Attitude Adjustor the Dalek - Is Now Finished

[Nigel Heath]

I have nearly finished the Natter and so for my next project I am going to do something completely different, a vac formed Dalek!

I purchased this kit sometime in the mid 1980's, apparently its quite rare and valuable these days. My belief is that kits are for building so its good that this one’s time has come. I selected it for a change of pace and to tie in with this year's Dr Who 50th anniversary celebrations. This is what I've got:

 

There is an apology from the supplier (presumably Stuart Evans), I'm sorry its taken so long to get round to it:

 

 

The instructions:

 

 

 

I have added up all the times given for each build stage and it comes out at between four to four and a half hours so I should finish it today!!

 

 

 

 

And a mixed bag of odd parts:

 

 

I have only ever built one vacform before (1/48 Aeroclub DHC Chipmunk) and I was still at university at the time so its been a while. I remember trying to scratch build a Dalek as a child but did not get beyond the dome so I hope this will be a more successful venture.

Nigel

Edited November 24, 2019 by Nigel Heath
added line breaks

[Anthony Kesterton]

Now this looks fun. Good luck, I will be watching with great interest.

[Nigel Heath]

After a little research, this is the Dalek I want to protray, its the commander of the Dalek military forces on Earth from the film "Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150AD":

He's a good looking chappie with plenty of scope for Alclad in there.

Sorry the image is distorted, I can't seem to fix it, most annoying.

Edited August 31, 2013 by Nigel Heath

[mekon]

Oh very nice, popcorn to standby position. Think the Red label boxes were the earliest release of Stuart's kits, nice to see one being made.

[Nigel Heath]

According to the instructions I will need the following tools and accessories:

1) Modelling knife with sharp (NOT CURVED) blade

2) Scissors

3) Drawing pins found to be not strictly requiered - see later, about page 7

4) Electrical insulation tape found to be best avoided - see later, about page 6

5) Small files

6) Fibre pen

7) Clear adhesive tape

8) Ruler

9) Paint and brushes

I should be able to rustle that lot up. I have no idea what the aversion to curved blades is about.

I can add a few new items that I seemed to need:

1) Household masking tape (38m wide)

2) 1.0 mm diameter brass rod

3) 6mm diameter brass tube from Albion Alloys

4) Lots of sprue; heagonal, circular and ingot section (can be any colour)

5) A kit of electronic parts to make lights flash

6) Can of builders foam

7) Casting resin with filler and colourant

8) Small pieces of wood, plywood or similar

9) At least one tube of polystyrene cement

10) Plenty of Squadron green filler or similar

11) An old carpet to work on and trash

12) Sanding block

13) 0.01" Brass sheet (small piece for electrical contacts)

14) Solder, flux and soldering iron

15) Compass cutter

16) Drills, various sizes

17) Old newspaper

18) Motor tool

19) Baking tray or other similar rigid, waterproof, flat object

20) Double sided tape

21) 150 and 250 grit wet and dry

22) Electronic scales

23) Micrometer

24) Pin Vice

25) Clamps

26) Indelible marker pen

27) Modelling vice

28) Disposable mixing tubs

29) Disposable gloves, I recommend the blue nitrile type

30) Small funnel

31) Disposable syringe

32) Kitchen paper and tissues

33) Filler trowel

34) Razor saw(s)

35) Small hack saw

36) Spirit burner and plenty of meths

37) Two part epoxy adhesive

38) Milk bottle tops

39) Lead sheet

40) Clear plastic sheet

41) Hollow punches, 3, 14, 12 and 10mm for starters

42) Klear

43) Clothes pegs

44) Cocktail sticks

45) Cotton buds

46) Mr Surfacer 500

47) Hammers(s)

48) Rigid plastic sheet (for bending jig)

49) Sprue cutters

50) Flat jawed pliers

51) Dividers

52) Plasticard, 20, 60 and 80 thou

53) Hold & Fold tool

54) Hooked and chisel scalpel blades

55) Zip Kicker

56) Multimeter

57) Aluminium mesh (from Halfords)

58) Blu Tack

59) Bathroom sealant

60) Wire cutters

61) Wire strippers

62) 2.0mm cobalt drill

63) 1.5mm TiN coated drill

64) Flat engineers file

65) Sharp centre punch

66) 1.8 and 2.4mm diameter dome headed rivets

67) 2400 grit Micromesh

68) More Masking tape, various widths this time

69) Serrated jawed pliers

70) Dremel with all the accessories (sanding drum, cut off discs, various grinders, etc.)

71) 6" ruler (stainless)

72) Fine woven brass mesh

73) White ring decal

74) Rub down letters or decals for the switch

75) 680 Ohm resistor

76) Tamiya Clear red

77) Heath Shrink Tubing

78) Fine multistrand wire

79) GS Hypo Cement

80) Super Thin Superglue

81) Extra Long Drills (1.3mm)

82) String

83) Big Sheet of Paper

84) Third Hand Tool

85) 5mm Steel Rod with threaded end

86) Rechargable Drill

87) Black Aerosol Spray Paint

88) 1.25mm Dia. Plastic Rod (1.2m)

89) Krystal Klear

90) Cleaned Empty Paint Tins

91) Various Shades of Alclad

92) Red Aerosol Primer

93) Milliput

94) Ladies Tights (15 denier)

95) The largest out of a set of micro reamers

Edited September 25, 2015 by Nigel Heath

[Deanflyer]

After a little research, this is the Dalek I want to protray, its the commander of the Dalek military forces on Earth from the film "Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150AD":

Sorry the image is distorted, I can't seem to fix it, most annoying.

Here you go... I think it was a bit too wide and got resized.

Have fun with it,

Dean

[junco]

The only problem you have is that the kit is the TV version and not the film version you want to build, just look at the base!

I have a part completed TV one in the loft I must get on with, I also have a completed Sevens 2 foot one!

Cheers, Neil

[copernicus]

I built one of these years ago. Probably the most accurate Dalek kit ever produced. Not an easy build though and a bit flimsy but good luck.

[hendie]

it's looking good Nigel.

I'm looking forward to your WIP on this one. I've seen a few builds on various forums but they've never really gone into any detail about how it's constructed so this should be a) entertaining, and interesting and c) educational

At 4½ hours build time I think yours shall be completed long before mine ever will.

[Nigel Heath]

Posted Today, 06:42 Pk

The only problem you have is that the kit is the TV version and not the film version you want to build, just look at the base!

I have a part completed TV one in the loft I must get on with, I also have a completed Sevens 2 foot one!

Cheers, Neil

What are the differences? I am struggling to see much difference in the bases. Is conversion possible or should I rethink my plans?

Dean,

Thanks for sorting out the picture.

Nigel

[triumphfan]

Great! Two Daleks on the forum.

I do love the way the kit instructions have a time estimate for each stage. Looks like a recipe! lol

Subscribed, popcorn in hand....

Steve.

[FrancieT]

On the movie version, the bases weren't as angled but more rounded,

[Nigel Heath]

looking forward to your WIP on this one. I've seen a few builds on various forums but they've never really gone into any detail about how it's constructed so this should be a) entertaining, and interesting and c) educational

If you know me you'll know there will be plenty of photos - probably too many.

Edited August 31, 2013 by Nigel Heath

[Nigel Heath]

And don't think I won't be including a few cookery shots in this build either.

For my dinner tonight I fancied a steak and kindey pie, I do like a good pie. Now, I have a home made one in the freezer but its quite big so I bought this commercial offering from Sainsburys today, cooked alongside boiled new potatoes, peas and gravy which was at least home made:

I also baked some bread for rolls for lunch and bacon sandwiches in the morning, I make my own bread most weekends:

Edited October 6, 2013 by Nigel Heath

[hendie]

Nigel,

this PDF shows the difference between the various versions - well, at least the TV versions 1, 2 & 3 - you'll see what junco means about the base. The Mk I was angled (this is the version I am making) and the Mk II is curver at both the front and rear

http://astromechbuilder.com/mechloader/d/29752-2/Classic_Plans.pdf

[junco]

Thanks Hendie, the plan helps to show the base differences, its also taller. Other differences are the lights on the dome (rounded on TV, taller and angular on film) film has a claw instead of the sucker.

I think there my be some other minor differences but need to dig out my old stuff.

Neil

[Bengalensis]

This will be interesting. I haven't got the history of watching the TV or films with these things, due to not being from UK I guess, but have only seen them on some occasional photo without knowing what they were. Only learnt a bit more about them here on BM. Still I quite like what I see, interesting thing. And please don't forget the cooking.

[Nigel Heath]

In light of the information about the differences between the TV and movie Daleks I have to reluctantly make a change to my plans. The Dalek depicted in the kit I have seems to most closely resemble the Daleks featured in the episode "The Day of the Daleks". I am particulary drawn to the gold one shown here:

I also found that someone has made a rather nice full size replica:

I liked the red colour and the claw on the other one but the base would involve a major carve up and there is no point really.

Edited November 24, 2013 by Nigel Heath

[hendie]

In light of the information about the differences between the TV and movie Daleks I have to reluctantly make a change to my plans. The Dalek depicted in the kit I have seems to most closely resemble the Daleks featured in the episode "The Day of the Daleks. I am particulary drawn to the gold one shown here:......

I liked the red colour and the claw on the other one but the base would involve a major carve up and there is no point really.

Nigel,

it's your Dalek, and it's for your building/viewing pleasure.... and it could always be a "What if?"

[Nigel Heath]

Nigel,

it's your Dalek, and it's for your building/viewing pleasure.... and it could always be a "What if?"

Good point I will continue to give it some more thought.

Right, here is some actual build progress. I separated the blocks for the base like this:

I trimmed round the base freehand:

These trimmings are not worth keeping and go in the bin:

With the inner plinth installed the gap between floor and the base looks too big to me:

I do a quick test fitting of the base parts, I am thinking of filling the whole lot with casting resin for extra weight, stability and solidity:

I think a good 5mm needs to be removed from the side wall here and serendipitously this happens to be the stand-off height of my marker pen:

Despite the instructions imploring me not to use them, I think scissors are the best tool for this job, more scrap for the bin:

This now looks a lot better:

I now need to make a sanding tool so I tape some of my recently aquired 240 grit wet and dry to my baking tray. I think this fine new tool will see a lot of activity in the future, I just hope I don't need to do any baking anytime soon:

There then ensues a very unequal battle between silicon carbide and polystyrene:

With some checking and adjustments the base sits quite flat. I got a bit over enthusiastic at one point and this block split so a little additional gluing will be required:

That's it for now.

Nigel

Edited September 1, 2013 by Nigel Heath

[Cimmerian]

Wow - didn't realise quite how big this kit is until I was the base sat on a sheet of Wet N'Dry. Very cool wish I could get one !

And as to accuracy - I think I agree with hendie. Wasn't the galaxy meant to be literally teeming with Daleks numbering in the millions at some point? surely theres room for your red commander with the base as is!

[Nigel Heath]

For my breakfast I made a bacon sandwich with home made spicy tomato ketchup.

With a view to resin encapsulation I measured the volume of the base:

There are some defects round the edge of the base. I am not sure what to do about these as they do have a certain charm that probably reflects the state of the real Dalek props, however proper real fictional Daleks (if you know what I mean) would no doubt be perfect, its a dilemma that I will have to mull over. I don't have to make a decision just yet:

To allow resin ingress, I cut out these V notches - crude but hopefully effective. I also drilled 0.6mm vent holes in the top of the parts in suitable locations:

I think the best glue for this job is good old fashioned tube cement. I used about half a tube on this - the smell wafting up to my nostrils certainly evoked happy childhood memories:

This is my clamping arrangelent while the glue starts to harden up, the clamps just reached over the lip of the skirt:

Look, look, actual tube cement on my fingers, this is really turning into a nostalga fest:

On closer inspection I can see why this one split, the walls were abnormally thin, I glued it with liquid poly and backed the hole with a little tube cement just before installation:

The rest of the base parts are fitted again with tube cement, I think this is the most enjoyable modelling session I have had in many a long time:

To make sure the base sets flat I applied a little weight:

I then started on these internal brace parts, giving them a crude trim:

The only important thing about these is that the ends are square: as well as the lip they have a slight draft angle which I remove with my heavy duty sanding stick:

Thinking about the earlier comment I got on flimsiness I think these should be filled and possibly reinforced in some way. A bit more head scratching to do.

Edited October 6, 2013 by Nigel Heath

[Bengalensis]

Oh, this is just so nice to watch. Reminds me of my best modelling sessions with rather crude resin kits involving lots of fabrication and corrections. And on top of that there's a bacon sandwich with home made spicy tomato ketchup... This is almost too much. Keep going!

[triumphfan]

My Lasagne is still in the oven and I have to open your post with that bacon sarnie in it !!!

I am soooo hungry. lol

[prowler0000]

I have a Comet Dalek in the stash, part started, & NEVER to be finished.

Not sure whether it's the TV or Movie version, but it languishes in the stash, unloved, ignored & gathering dust....

REALLY enjoying this build, tho! Real throwback modeling, complete with "tube of glue" adhesive, too!

Gold would look good on this one.

Oh, & that bacon is done >just< right, but a bit too much sauce, really.