Zbigniev's Model TARDIS (finished!)

[zbigniev hamson]

Well... I've finally decided to bite the bullet and move from 3D polygons to wood. It's not really practical to build a full-sized version unfortunately (maybe one day) so I've decided to build an approximately 1/6th scale model as this seems to be about the best size for keeping CDs in

It's going to be an early-seventies Brachacki box, pretty much like the one I made in Sketchup...



although I'm not sure whether to go with the lighter blue look or the darker blue from the early Pertwee/Troughton days.

I'm currently doing ANOTHER Sketchup model, but this time in terms of individual bits of wood to check the actual construction design. Then I'll be ordering the wood cut to spec from a modelling website.

I'm still thinking how to handle the doors. Obviously I want them to open inwards like on the prop, but also for practical purposes of being able to use it for storage, I'd also like them to be able to open outwards. I'm currently thinking the doors could be "hinged" with a small piece of dowelling into the base, allowing them to swing all ways, rather than using proper hinges.

Also... it's probably a bit early to start this thread seeing as I haven't even ordered the wood or finished the plans yet, but I thought that starting this thread now might spur me on

[Rassilons Rod]

Hmm.  Actually I've spotted a problem...  Your lantern is perfectly aligned, and straight up, whereas the full size prop seems to have it at a jaunty angle...   

[DoctorWho8]

Purple can probably advise you about the hinges as he worked with (I think) Cod Steaks on their 80's TARDIS, on which the doors open both ways.
Bill Rudloff

[avadh]

Great work so far.

[rizla]

Looks cool!

[Rassilons Rod]

Jesus, I didn't realise sketchup was THAT good!

Good luck with your build

-Marc

[zbigniev hamson]

Well my plan for the doors is to have them hinged on a stub of dowelling at the top and the bottom of the door, with a corresponding hole in the base and the woodblock above the doorway. The hinge-sides of the doors will be backed with half-round dowel (or maybe just sanded round) so that they can open inwards without bumping into the corner posts. Hopefully that makes sense; if not maybe the following (less pretty, but functional) Sketchup pictures will illustrate what I mean.

If anyone can spot any glaringly obvious problems with this plan it would be a great help to hear it at this stage

[zbigniev hamson]

Actually I've already realised that, as the holes are positioned now, that won't actually allow the doors to open outwards, which was the whole point! Not sure what I was thinking there.

If I'm going to do it this way I'll have to move the holes across so that the edge of the hole, rather than the centre, is parallel to the corner post. This would mean that the curved part of the door will be visible even when the doors are closed. This might not be too bad, but I'd have to make the corner posts go back a little further into the box to avoid a visible gap

[zbigniev hamson]

Okay well here is the amended plan with hole moved across slightly and an extra piece of wood put in to cover the visible gap...



When the (now also slightly smaller) door goes in place it now leaves a little rounded edge still visible...



But this isn't as noticeable as I'd thought and allows the door to swing both ways. As it were. I can't really think of any better way to achieve this, especially not on this scale (that dowel hole will be 3mm across).

[DoctorWho8]

Did you get the idea from the Dapol TARDIS?  If not, then you have the same door structure as it does.  Now, what about the door stopping pins at the top of the door frame, are you leaving those off since the doors will be bi-directional?  Looking pretty sweet so far.
Bill Rudloff

[zbigniev hamson]

No I didn't get the idea from the Dapol TARDIS (unless it was sbliminally), I just couldn't really think of any other simple way to have the doors opening both ways. I'd thought of some complicated method involving the doors being hinged to an extra thin piece of wood, which was itself hinged the opposite way to the door post, but I never really liked that idea and certainly wouldn't want to do it on this scale.

As for the door stops... well I want to have these on because I really like the look. But they're going to have to be removable in some way. Perhaps they could have pins/nails glued to the rear side to allow them to be slid in and out of the steps above the doors.

[zbigniev hamson]

Not particularly exciting, but I managed to find some strips of wood in B&Q that pretty much matched my design for parts of the corner post (they're 1mm out, which may not be a problem or may need sanding/planing later). So I now have some corner post bits...

[rizla]

Excellent! Great to get the wood in your hands. If you're anything like me you'll not be able to wait! Good Luck! 

[zbigniev hamson]

Made a start on the walls and doors today. These are made from some hardboard that was lying around and is the right thickness, hopefully that will be suitable. If not I may have to make them again later out of hardwood. Just got as far as cutting out the basic shapes and marking on the panel areas to be cut out. Not much to look at yet, but here they are (along with a cat for scale).

[zbigniev hamson]

After a trip to a model shop today I now have enough material to make about 90% of the TARDIS, I just need to get on with the sawing now

My list of materials is now hardwood (of an unspecified variety), hardboard, plywood, balsa, beech, and plastic, so quite a mixed bag.