Sonic Help/Advice... (Newbie Warning)

Hi Everyone,

First of all I would like to say what a great site. You have me hooked. So many things I would like to make. So I've decided to start with something that I love... Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver.

I plan to build them all, but will start with something simple, maybe the 10th or 11th Doctors Sonic as I can get the toys. I've been scanning the site, and have started to put together all the information I can on them all. I've got a lot of refrence shots, and have bought the toys to pull apart. But from reading here, the are the wrong sizes.

This is a long term project, and just wanted to ask if anyone had any advice or information they would be willing to share. Sizes are my biggest concern. Might have to book a trip the DW exhibit to get some scale pictures.

Anyhow... Any help/advice is well revived.

Thanks in advance.

LarryEeles said:

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Hi Everyone,

First of all I would like to say what a great site. You have me hooked. So many things I would like to make. So I've decided to start with something that I love... Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver.

I plan to build them all, but will start with something simple, maybe the 10th or 11th Doctors Sonic as I can get the toys. I've been scanning the site, and have started to put together all the information I can on them all. I've got a lot of refrence shots, and have bought the toys to pull apart. But from reading here, the are the wrong sizes.

This is a long term project, and just wanted to ask if anyone had any advice or information they would be willing to share. Sizes are my biggest concern. Might have to book a trip the DW exhibit to get some scale pictures.

Anyhow... Any help/advice is well revived.

Thanks in advance.

If you want to start with something simple, I would recommend a Classic Series sonic (Pertwee, Baker, Davison, McGann). The Tennant Sonic is deceptively complicated, while the Smith Sonic is just flat-out complicated. The prop consists of over 50 individual parts!

If you still want to go with the newer series stuff, I would recommend finding the pictures posted of the MFX prototypes. NOT the actual released product, but the prototypes. You'll know them when you find them, because they're photographed on graphing/drafting paper. The grid marks on the paper should go a long way to helping you figure out the measurements. Just ignore the paint color. It is totally incorrect.

Also, there are a couple users here who have produced their own replicas of the Tennant prop, and their threads may help you out a bit: Anakin Starkiller and Phez. Give them a look.

Best of luck to you.

Pobbrett said:

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i thought i read somewhere that the toy was used by the 10th doc in some parts but i may be wrong or it could be rumour.

there is a good looking thread HERE

This is a long-standing rumor, probably because CO says so in its marketing for the product. Alas, it is 100% untrue. I think they used one in the 11th hour when it got blown up in Matt Smith's hand, but only for that exact shot. Not even just before or just after.

jedibugs said:

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If you want to start with something simple, I would recommend a Classic Series sonic (Pertwee, Baker, Davison, McGann). The Tennant Sonic is deceptively complicated, while the Smith Sonic is just flat-out complicated. The prop consists of over 50 individual parts!

If you still want to go with the newer series stuff, I would recommend finding the pictures posted of the MFX prototypes. NOT the actual released product, but the prototypes. You'll know them when you find them, because they're photographed on graphing/drafting paper. The grid marks on the paper should go a long way to helping you figure out the measurements. Just ignore the paint color. It is totally incorrect.

Also, there are a couple users here who have produced their own replicas of the Tennant prop, and their threads may help you out a bit: Anakin Starkiller and Phez. Give them a look.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks Guys, that's great. I didn't know there were protptype pictures out there... I have a hunt on now. You may both have a point, I was worried about the moving parts on the newer sonics.

Research first I think, get as much as I can on them all. Might even try to put something together for people in the future. It all helps.

phez said:

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Hi there

What are you using to make your parts (hand machines/CNC)?

Don't bother with the toys for the 9th/10th Sonic, they are not really that close an it is easier to just start from scratch. These are the best photo I found to start from. The graph paper is metric. The tube going through the head is a slightly sanded piece of 3mm (.118) aluminum tubing, you can scale it from there. I imported the photos into Autocad, scaled the photo off of the tube and the paper grid (which reconciles the 3mm tube) and traced it.




Here are the threads from the "adventure" . The hardest part is trying to figure out how to hold the parts in the machine.

http://www.therpf.com/f9/eccleston-s...-crack-121733/

http://www.therpf.com/f9/hero-season...driver-136538/

http://www.therpf.com/f9/season-5-so...10/index2.html

Let me know if you have any questions (I know I did when I took this project on ).


Make sure to check out Rubbertoe's web site. He took some great in progress photos when he was making the props for the show.

prop makers



This is really good advice if you are a bit new to machining.

Thanks phez, never done anything like machining, but used to do a lot with wood. Thought this might be a nice way to get started. Looks like I need some new kit as well as some plans

Thanks for all the help, will give you a shout when (i'm sure) I get stuck.

Have fun and post some progeress pics as you go.