Constructing the Console!

As well as building a full size police box, we also took the bold step of building a working TARDIS console, though this was far more complicated venture. Again it was down to me to design and construct it, but as the TARDIS Technical Manual had no specific dimensions for the console it was difficult even to get the design down on paper.

The hexagonal shape of the console along with the sloping control panels created many awkward angles which called for some serious geometry revision on my part, and it took ages to get all the angles and measurements right. The finished article was quite a bit smaller than the real version as we had limited space in which to record, but it was a fairly good effort even if I may say so myself. The Time Rotor was constructed from clear Perspex which

Worked very well, but the ‘innards’ of the piece comprised a green 2 litre Lilt bottle (with both the label and the Lilt itself removed, I might add), some plastic tubing and more bits of Perspex covered in coloured gel. The fact that it was very difficult to fix inside properly meant that it wobbled as the Time Rotor was raised and lowered, thus making it look rather crap. On the subject of the up-and-down movement, this was achieved, rather predictably, by an otherwise unengaged cast member lying down under the console out of view and pushing and pulling up and down with their arms…..

Each of the panels was of a different design in order to make it in keeping with the prop from the series, and one of them even had a keyboard recessed into it, though I have to admit that this was in fact a ZX Spectrum computer. The other panels were covered in assorted bits and pieces including the obligatory static and flashing lights, buttons and switches, and even some dials from an old Hi-fi system that my mum had recently thrown out! The whole thing was powered by a motorcycle battery concealed within which hadn’t been used for some years and therefore needed regular recharging. The famous TARDIS door handle was created from a clear Biro casing topped with a red plastic ball (actually a cat’s toy with the bell removed), and it was mounted on the console using some packaging from a watch I’d been given for my birthday. Unfortunately, the console wasn’t as sturdy as the police box prop, and so whenever there was a close-up of a button being pressed, the panel beneath could clearly be seen bowing inwards under the enormous pressure of someone’s finger, so I kept these shots down to a minimum!

We collectively spent many hours soldering all the lights onto connected wires which then went through an old light switch concealed under a flap on one of the panels and thence to the battery. Many of these delicate connections would fail on a regular basis, necessitating the soldering iron to be kept on hand during recording. The Rani’s TARDIS was also featured in the story, but as time and money wouldn’t stretch to building a separate console of a different design, the same one was used with a different combination of surrounding wall panels to try to make it look different to the Doctor’s own TARDIS control room.

Next Episode: Set building!