Season 13 - 20 Sharp Console Altered - Console Orientation

[timefreak]

I have been working out plans to build my own console lately, and while I know that the different panels control different functions of the T.A.R.D.I.S., I can't seem to find a "starting" panel...To clarify, is there one panel that always faces the main interior doors, or does the order change with each new design? I could really use your expert advice and input on this. Thank you in advance, Timefreak

[boredomino]

Depends which console, I suppose.  And in the old episodes, there was very little continuity - the console was in different orientations all the time, so there's no definitive "starting" panel.

I know the first few Hartnell episodes had the "environmental" panel facing the doors (with the two big round gauges), so that's the usual orientation for that console.

The McGann/Eccleston-Tennant/Smith consoles are fixed in place so it's much easier for them

[galacticprobe]

The McGann console was only seen in one story: the 1996 Movie, so that may not be the best reference for panel orientation. And while the Eccleston/Tennant console was fixed in place, the set was moved to a different studio and when the console was reassembled in its new location the panels were put in different places than they were in their previous studio. And then after the mini episode after the 9th to 10th Doctor regeneration, done for the Children in Need charity, the panels melted because someone got overzealous with the console lighting. New panels had to be cast, and not only were the components on the panels placed on the new panels in different locations - which is how that gyro compass repeater ended up on the panel with the long rectangular switch panel when it was on a different panel for the 9th Doctor stories, and even on that panel the repeater changed positions, probably when they moved studios - the recast panels themselves were again put on the console in different places than they were before.

If you want consistency with panel placement, I would suggest using the console from "The Invisible Enemy" to "The King's Demons" as with that console, the panel with the large lever always faced the doors. That lever started out with a large grey knob, and later the knob turned red and became the dedicated main doors' lever. Even then the other panels moved around the console, but that one door lever panel always faced the doors.

From "The Five Doctors" on until the Classic series ceased production, the panel with the pull lever for the doors always faced the doors, and the other panels seemed to stay in their same positions. And now the Eleventh Doctor's console seems to have a console that, at least so far, has panels that don't move around the console, but that could change. (The one thing that's consistent with the TARDIS console is its inconsistency!)

Dino.

[DoctorWho8]

If you want consistency with panel placement, I would suggest using the console from "The Invisible Enemy" to "The King's Demons" as with that console, the panel with the large lever always faced the doors. That lever started out with a large grey knob, and later the knob turned red and became the dedicated main doors' lever. Even then the other panels moved around the console, but that one door lever panel always faced the doors.

Technically, Logopolis was the starting point of the panel with the large red lever facing the doors.  But it wasn't used as the door control until Castrovalva.  It was JN-T's desire to have the console structure standardized and certain controls and panels used for specific functions.  But even in Seasons 19 and 20, there were two stories where the panel arrangement was changed do to a panel getting messed up in a previous story due to serious console explosions. 

In Time Flight, the two panels normally facing the inner walls were switched around with the panel with the large screen and large black level along with the panel with computer printer at the top (first and only used in State of Decay).  They were damaged in the console explosions in Earthshock and probably because of lack of time and almost no budget, they didn't fix up the panels.

The next story was The King's Demons.  Same thing here.  The panels that were damaged in the console explosion in Enlightenment were switched around to face the inner walls.

Event the 5 Doctors console had its panels rearranged, but for no obvious reason.  It happened in Frontios.  Ironically the immediately following story, Resurrection of the Daleks, the panels were back in their correct configuration.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

[galacticprobe]

Technically, Logopolis was the starting point of the panel with the large red lever facing the doors.  But it wasn't used as the door control until Castrovalva.

I knew that red lever didn't become the door control until Davison's era, but I wasn't sure of the story. Earlier in the Tom Baker era when that control had a grey knob on it (before it was made red) I remember a story or two where that was used as the Dematerialisation lever, and at least in those stories that one did face the doors.

It was JN-T's desire to have the console structure standardized and certain controls and panels used for specific functions.  But even in Seasons 19 and 20, there were two stories where the panel arrangement was changed do to a panel getting messed up in a previous story due to serious console explosions.  

In Time Flight, the two panels normally facing the inner walls were switched around with the panel with the large screen and large black level along with the panel with computer printer at the top (first and only used in State of Decay).  They were damaged in the console explosions in Earthshock and probably because of lack of time and almost no budget, they didn't fix up the panels.

The next story was The King's Demons.  Same thing here.  The panels that were damaged in the console explosion in Enlightenment were switched around to face the inner walls.

Yeah, JN-T tried to standard much with the show, but when you're working with the budget of a nickel, you have to adapt. I remember "Earthshock". That dying Cyberman blasted the pogies out of the console and you're right; they probably didn't have the funding, or the time, to properly repair the FX damage, so those panels moved to the far side of the console. I think you've nailed it there, Bill. Every time a panel had something on it go 'spark', 'bang', or 'kaboom!', they moved it out of camera shot until they could clean it up or fix it. I guess that's also how the panels changed how they looked: same controls and configuration, just with updated components to make that panel look a little more high-tech. Example:

The panel with the monitor and the small black "joystick" on it as it appeared in "Logopolis";


And that same panel (on the left, with the gold-ish cover around the small black joystick) in one of the later Davison stories after being repaired/upgraded. Notice, though, that its relative position is still between those other two, same panels. And even the panel to its right, though it looks much like it does in what we can see of it in the previous photo, has gotten an upgrade (or a repair).

Event the 5 Doctors console had its panels rearranged, but for no obvious reason.  It happened in Frontios.  Ironically the immediately following story, Resurrection of the Daleks, the panels were back in their correct configuration.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

Ah... that "Five Doctors" console. Aside from that pull control for the doors, I couldn't tell those panels apart. I mean I could tell the ones that had monitors on them from the ones that didn't (obviously... I'm not that dense, although my wife may argue that point), but other than that, those panels could have moved around in each story and I'd have never noticed. They looked like they just copied each panel to make three of each kind with all of the controls identical on each kind. (I know I'll probably get hammered after saying that, but that's how that console looked to me. And I wasn't a huge fan of that version.)

So, I guess it might be safer to say for console orientation and panel placement, pick a story that you really liked, and then go with that console.

Dino.

[DoctorWho8]

I made a 5 Doctors console completely out of cardboard.  Nearly full size.  I studied the console based on pausing video tapes and studying what pictures I had in DWM or on the early internet. So I know what panels went where.

As far as the T Baker/Davison Console goes, it evolved over time.  Before the red lever was installed at the end of Armageddon Factor, it was a black square/rectangle lever like on what ended up as the communications panel with the pair of black top levers.

In Season 18, the panel with the printer was added as it replaced the panel with the panel weird angle black box with silver grid on it.  Then the panel with the "door control" was changed so that the Architectural Configuration keyboard would pop up in Logopolis.  In Castrovalva, the panel with the large screen was replaced with the TARDIS Databank panel, which was a variation.  But in Four to Doomsday and Kinda, the old panel was back.  This is because Castrovalva was filmed third.  So come The Visitation, the computer panel goes back to the Castrovalva version, but with the screen removed and a black perspex plate covering the hole the screen innards were.  On and on the door panel, the green round screen with black house was added during this time also.  And other buttons and switches were added to a couple of the panels over the course of time.  More later.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

[galacticprobe]

And let's not forget - going waaay back - the sudden appearance of the "Fast Return Switch" that wasn't there in Episode One of "Edge Of Destruction" (or before that story), and also wasn't there for much of "Edge"'s Episode Two, appearing on the console only near the end of the Ep.

So that console can evolve during a story, or an episode, as well as between them. So, like many here have said: just pick a story that's your favorite (if you've got one) and go with how the console looked in that one.

For everyone who loves any story from Season 14 with its wooden console, you've pretty much got it made. That console didn't change hardly at all throughout the entire season!

Dino.

[Teletran]

The classic console had three big levers, two together to control demat/remat and one by itself on a separate panel which was a sort of fast takeoff switch but eventually became the "big red lever" door control. I always assumed that the BRL door control faced the door, this is how I arranged my Tardis which conveniently puts the environmental sensor panel on the right and the flight controls on the left as you come in the door. However I now suspect that the console is actually facing the doors point first, with the door and flight controls and their respective panels both facing the doors but at a slight angle.
This can be seen here:

However this was not always the case, here you can see the flight controls with the two big levers facing the door and the other lever way on the other side of the room but that's OK it wasn't the door control yet.

And from the other end of the same season we see that it's flipped round again.

And let's not forget The Web Planet when the whole thing spun around like a top.

[timefreak]

Thank you one and all! I was wearing myself out trying to figure out the orientation and was getting nowhere...I feel better knowing that ones own interpretation of the console can be, in fact, the correct one. Armed with that knowledge, every TARDIS becomes unique to the user...adding to the bond between a timelord and their respective TARDIS. Oddly enough, I am satisfied by this...again, thank you one and all! Now, perhaps, my mind will rest easy...well, easier, that is...

[warmcanofcoke]

Just reviewed a bunch of my DVDs, If we're talking about the Tom Baker/Peter Davison console - circa season 19 & 20, then here are the panel orientations by story.


*Kinda and Snakedance haven't been released on DVD in the States yet. As Far as I know the Panels on all other consoles stay the same and do not shift from story to story.

[Rassilons Rod]

Just reviewed a bunch of my DVDs, If we're talking about the Tom Baker/Peter Davison console - circa season 19 & 20, then here are the panel orientations by story.


*Kinda and Snakedance haven't been released on DVD in the States yet. As Far as I know the Panels on all other consoles stay the same and do not shift from story to story.

Fascinating research! It has to be said.. WTH happened for timeflight and demons...  lol

[warmcanofcoke]

Fascinating research! It has to be said.. WTH happened for timeflight and demons...  lol

I'm not sure ... =P I'm hoping to see if I can add all of season 18 to this layout chart - just to wrap up all the JNT time period.(maybe I'll get a little more ambitious....)

[warmcanofcoke]

Update: * Meglos comes out later this month on DVD in the US I think. Some stories do not have a console scene.


looks a little like a Sudoku doesn't it?

this is what I have so far after 392 screen captures...

** Pirate Planet also has a different configuration during the stunt sequences when the Doctor is trying to save the Earth during the mirror effect.

[galacticprobe]

Kinda makes me go  .

Dino.

[DoctorWho8]

Psst, the numbers should go clockwise.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff