The would-have-been Season 27 console?

[Vale]

I'm sure it was on a TV documentary. I'll have to give the 1999 Doctor Who night another watch...

It appears very briefly when Jim Al-Khalili is explaining how the TARDIS might work. Or at least how it should be able to change shape.

[lofiscifi]

Bit of background info...

It started off as a sketch commissioned by DWM for '27 up' - a 'What if?' feature, hypothesising what shape and direction season 27 (and beyond) 'may' have taken had the show not been rested in 1989.


Source: DWM 255

Further down the line, it inspired Tucker's scale model we're currently discussing - used on the Doctor Who night for BBC Choice and, I *think* one of the BBC TARDIS cams...


Source: DWM 272

... which I'm 99% certain is available as a DVD extra, along with this little chap roaming around.

[galacticprobe]

... which I'm 99% certain is available as a DVD extra, along with this little chap roaming around.

Interesting background info on this and thank you for posting it, lofiscifi. But I have to agree with Nate in that it is not an extra on the Region 1 DVD. I've seen all of the McCoy DVDs, and believe me the wife and I go through all of the extras, even the PDFs. So if this is an extra on a DVD, then it's got to be only on Regions other than 1.

Dino.

[lofiscifi]

Possibly. Like I say, I'm not 100% certain however, if it's going to be anywhere, it'll be on 'Endgame' feature (from the Survival DVD)... No idea if both R1 and R2 share the same features, mind. You'd think so, but never say never.

Another larger pic...

[Angelus Lupus]

Doing a bit of googling on this myself... turns out there's actually a reference section for this console already here: http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?action=proplist;sa=show;id=189

[galacticprobe]

...turns out there's actually a reference section for this console already here...

This thread we're in now was started in 2006. The other Reference topic (http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=1087.0) was started in 2009, so that disconnect is eight years old already (going from the start of the second topic). I don't know if it's possible to merge this topic with the '09 one, but it would be nice if we could. This way we could get all of the reference info into one topic, and that '09 topic has small reference images compared to this one (though it does have this concept sketch for the console...

...which this topic didn't have, until now; although this version is a lot larger).

Still, it would be nice to merge these topics and get everything in one place as I'm sure there's info in the other topic that isn't here, and some here that isn't in the other one.

Dino.

[Angelus Lupus]

So we're proposing a merge/tidy-up and remove the misleading Cushing reference? I'd back that.

BTW, on topic.. I do like the design of this one, I just don't see it being practical at the time. Classic who practice was sets that were mounted/struck as needed, unlike the purpose-built permanent sets we see now. Plus the studio sets rarely has ceilings, which leaves we thinking tat the powers that be would have had to conclude this was impractical as drawn because it would have been too expensive to build it substantial enough so as not to wobble whenever The Doctor (whoever would have been playing the role) did a 'mad dash' around, jabbing at the controls. Mind you, this may have lead to the very natural development we see from McGann's console onwards, of fixed-to-ceiling, and on a base.

[Rassilons Rod]

So we're proposing a merge/tidy-up and remove the misleading Cushing reference? I'd back that.

Done

[Cardinal Hordriss]

I'm wondering whether or not they could have actually pulled this off with no support underneath. With actors throwing themselves against the console during turbulence scenes or even just leaning on it I'm a bit unsure how stable it would be. I'm also not sure as to what would signify the ship was in flight as there wouldn't be much room in the console itself for motors etc. to move the interior of the time column and the top would be full of sturdy supports to hold up the weight of the whole thing. I'm sure Tucker had it all worked out in his head but just looking at the sketch/model and knowing the limitations of the budget and tech available it seems very ambitious.

[lespaceplie]

I'm wondering whether or not they could have actually pulled this off...[w]ith actors throwing themselves against the console...

I don't think full size was ever intended. With the typically limited number of scenes, the idea was to get by with a composite of actors in the model set. Digital tools were good enough by that point to get away with it.

[Cardinal Hordriss]

Were they? I think that would have looked rubbish going on the effects they were able to achieve in the the final season.

[fivefingeredstyre]

Was this console room ever really a serious consideration? I remember the DWM at the time and it talked in terms of "I would have" rather than "I did this".

Reading JNT's biography and interviews with contemporary cast and crew, Doctor Who just sort of petered out not long after season 26 and I'm guessing before any real planning had commenced other than loose storylines.

[galacticprobe]

I don't think full size was ever intended. With the typically limited number of scenes, the idea was to get by with a composite of actors in the model set. Digital tools were good enough by that point to get away with it.

Were they? I think that would have looked rubbish going on the effects they were able to achieve in the the final season.

I agree, CH. If they had gone down that road, I doubt it would have looked any better than those same effects as used on 'The Starlost'. Granted, 'The Starlost' was done in 1973, but fast-forward to 1986 to the limited run 'Photon' series (mainly, I think, used to promote the gaming arenas that eventually lost out to Lasertag), and the look was much the same. Very easy to tell it was just actors against a blue (or green) screen.

When 'ST: TNG' premiered the following fall (1987), they had the budget of a major studio to pull off those kinds of SFX (as did the 1977 'Star Wars', though Lucas had to create the means to do it because until then, those means didn't exist), and if done today with 'Who' they could probably pull it off. But on the 1989/90 budget they'd have gotten from the BBC (which kept cutting back on everyone's budget at the time)? Not a chance.

Dino.

[Cardinal Hordriss]

Any walking around or interaction with the console would look awful too, they would have to write around TARDIS components and TARDIS related plot devices or else build small bits for close-up hand shots like Gerry Anderson. I'm a big fan of Knighmare but that was blue screen from day one and kind of worked with the fantasy land setting but for Doctor Who to go in that direction...

[warmcanofcoke]

So I'm changing my mind. I think this design by Matt Savage is brilliant:

I was looking all over for this image. It's similarity is striking.