How to Make a Gingerbread Tardis (with Doctor)

Step 6: Assemble your Tardis

Assemble your Tardis in a place where you can leave the pieces without fear that they will be disturbed by unauthorized personnel or pets.  As I was making this project, the gingerbread Doctor had to regenerate twice, having twice suffered a horrible fate at the jaws of ravenous dogs.  (On the plus side, eating gingerbread seems to improve a dog’s breath.)

 

Gather some heavy items—like cookbooks or canned goods-- to prop up pieces while they set.  You can also use masking tape to help hold pieces until they set.  Look carefully at the plan view diagram to see how to join the pieces, or the Tardis won’t be square.  If you’ve broken any pieces, glue them back together with icing.

 

Assembly order:
1. back+1 side, roof pieces to each other
2. other side
3. base
4. roof
5. front left
6. top right
7. front right door (I left it slightly open)
8. frame edges
9. signs

 Glue the back to one of the sides first using the blue icing.  Pipe a line along the edge and another line inside the angle of the join, like caulk.  Don’t worry too much if icing shows on the outside; that’s why we dyed it blue.  Prop the pieces up and leave them to set for at least an hour.  While you’re waiting, you can start on assembling the roof and decorating the Doctor.  I used masking tape and a pop bottle lid to hold the roof pieces at an angle while they set.

 

Once the back and first side have set, add the second side and leave it to set again.  These first few pieces will need the longest setting time.  After these, the Tardis will have a little more stability and you can get away with working faster.  If something is misplaced, it’s better to find out before the glue has set all the way (3 hours, give or take). 

 

Next, glue the back and sides onto the base and glue the roof on.  Stick the front left panel in place, making sure that there is space for the last pieces to fit in.  Stick on the upper right panel, over the door opening.  Put the door in at the angle you choose.  Stick the upright frame edges in place (consult the plan diagram) and stick the top frame edges in place like lintels.  Allow to set and stick the signs on.