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Marks Brachaki TARDIS Build 2011

Started by hardgrave, Jan 01, 2011, 08:15 am

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hardgrave

Jan 01, 2011, 08:15 am Last Edit: Jan 01, 2011, 01:02 pm by Scarfwearer
Hello and Happy New year to all members, what a way to start a new year than with a new project.
Last year I complete my first ever major build of a Genesis Dalek on PDF, As my wife said I'm not aloud to build another Dalek I am building a TARDIS mostly as it would be the icing on the cake but also because she didn't say i couldn't 8)

I will be using throughout this build the workshop manual by Glen Walker and plans to attempt to recreate the Brachaki TARDIS, Im not too sure on the history of the different types of TARDIS's used throughout the show, but like the Daleks I will be researching / learning as I go about this build. I don't really mind which TARDIS I end up with on completion as it will be like my Dalek, done the way I think looks best to me and done to how and what I can afford, If my Dalek is anything to go by It should be great.

As far as building skill etc I can't really see too many hurdles in front of me as the Dalek build pushed me way beyond my previous skill level, so this build (touch wood) should be quite tame, and still give me a different set of skills on completion.

First thing this morning I went down to Mitre 10 Mega (my local hardware shop) where I got most of the Dalek's wood from, as soon as I walked in with the infamous black folder under my arm, they said "Oh No what are you building this time...a TARDIS??? lol" in which I quickly replied "yes" followed by them asking what I needed.

Having a look at what Glen used for his build he says he used 25mm (1'') MDF board, which was $130.00 per sheet nearly double that of a 18mm sheet of MDF, after going through the plans and talking with my mates there, we decided that the 18mm should be adequate for the build.

A few moments later I was driving out with a car load of pre cut wood. When I got home a laid out the stacks of wood in their individual sizes, with my Dalek giving me the Evil stare like I'm cheating on him.
DSCF2568.JPG
Next I started gluing and screwing the 3'' panels to the 4'' ones and then letting them dry.
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Once these were dry, I attached them to the 6'' planks and glued, clamped and then screwed together to form the "L" shape.
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While these were drying in the sun, I took the time to read up more on the history of the police boxes, and re-read the workshop manual. Next tasking was to glue, clamp and again screw the last 4'' planks to the outside of the 6'' plank, again left in the sun to dry.
DSCF2572.JPG DSCF2573.JPG
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The old veterans could be able to tell that the length of the corner posts are a little longer than they need to be, these will be trimmed later on in the build once I'm happy so as not to find they're to short at the worst point of the build. ::)

The only other jobs left to do to the posts is to attach the strips of curved edging and then sand them. So far not to bad a start to the build, a lot achieved on the first day.
Would you like a Jellybaby?

kiwidoc

Looking great Mark!  The price of 25mm MDF has certainly gone up since I built in 2003 (when you can find it) but you'll be find with 18mm - most people wouldn't see the difference anyway.   Looking forward to the next update.

superrichi1a

Brilliant Mark! Nice to have another Brachaki build. I almost regret not doing one myself, I do love the design. Then again, I'd have been thinking the same of the New Series if I had gone to the Brachaki.
Lovely work so far. I just wanted to suggest something about the last thing you said, about putting on the curved edges (I assume these are the 1/4 round mouldings for the posts?). Glen, if you don't mind me interjecting an idea about your sign box construction...
Don't put the 1/4 rounds on yet. Leave them until you have done the sign boxes. This is because, in Glen's manual, if you look at the sign box construction, he had to "wrap" the sign boxes around the corner posts, and the 1/4 round mouldings. It looked very tricky to me, cutting out the sign boxes to fit around the round mouldings, so what I did was leave the mouldings till afterwards, so I could cut out the sign boxes to fit around the straight edges of the corner posts, and, then when I had done that and worked out measurements, added the mouldings in around the aread where the sign boxes were covering, if you follow me.
I don't mean to cast doubt on Glen's manual, FAR FROM IT! His manual is why my TARDIS exists today, without it, I would be lost, thanks Glen :) I'm just sharing a thought that, in my view, spared me a lot of bother :)
Isn't it how ironic that we have to think of solutions out of the box, in order to build our boxes a lot of the time?

rmef2

Don't you hate it when the Dalek gets in the way!  Have to lock them in the basement for piece and quiet.

geminitimelord

Excellent choice.... Look forward to progress.

hardgrave

Thanks for the comments so far team, yes there isn't that much room in my work shop to do much with the Dalek and other hobbies in the way ;D
I may leave the 1/4 rounds off as suggested to save on the hassle of fitting the signs. simple is better.
Would you like a Jellybaby?

hardgrave

Evening, today was a great day in the hot sun, just the kinda day one needs to build a TARDIS. :)

Today I started work on the doors, I got some more MDF board and went to work making up the door frames and cross pieces, first thing I did was cut some test pieces to work out the amount of waste wood, cut off when making the 22 degree cut. This was so I knew how to make out the sizes so they were not under size on completion.
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Once this was done, all the cross pieces were cut to size.
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This was quickly followed by the frame work for the doors.
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Laying out the 1st door frame for test fit.
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Tomorrow I will start gluing the doors together.
Would you like a Jellybaby?

markofrani

Not that it matters, but for historical accuracy, the recessed panels on the Brachacki prop had no bevels. The 1980's Yardley-Jones Tardis prop had bevels of 21 degrees. For any other info, the Tardis Library website might help.
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/~trekker/policeboxes/tv1.html

kiwidoc

Quote from: superrichi1a on Jan 01, 2011, 02:41 pm
Brilliant Mark! Nice to have another Brachaki build. I almost regret not doing one myself, I do love the design. Then again, I'd have been thinking the same of the New Series if I had gone to the Brachaki.
Lovely work so far. I just wanted to suggest something about the last thing you said, about putting on the curved edges (I assume these are the 1/4 round mouldings for the posts?). Glen, if you don't mind me interjecting an idea about your sign box construction...
Don't put the 1/4 rounds on yet. Leave them until you have done the sign boxes. This is because, in Glen's manual, if you look at the sign box construction, he had to "wrap" the sign boxes around the corner posts, and the 1/4 round mouldings. It looked very tricky to me, cutting out the sign boxes to fit around the round mouldings, so what I did was leave the mouldings till afterwards, so I could cut out the sign boxes to fit around the straight edges of the corner posts, and, then when I had done that and worked out measurements, added the mouldings in around the aread where the sign boxes were covering, if you follow me.
I don't mean to cast doubt on Glen's manual, FAR FROM IT! His manual is why my TARDIS exists today, without it, I would be lost, thanks Glen :) I'm just sharing a thought that, in my view, spared me a lot of bother :)


I agree, and thanks dude.  Two corrections to the manual are obvious - changing the post construction so that the rough edge on one side is hidden (takes an extra 1" of wood but worth it), and the sign box mounting.  I changed to using loose pin hinges for mounting the boxes which was much better than my first system (though other options now abound) and also as you say, the interior side moulding strips should be cut to stop at the bottom of the sign box, then the box can actually sit on the moulding  and you just continue it above the sign box.  We all learn along the way and by watching and helping with any builds since mine I've learnt a lot and I'm currently trying to refresh and revise the Manual to produce the long promised V2.

kiwidoc

Again, looking great!!   It's so nice to see a new TARDIS build in NZ and one that reminds me a great deal of mine.  Keep it up Mark, you're ripping along.  Are you trying to meet a deadline or just whenever it's done you'll be happy?

hardgrave

No such deadline this time around, my Dalek had me working most nights and 24hrs most weekends to have it ready for the Auckland 2010 Armageddon, which it was then completed in 7 months (and almost a marriage lost due to time spent in the workshop ;D), I would like the TARDIS ready for this years Armageddon but again its the end of OCT so heaps of time to have it finished by.. May even get a K9 build in lol.....
Would you like a Jellybaby?

rnojek

Hello,
Great start. I started my own TARDIS but ran into lack of money issues. Question where did you get the workshop manual by Glen Walker. I've attempted to find it on the web but no luck.

hardgrave

Jan 05, 2011, 05:45 am #12 Last Edit: Jan 05, 2011, 09:18 am by kiwidoc
It was on the TARDIS Library but follow the like below if you want.

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/~trekker/policeboxes/myplans.html

Mark


{edited by Glen to correct the URL}
Would you like a Jellybaby?

hardgrave

Evening, a long slow process is happing with the building and gluing of the doors for my TARDIS, due to current room available in my work shop I can only manage to glue one door at a time and wait 24 hrs till I can do the next.
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Here is the first door finished and stacked up next to one of the corner posts to get an idea of size.
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Next update will be after all doors are glued and have the 7mm ply backing attached.
Would you like a Jellybaby?

hardgrave

Well slow going after a good start, mainly due to the weather >:( it has been really bad the last few weeks with flooding etc.  I finally managed to get a couple of sunny days to carry on work.

I haven't done much more work on the doors as I am waiting for pay day to get more wood. I did however have some 2x4 to make the base of my TARDIS, this was very easy to do and doesn't look too bad, a few minor hick-ups but nothing too bad. A few of the cross braces aren't quite even but once the 12 mm PLY is on the top you won't notice.
DSCF2717.JPG DSCF2718.JPG
I also managed to get a telephone to go inside my TARDIS for a cheap $25.00. This I will rig up to play a random sound clip each time the hand piece is picked up.
DSCF2719.JPG
Should have more done by this weekend, looking at having all the doors finished and maybe ply backing attached.
Would you like a Jellybaby?