Nigel Heath Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 My thoughts have turned to getting a base for my Dalek. I have not got a clue where to start. I suppose there are commercial bases out there or I could adapt something else like a plastic tray. It has to be hollow to house the pp9 battery pack and I was thinking circular but am not tied to that idea. The base of my Dalek measures 226 x 167mm. I am thinking of a sandy texture with perhaps the odd PU foam boulder as the background landscape. Any ideas would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberwocky Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Hmm, not sure about what to use for a circular base. For my Nautilus I found a portable backgammon set in a wooden case in a charity shop; I needed a place to put the battery, as you do. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234946277-pegasus-nautilus/ Plastic or metal might be more suitable for a Dalek though, would one of the larger Ferrero Rocher trays be deep enough for a battery? Or, it just occured to me, some pizzas are packed on circular bases made from foam styrene. A couple of those, separated with suitable spacers, could be made to look like flooring bought from the Skaro branch of Ikea, and hide batteries and circuit boards between them. I'll put the kettle on and go and have a think... While gazing out of the window waiting for the kettle to boil, I was watching the sparrows splashing in their bird-bath. It's a plastic saucer for putting beneath pots in the garden, a bit like these: http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-d-cor/pots-planters/outdoor_pots/38cm-Universal-Saucer-Green-Deep-9297872 It might work for Daleks upside-down. Edited October 30, 2013 by Jabberwocky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Some good ideas there Jabberwocky. I think I should have a mooch around the pound shops and DIY sheds for ideas. Plastic planter dishes are one idea but I don't want it to be obvious that's what it is. The best thing I have found so far is a 12" dia. metal tray, 4cm deep, slightly too big and I would also prefer plastic because of the electrical connections I have to make through it. It would also probably just look like an upside down tray. Elliptical could look nice but even harder to find. Thanks for having a think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhouse Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 The solution is obvious. You need a scratch built staircase. The newel post at the bottom can be used as a switch, while the essential cupboard under the stairs will be ideal for hiding the two batteries. Two batteries?One to power the lights, the second to motorise the dome so the Dalek can shake its head dolefully as it contemplates the inevitability of the task.Much like this: http://doctorwho.neoseeker.com/wiki/File:Punch_daleks.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 no no no the Daleks and stairs joke was finally put to rest in the Sylvester McCoy era: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1J3InFpGtQ Remind me what Mark Dalek is this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Have a scounge around the 'household' goodies in a Poundland/world shop. You may be able to find a melamine bowl or tray which might be suitable for conversion. Also look in the 'halloween' sections there and in ASDA. Again you may find something which can be altered to suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) For the love of god, why didn't that damned Dalek just fire.....He has Sylvester McCoy square in his sights so what does he do? He rants until the theme music runs and we all know what that means......Another bloody episode with Sylvester McCoy in it! Edited October 30, 2013 by Sgt.Squarehead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Remind me what Mark Dalek is this? Mk 3, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyG Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 How about some suitably low-tech bits of wobbly cardboard, for that authentic early Doctor Who feel? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 how about a diorama? I think the scale and level of detail warrant a 3d structure around AA - could be all high tech with shiny surfaces and mirrors, or complete devastation with rubble and burnt timbers etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 Sounds like hard work and another model project in itself. It has got me thinking though. My vision was that he was speeding across some alien desert landscape, keeping it fairly neutral so that AA was the centre of attention. What about him standing in front of the Sugar Puffs poster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I've been trying to think of an Iconic image of a lone Dalek from those early days but you could try for one from Day of the Daleks from Jon Pertwee era - it was the first time we saw Daleks in colour on TV, so you could do one crossing the lawn of an English Country House... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 How about this: It's a Curver cake box, the bottom tray is hollow for the use of freeze packs. Measures out at 347mm. It's 30mm deep. My missus has this one ,it's a fairly good size. Or: Measures out at 450x 295. Can be seen here in the kitchen section: http://www.curver.com/gbr Obviously you'll buy a lid you wont use, but there is plenty of room to put a battery pack? Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 Possibly, thanks for the idea. Sounds too big though (the circular one), I am sure there is something out there closer to my requirements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 I have just checked my battery box dimensions and it needs a height clearance of at least 21mm, so the internal space in the base has to be at least this high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 You could always take a thick piece of expanded polystrene and carve a space for the battery box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Can't really suggest a box, but how about this logo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 No guys that is not really what I am after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 You thinking more something scenic....Not sure what your aim is? I was thinking plain white base, logo at the front (maybe with a gold 50 in there somewhere), to keep the focus on AA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 How about a field of skulls, I'm sure AA would appreciate that esthetic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Wouldn't he sort of bog down.....It'd certainly be very a crunchy ride! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 How about a field of skulls, I'm sure AA would appreciate that esthetic! Very Iain M Banks, those hells still make me shudder. And, yes, my little nutter AA would like that. Wouldn't he sort of bog down.....It'd certainly be very a crunchy ride! I have to reffer to page one, please excuse me for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 Wouldn't he sort of bog down.....It'd certainly be very a crunchy ride! LOL, yes it would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 I came across a site a few months back where some guy had created a whole series of Dalek "transporter's" and he had a series of really cool renderings showing the Dalek's in flight... I'll see if I can track it down (in fact sounds like a good idea for my own build) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 http://www.mechmaster.co.uk/cg-lair/daleks_page1.htm some really nice ideas here 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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