Straker
Sr Member
Oh I'll keep you all in the loop, don't worry about that. I'd love to help supply some of you guys with more robust keys than pewter anyway. I think it would be fun.
Yale and ERA Tardis Key Research (Info for the 1963-present keys)
- Thread starter Straker
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- doctor who
Oh I'll keep you all in the loop, don't worry about that. I'd love to help supply some of you guys with more robust keys than pewter anyway. I think it would be fun.
greatwazoo42
Master Member
Me too!!! Me too!!!
TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
Welp.. here's my first crack at Martha's perception filter key. My hands shake worse than an epileptics with a soldering iron so be kind with the soldering points. :rolleyes
I think it came out alright.
I think it came out alright.
TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
And here's my attempt at the other..
Ignore the cuts of the key, I know they aren't right.
Ignore the cuts of the key, I know they aren't right.
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TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
Thanks! I think.. Well don't?
Terrasolo
Sr Member
Sorry for not properly replying to these for the last week, I had a family emergency and it kept me away.
lol, well done. You found really good wires for the thin parts.
Thanks! You do a lot of good artsy shots so I'd still like to see yours. I have done an updated version. just some small changes I wanted to make so I may repost again when it's ready.
I'd love steel versions of these keys so count me in if so. All four if you do them.
Interestingly enough I agree with you. I've wanted to make my First Key a Sixth key for a while now because I think it has a better look for him than One. I have been looking for a nice 1st alternative key constantly and I may finally have found it. I need to clean them first and will post them soon. And if I like it as an alternative then my evolution pic will reflect that as well.
lol, well done. You found really good wires for the thin parts.
Thanks! You do a lot of good artsy shots so I'd still like to see yours. I have done an updated version. just some small changes I wanted to make so I may repost again when it's ready.
I'd love steel versions of these keys so count me in if so. All four if you do them.
Interestingly enough I agree with you. I've wanted to make my First Key a Sixth key for a while now because I think it has a better look for him than One. I have been looking for a nice 1st alternative key constantly and I may finally have found it. I need to clean them first and will post them soon. And if I like it as an alternative then my evolution pic will reflect that as well.
TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
Oh, lol. Thanks! I may re-try to do the blue one later on as I'm not 100% satisfied with the positioning of the timer chip & resistor.
Straker
Sr Member
Yes, you too, lol.
Not bad, not bad. I honestly wouldn't worry about the actual cut of the teeth. None of mine are accurate but hey, they fit in my lock, lol.
I try artsy but on these I wanted to do a head on shot.
Will do. Once I send him my Trekker to look at we're going to talk some types of steel to use. We're going to idealize it though. The TREKKER key is...irregular and we'll be making the body symmetrical if possible so we can TRY to make the body and pieces laser or water jet cut.
I want to use something more...antique for the 1st Doctor personally. Even straight brass for that. Only reason I want Susan's to be plated and blank is because she's a "younger generation" type of character and having that key on a slinky steel snake chain makes sense for me.
If you decide to do a run you can count me in!
Yes, you too, lol.
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TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
Thanks man!
Terrasolo
Sr Member
Ok here it is, the updated "I play with this pic too much" Evolution pic. I finally found new First Doctor keys that I felt were more of the era, to me. They have a brass tone but as not bold brass. Very similar to the key Straker found that we are using sanded as our Eleven keys. I was lucky enough to get two of them so Susan has a matching key to the Doctor. I do think the key blanks that Straker found looked great with Susan's chain but for my collection I like the companion keys the match the Doctor that gave them to them. Just my preference. This means that my original First Doctor key replaces my original Sixth Doctor key as I feel it has more character than my last one.
Also changed is the scale of the picture, it now matched an 11 x 17 sheet for a specific purpose and the keys have been evenly spaced (some how I did not have them spaced properly before) as well as the addition of the frames for the text information.
Now, as I said they are similar to the key that Straker found for us to blank as an Eleven key as you can see in the pics below, but the color, texture and details are all different. The new key is on the left and the key Straker found is on the right. The left key is old, not sure how old but it's in the vintage market so it means it's not produced today. There is significant wear on it too around the edges which I really like. The key on the right seems to be the modern equivalent. It's a nice key for sure but in my collection I prefer it sanded and in place as my Eleven key.
Over all I am much happier with my collection now. I do have one other change I might like to make but time will tell when and if that happens.
Also changed is the scale of the picture, it now matched an 11 x 17 sheet for a specific purpose and the keys have been evenly spaced (some how I did not have them spaced properly before) as well as the addition of the frames for the text information.
Now, as I said they are similar to the key that Straker found for us to blank as an Eleven key as you can see in the pics below, but the color, texture and details are all different. The new key is on the left and the key Straker found is on the right. The left key is old, not sure how old but it's in the vintage market so it means it's not produced today. There is significant wear on it too around the edges which I really like. The key on the right seems to be the modern equivalent. It's a nice key for sure but in my collection I prefer it sanded and in place as my Eleven key.
Over all I am much happier with my collection now. I do have one other change I might like to make but time will tell when and if that happens.
TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
Looks great!
Straker
Sr Member
Re: Yale and ERA and Special Tardis Key Research (Info for the 1963-present keys)
Oh! Very nice! I still like using the slightly brassy colored key for 11 myself but those look really good so far.
Now for some news. I've added Special Keys to the title so we can talk about those a bit and also because I have some rough mock-up pics of the first try at making the spade shaped Pertwee/Baker keys here. Now I have to stress that this IS rough and that is because the metal used was THICK steel, almost as thick as the pewter keys layers from Mooncrest. This was what my guy, JMK, had to work with, so yeah they look a bit wonky, BUT, he was indeed able to solder EVERYTHING together including the front and back pieces. Have a look:
We're still talking over processes and such to make this work better and he'll be ordering some 1/16th inch thick stainless to use which is what it LOOKS like was used on the original key. That will put the overall thickness of the main body at 1/8th inch which look right to me based on the coins in that one picture.
Oh! Very nice! I still like using the slightly brassy colored key for 11 myself but those look really good so far.
Now for some news. I've added Special Keys to the title so we can talk about those a bit and also because I have some rough mock-up pics of the first try at making the spade shaped Pertwee/Baker keys here. Now I have to stress that this IS rough and that is because the metal used was THICK steel, almost as thick as the pewter keys layers from Mooncrest. This was what my guy, JMK, had to work with, so yeah they look a bit wonky, BUT, he was indeed able to solder EVERYTHING together including the front and back pieces. Have a look:
We're still talking over processes and such to make this work better and he'll be ordering some 1/16th inch thick stainless to use which is what it LOOKS like was used on the original key. That will put the overall thickness of the main body at 1/8th inch which look right to me based on the coins in that one picture.
Terrasolo
Sr Member
Re: Yale and ERA and Special Tardis Key Research (Info for the 1963-present keys)
So do I, which is why I am still using it too
That key looks like a promising start. Rough around the edges as you say but I expect it could be ironed out. Getting the front teeth cut to the proper shape each time will be a trick though.
So do I, which is why I am still using it too
That key looks like a promising start. Rough around the edges as you say but I expect it could be ironed out. Getting the front teeth cut to the proper shape each time will be a trick though.
greatwazoo42
Master Member
NICE! I envy you guys that have the drive to do this. Ever since my kid learned to run I've barely had the energy to turn on the TV half the time.
TimeyWhimyStuff
Well-Known Member
Great start Straker! :thumbsup
I like!
Straker
Sr Member
So do I, which is why I am still using it too
That key looks like a promising start. Rough around the edges as you say but I expect it could be ironed out. Getting the front teeth cut to the proper shape each time will be a trick though.
I like!
Thanks guys! NOW, I'll probably open a new thread for that progress update BUT I did want to expand this thread for the special keys because there's a lot of information that seems to keep popping up that I was curious about in regards to the old keys. Now when I had talked to the person that owns the Pertwee key he said the patterns on the front were brazed on. I think he may be right. Only real question is whether the key he has was a master that the molds were made from or if it were screen used. I'm not sure if it was screen used but it does seem that way to my mind. It seems that there may be some validity to several stories that we've been thinking were myths actually.
First the Pertwee key:
What I want to call your attention to is in the dead center of the key. If you look past the aging you'll see a goldish tint to the metal. Now while this isn't conclusive, I also noticed a light green patina as well bordering the outside of the patterns. Like this:
I marked the patina in green lines and the brass color in yellow.
Now while this isn't conclusive evidence there is this picture that recently appeared on Sophie Aldritch's Twitter:
Now while I can't make out ALL the details I can see a few that appear the same as the key above. The key also looks like it was recently cleaned and the area immediately around the patterns looks to be more brassy in color.
I think there's some validity to the story as told to me of the key's build characteristics. Thoughts?
Terrasolo
Sr Member
On the first key I see the points you are making and I do believe you are right. With the second keys I feel there are a few things here, one, it could be a molded copy. One of those sold to fans or one that may have been used, who knows, you and I have previously discussed the top cross bar on the Baker key which has already made us start thinking that some of the stories that have been debunked may actually be true. But, I'd love to get a better picture of the Aldritch mainly because I am skeptical about the brass tone, while it could have been a brass key that has been plated silver and is now wearing, it's hard to tell from one pic. Mainly because I remember when "Utopia" aired everyone thought Yana's watch had a gold lid which turned out to actually be overhead lighting. The Aldritch key seems to have a lot of yellow in it in different places which could be wear or could be the lighting it was taken in. Do you think there is any chance we could ask for a better picture?
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