I think that's the overall cheapest and quickest way to build bigger sections of the DS...The printing quality of your pieces is remarkable especially despite the fact they're based on photos not high-res scans! On the other hand photo-printing can also be expensive. As a student I got to print a lot recently. I also got a laser printer which cost me $210 and each reload costs another $170...not even talking about paper.
Again, that's a very nice idea! If the paper/foam construction is stable enough for up to 7 levels, go for it! They look really good like that!
Plastic walls on the other hand add a little more depth to the diorama (speaking about the walls structure). The shiny/glossy floor is very authentic, but the printed walls are also shiny/glossy whereas they're mat in the movies.
I know 3D printed walls (like Spacewalls) are still expensive. But here is my idea:
For such a big project I think I would order a full set of spacewalls and then make silicone molds out of them so that you can reproduce these walls as often as you want! The molds would be similar to the mold I made for my Tatooine buildings' door tread:
http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=10155.60That process takes much time and money, but once you got the molds, you can pour the walls in sufficient quantities. And painting them is also time-consuming...but the result would pay off.
That would be a combination of digital/computer and conventional production of diorama parts.
You could also add lights behind the walls, too!
Cheers!
- Philipp
