With Fort Keruim well under renovation, we can start activating the various components to get this old fort up to G.I. Joe specs.
Keruim, like I talked about in part one, is a great base in most part due to its massive size and modular build. The three buildings — bank, jail cell, and command post — can be repurposed to their Joe functions in pretty straightforward fashion. In fact, even the bank vault can still be used, I’m thinking. The exteriors of the buildings will require a little bit more, though. The folding out “deck” panels and open doors will need to be modified, as well as a more dramatic front section, to better emulate that classic sloped armor of the original.
Let’s start with the command post. There are already some decent consoles that line the inner walls, so those can stay. I ordered a somewhat-pricey-but-extremely-nice set of reprolabels from ToyHax, and those can be used to fill in and light up the consoles. Some monitors could really help, so I added a set from my Batcave spare parts collection. As many of you know, I have a penchant for adding wiring and lighting, but I think those will come later. For the layout, partway through I determined I have enough parts to make three workstations, so I used parts from a Rambo set to make a communications post.
The other “L” console can then come out into the open area, and some additional Batcave monitors can be added to it. To keep the modular theme of this set, I added magnets to this console, so that it can be moved for storage.
The jail cell really can be used as-is, and even the bank will remain mostly the same in layout, so that’s a good point to turn to the exterior.
I messed around with some vintage HQ parts, trying to figure out how to attach them to the front facade. Oddly, the best solution was also pretty simple: I ended up turning them on their sides and making the side walls into doors. I added hinges and magnets to make them secure and functional, and I even like the vertical slots left by the gun ports. These doors will go a long way to helping me better evoke the original HQ.
But the bank obviously doesn’t make a lot of sense in G.I. Joe HQ. Hell, I doubt they even have an ATM. I definitely need an armory, though. The bank vault can store some of the more destructive weapons, like LAWs launchers, RPGs and so on, but a simple cabinet is fine for the Joes’ rifles. Some extra M16s mounted on the wall for good measure, and we have a decent start to the armory.
Now, with those reinforced doors on the side rooms, something has to be done about the wide-open door to the command center. Obviously, the original front section of the HQ is way too short to properly cover it, but the “C” shape of the part is coincidentally just about the right dimensions to fill the front “deck” plate of the post. A quick trip to eBay, some dremelling, some glue, and bam! Two front sections combined into one big armored front. Even better, the original turret position leaves a nice, large opening at a good height for a mounted weapon, something like the Rambo 106mm Recoiless.
To make this section fit, I used magnets in two different positions. First, at the front of the deck, so that the armored wall can be moved out for play access. Next, at a position closer to the door, for display setting. And a couple more magnets also let it hook up to the bottom of the deck when in “storage mode,” aka folded up. It sounds complicated, but I promise — it’s really simple stuff. Probably not even all that necessary, but nothing takes me out of the moment quite like knocking over walls when trying to move figures around.
Lastly, the lookout tower is already pretty much exactly what I would want it to be. While the original HQ didn’t have one, it probably should have. Like the other parts of the fort, it is removable and can be used free standing, but I like the way it looks above the command room just as it is. A little armament helps with that, from a .50 Rambo emplacement gun, and I think the spotlight can easily be turned into a working one.
We’re definitely getting somewhere now. Check back in a week or two when I get some paint and detail work in!
