1983/85 Doctor Who Fan Club of America TARDIS Models

[Solcar23]

Hi Everyone,

I've had these models for a while and occasionally will try to do some research on them only to find there is very little about these anywhere. I just thought I'd post some detailed pics of my two kits for RPF posterity and for anyone to add whatever they know about them in the thread.

I've only seen the cardboard version built in pics on the web so if anyone has any pics of some completed versions, please feel free to share!

Here is the 1985 cardboard version in the baggie:





Original price?:





The cover, instructions and printed signage:



The kit laid out:




Here's the 1983 all-balsa boxed version:





The entire kit laid out. Note the frosted plastic for the windows. Also pictured, the blueprints, signage and corrections list:



Several of the pieces have broken over the years from dryness:







The hardware:



Here's the materials list:



The blueprints were in water damaged condition:



The entire instructions blueprint:

 

[Mike J.]

Interesting.

 

[JMChladek]

The wood may have been from Pactra back then, but it wouldn't surprise me if the wood division became Midwest wood as they use similar color codes on the ends of wood stock to this day (it was to help identify them for pricing at shops that stock them). Both are very interesting kits to say the least. I honestly wish I had a wood one to perhaps build as it might be nice to do a police box out of wood.

 

[Contec]

Now just upscale that Material list and you can build a 1:1 size Tardis

 

[dcarty]

I was a member of the DWFCA way back when and I still have my kit that I built back in about 1986 -- back when I had about zero references (apart from one or two of Peter Haining's books). It's the first one you have pictured, the cardboard kit, and I painted mine to look like the Hartnell TARDIS even though the model definitely the Newbury TARDIS.

 

[PolyversalAri]

How much does one of these go for nowadays? If I could find one it seems like a fun little project instead of the life size version

 

[Solcar23]

They show up on eBay occasionally. Shoot me a pm, I might be able to help!

 

[DoctorEight]

I'd love a scale replica of the Hudolin TVM box, in scale with the 5" CO figures.

 

[JMChladek]

Now just upscale that Material list and you can build a 1:1 size Tardis

life size Tardis? Check this out!

I built a TARDIS - YouTube

 

[Solcar23]

I'm slowly building the earlier balsa model based in the plans that came with the kit. I opted to not use any of the original parts as I'd like to keep the kit intact as much as possible. So I bought a bunch of balsa, printed some new decals from the web and ended up modifying the window frames to be actual wood instead of the suggested cardboard cutouts the plans suggested.

I'll keep posting progress as I go.

After this one is done, I think I'm going to actually build the cardboard fan club kit, then onto the SquirellWorks balsa rocket model and then my Airfix Welcome Aboard kit! It's TARDIS madness!!! Lol!



More to come!

 

[Solcar23]

Some progress...

 

[Johndoe980]

HI Solcar23,
I love your Balsa Tardis, Is there any chance I could get a copy of your plans, I have tried but I can't read them.
Thanks for any info,
Tony
ajdw66@yahoo.com.au

 

[osric]

I loved the balsa wood kit when I was a kid. I really loved those assembly instructions (that poster was on my bedroom wall for a long time) and that little tiny door handle!

 

[mwdstar82]

I also have this model from thee fan club its a lil delapadated but I have it on a shelf in my bedroom . Im glad to see im not the only one who still likes it thanks for having the pics.. and putting them on here

 

[19yellow72]

Looking great! I never knew these existed!
As someone who scratch built his own Tardis from balsa, I'm VERY impressed. Some form of instruction would have helped immensely when I was tackling mine. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the build.

 

[Solcar23]

Ok! It's been forever since I posted about these but I've completed both of them. I'll start with some shots from the all balsa wood one to begin.

View attachment 351497View attachment 351498View attachment 351499View attachment 351500View attachment 351501

I used Shrinky Dink material doubled up for the frosted windows. I think it looks pretty good when lit from the inside. I'm planning to add some lights eventually but for now I just wanted to get the thing finished. I also re-did the roof from the original design. It was too flat and was only one level. I added one more section to the top but kept the flat design from the plans instead of beveling the roof correctly. I also modded the beacon to fit an LED flasher eventually. I used the tube from an exacto blade refill and placed a strip of white paper inside to diffuse the light. When I finally get to lighting it I probably rethink the beacon entirely since it can easily be dismantled. The posts on the beacon are just some brass rod pieces I had laying around.

I then popped it into the ol spray booth and primered her up. I started with gray primer, then gave it coats of several different blues I had around. After noodling with this thing way too long with every blue I had on hand I ended up settling for a Krylon dark blue spray paint from Wal-Mart that's actually for plastic.

 

[Solcar23]

From here I also Google imaged the signage and skipped using the pre-printed stuff that came with the kit since it was so poorly printed. I prefer the look of the newer signs anyway. I then ordered some new door handles from a dollhouse supply to replace the original since there was only one supplied.

I made the base removable and held on with a couple of screws so I can install the lights later and I also drilled a hole in the beacon to fit the wires through for the flasher light.

I gave it a couple of coats of clear to seal everything in and even out the tone and it was finished.

 

[Solcar23]

Then it was onto the cardboard and balsa one.

For this one, I was determined to not mod anything out and do it exactly to the instructions using only the supplied material. It suggested that you paint each part as you build. I used Floquil dark blue 130050. The only problem is that they discontinued this color so I bought three more cans online just in case since I bought the last can at my hobby store.



Overall it went together really nice. The cardboard was thick enough to be sturdy and with some wood glue it held together amazing as I built and painted.



The cardboard soaked up the paint really nicely. Each piece has about three coats of the color with a final clear coat. They felt really substantial when it came time to assemble.

 

[Solcar23]

The beveled roof was the only pain. It wasn't pre cut correctly to allow for the beacon post so that needed to be trimmed, other than that really sharp pieces.

 

[Solcar23]

The popsicle sticks helped to keep the panels from bowing, which I noticed happening after the kit had been sitting on my desk for a while.