Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

[TickTockMan]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

Are we going to be able to disassemble these or would you send them completely built and glued and such so it can't come apart?
Because looking at the diagram I'm seeing potential for gutting my CO driver and putting the mechanics down the acrylic rod and copper tube then maybe getting a slit into the slider to put the wires through so they touch a real push button to complete the circuit. If not that exactly I think someone could still get the innards of a CO in there to get a brilliant replica of the 9 and 10 shared driver because the wires are red and black in the toy anyways.

If you're able to pull that off when the time comes, could you please put up a tutorial on how to do it??

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

While I haven't been on the RPF that long, I was curious about one such member who is currently banned and his particular technique. I'm pretty sure it's against the rules to link to his site, being banned and all, but I did get these two on his recommendation and while I haven't gotten the exact technique down (evidence in my stucco 9th sonic), he managed to get a very convincing finish with the stuff.

Perfetto Crackle Paints

I purchased the Crackle Size and Clear Crackle and though they're small for the price, they will probably last a lifetime, unless of course you make a ton of 9th/10th sonics!

 

[Edgar Goldore]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

While I haven't been on the RPF that long, I was curious about one such member who is currently banned and his particular technique. I'm pretty sure it's against the rules to link to his site, being banned and all, but I did get these two on his recommendation and while I haven't gotten the exact technique down (evidence in my stucco 9th sonic), he managed to get a very convincing finish with the stuff.

Perfetto Crackle Paints

I purchased the Crackle Size and Clear Crackle and thought they're small for the price, they will probably last a lifetime, unless of course you make a ton of 9th/10th sonics!

Yes I know the technique you are talking about. I saved the instruction for it some time ago. It seems do-able.

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

Are we going to be able to disassemble these or would you send them completely built and glued and such so it can't come apart?
Because looking at the diagram I'm seeing potential for gutting my CO driver and putting the mechanics down the acrylic rod and copper tube then maybe getting a slit into the slider to put the wires through so they touch a real push button to complete the circuit. If not that exactly I think someone could still get the innards of a CO in there to get a brilliant replica of the 9 and 10 shared driver because the wires are red and black in the toy anyways.

By the way I'd be interested in an extending 9th/10th sonic if you wouldn't mind me being new and all

They'll come in pieces so you can paint, mod, assemble them however you wish. They wont look far off from these pieces, which I had printed awhile ago before redesigning everything. Those diagrams are actually instructions of sorts pertaining to each design to make it clear how they will fit together. I've also designed each sonic keeping in mind various mods that could be done. They're not designed for any one specific mod need, but for example, the slider button in the extendable variation of the 9th Doctor's sonic has proper form to allow for a push button to be inserted and the wires to run through to the hollow innards. The 10th sonic button has the button molded into it, but could easily be drilled out to accommodate a long push button with a little additional modification of the inner assembly.

Which one are you interested in? The 9th and 10th are different (see diagram above illustrating the difference). Or are you interested in one of each?

Yes I know the technique you are talking about. I saved the instruction for it some time ago. It seems do-able.

If he did it, so can we

 

[karstva]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

Just found this thread, awesome work so far man. Watching intently

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

Just found this thread, awesome work so far man. Watching intently

Thanks! If you have an interest in any particular model, feel free to weigh in on the INT thread in the junkyard under the same name. I'll be ordering one of each for myself to paint and make some tutorials, then creating a FS thread once I have those finished models to show off.

On a side note, I just received the new cobalt blue cabochons I ordered and they're about as perfect as you can get without a crafted emitter lens! While they're not the exact shape, they are actually the exact height they need to be to stick out the right amount from the emitter head. I'll be implementing one of them into the new 9th/10th prototypes, and I went ahead and bought all available cabochons from the seller I got them. Unfortunately, they are limited quantity so I'll have a total of 30 to use in 9th/10th sonics before we're back to solid pieces, the marble idea, or I have to hunt down more.

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

As an added point, karstarva, I just remembered your name from your Laser screwdriver build! I meant to ask you, how did you discover the correct dimensions for the prop? I've heard a number of things, one being that the prop is 5% bigger than the CO toy, the other that the CO toy is 5% smaller than the prop (which result in two different measurements); then I saw your build thread which shows it to be about 8 1/2" closed, which is well larger than the other two measurements. Any advice? This is the one prop I'm stuck deciding on the size!

 

[Cap Fitzgerald]

Re: Affordable Doctor Who Stunt Props (Sonic Screwdrivers, TARDIS Keys, etc.)

If you're able to pull that off when the time comes, could you please put up a tutorial on how to do it??

When the time comes I'll be sure to make a tutorial if I can pull it off.

And to be clear I'd like the 9th doctor's screwdriver, A.K.A square button

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Out of curiosity, I picked up a 12v A27 battery, which is the exact size of the extra housing I modeled into the inner assembly of the extendable 9th/10th. Using a breadboard, I managed to hook up a circuit to power a 360 degree blue LED (SUPER bright). Despite having next to no knowledge of electronics, I just happened to guess the perfect voltage to get maximum brightness from the LED without frying it. I guess those tiny 12v batteries are meant to be thrown into sonic screwdriver props!

I'm going to leave it and see how long the battery/LED last when left on constantly to see what kind of life the sonic will have before having to replace the $3 battery. As a note to myself, I'm beginning the count on December 10 at 2:25pm EST.

Before anyone asks, I have no idea if this battery can power a CO in place of the three button cells it comes with. I would think so but again, I have no formal experience with this sort of thing. If anyone reading this has knowledge of this stuff, feel free to chime in.

 

[Doctor Mitch]

I literally just registered to therpf for the sole purpose of congratulating you on your amazing stunt replicas. The detailing is superb, and the way they were designed are also very, very nice. Congrats on a fantastic stunt rendition!

On a side-note, how difficult do you suppose it would be to design Matt Smith's Sonic in a way that would allow it to extend? I saw what you did with Eccleston's and Tennant's Sonics (to make them extend), and found it a very nice design. Would something like that even be possible (without majorly increasing the price)?

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

I literally just registered to therpf for the sole purpose of congratulating you on your amazing stunt replicas. The detailing is superb, and the way they were designed are also very, very nice. Congrats on a fantastic stunt rendition!

On a side-note, how difficult do you suppose it would be to design Matt Smith's Sonic in a way that would allow it to extend? I saw what you did with Eccleston's and Tennant's Sonics (to make them extend), and found it a very nice design. Would something like that even be possible (without majorly increasing the price)?

The mechanics of the Smith sonic involve a LOT of small pieces, many of which would need to be made of other materials to move the way they need to move in order to open the way it does. The extending 9th and 10th sonics work because some friction is desirable between the slider and the body, and the clear acrylic rod glides nicely inside the neck. It's a simple movement, versus the Smith sonic which involves tight fitting pieces too detailed and small to fit 3d print and still fit together. Theoretically, a one-off may be possible with vast post-printing modifications, but not really ideal for this purpose. Trust me, if there was a way, I'd do it.

 

[Doctor Mitch]

Yeah, that'd make sense...

Oh well, I'm off to post in the interest form

 

[Ryaline]

The mechanics of the Smith sonic involve a LOT of small pieces, many of which would need to be made of other materials to move the way they need to move in order to open the way it does. The extending 9th and 10th sonics work because some friction is desirable between the slider and the body, and the clear acrylic rod glides nicely inside the neck. It's a simple movement, versus the Smith sonic which involves tight fitting pieces too detailed and small to fit 3d print and still fit together. Theoretically, a one-off may be possible with vast post-printing modifications, but not really ideal for this purpose. Trust me, if there was a way, I'd do it.

What about designing the model similar to the CO toy? (or whoever did it) You've already designed the upper half into two pieces, what about designing the silver bit to have screw holes? Also the claws on the end? You'd limit the extent of post-mod, and have something that might be doable? You model a lip ring on the brass section, and catch posts on the silver section, and possibly design them to fit into the pommel section like a friction fitting? that way, it extends, it has a central core, and you could possibly flick it open. .... i might be getting too thoughtful with it.

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

I've considered a few design options for the 11th to be extendable but the main problem is the size of certain parts, like the claws, and some interior mechanics - they're just too small to be 3d printed and no service I know of will physically make them. The only option would be found objects, which for that shape and quantity are near impossible to find.

I could theoretically design one already open, but that would be a little flimsy in certain places and cost a LOT more than the closed variation.

 

[E Williams]

I am so impressed by this project. I just started watching Doctor Who last month so I was very excited to find this thread

If you are printing two separate model files for the 9th/10th screwdrivers, may I suggest a small tweak to the 9th version?

The ridges on the lower part of the 'grip' section are a bit more rounded in profile on the 9th, as seen in the reference pictures here:

http://www.therpf.com/f9/9-10-sonic-screwdrivers-new-me-info-137253/

Thanks!

(Edit: I misread the caption in the linked thread... the 9th seems to have the more rounded ridges)

 

[choanata]

Have you considered also doing the 2 versions of the 8th Doctor? There's the one from the movie and the one he travels around with now to conventions. That would be awesome.

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Have you considered also doing the 2 versions of the 8th Doctor? There's the one from the movie and the one he travels around with now to conventions. That would be awesome.

I've actually been modelling the new 8th sonic with some input from Anakin, although 3d printing that one would probably be in the $50-$70 range. It's the longest sonic and has the largest emitter head of them all.

I could do a variation for the 8th Doctor's '96 movie sonic but I didn't think enough people wanted one since it hadn't come up yet.



There are enough differences to warrant it, however...

 

[choanata]

Hopefully more people speak up now that I mentioned it! The 8th Doctor was my introduction to Doctor Who, like plenty of others, I'd guess. I don't think it's been available by anyone for a while though, as far as I can tell

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Hopefully more people speak up now that I mentioned it! The 8th Doctor was my introduction to Doctor Who, like plenty of others, I'd guess. I don't think it's been available by anyone for a while though, as far as I can tell

You'll be happy to know that I did indeed model the 1996 8th Doctor's sonic

 

[choanata]

Nice! I'm in for one of those for sure, along with an extendable 10th Doctor. And I'll be waiting with baited breath for the other 8th Doctor version!