Goldendale's First TARDIS

[galacticprobe]

I've used Fibreglass for strengthening helmets but never a wood build. How water proof does it end up making it? Before I make my next build I want to make sure it lasts a LOT longer than 4 years.

Justin, if you look up places that build replica 1800s steam launches (and most boat shops, really), once they've got the hulls done, they cover them in fiberglass. (You've heard of the "fiberglass hull" boats - their hulls are wood covered inside and out with fiberglass.) The outside has an extra layer of resin on it that helps give it that mirror-like appearance, and it is paintable.

Down in Plymouth, NC at the Museum of the Albemarle, there is a replica of Cushing's Launch: a steam launch LT Cushing used to attack and sink the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle during the US Civil War. (And boy is that launch fun to drive! She answers her tiller smartly!) I got to pilot her one year (2008, I think), before I got hurt, and she was already many years old. My living history group still re-enacts the battle every April (the last weekend of) and that launch is still going strong. She's a wooden hull covered in fiberglass, so I think it's safe to say that fiberglass makes things considerably waterproof (if not watertight), and lasts quite a while.

Dino.

[Bob's your Uncle]

Justin, I'm hoping that this TARDIS outlast me.     I'm 55.
This is my first experience with fiberglass, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. I do hate to do things twice! 

Dino, it's strange that you mention your living history group. Just tonight, I was joking with my wife (CFO/Quality Control) about my long, white beard. I told her that during December I can still be Santa Claus, but the rest of the year I could do civil war reenactments.     I think I'd look pretty good as a General...you pick the side. I would love to plan a vacation to be a part of something like that.


Thanks for the posts,
Greg

[Senseidale]

  same age as me I sure your Tardis will out last us all, with your love of Gorilla glue (not cheap stuff) I love the stuff to, I have never had a go at fibreglassing before but have considered it for the inside of the roof and around the inside if the windows and a few other places I can find along the way, please post how you get on and how much you needed ect.

All the best she is looking great.

Dale

[Sorvan]

I have three words to summarize this fiberglass experience....

Stinky, Sticky, and "I hope to God this works, because I am never doing this again!"  

And expensive. Sorry, that's four.

Polyester resin is really stinky.  Another option is Epoxy resin (which I used) isn't very stinky but is even more expensive.

I've used Fibreglass for strengthening helmets but never a wood build. How water proof does it end up making it? Before I make my next build I want to make sure it lasts a LOT longer than 4 years.

My TARDIS roof (my build) has been sitting outside now for... uh... almost 10 years.    The temperature varies from between -40°C and +40°C (-40°F and 104°F) and has had lots of rain and snow on it - no problems so far.  I bought my epoxy resin and fibreglass cloth at a marine supply store  - they're used for building boats.

Colin

[Bob's your Uncle]

Thanks, Colin.
You've given me confidence that the last three weeks of my life haven't been wasted. 

I've looked through your build a few times, stealing ideas and tips as I go. You have a TARDIS to be proud of!


Greg.

[Bob's your Uncle]

OK, I have to share another "WHOA" experience that happened during this build.

Earlier in this post I showed you the "Doctor's Eye", and the way it jumped out at me from one of the corner posts.





Yeah, I know....Creepy.  



Well imagine my surprise when I walked though the TARDIS doorway, looked up, and saw this.....!



WTT!!! (What the TARDIS!!!)

As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was.

Can you see it?




Nearly Identical!

I call it "the crack in the wall", but I'm guessing that it has a real name.
I don't think I'll paint over it, I may try to light it up like this......

[Bob's your Uncle]

THE FIBERGLASS IS DONE!!



I had to get the quarter-round installed in the four corners so that the fiberglass could cover the tops. $19.60
I used up the last of the resin and had to buy another 28 oz. can. $14.97
Of course, with more resin comes more paint brushes. $4.96

Bringing The Total TARDIS Investment to $510.26

Looking at just the fiberglass investment, it broke down like this:

144 ounces of fiberglass resin.
32 square feet of fiberglass cloth. It still wasn't enough.
Two quarts of acetone for thinning and clean up. I still have half a can left over.
At least six paint brushes (I lost count). It's not worth cleaning them, buy cheap ones and throw them away.
Dust masks, mixing cups, rubber fiberglass spreaders.

For a grand total of $123.91
Plus a few other necessities that I always keep on hand: lots of sandpaper, plenty of adult beverages, and loud music.



I'm pretty happy with the results. The fiberglass comes down over the corner posts, across the top of the Police Boxes and down over the front edge. I tried to wrap the fiberglass cloth around the top of the corner posts, but there are so many corners and zig-zags that I gave up and just painted resin over the wood. I hope that works, it seems very durable.

This is the corner of the roof that had the big gap between the roof panels. It looks much better now.



Just a few more details and were ready for primer.



Greg.

[Elvis Gump]

The fiberglass has a strange beauty - it almost seems a shame to paint over it!
This is a beautiful build.

[Bob's your Uncle]

Thanks. I can't wait to get some paint on her.


Greg.

[brucer]

It's coming along nicely.
I like the way you've fibreglassed anywhere water can come in. If I ever set mine up permanent (vs collapsible) I'll do the same thing. As it is it leaks like a sieve.

[galacticprobe]

Beware your TARDIS, Greg! First, she's starting to stare at you with that "Doctor Eye". Now, she's got a crack in the universe that's just waiting to erase you from time... before she explodes and puts an end to the universe altogether. (I thought you were doing such a great job with her, so what have you done to get her so cheesed off? )

Dino.

[Volpone]

The fiberglass has a strange beauty - it almost seems a shame to paint over it!
This is a beautiful build.

It does, doesn't it?  Surprisingly clear too.  Well maybe not that surprising, given the glasswork I've seen on surfboards.  It's made me think this is one option for a time rotor cylinder, should I ever find the time, space, and money to build a console.

Yes, it is.  And built like a tank, compared to, well, almost all of the builds. 

[Bob's your Uncle]

Well, just a few details left before I can get a coat of primer on her.

I used a 3/4" piece of aluminum angle to reinforce the top of the doorway. I didn't want the door to slam against the thin 1/4" wood that starts the three steps above the door panels. My door will swing in, like a "real" TARDIS. I think it's easier to seal out the weather on an in-swing door, and more TARDISy too!





This is the wood that will make up the three steps. I went with cheap 1/4" x 1-1/2" x 48" wood lath strips for the lower steps, .35 cents each. I used more expensive 1/4" poplar boards for the top step because these needed to be wider than 1-1/2".



Next comes the first step, lined up with the bottom of the aluminum.



The next piece is just a filler piece above the first, and then the start of the second layer.



The next piece finishes off the second step.



And then the final piece.



The grand total for the aluminum, stainless steel screws, lath strips and poplar boards comes to $30.59, bringing the Total TARDIS Investment to $540.85. Worth every penny, if you ask me.  




Greg.

[Senseidale]

Even time I look at you fabulous build (and others) it give me ideas to improve my build.
all i can say it Thanks LOL  , for making  more work for me to do.
but seriously  great work.
Dale.

[Bob's your Uncle]

Dale, there's no reason you can't have two TARDIS'.
All you need is time and money. And about 16 square feet of space. 

Thanks for the compliments.


Greg.