Console Measurements (was Consoles...)

[cyberleader1991]

That's exactly right Cripin.

The plan is top-down view of the console, all it shows is 24 1/2" between the top and bottom of the panel. I don't know if this this refers to the horizantal plane or the diagonal one.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure what console this plan must be from! 1982... would Peter Logan's name be on a Mike Kelt plan? Or is this of the Baker console? 

I'm so confused... 

[purpleblancmange]

Come to think of it, I'm not sure what console this plan must be from! 1982... would Peter Logan's name be on a Mike Kelt plan? Or is this of the Baker console? 

I'm so confused... 

I'm fairly certain these drawings were made for the 1982 refit for season 19 - the rotor mechanism was vastly improved and the top panels were cleaned up using what had already been there.  It was this refit that made Mike Kelt suggest to JNT about making a new console for season 20...  Funnily enough, the rotor mechanism was then carried over into the 5 Doctors console and given a new Rotor column, which in itself had been based on that crystal thing at the end of Enlightenment.

If anyone is in doubt about this, I'll see if I can dig out the recorded interview I did, find a dictaphone and transcribe the appropriate bits.

[Scarfwearer]

Oh OK, 24.5" squares exactly with the plan view of the line down the centre of each panel.
So it sounds like the dimensions agree.

Crispin

[akahige]

Will the console-building manual cite which sources were used to obtain measurements?

[Scarfwearer]

The dalek builders workshop manual includes a set of measurements as a supplement, and doesn't provide sources for individual measurements. The plans were put together by Malcolm Lear after a fairly extensive research project by a group of interested builders (if I remember correctly).

The TARDIS builder's manual doesn't include any plans or measurements in its first version.

Crispin

[Scarfwearer]

I've had a go at drawing the Hartnell (first) console - which has some differences from the baker one.

The base (which I've previously dubbed the "plinth") has radial upright supports which are apparently wedge-shaped, allowing the dark panels to be narrower. I don't have enough photographic evidence to be sure whether the horizontal supports that join to the top of them are also wedge-shaped, but it looks like they are. I've made that assumption in this diagram.

Again I'm regarding this as a work in progress.

Let me know of any corrections or doubts about these dimensions.


Clicking on this image will take you to the fullsized GIF. PDF to follow later.

Crispin

[purpleblancmange]

Just a flying visit for now...

Here's a link to the plinth's upright support pillars which shows they are in deed wedge shaped.  I'm linking to the BBCi site here - so get clicking:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/gallery/firstdoctor/hartnell03.shtml

As you'll notice, we're looking directly face on to the supports and we can see both sides of them which illustrates their wedge shaped nature as I mentioned.

[Scarfwearer]

I've put together a web page with 4 sets of plans for different versions of the tardis console (including the Season 14 wooden one).
I've not linked this into my website, as I'd like to get some feedback from people here on the content before making it more available.
I'd also like to get some 5 doctors console dimensions together.

Take a look and let me know if you see anything doubtful...
Console Plans page

Crispin

[cyberleader1991]

Bravo! Keep up the good work! 

[Scarfwearer]

I've updated the page with a first cut at the 5 Doctors console.
Console Plans page
Any feedback on the accuracy would be appreciated.

EDIT: Doh! Just rediscovered Tom's drawings. Some of the numbers differ a little - but not too much.

Crispin

[meantimebob]

Crispin - I think I may love you! Thank you so much for working all that out - that'll be invaluable for my season 14 console build! I had sort of figured that the rim around the console was 3" deep and various other bits were 2" but your other figures are a great resource.

Directly underneath the rim though, there are no panels, its just a plain piece of veneer.

[cyberleader1991]

Good work Crispin! Now the interrogation...

1. Where are you getting these figures from? You own estimates or more "official" sources?  8-)

2. What are you using for the individual panel width? 46" or 48"? 

3. What do you figure the top and bottom inclines of the panels to be? 20 deg and 15 deg specifically? I really feel like I could get a head start on this if I knew those two numbers. 

Cheers
T

[Scarfwearer]

So far I've been working mostly from a few screenshots by subtracting pixel positions in MS Paint  - notably the famous one of the 5 doctors console standing by itself.
I've also been working from the panel dimensions that Anthony Sibley provided a couple of years ago, so 46" for the panel width.
I also got a couple of dimensions for the base from an earlier drawing possibly by you (Tom) and/or Purple, which I'd saved but now can't find the source for.
I also just rediscovered your later drawings...

The angles can be computed from the linear dimensions with a bit of trigonometry:
The top angle works out at 17 degrees
The bottom angle works out at 15.5 degrees
These are with the measurements I'm using.
Generally I've been reluctant to depend on angles, because the absolute error increases linearly with distance. Grid coordinates are ideal, because that way you avoid any accumulated errors.

I think I'm going to have to add in the metric versions of the measurements, as some people like that better.

As I mentioned previously, I certainly don't regard myself as any great authority on dims, I'm just collecting what I can find or guestimate, so please let me know if I've got it wrong somewhere.

Crispin

[Scarfwearer]

your other figures are a great resource.

Well, I hope they will be - but I need help to make sure I haven't messed up anywhere - well at least not seriously...

Directly underneath the rim though, there are no panels, its just a plain piece of veneer.

Ah! I think I must have reproduced that error from someone elses diagram...  Thanks - I'll fix that.

Crispin

[cyberleader1991]

Generally I've been reluctant to depend on angles, because the absolute error increases linearly with distance. Grid coordinates are ideal, because that way you avoid any accumulated errors.

Gasp! You are the Doctor!!!

T