There's a new console room on display at the Doctor Who Experience!

A couple of weeks back our very own TimeRotor got in touch with me via pm and asked me if I could give him a hand with a project he was working on. For a while now TR had been restoring a version of the early 80's variant of the Sharp console using as much of the original screen used parts that could be found. He also asked me not to mention it to anyone until it had been installed as part of his agreement with the DWE is that he is not permitted to discuss any projects (I've been busting to talk about this for a couple of weeks now...  )

This console apparently first found its way, half complete, into the 50th anniversary trailer for the Day of the Doctor. TR had taken possession of it after that and has been working on it diligently over the last few years, using as many of the original parts that he had collected himself (the majority of which had been given to him by JNT). The other components that were not available to him he researched and screen matched himself.

TR originally contacted me as he had seen the lighting on the Pertwee Time Rotor replica's and asked if I could duplicate something similar for him; only this time the lighting arrangement was to match as closely as possible the 1983 version of the Console when it was last in use.

I've had nothing to do with the build of the actual console itself, but thought you might want to see some pictures of the console and a few work in progress pictures of the lighting.

Thats all the classic consoles represented at the Experience now

A couple of videos, firstly of the lighting...



And secondly, of the console at work...

That's amazing!
Is that a permanent fixture at the experience?

Wonderful work by you two!

Skaldak, I'm told this is situated on the second floor of the Experience, which I believe is up the stairs from the 80s console and Bessie?

I'll be very interested in the secrets behind the column motion!

That's absolutely stunning - amazing work, guys. I feel another trip to Cardiff may be in order!

Amazing! I'd love to know the dimensions of the wall panels. That console looks amazing.

Gosh, that brings a tear to the eye, what a great job TR did, and yourself Steve. You should be right chuffed with yourselves. Magnificent. Looks just like it did when I saw it at Longleat in 83, only better!

When you say every classic console is represented at the Experience, is the wooden one there too?

Quote from: meantimebob on Jul 29, 2016, 11:57 pm
When you say every classic console is represented at the Experience, is the wooden one there too?

Nope, but then, neither is the Pertwee version of the Sharp console. Still. where do you stop? It is, after all, The Dr Who Experience and not The Tardis Experience.

T

Oh my golly gumdrops!

That looks amazing!

That little circuit board looks vaguely familiar. I think I've seen similar ones in some of the trainers I used when teaching electronics in the military. (Is that little 8-pin IC chip a 555 Timer chip? I zoomed in as much as I could before pixelation took its toll, and it almost looked like there was a "555" on it.)

Magnificent work on both the console and the column. Bravo Zulu to you and Mark! (I've noticed that the socket and dome for the Stattenheim Remote Control from "The Two Doctors" isn't on that panel anymore. So I was right; the Time Lords did take it back after the 2nd Doctor completed his mission for them right before they forced his regeneration and wiped it from his memory; hence the 6th Doctor's comment of always wanting one, having been made to forget he'd had one once.)

Beautiful console, and a restoration job to be proud of!

Dino.

Quote from: meantimebob on Jul 29, 2016, 11:57 pm
Gosh, that brings a tear to the eye, what a great job TR did, and yourself Steve. You should be right chuffed with yourselves. Magnificent. Looks just like it did when I saw it at Longleat in 83, only better!

i only stuck a few lamps in some tubes, Marks the guy who's done the real work. Those walls look outstanding, I cannot wait to see the final product. I'm supposed to be heading back in October, but I might take a quick jaunt down before then

Quote from: meantimebob on Jul 29, 2016, 11:57 pmWhen you say every classic console is represented at the Experience, is the wooden one there too?

theres always one you forget, isn't there?

That's fantastic! I'd love to see photos of each panel and to Know what's original and what's a replica

I do believe Mark put up a few little videos of him making some walls on his Flickr (if he's ok with me sharing here, I'll put a link here somewhere) not sure if these were Kelt console walls, or if the videos are of him making the ones seen here.

Its fantastic that this version of the console can finally appear at the Experience as I understand its been very difficult to get it into place, not logistically mind!