console basics

[Teletran]

I'm about to start designing the instrumentation for my custom console can anyone think of anything that it's absolutely necessary to have or basic design rules or what panel does what basically anything that might help.

[Teletran]

Hi rob, I'm actually a fan of yours from way back and when I make a console or dalek I'm always aware of what you've done, usualy so I can be sure to go in a completely different direction. As far as the console goes I hit a bit of a scaling problem about a month back and since then have been pretty much staled so my next step is to lay it out full size on a large piece of paper and see what works.

[karsthotep]

it depends, do you want it to be a custom console or based on the series?

[Teletran]

look up

[woodenconsole]

These may be obvious, but you never know...

1) get your bits first
2) plan positioning
3) have sufficient replacements if nescesary
4) if you connect your parts to anything, make sure there is enough room / wire [e.g. a slider controll will need room underneith for the mechanisim, regular switches need to have wire long enough to reach whatever they connect to]
5) make sure wires do not  cross / get into machanical parts/area of movement
6) you might want to have pathway in the underneight of the pannels with clips to hold the wires
7) lable wires
makes sure wires can be removed/replaced
9) ( suits the other parts as well
10) don't make it too clustered, even the busy 5docs one has space between the bits
11) work out a theme and stick to it
12) use common sense (too many people forget about this one)


As I said most are quite obvious, but they can easily be forgotten and thats when problems arrise. I advise doing lots of designs and picking the one (or the elements of several) that you like.

Post pics - many (including me) would like to see them

[Teletran]

Sorry I should have pointed out that this console is for my virtual tardis and as such will be completely computer generated, this means that I get/have to design and "fabricate" all the components myself. I should also point out that while this is to be a custom console and not an exact duplication of any version from the show it closely follow the same basic design, basically it will be as different from the original props as they were different from each other.

[akahige]

What programs are you using for the virtual TARDIS?  Will it be an on-line, functional piece?

[woodenconsole]

I too am currently doingseveral 3d builds inorder to ascertain no only measurements of the room and console but also those of individual controls (such as the switches)

Even if you are building a virtual console, some of those rules still apply. Even though my 3d are not real, I usually design them like I would for regular builds

[Teletran]

My tardis is being built in 3Dmax with additional 2D work in PhotoShop and is strictly for my own enjoyment. As for your work WC I'm sure it will become an invaluable resource, the best plans currently available are on scarf wearers website and sadly they don't show the controls more detailed plans would be wonderful although I don't envy you your task.

[woodenconsole]

I too use 3dsMax [my ver is 7.0] with photoshop for textures

After modelling those consoles with plans supplied by scarfwarer, I feel his plans are very accurate, and so these consoles become lower priority for determining stuff.

The current 3d console is the TVM console of which no accurate plans exist [giving it higher priority]. Using the concept plans [thanks for those teletran], my 3d models, and reference photos, I will determine size of console, switches and the room etc.

After that it is season 14 (wooden) console and room. Again, console, switches and room blueprints. And them which ever one I have the most reference pics for.

This will take time but I will eventually post the 3d images up along with my blueprints.


I hope your 3d model goes well and please put up pictures

[akahige]

Paul Aslin's Virtual TARDIS and my Blink3D TARDIS are the only VR projects I've seen attempted on the subject.  Is anybody else here planning on making their projects explorable on-line?  I think Blink is headed in a good direction with its support of Ogre (and in turn all the models that can be exported to Ogre).  I don't know anything about the methods that Mr. Aslin was using to animate his project, though.

[Teletran]

Okay here is where I'm up too, I started with the telepathic circuits which are very cool and I've completely forgotten to bring a picture of them (I don't have the internet on my computer so there's a lot of going back and forth with CDs), next I made these little light up silver push buttons that look like cigarette lighters from very expensive cars, a computer keyboard with hexagonal buttons, little dial thingy and a switch. It's pretty slow going, I'm averaging one piece a day but once I have it on file I can use it as many times as I need.

[Teletran]

ok telepathic circuits yay

[woodenconsole]

I like the hexagonal keyboard

[akahige]

I'm still amazed at how people can come up with such cool-looking images.  Are you using expensive software?  Do you render the objects separately or in the same program?