Dr Who - Sonic display builds - New 8 sonic Version

Rassilon

Well-Known Member
I was thinking that this might be a good thread to do on the making of the display stand. And how I came up with that design for the Dr Who design a sonic competition.

As the total prise for the winner is $1000Aud I had to come up with a display stand that would not blow the budget, or to much of the $1000Aud on the stand.

The specifications for the display stand, I think should have the following features.

Circular Acrylic cylinder as the display cover.
Internal Display lighting.
The seal of Rassilon at the base.
Engraved brass ID plate.
Acrylic mounts for the winning sonic.

Like many designs I work on, I first start with a design drawing, this helps me to get my ideas onto paper first and to cut down on rework, and also to keep it for reference should I need to make another one at any time. As I don’t know who the winner will be, I have to assume that the sonic my or may not be any longer than the eleventh Doctors sonic, so, with that in mined. I started to work with displaying a sonic of that size and shape.

Once I hade the design on paper I next went looking for a way to light the sonic display up with, and for this I used a domed night light.

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I now had a way of installing light in the display at an affordable cost, next came making the dome night light into an actual display base without modifying it to much.

As the dome night light is a circular shape I kept to this design feature and using the CNC router cut out 4 of 12mm thick rings from MDF board, and using wood glue stuck them together. Two of the rings have a collar inside to allow the 3mm white Acrylic seal of Rassilon to fit into, and the other is so that the dome light can rest against.

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Now that the base is close to been almost finished, next was then to then set up the CNC router and started to engrave the seal of Rassilon 1mm deep into the 3mm acrylic white sheet.

This will allow more light to radiate from certain parts of the seal, and to give it that ghost shadow appearance at the base were the sonic will be supported.

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NOTE:
Ok, at this point of the build I did have one of my change my design moments, I had a design revelation. This often happens when I almost finish a build;
I then get a design revelation and start to change it at the end of the build.

This happens a lot and it is very annoying, however it is for the better.
I think, as you will see that the display, which I will now be making, will be an evolution.

And I have given it a name, and it will be called;

“The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel”.

This revelation came to me, as so many of them often do, and it is often when I’m having a good Aussie beer and watching some Dr Who episodes and playing Dr Who pinball with Dalek Cann and friends.

And it go’s something like this; “The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel”
will display 4 Sonics at once, the 4 Sonics will be suspended from the apex at the top of the Acrylic cylinder, and can be rotated to any position in the carousel by turning the rotation carousel knob at the top.

As the Rassilon Sonic display, or Rassilon Sonic display Carousel, is a cylindrical shape all 4 Sonics can be displayed at once in the same display. “Just brilliant” and can be remove individually by removing the carousel Sonic frame from the cylindrical display.

So the new specification are now.
Circular Acrylic cylinder as the display cover.
Internal Display lighting from the base.
Must display 4 Rassilon Sonics at any one time.
Engraved brass ID plate located at the base.
Acrylic mounts for all 4 Sonics as well as the winning sonic.

So with the above new specification I then made a start on the clear acrylic carousel Sonic frame that will be suspended from the apex at the top the acrylic cylinder, and there is no better machine to do this with than the CNC router. I used 5mm clear acrylic for the carousel Sonic frame.

Once the cnc router cut all the components, I then assembled them, and there you have it, a carousel sonic frame support.

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The Acrylic tube has not arrived at this point, I ordered the Acrylic tube with the following specifications, 140 O/D x 2.5 thk x 220 lg.

As the Acrylic tube will came in 1 Mtr or (3”) lengths, I will have to use a drop saw to cut the Acrylic tube to length.
 
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Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel

That is Impressive work Rassilon.
Looks like you are making this to display for both Classic and new series Sonics.
Excellent concept. Will you be offering this after contest?
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel

The Acrylic tube has not arrived at this point, I ordered the Acrylic tube with the following specifications, 140 O/D x 2.5 thk x 220 lg. As the Acrylic tube will came in 1 Mtr or (3”) lengths, I will have to use a drop saw to cut the Acrylic tube to length.

That is Impressive work Rassilon.
Looks like you are making this to display for both Classic and new series Sonics.
Excellent concept. Will you be offering this after contest?

At this stage I’m just working on the Rassilon Sonic Carousel for the winner of the design a sonic competition, however if there is an interest for a display of this type, then I could make them available, if a member would like to set up an interest thread for the Sonic Carousel they can, once I post a photo of the finished display. :thumbsup

Will have an assembled Rassilon Sonic Carousel less paint posted latter on once I get some work out of the way.
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

And this is the dry assembled sonic display stand, before I disassemble it for painting. Have also been thinking about the finish on the display base, and have settled on a crackle effect for around the base. :)

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Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

The design looks awesome. The crackle finish on the base will really make this prop.

Great Job.

Dan
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

Thanks Dan.
The hardest part was cutting the acrylic tube, that stuff is real crap stuff to cut, but we have some fine weather tomorrow so, that will be the right time to do the paint work on the base.

Also going to pick up the brass for the ID plate and will make a start on that as well, I intend on cutting the engraving into MDF first just to make sure it is set right.
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

And here is a photo of the finished sonic display stand with crackle finish, less the ID plate at this stage, but have installed a classic Rassilon Baker and a Rassilon flash drive as well as a Rassilon custom Tenannt sonic for the finished effect.

I have now decided to keep this one for myself, and make another one for the design a sonic competition winner. :cool

The total man hr’s that went into the design and build of the sonic display stand was approximately 28 man hr’s at first, with a materials cost of $95Aud.

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Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

Thanks guys, have now started to make another one for the competition.
Still need to get some brass for the id plate.
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

I can't help but think how great my Time War SS & Rassilon Custom would look together in this. :cool
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

WOW! vary Nice!
If you do decide to make more of this, I Hope you do.
Can the holder be designed to hold more them 4 sonics?
looks like you can modify the wheel to hold 8 Sonics.
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build

Yeah sure if anyone would like to display there sonics in this way I could modify the Carousel star wheel to except eight (8) sonics.

The carousel start wheel currently will only fit Rassilon type sonics, that have a 15.10mm specifications, however by changing the slots dimensions in the carousel star wheel from 15.10mm to your sonic dimensions; you can have your sonics excepted into the carousel star wheel.

And I can make the ID plate that go’s on the base to read how you would like it as well.

See the carousel start wheel in the photo been cut with the CNC router, this is the part that I will need to modify to except your sonic.

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Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build (For Sonic Competition)

Thanks Mr Wazoo, how’s the competition going? have dropped in from time to time see how it’s all going, and well, I’m glad I made you one of the three judges, some very interesting and creative sonic designs going on in that thread.

Anyhow, have been working on the ID plate for the sonic display that will eventually form part of the first prize for the winner, in the Sonic Design competition.

Having some issues with getting the font how I like it, due to the size of the brass plate, 150 fonts and can’t seem to find a good engraving font.
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build (For Sonic Competition)

Are you gonna ship the plate around and have all of the judges etc. sign it? XD
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build (For Sonic Competition)

how’s the competition going?

For the contestants it is going great; there are some really amazing entries. Not a dud in the bunch.

For the judges it's going rough: there isn't a dud entry in the bunch. They're all amazing. Picking just one is going to be hell.
 
Re: The Rassilon Sonic display Carousel - Build (For Sonic Competition)

Are you gonna ship the plate around and have all of the judges etc. sign it? XD

Now that would be an excellent idea, :thumbsup Oh, Now I have to make the ID plate bigger to fit the judges on there, but well worth it. :cool

They would need to send me a pdf of there signature if they would like it on the ID plate.
 
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