TARDIS

Me with my new TARDIS in 2005.

What

A full size replica of the Doctor’s time machine spacecraft from Doctor Who.
TARDIS is an acronym for “Time And Relative Dimension In Space”. The idea from the 1963 TV production was that the craft’s cloaking device got stuck on a form it had taken and couldn’t be fixed. It was quite a novel, clever and cheap idea that created an icon of science fiction.

There was much more work involved on this project than the photos I took show, but I didn’t document everything as well then, and it would also be quite boring to see a lot more.

Why

The show was being revived in 2005 after a long hiatus and I liked the TARDIS and the idea of building a “Time Machine”. I was newly single again so the time was right to set about making one.
Unfortunately, “Doctor Who” as a TV show was and still is absolutely dreadful rubbish. Not even enjoying his attractive female companions was enough for me to keep watching it.

When

Summer 2005.

The 2005 TV comeback version of the TARDIS with Christopher Eccleston as the new Doctor.

Versions of the TARDIS. Mine was based on the first TV version from 1963, second from the left.
The rather lovely Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, well before she played the blue cybernetic Avenger Nebula..
The beautiful Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And Peter Capaldi not being anywhere near as good as he was as the vitriolic Malcolm Tucker from “The Thick Of It”.

Development & Progress

I got some plans and a guide on how to make a TARDIS, but it wasn’t all as clear a sit could have been so I had to figure out a lot for myself.
I began with the base.
I then made short corner posts do the roof and light sections could be worked on.

Various layers and parts of roof sections.
Much work was required to do all the top sections.
Light boxes being made.

Light boxes with drill holes for bolting.
The big heavy multi-part corner posts.
Side panels before angled slats were added.

So many angled sections for side the panels.
There would often be a vast carpet of sawdust next to my garage as I made all the parts.
Making post caps.

The top Lamp structure made with a dismantled candle lantern.
The filled and sanded lamp top which previously had a further section with a hook ring.
Making eight faux-Window frames that would be positioned over single pieces of glass instead of having 6 pieces of glass inserted into them.

Three types of graphics that were prepared for the light boxes, telephone hatch and door.
Rotary telephone I bought to put behind the hatch but subsequently never wanted to.
There was often chaos with various parts in development.
I test assembled it behind my garage away from the neighbours and public to avoid spoiling the big reveal.
Side panels weren’t required at this stage but would need to go in after the posts for the main assembly.
Assembly in its official home location. Exciting!
I always liked that it was bigger on the inside than the outside as it lead into my garage.

The finished TARDIS in July 2005 looking great with an internal light and roof light at dusk.
Not too long after I built my TARDIS in 2005, I invited two local police officers to pose with it.

I could barely believe that I’d made this magnificent thing.
A un-illuminated view from an early camera phone.
A lasting memory of the TARDIS will always be the brilliant party I had for it that became sort of legendary. Sadly those good times with good friends are long gone. I no-longer see any of them at all. People move away and have families and so on.
The time machine as viewed from my landing window.

Later / Current Status

My TARDIS had largely been made from MDF which is just glorified cardboard. I thought treating it with waterproof sealant and paint was going to enough to protect it but I was massively wrong and foolish to even have thought that might be possible. The great British weather started to affect the time machine spacecraft and problems began to appear. They were manageable at first but swelling and other damage took hold.

By June 2009 I’d decided to build a whole new TARDIS 2.0 and not even use significant parts that were still good. I got reasonably far with it, but stalled when trying to find 25mm timber that was quite critical to the dimensions of the design. For the first one I’d glued together sheets of 12mm MDF and although that was less than ideal, it gave suitable sheets of timber that I needed.

The TARDIS met it’s fate in February 2010 but I’d had a few years of fun and enjoyment from it. I was glad to have the light airy space back instead of a hulking ugly lump. Occasionally I miss the iconic structure. Keeping the iconic street furniture theme going, I bought an original K6 Telephone Box, in 2013 as I’d always wanted one of these too. I couldn’t say I’d made it myself, but it did still require a lot of work.

Distressing images ahead…

By 2008 the TARDIS was already looking FUBAR.
It fell into disrepair but I held off taking it down.
The roof was removed in January 2009.
The TARDIS looked an eyesore for a full year.
Inside the TARDIS on it’s final day. It was finally dismantled and destroyed on 2 February 2010.
A very sorry sight. By this point, I’d also pretty much realised that the second improved TARDIS 2.0 that I’d started to make in June 2009 wasn’t going to be finished either. I didn’t dismantle that until I decided to purpose the base as part of a new shed in 2011.

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