Jabberwocky's scratch built miniature TARDIS

[Jabberwocky]

A few weeks ago I decided that it was about time to build my first TARDIS. However since i now reside in an apartment and don't have my garage/workshop anymore it meant that the build would have to be reduced in size... considerably...

I didn't use any plans and its mostly based off of several reference photos from a few different models of TARDIS.



Each panel is made out of 3" x 6" x 1/16", the raised parts are 1/4" x 1/16". The windows are framed with 1/16" stock and are 1" x 1 1/16".



The base is simply a 4" square (3/16" thick). I placed the trapezoid cutouts to help with placing the panels.



This was just a rough sign, printed with an inkjet on low resolution on regular copy paper. It actually worked quite well on my home made lightbox However i will be making a better quality for the final construction



Color and framing test. The door sign really came out nicely (printed on a laser this time)



And the roof. This was going to be a test piece, but i ended up liking it and keeping it.



I'm using the cap to a pen for the lantern glass, i've not finished with that part just yet, this is just a start.


So there's the start to my miniature 4"x4"x7" TARDIS. I plan on having the lantern glow on and off, the main windows and top sign illuminated and hoping for sound too. I almost wanted to make an operational door, but i'll save that for a bigger box.


I'd love to hear your comments, but don't forget this is just the start!

 

[salmon]

You have skills sir. Sorry that you do not have the shop now, how big were you planning on making it?

 

[Strode]

great stuff.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Hi there,

very nice indeed

-Chaim

 

[wasili]

That's more than a great start, looks like you're in the home stretch.

Always cool to see a TARDIS. :thumbsup

Cheers,
Wasili

 

[Ineffable13]

TARDIS looks awesome. You have an excellent eye, getting it this good just from reference photos.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks for all the kind words!

I'll be back to work on it tomorrow, just as soon as i can print out some new signs for above the doors.


Salmon, this one will be just under 7" tall. It turned out just perfect with minimal cutting of wood, one of those projects that just 'falls together' if you know what i mean

 

[Jabberwocky]

Ok, i managed to get the new signs printed off. Originally i was toying and brainstorming some ideas about having this sign illuminated like the windows and fading light on top. I tried different mediums like vellum and others, but never got the result i wanted.

In the end i printed them off on card stock (same walmart stuff i'm using for my pepakura models) and coated the finish sign with some mod podge spray sealer to give it a simple sheen, as well as some extra protection.

With the extra sheet of vellum, instead of using it as planned for the signs, i decided it would be the perfect material for the windows. I just need to figure how to make the lower/outer panes slightly more opaque.

The whole model is going great! Here are a couple more pics

 

[damienjameswebb]

For the windows I'd suggest you could either do a wash with watered down light grey paint. Or use a second layer of velum. I've also found that the backing that is used for vinyl decals is almost the next most opaque from velum but less than copy paper. Only issue is that it has a wax to it so painting or printing is a no go. Got glue works though. Best part is that it's free! Mwahaha

 

[Jabberwocky]

Free is always good!!

I thought about adding a 2nd layer of velum to the windows to give it an offset shade, but it didn't affect it as much as i wanted. I like the idea of a grey wash, i'll test that out and give it a go.

The model is almost finished now, i just have the lantern and electronics to do now. I'll post more pictures tonight.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Aaaand totally forgot to post the pics of the Lantern!

I used the cap of a Uni-Ball Gel pen for the actual lantern 'glass', an 1/8" piece of bass wood sanded down for the dome on top, and all the bars on the lantern were 3 pieces of 1/32" wide strips of card stock glued on top of each other for thickness. Overall diameter is 1/2"

Hopefully i should be getting my ATtiny micro-controller and bits in the mail before the weekend which means my spare time will be taken up making a circuit.


Now if i could only decide on how to attach a button to trigger the lighting!

 

[Jabberwocky]

It seems i missed a few photos of my build. This is the stage before the lantern. (see the original lantern? yeah, not a good lantern!)

Also this nicely shows the 1/16" trim going in place around the wall panels.

 

[damienjameswebb]

i did something very similar to this when i was in school many years ago. not as polished as yours but i ended up doing window panes like yours, but using semi-smooth over head sheets. it allowed me to do the wash i suggested without over soaking the paper ( i could wipe it as i went to make the density what i wanted it to be. mine was made out of matte board and scrap wood. it was almost to the same scale too. i don't think i have any pictures of the windows i did, but here's the piece 90%...

 

[damienjameswebb]

EXCELLENT work by the way, wasn't sure if i made that clear lol... but i LOVE things like this. are you going to do an inside as well?

 

[Jabberwocky]

EXCELLENT work by the way, wasn't sure if i made that clear lol... but i LOVE things like this. are you going to do an inside as well?

LOL thanks man, I would love to do a control room, but i have at least 2 more TARDIS to make first for friends.

You're phonebox is really cool, takes me back to my youth! I'm sure it looked fantastic when finished

 

[Jabberwocky]

Here's the final pic. I added a St Johns sign to the door just for kicks. I think the whole build looks fantastic and i'm beyond happy with it!




Also, i've started in earnest on the electronics. Here are a couple videos i've uploaded with the lantern fading, and the other shows the interior lights as well as the lantern fade. I reduced the circuit from an Arduino UNO down to an ATTiny85.

My only problem now is where to install the button to activate the 'wake mode' and make the tardis light up. I'm thinking about making a diorama for it to stand on with which i could incorporate a button


Anyone have any comments or ideas??

 

[Jaitea]

Looks brilliant....very accurate, I wouldn't know where to start with flashing electronics, are you gonna put in a sound effect.....I remember my son had a TARDIS toy (cheap) with a landing sound

J

PS: if you video landscape, it would be better

 

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks for the comment Jaitea!

I would love to put the sound effect in there, but finding a suitable solution for my budget (as always it seems) puts it just out of reach. Maybe futher down the line i can add it but for now it'll just be illumination!

And yeah, i've been told before to video in landscape. I guess i'm just so used to taking phone pictures in portrait that i forget to rotate for video.

 

[techman28]

This looks great. I'm getting ready to build myself a miniature model tardis as well. What type of wood did you use?

 

[Jabberwocky]

This looks great. I'm getting ready to build myself a miniature model tardis as well. What type of wood did you use?

Hi Techman, sorry its been so long getting back to you. Hopefully you've already completed your TARDIS??

I used mostly bass wood, the glass in the window was opaque vellum and the lantern was a pen cap. Oh and the door handle was a pin.


Hope that helps! How is your's going?