Celation's Hartnell/Troughton Console Build

[geminitimelord]

Excellent work. This looks like a quality prop. Love to see it when it is placed.

[Fardels Bear]

When it's finished you ought to drop a photo to the BBC Wales.  They could feature in the backround somewhere if Matt Smith ever goes exploring the Tardis!

[Rassilons Rod]

That's right... Now I remember... I did actually put toggle switches on my model

[rocket]

Every time I look at this thread I'm amazed by the detail. I'd give my left nut to be able to build something that accurate.

[celation]

"Nuts? Yes, certainly, here we are. Crackers?"  

(Ta, BTW. )

[Scarfwearer]

I'd give my left nut to be able to build something that accurate.

I think I'll settle for being inaccurate...

Crispin

[Rassilons Rod]

Have you NOT made some similar arrangement when  making your console, Crispin?

[Scarfwearer]

Nothing I'd discuss in public...

Crispin

EDIT: We'd better stop this now, or we'll be moderating ourselves...

[geminitimelord]

I'd give my left nut to be able to build something that accurate.

I think I'll settle for being inaccurate...

Crispin

I was wondering what was wrong with the right one? But yes I agree a very high price to pay for perfection. Drift compensators galore........

[mechanoid]

After an evening's work in a very cold shed, here's the result. Completed and ready to bolt to a suitable panel.



Possibly the most complex piece I've built for the console so far. Certainly a few man-hours have gone into it. All controls will "work" - i.e. are switches or pots. The two lights have holes drilled in the alu the same size as the ping-pong ball, so can (and will) be backlit.

Strictly speaking, the chickenhead knobs should have some kind of dial backing - certainly the large ones - but I'm not quite sure what to do about these yet. Very difficult to see the detail of them.

Completing the radiation meter is on the list next...

C.

Celation, this makes me salivate........no kidding! If you finish for the 50th anniversary I think the BBC should know and make use of it. As long as they take infinitesimally better care of it than the original!

[mechanoid]

Hi Celation,

I thought these may be useful as they show a really clear shot of a panel and the column, although obscured by titles. They are from "The Arc" just released on DVD.
How are things going by the way? Any progress? Lives in hope!

[celation]

They're brilliant - thanks Mechanoid!

No - very little progress here, unfortunately. With the weather, family and illness - it's been very tricky to find time.

Hopefully before long...

Cheers,

C.

[celation]

Finally got myself a massive slab of plywood delivered for the baseplate of the first three panels! Just need some timber for the edging, and to triple-check my calculations before I can make a proper start on something that truly looks like a console.

While looking for wood, I also made an interesting discovery. Thin perspex used for glazing bends remarkably well into a circle... but not only this.

The diameter of the outer cover of the Time Column is (at my estimate) 22 inches. 22 x PI = 69.1 inches circumference.
This thin flexible perspex is sold in sheets approx 70 inches along their longest edge.
The cover for the early column has approximately a one inch overlap. Coincidence? I think not.

Much to do...

[Rassilons Rod]

Really looking forward to your next pictures!!

-Marc

[celation]

A small, but significant update...

I have managed to cut the vast baseboard for one half of the console - and this is the result.



There'll now be a reasonable amount of measuring and testing before I add the panels properly. This is merely a precarious test-balancing.

At least I have far more room to work in the workshop, now it's not filled with an 8' x 4' sheet of plywood. It's only about seven feet by three foot six.

And it does finally feel like I'm actually building a console! It's currently balanced on a Workmate at the correct height, plugged in with lights gleaming. Exciting stuff!