found a 2011 pic of
the Richmond VA group's version. Either our pics are of the same Colosseum or somebody
copied an older version.
The design is identical but either the lighting is off or they are painted slightly differently.
Anybody have any idea what was used for the structure of the arena itself?
It almost looks like something I saw in the garden section used to separate yard
from mulched areas.

[Daryk]

The image isn't showing for me? ???

[House Davie Merc]

The image isn't showing for me? ???

I had to crop it and take some people out. That's a Geo-Hex Battlescape mat underneath.
You'll also notice to the right what looks like a toolbox.

IIRC that's actually an extremely rare Camelot Pewter Command box
designed for Battletech minis.  The shell is by Plano . Mine is yellow.
I'm not sure if this was an Official product or not. It was advertised in Battletech products IIRC.
They were the Cadillac of mini boxes at one time.

[Daryk]

Ah, I can see it now, thanks! :)

[NeonKnight]

That is very clever.

I may have to steal that idea...

So clever it was how they filmed the POD RACE CROWD from PHANTOM MENACE 

https://youtu.be/bxN1xx-bdpM?t=1078

[House Davie Merc]

So clever it was how they filmed the POD RACE CROWD from PHANTOM MENACE 

https://youtu.be/bxN1xx-bdpM?t=1078

Phantom Menace was in 1999.
Youtube started around 2005.
The earliest Steiner Colosseum using painted Q-tips for the crowd that I know of predates that.
My best guess would be 1997. Maybe 1996.
Stuff from that time is REALLY hard to find as early internet sites have disappeared.
It actually may be possible that whoever is credited with the idea for the Pod Race crowd
saw one of these made for Battletech first and tweaked it to add fans to simulate movement.

[NeonKnight]

Phantom Menace was in 1999.
Youtube started around 2005.
The earliest Steiner Colosseum using painted Q-tips for the crowd that I know of predates that.
My best guess would be 1997. Maybe 1996.
Stuff from that time is REALLY hard to find as early internet sites have disappeared.
It actually may be possible that whoever is credited with the idea for the Pod Race crowd
saw one of these made for Battletech first and tweaked it to add fans to simulate movement.

Or likely the concept was thought up without each group knowing anything of the other.

My point was NOT to say one group copied the other, but rather the inspiration was so genius it has been used in movies.

[House Davie Merc]

Or likely the concept was thought up without each group knowing anything of the other.

My point was NOT to say one group copied the other, but rather the inspiration was so genius it has been used in movies.

Probably.
At one time there was a big crossover between movie magic artists, modelers, and miniature war gamers.

I've been surprised by how many special effects people play war games or fantasy games for fun.
My neighbor that got me into Battletech made models of everything you could imagine and wound
up working for Universal Studios. IIRC he was involved in the first JP movie as well as designing the
later rides in the resort.  I was WAY younger and we lost contact.

Back to my original question-Anybody have a good idea as to what the structure of these
Colosseum models were made of?
I remember the one I saw was made to take down into several parts for transport.
It almost looks like some sort of gardening product, like separate planters that form an oval
or landscape edging with added supports. Ideas?