Regarding the base--I had in mind making it from a doored shadow box. Undoubtably, I'd have to replace the glass with plexy allowing Icarus access through a hole I'd cut. The idea was that you see Icarus in water from above, and if you open the box you can peer into the ship from below. Even now I think it'd be a good plan but as I looked for a suitable box it became apparent, I'd have to make some questionable modifications. More than that though-- I was finding it difficult to source one I would be happy with. There is one other thing that irked me and that is-- its footprint. It would be sizeable, and because of that I already knew I could not display it. Shelf space is a premium here. I resolved myself to knowing the model would be relegated to a plastic bin doomed to an occasional viewing. It seemed a shame to put so much work into something, and not get to enjoy it more.
It wasn't until I finished the model that a seed was planted. I began thinking about how nice it would be if I could scale down the base to around the size of the plastic box that I just photographed it on. The crux of the issue though is maintaining a coolness factor, and not sacrifice too much. It'd be the best of both worlds because I could fit it onto a shelf to display.
I thought about this option a long time--weighing the pros and cons, and there are several. I determined it won't be easy to do. In fact--it offers some vexing pitfalls that the shadowbox idea doesn't. The former idea would be the much easier of the two. But --why should I let that stop me now.
And that settles it... I pulled the trigger. I went and purchased the case below. One of the first things I will do is give it a lower profile. The acrylic cover will be lopped off below the arrow, roughly speaking. The remaining depth will allow the Icarus to extend below the waterline, yet above the sea floor. The side of the cover will be transparent color, the same color as the water at its surface. Giving it transparency will hopefully allow the viewer to see the Icarus not only from about the waterline, but below. And yes--the cover will be removeable allowing access to peer into the ship. The difficulties come with powering the ship. Power will need to accompany the cover and I need to do it in a way that it does not take away from the aesthetics. I have some other ideas that add to the problem. The beauty of this is that it adds another dimmention that the shaddow box does not offer. That is -- you can see the model from below and just maybe--I can recreate a cool seafloor as well. This would move the coolness needle far beyond the shaddow box, while reducing the dios footprint taboot.
That is the plan as of today but it could change as I get into this more. There are lot of moving parts with this and pulling it off to my satisfaction won't be an easy task.
One step at a time wins the race.