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Timegirl's TARDIS

Started by TG, Jun 27, 2005, 04:36 pm

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karsthotep

damn it...good old entropy. 

I want notes, lists and answers by the time I finish this here Juicy-a-Box! WARNING: I am Thirst-ay! And it is Fruit Punch! And it is Delicious!"

Angelus Lupus

I'd say 15 years is darn good mileage to get out of a sign box, and on an outdoor Tardis, no less!

I can totally understand wanting to touch up the lettering, even if the 'wonkiness' has a certain idiosyncratic charm  :D

Hopefully the eight-legs won't be too difficult to evict, and the paint looks in pretty good condition. (Which reminds me, I was looking at the Venetian Crystal range of blues for painting my bedroom!)
A mixed-up non-conformist, trying to fit in.

TG

@Angelus Lupus  Definitely go for Venetian Crystal! (or Venusian Crystal as it is known :)  it's a lovely calm blue and so Tardisy in the darker colours.

@karsthotep  Good point Karst! perhaps I can blame The Master for unleashing an entropy field and then claim it's nothing at all to do with my poor maintenance.

@russellsuthern Thanks Russell, I must say your TARDIS is looking really fantastic especially after her recent re-paint!

Thank you, it's so good to have this place to come to for support while building and rebuilding - for more than a decade and a half!
TG

russellsuthern

Thanks for your kind words.
I'm super-impressed that your TARDIS has lasted as long as she has.

Must be something of a record for an outside build. ;D

You should be very proud!!


Regards,

Russell

redfern

Quote from: karsthotep on Jul 06, 2021, 09:15 pmdamn it...good old entropy. 

I thought we decided to call it "Logopolis syndrome".  ;)

Okay, I shouldn't make light of the issue.  It's sad to see all that craftwork damaged by the elements.

Sincerely,

Bill

Volpone

Some of you may be familiar with the classic 1974 book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig.  Pirsig posits that no 2 motorcycles are alike once they roll off the dealer floor and the new owner gets the keys.  Different choices on maintenance (or lack thereof), customization, and use, make each motorcycle a unique reflection of their owner's personality.  TARDISes are even moreso.  They don't even start out the same.  And then over time they become more and more unique based on their exposure to the elements and other variables and how their owner maintains them.  It's amusing and cool to see the life of each of the TARDISes on this site. 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.

TG

I decided to order 18mm Medite Tricoya MDF for my replacement sign box. It will be at the back of the TARDIS so if it looks a bit different it won't give me a headache, I hope.

Exterior MDF with 'Outstanding dimensional stability (!) and a guarantee of up to 50 years above ground' (As previously discussed by @kutan66 and @Volpone )

I wish I was guaranteed to last for 50 years.

I got the basic shapes from my old box cut to size but it needs a bit of work.
Picture shows the MDF balanced as a sign box shape without the bead moulding I'd used around the window.

1) It's heavy!
2) I can't use my go-to self-tapping Robertson screws, pilot holes needed.
3) Will I be able to saw it?
4) What will it look like painted?
5) What glue should I use for the beading?
eek Exciting!

Tricoya-signbox.jpg

karsthotep

good choice,  that should hold up nicely.  Happy to see the repair happening TG.

Karst
I want notes, lists and answers by the time I finish this here Juicy-a-Box! WARNING: I am Thirst-ay! And it is Fruit Punch! And it is Delicious!"

fivefingeredstyre

I can't believe I've just stumbled on this. Sad to what's happening to the back of the box and I really feel your pain!

Good lick, and can't wait to see the finished job.

(I'm toying with the idea of replacing my sign boxes too, but that might be a job for next year ;) )

Volpone

Oy!  Sign boxes.  (I know, post it in your own thread--I will, but since we're on the subject...) 

I did my "POLICE BOX" signs on an inkjet printer.  I found some transparency paper that worked on an inkjet, printed them blue and spraypainted the back white (because they don't have white ink).  3 sheets.  Cut very precisely at the edge of the E and the front of the B and stick the PUBLIC CALL in the middle and it works pretty well.  Used some pretty flimsy plastic to mount the signs behind.  Since I see them every day, I haven't realized how utterly grotty and decrepit the signs are.  On top of that, I originally didn't design them to be backlit.  I tried fixing this by cutting holes in some of the structure, but it was a lot of work so I didn't do it for all the signs.  With the latest refit I attempted to get better backlighting on the POLICE BOX signs and I did make some progress, but I also cracked the crap out of my plexiglass. 

I really should replace my POLICE BOX signs, but they're getting such a wonderful neglected BBC prop ambiance to them that I hesitate to ruin it. 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.

TG

Quote from: Volpone on Jul 14, 2021, 04:21 amI really should replace my POLICE BOX signs, but they're getting such a wonderful neglected BBC prop ambiance to them that I hesitate to ruin it. 
I like that thought :D  - I'm going to leave my (slightly inflated font) signs for now.

The box itself is finished.
The Medite Tricoya was super easy to saw, drill, sand and glue. It didn't crumble. It still looks  a bit MDF-y on the edges even after undercoat and two coats of blue but I'm happy.
new-signbox-2021-TG.jpg
I used the same construction technique as my original sign-box which is a quasi Hartnell style of build.
signbox-construction-TG.jpg
My signs are held in by two simple turn-button catches, it makes them easy to remove for painting and maintenance (I was going to say cleaning but I've shown the state of the inside :o )
signbox-fixings-TG.jpg
Now I need to re-paint the whole box before attaching the new sign box.
It will be interesting to see how the Tricoya weathers.
TG

fivefingeredstyre

Fantastic work, as ever!

kutan66

Quote from: TG on Jul 18, 2021, 03:15 pmIt will be interesting to see how the Tricoya weathers.
TG


It wont be rotting any time soon as it doesnt absorb moisture at all.  We had an off cut in a jar of water for months and it didnt bother it!    The paint will still weather and peel eventually, but the board will still be there when all the other bits of the box have rotted away!

davidnagel

Quote from: TG on Jul 18, 2021, 03:15 pmMy signs are held in by two simple turn-button catches, it makes them easy to remove for painting and maintenance (I was going to say cleaning but I've shown the state of the inside :o )

I'm stealing that one, yoink!
Regards
David

Volpone

Quote from: davidnagel on Jul 25, 2021, 09:45 pm
Quote from: TG on Jul 18, 2021, 03:15 pmMy signs are held in by two simple turn-button catches, it makes them easy to remove for painting and maintenance (I was going to say cleaning but I've shown the state of the inside :o )

I'm stealing that one, yoink!
"Good artists copy.  *Great* artists *steal*. 
-Pablo Picasso.
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.