TARDIS Pull To Open Door, completed

[deck5]

A russrep sign from the recent run-- I built a door for it. Just finished putting the final touches on. I'll be hanging this on the wall, unless the urge strikes me to build another Tardis!

 

[Rebelscum]

Re: Pull To Open Door, completed

Looks terrific.

 

[Sundowner]

Re: Pull To Open Door, completed

That looks awesome and not an obvious prop (one that the average joe public would know of) to decorate the house with!

 

[ncchuck]

looks great

 

[spuggins]

That puts mine to shame. Very nice work. Where did you get the door pull from? I had thought about adding the hinges as well. Now that I saw yours I think I have to.

 

[deck5]

Thanks. I thought it looked naked before I put the hinges on.

Here's a link to the handles:

Door Pulls*:*Door Hardware*:*Hardware - for your home improvement and restoration - Renovator's Supply

 

[spuggins]

Thanks for the link.

 

[deck5]

Thanks for the link.

Note that those handles have some magical coating on them that's really, really, really hard to sand down. It's a nice feature, but not when you want to weather a thing.

Also, the hinges came from Lee Valley.

 

[MooMooEgg]

Very nice. I'm going to have to get/make myself a blue frame for my sign.

 

[Peter Parker]

Great work!

 

[Terrasolo]

Beautiful work there! And yeah the hinges were a great idea. Well done sir!

 

[Nobby]

Oh, now that is nice!
Great work :thumbsup

 

[johng1337]

Magnificent!

 

[Rassilon]

Excellent work on the phone door, Are you going to have it so it lights up.

 

[Doctor49152]

That is truly a thing of beauty!! I am hoping to make something similar as the lid to the box where I keep my Doctor Who collectibles. But I doubt I could make it as perfect as this.

 

[deck5]

Excellent work on the phone door, Are you going to have it so it lights up.

Thanks! This is the 2005 model - the sign is metal, so no backlighting.

 

[deck5]

I've been asked a few questions about the build, so I thought I'd post the details of the construction & painting here.

The dimensions of the door overall: 14 1/8" wide, 16 3/16" tall, and 1" thick. The frame is 1 3/8"-wide all around, 1/2" deep, glued on a 1/2"-thick plywood backboard. The sign has a 1/8"-thick hardboard behind it to bring it forward a bit.

The frame is built of smooth pine, so I made faux raised grain by running a rounded point repeatedly along the pieces of wood. I also distressed the edges and corners.

I used two coats of paint on the frame -- a really bright blue/turquoise matte tinted primer, and a matte cobalt blue top coat. The cobalt blue is rubbed off with a dry cloth as soon as it is applied. Once dry, I rubbed graphite powder into a piece of cardboard, and rubbed it flat against the raised grain.

To darken certain areas further, I used black tempera pigment powder applied dry with a paintbrush, then blown out, then rubbed with a damp cloth to get what remains to merge with the finish.

All was then sealed with a matte clear coat.

The sign itself was weathered strictly with paint, no actual damage was done to the surface. A very light application of Testors detail enhancer applied with a rag, scrubbed with a soft nylon brush to remove all but traces, and then several dark shades of tempera pigment powder dusted on that while it's still drying, and then rubbed down with a cloth.

The hinges are set into recesses made with a chisel, screwed shut, and painted & distressed. All the screws are given a bit of age, too.

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[CY Productions]

Very nice!
You did a great job!