Wow this is suddenly shooting up!!

Nice work Crispin!

-Marc

A bit more progress!


I got the top plate cut and partially clad, and also made a couple of the door panels.



It's quite difficult actually - challenging me, as I'm not really used to cabinet-making. Normally a ¼" error is close enough; I've been trying to build this to millimetre accuracy, but things still don't fit as well as I'd like: unfortunately I sometimes forget it has to be so accurate to fit properly. Take a look at how the edge here is so *not* in a straight line. (Having said that, it's not actually all fixed together yet, so it may not be as bad as it looks.) I may have to remake some of these parts if I can't adjust them. I've thrown quite a few edge pieces aside already...


I have some light coloured filler ready and waiting, though I can't use much, as this will be stained and varnished, not painted.

The brass rod arrived, but I'm still waiting for the other three centre supports so I can't really assemble the top railing yet.

Here's a so-far progress view:


Crispin

When do you typically work on your projects, if I may ask? A family man myself, as well, I wonder when you fit it all in!

Really, WOW!

Despite your little innacuracies (which I'm sure you will iron out) its so great to see this piece coming along!

Its going to be awesome when its done

It's varied a lot over the years. The console room was built on weekends and some evenings, at other times I've just done "little and often." More recently I've been able to schedule some contiguous hours each week, which is much more efficient! It's definitely getting easier as the kids get older. It's still pretty irregular, though - I'll have a busy few weeks and then nothing much will happen for months.

Crispin

Hi Crispin

I'm amazed at your progress!! My two children seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to me attempting anything in my spare time.. I pick up the paintbrush and all of a sudden the world has ended because Tom and Jerry isn't on.

Anyway, it's looking great - I don't envy you with all of those angles and mitres, but judging from your other work I'm betting it'll work out in the end :-)

cheers
Chris

Wow this is awesome looking!

I tell you, and more so since I tackled the sign boxes, I really really have a deep respect for those that can build cabinets!

Just discovered that my corner posts are 1/4 off on one side so if looking at the TARDIS straight on one side is 1/4inch short in width. Frustrating to take so much time making cuts and in the end you still end up off by a few.

Hells bells, this looks astounding!!!  All those compound cuts look a nightmare, but you're going great guns with this - don't tempt me with your wares though, I'll be terribly unpopular at the towers.

One day... one day....

Yes, I trust you will update your console plans once you have finished this! I (and I think everyone else here...) agree with Purple 100%. Your build is stunning!

Quote from: rassilonsrod on Oct 18, 2009, 07:07 amI trust you will update your console plans once you have finished this!

I will update the plans in due course, as there will be quite a lot more detail to add to them.

A small update then, with more on the way when things have dried...



I've been working on those little triangles at the edge corners. Unfortunately my wood cutting was not very accurate, so they've all ended up slightly different sizes!



I cut a 45° chamfer on some wood stock, and then cut the two angles across that so that the grain continues around the console edge properly. The angle of the triangle looks like 90° but actually isn't, because of the width of the edge.
I had several gos at this. Unfortunately once the piece is cut, it's too small to hold in the chop saw, so if I get it wrong, I have to start again with another piece.



Fortunately only one of them needed four attempts! Once the gap is less than 1mm, I can use a light coloured filler and it won't show too badly. Any bigger than that and the gap will be ugly.
I found I could trim the triangles slightly by holding them against a belt sander, which helped sometimes if they were slightly oversized.

I also cut the top plate insert that goes over the rough plywood and inside the edging on the top plate. I placed the nice ply on top of the console and traced around the edging underneath with a pencil. I remembered just in time to mark the underside of the nice ply, as I know that in spite of my best efforts, that top hexagon is not 1mm accurate. And sure enough, the insert doesn't fit upside down...

More soon, I hope.

Crispin

I was feeling brave, so I had a go at sculpting a rams head:






Hmmm... I might have another go at this.

Crispin

Not to shabby on the Ram's head.

This entire project is looking pretty authentic. Crispin, you definately are a man of MANY TALENTS. This console is very impressive.

I'm loving this build, Crispin!

As for the ram's head - I'm sure you'll get there. One easier route though might be to mould the detail off one of the brass door knockers that are available, which are a pretty good match, and casting them up from that.

I can't believe how fast and how excellent this is coming together.

Any thoughts on the interior of the panels yet? Will you be following the original layout there and using those illuminated switches? Or doing your own thing? You'll have to invent something of your own for the panels we didn't see anyway. 

looking good so far, not so bad on the sculpting, it certainly help if you had better reference photos.... but from looking at the pictures of the "ram heads" on the actual prop, it looks like the eyes bulge out.... anyway i'm sure you'll work it all out, great project and work by the way.

Crispin, I've said it before, no doubt I'll say it again in the future, and I'll say it right now: I am Wayne, you are Alice Cooper, and I'M NOT WORTHY!!!!!!

AWESOME work, as usual.