Doctor Diary

[Risu]

Hey, after seeing Silence in the Library last week, I've been thinking of making a replica of the Doctor's Diary from that episode. I'm not new to book binding, I know how to do all that, but I don't know the first thing about leather. I've got these two screen grabs to go off of:

I know that in order to emboss the design into the leather, you're supposed to soak it through, then press a metal design into it while it dries, but how do I make the metal design? Are there any other alternatives that might be easier to make, like plaster or something? I've never molded/sculpted anything before. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[arwa]

You could always try vinyl and cardboard squares for the raised areas. I am not sure if I can describe it correctly or not, but when I made a championship belt for my cousin's wedding gift, this method worked out pretty good.

I put the cardboard squares (cut up a USPS mailer box) under the vinyl and covered the vinyl with a wet towel and just ironed it and it gave the raised effect I needed.

The reason for the cardboard was because I needed to have something to attach the championship plates too. It worked pretty well.

 

[phez]

I saw that episode last week and I was interested in that book too. I was trying to figure out if that is Leather/vinyl covered or is most of that just painted on (obviously the details on the binding are raised but what about the covers?

This should be a cool project, please post some progress pic's when you get started.

 

[thunderbearr]

I enjoyed that episode. I noticed the diary's embossing was similar to the paneling on the TARDIS, and it was Blue, too!

Rob

 

[Risu]

I'm really opposed to using vinyl, real leather is much nicer. Does anybody have any idea how to make the design press?

 

[phez]

I have not done anything with leather for a long time (and even then not much) but would something like a 1/8 inch rope stamp work? I can not really tell from the screen cap if the indents have any pattern.

http://www.eleathersupply.com/stamps.shtml

 

[Risu]

From what I can tell, they've got beveled edges just like the TARDIS itself.

 

[Bronson BB]

Looking at the lower shot here, I'd have to go with the front and back covers just being real leather, stained in the pattern we're seeing here. It looks too irregular to have been embossed that way.
You'd just need to replicate the binding.

It's a TV prop. They aren't going to go overboard on construction.

Obviously, River made her 'Doctor Book' look like the TARDIS on purpose, btw.

I have not done anything with leather for a long time (and even then not much) but would something like a 1/8 inch rope stamp work? I can not really tell from the screen cap if the indents have any pattern.

http://www.eleathersupply.com/stamps.shtml

 

[Risu]

I have a friend that may be able to make the design out of wood on a mill, does anybody know if that will work with the soak and press method?

 

[Bronson BB]

OK, after now having seen "Forest of the Dead" I have to eat my words. There's definetely some texture on the cover of that diary.

 

[Risu]

Yea, the covers are also ridiculously thick. Had to be about .75 cm each. My guess from the tooling leather plus a really thick book board. That cover was meant to withstand lots of abuse without bending.