My Police Box
The Season 18 Prop
Soon after I began the console, I took it into my
head to build a TARDIS/Police Box. This project was to consume much of my
little spare time until July 2000. The Console was pretty much on hold during this time.
Unfortunately I took very few photographs during the construction (I guess I’m just shy).
The Doctor and Romana on a beach
I decided to make my TARDIS as accurate to the Season 18 prop as possible.
The BBC prop was fibre-glass by this point in its history. The earlier
ones (there were several, apparently) had been wooden, but doubtless
the production team were fed up with moving it around, as it would have
been very heavy. I wanted one that seemed authentic to be around, so I
decided to make mine very solidly out of wood. As a result it is not very
portable, and is designed to come apart in sections, partly to get it
through doorways, but also because it’s too heavy to lift in one piece.
As it turns out even the separated sections are so heavy that I need help
to move them.
from above
I also wanted my TARDIS to look good on the inside. A real Police Box
has flat walls on the inside, but I didn’t like the look, so I repeated
the exterior detailing inside – twice as much work, but I’m happier
with the result.
There's a great site at
The Blue Box Project
which features a half-sized police box and construction plans for it.
general shot
The Sections
The TARDIS is built in sections:
- The Base
- The two Door Arches
(consisting of two corner posts and the built-up section that supports
the “Police public call Box” sign. One arch at the front, one at
the back)
- The Back (like a pair of doors, but
built as a single piece)
- The two Side Walls (consisting
of the door-like walls and the built-up sign section as a single unit
without the posts
- The Doors (both of which can open)
- The Roof (hollow, but one-piece)
The sides bolt onto protrusions from the arches using bolts and furniture
fasteners. The arches have dowel pegs at the bottom which drop into holes
in the base. The roof sits between the corner posts, and is not fastened
on. It is also probably not
very waterproof, though I have no intention of finding out!
