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Adam Savage’s Tested
Adam Savage Reacts to Corridor Crew's Lord of the Rings Diorama!
⏱ 15 min video · 2 min read18 May 2026Worth watching
TL;DR
Adam Savage and Norm Chan unbox a detailed 3D-printed diorama of Bag End sent by Corridor Crew, designed to demonstrate the forced perspective camera rig used in Lord of the Rings. The model replicates the moving dual-set technique that made Gandalf appear giant next to Frodo, complete with linear rails, PTFE bearings, a MagSafe phone mount, and multi-color printed miniature props.
Key points
1
Corridor Crew built and gifted Adam Savage a 3D-printed Bag End diorama that physically replicates the moving forced perspective rig from Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring.
2
The original LotR trick used two separately scaled sets on robotic movers to resolve parallax as the camera moved, a Weta Workshop innovation that allowed forced perspective to work with a moving camera.
3
The diorama features linear rails with PTFE tubing as bearings, allowing the camera dolly and set to move in sync, recreating the mechanical principle of the original rig.
4
A MagSafe phone mount is included so viewers can shoot through the diorama with their own phone and see the illusion in real time; an adapter for non-MagSafe Android phones is also available.
5
Corridor Crew is releasing the 3D print files publicly so anyone with a multi-color capable printer (e.g. Bambu with AMS) can build their own, and are collaborating with other YouTubers including Hobby Time on additional diorama designs.
Actionable insights
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If you own a multi-color 3D printer with an AMS system, Corridor Crew has released the files so you can print the full Bag End forced perspective diorama yourself.
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The Tested channel (Adam Savage) will post a build-along assembly video on their channel for those printing their own version.
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The diorama works as a hands-on educational tool for film classes or hobbyists wanting to physically understand forced perspective and parallax resolution.
Notable quotes
“When you finish watching their video, you deeply deeply deeply understand force perspective and its execution in a way that is like just the best kind of science communication.”
“Film nerds for years will be demonstrating this as just an instructional tool. You could take this to a film class.”
“Richard sat back down at the table and he was like telling me all about it like it's perfect.”
Worth watching?
✅
Worth watching the full video?
Watch if you want to see the unboxing live and watch the forced perspective illusion work in real time through a phone camera — the key technical details are all here, but the visual payoff of seeing the illusion in action is genuinely satisfying to watch.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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