2010 NST TARDIS Lamp Sources

[gavvers]

Thanks Sithlord for that, I've just bought my New Haven lamp from QVS and it' absolutely perfect, I couldn't find this lamp anywhere until I saw your post, a good price too and they still have them in stock as of the date of this post. Thanks everso for the tip! All the best, Gavvers

 

[whofan88]

Hello to all, my very first post!! Hurrah! I am building a Tardis for my 5year old son and searched high and low for a budget lamp for a Matt Smith era and voila the lamp is I reckon spot on (with a couple of tweaks) Right kind of size.. Right price-I think that it's perfect
View attachment 30857

This is one of the fresnel lamps used on the series.  During the Series 5 promotion this lamp was used on Promotional TARDIS props and in Series 6 Let's Kill Hitler its the lamp used on the TARDIS.  

 

[anakin starkiller]

Does anyone know a source for these in the US or a company that will ship them to the US?  I would like to pick up one of these lamps, but I'm not in Europe so...

Thanks

Dan Stokes
ddstokes@aol.com

 

[pmc]

I used one of these in my build, it took a bit of altering and you need the top off the garden lantern type of light which was usen in the Tennant era. You also need to remove two of the upright posts and reorientate the other four so that they are at 90 degrees to each other something that they didn't do on the promotional prop at the BBC.

I bought three of these in case I broke one during construction, I was paranoid they would go out of production lol

 

[poeticdragon]

I too would like to know if this lamp can be purchased somewhere in the US or that ships to the US...

 

[primrodo]

The Promo lamp?

I have a couple that I can sell to you if you need. One is Dr. Iz's and I know he needs to sell his.

 

[galacticprobe]

I know it's been a while since anyone's posted on this thread, but I just came across this while searching some US Civil War sutler sites:

http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/navy.html

Down near the bottom of the page is an anchor lamp that might be suitable for anyone still working on or looking for a Matt Smith TARDIS lamp. It's just 6 inches in diameter and the lamp (not counting the handle) is 10 inches tall, so it's a slight smaller than the original, but it's another source and for the price I don't think anyone can go wrong.

Dino.

 

[blizzard]

so I have been starting my hunt for lantern parts and I too was wondering if anyone has found a way to get this lantern in the states? I contacted the store themselves and they will not ship tot the states.
http://www.qvsdirect.com/New-Haven-60W-Lantern-Outdoor-Wall-Light-Rustic-pr-23082.htm

 

[galacticprobe]

Blizzard, I just checked the dimensions of the lamp you posted (converting mm to inches), and they're so close to those of the lamp available through the link in my post. (Who's going to squabble over a half-inch or so?) So, for the money and ease of shipping, the one from Blockade Runner might be the easier way to go, especially since they are in the States, and that lamp looks more like the Production TARDIS lamp whereas the one in your link looks more like the lamp on the Promotional TARDIS, which hasn't been used on-screen.

Also, the Blockade Runner lamp does come apart via screws, to there probably wouldn't be any need for cutting things on it to replace the cap. That other lamp looks like it would need some cutting to get the cap off. (I could be wrong about that; just going by how it looks in the photos.)

Just a suggestion. (And no, I have no affiliation with Blockade Runner, other than having bought some US Civil War stuff there for use in my living history group.)

Dino.

 

[blizzard]

Hello Dino,

Thanks for more details on that lamps assembly you had post. I ask have you purchased and used it for your own Tardis lantern? If do do you happen to have a picture of it so I can see how it came out. I ask cause I still lean towards trying to ge tthe other one because I have seen many postings of builds people here have done with it.

-Heath

 

[galacticprobe]

Heath,

I haven't gotten the Blockade Runner lamp. I lucked into a Gardman lamp (Tennant style) a while ago and I'm struggling with that at the moment as most of the tools I need to convert that one are in storage (but hopefully not for much longer). I also have a Fresnel lens that's about the right size for a Hartnell box. (I acquired it from one of the Coast Guard Cutters I was stationed on back in the early '80s and have been toting it around ever since.) So I was just planning to scratch build the Smith housing to go around the lens. This way, when I finally get around to building my TARDIS (which the wife promised to help with), "she" can switch her lamp out with her mood: Hartnell, Tennant, Smith, and at some point I'll add a simple translucent cylinder for the Troughton/Pertwee/T. Baker style.

I know many members here are always looking for a Matt Smith style lamp to use on their builds, and most of those lamps are only found in antique shops and cost in the 3-digit range. If you get lucky you can find one on ebay, that is if you're not outbid on it. Also, as you found out, finding one across the pond doesn't always mean the company is willing to ship outside of Europe. So when I found the one on Blockade Runner's site, at the price they were asking for it, I thought it would be a great find for those looking to build a Matt Smith TARDIS, especially for members in the US.

From the measurements, that lamp just a tiny bit smaller than "actual size", but like I say, for the price who is going to argue over a half-inch or so here or there? The shape of it and the details, such as the little holes around the base and the "rods" going from the base to the top, almost exactly match the original. And the description of that lamp says the top comes off with screws, so that should mean not having to cut metal to get the top off. (And without going into graphic detail, not including shipping, the Blockade Runner lamp is about half the price of the other one you're considering.)

With my extremely limited budget at the moment, if I had to choose between the two, personally, after looking at just the detailing on them, I'd go for the Blockade Runner lamp because it's the closest and less work would be involved in converting it. I would also go with that one because of the price, as now it has two things in its favor: details and it falls closer to what I might be able to afford. Lastly, since the other company is not willing to ship to the US, well that would settle it for me. Although there are Forum members in the UK who would, and have, helped get items like this to members in the US. (I'm sure someone would contact you via PM to make such arrangements.)

So it all comes down to this: depending on your budget, you just have to go with what feels right to you. I know I've just thrown a lot of info out there, but hopefully you find some of it helpful.

Dino.

 

[doctorwho8]

I think Evil Bob got one of those lamps Dino referenced.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

 

[blizzard]

Thank you Dino this is very helpful. I would love to see what the Gardman lamp looks like for reference as it may be a style I more go for. Considering I am in a planning stage still I am open to many helpful ideas in my lantern build.

-Heath

 

[evil bob]

I think Evil Bob got one of those lamps Dino referenced.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

I got this one from eBay.  It's a bit bigger than the one from Blockaderunner.

 

[galacticprobe]

...I would love to see what the Gardman lamp looks like for reference as it may be a style I more go for....

I know there are several photos of the Gardman on here someplace, but it's faster to post the photo I've got of an unmodified lamp:

This is a photo of the Gardman (I believe a plastic version), or a Gardman-like lamp that was once available (and may still be) from Amazon. An actual metal Gardman photo can be found here http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=613.30 about a third the way down the page. Instructions for modifying it are also in that thread.

Here is a Tennant TARDIS lamp - photo of the actual screen-used prop with the modified Gardman cap:

(Above photo courtesy of Scarfwearer)

Notice on the modified lamp cap the vent holes section has been removed and the domed part lowered to the main part of the cap. The "bee hive" portion has also been removed, the hole covered by a "flat" of sorts, and then tipped by that nipple with the hole in it for the ring to hang the lamp.

The Matt Smith lamp cap is the same except that it kept the "bee hive" (though a little smaller than seen in the top photo) and didn't make use of the small nipple at the very top. (And of course, the blue paint is brighter.)

So just to complete the comparison here's a photo of the actual Smith TARDIS lamp "out of the box" as it were:

(I believe this photo is courtesy of timerotor. If I'm wrong, please correct me on that. I want to give credit where it's due.) Notice the very close details this lamp has with the Blockade Runner lamp (though as evil bob, and I, have mentioned, that lamp is a bit smaller than the actual prop's lamp; but for the price, who is going to argue over an inch or so here or there?).

Also note that somewhere on the Forum are photos of the "Promotional" Matt Smith TARDIS which has a different lamp, and this TARDIS has never been used on-screen; it's a promotional thing that travels around to different places to, well, promote 'Doctor Who'.

Dino.

 

[evil bob]

I like that their "hero" prop is bent and dented.

 

[blizzard]

Ok these are great starting points and directions to pick from. Now I just have to make a choice. Thank you guys very much for collecting and providing all this.

-Heath

 

[galacticprobe]

I like that their "hero" prop is bent and dented.

The Doctor is well over 900 years old. (He said he was 953 just after regenerating into his 7th self - I'm guessing like most of us older guys he's lost track of exactly how old he is.) The TARDIS, in Idris' body, said she was already a museum piece when he was young, and he did "borrow" her from a repair yard. So with all that in mind, I think the Old Girl is entitled to having a few dents and dings here and there. She's earned them well!

Dino.

 

[evil bob]

And the Gardman top is made out of REALLY thin metal... ;-)

 

[the vashta nerada]

I have been hunting around the web for the best part of today, looking for that one perfect lamp with would require next to noting done it. This I found is called a "Hanover Avalon Series 9030 Outdoor Post Lantern" and it's not cheap, but maybe worth it depending on your budget and location........ Here's a link below

http://searchlighting.com/Products/Hanover-Avalon-Series-9030-Outdoor-Post-Lantern__HAN-B9030.aspx

I just stumbled across this large lamp by Avalon and thought it might be useful to someone.
It comes as a hanging lamp or a post top.[attachid]Fresnel.jpg[/attach]View attachment 10082

http://www.nextag.com/Lawn-Garden--zzlarge+fresnel+lensz2700407zB6z5---html


best wishes to all, CathlynView attachment 10084