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Teletran's sonic

Started by Teletran, Oct 23, 2010, 03:39 am

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Teletran

Oct 23, 2010, 03:39 am Last Edit: Oct 25, 2010, 10:43 am by Scarfwearer
I've been thinking of designing a sonic screwdriver to go with my tardis for a while now. I've been playing with different ideas for the last week or so but it's only in the last couple of days that it's started coming together. It's still a bit tacked together but I'd like to hear what people think.

sonic13.jpg
sonic14.jpg
sonic15.jpg
sonic15a.jpg
sonic16.jpg
sonic16a.jpg
sonic16b.jpg

I've borrowed equally from all versions and interpretations of the prop but the overall effect is quite similar to the third doctors.
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)

Teletran

I'm not sure if this is meant to go here or if there's a digital sonic section I've missed
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)

DoctorWho8

Why they heck didn't they use this for the new series?  This is a modern update of the classic sonic and it seems just right.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

Scarfwearer

Looks lovely! I agree with Bill - would have loved to have seen this for the new series.
The non-TARDIS virtual builds are collected here...

Crispin

the_temporal_mechanic

This is gorgeous!  I love how you incorporated lighting into the emitter and the neck.  This is a great fusion of elements that come together beautifully!

meantimebob

Just beautiful - I want one! It looks so right, like the most handy element of a much larger tool kit, like a sonic should be - not like something you'd find in an Anne Summers shop.

Teletran

Oct 24, 2010, 12:28 am #6 Last Edit: Oct 24, 2010, 03:03 am by Teletran
I'm glad you like it, I guess I'll have to make a real one now.

The emitter is inspired by the original 2005 design (the production model turned out slightly different)

I got the idea for the glowing neck from the Pertwee sonic which had yellow and black spiral "danger" tape, I decided this represented the power core and magnetic coils, I combined this idea with the transparent/translucent stem of the new series props.

I'm thinking of putting some glowing circuit tracery on the stem to use as setting and feedback display.
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)

Teletran

Oct 24, 2010, 10:25 am #7 Last Edit: Oct 24, 2010, 10:26 am by Teletran
Quote from: DoctorWho8 on Oct 23, 2010, 04:45 pm
If you go to doctorwhonews.com right now, their currect story is McGann's Doctor getting a makeover.  And his new sonic is more like Smith's, but with wood cladding.  Of course they say everything is still in development, but I think he should have [ref topic=2263]this sonic[/ref] instead.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff


Thanks for the vote of confidence!

and hey if he wants wood and brass I can do wood and brass   :D

brass01.jpg
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)

Organic Mechanic

Oct 24, 2010, 03:01 pm #8 Last Edit: Oct 24, 2010, 03:08 pm by Organic Mechanic
I really love this design. As far as the current story arc goes, I don't see a revamped classic design fitting well. For a revamped 8th Doctor, however, it would be PERFECT! Especially your new Wood/Brass look.


***EDIT: I just saw the pic of the official "New McGann Sonic"...that thing is AWFUL!!! I hope whatever they do with it doesn't end up being "TV Canonical", because I do NOT want a copy of that rubbish in my sonic rack.

rocket

Agreed, this one is very slick. Really like it in brass ;)
Farewell Sarah Jane, you will be missed.

Rassilons Rod

I like this model a lot too. Personally I prefer the chrome, but the brass also works really nicely :)
In the cities in the streets there's a tension you can feel,
The breaking strain is fast approaching, guns and riots.
Politicians gamble and lie to save their skins,
And the press get fed the scapegoats,
Public Enema Number One.

Teletran

I'll stick with silver for the moment, I probably would have gone with brass if I was doing a wood paneled console room, this was just a quick paint job to see how it would look. I'm not entirly happy with how it turned out so I may revisit it in the future (or the past) copper highlights? green emitter? you never know.
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)

greatwazoo42

I WANT ONE!  The brown wrap handle looks great although I think leather instead of wood would work perfect there. 

The only change I'd make would be to make the part we traditionally call the "Thumb ring" a rotating part so you can change the length of the clear section of the neck.  Rotate it and the piece extends, rotate it the other way and it retracts. 

Also - I like the head but I wonder if it would look better with the round dome front of the 8/9th Doctor versions and the magnet back of the 4th Doctor's version. 

Teletran

Oct 26, 2010, 05:48 am #13 Last Edit: Oct 26, 2010, 05:49 am by Teletran
Since we're starting to talk about the individual components and how the device functions I've put together a quick diagram explaining the components and how I see the unit operating. It's not to scale or anything but it does explain why the emitter looks different in some pictures and gives you your first look at the sonic in "Troughton mode"

diagram03a.jpg
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)

Teletran

here's a closer look at the circuit display:
sonic33.jpg
I wanted something subtle, decorative and uninteligable to anyone but the doctor. I like the idea that the doctor is so attuned to his device that he can read the circuit diagram like a sensor display. It isn't even designed as a display, it's just a quirk of the conductive material that it illuminates when active and the doctor thought; well I'll put in a window, (I may have given this too much though).

I think the original 2005 design may have had somthing similar but I think that is more coincidence than inspiration in this case.

I was thinking more about the way Matt Smith handles the sonic; opening and closing the cover and peering along the length, it's almost as if he's having a conversation with it and I stared to wonder what it was saying to him.
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1360/omni02g.jpg)