How to make a TARDIS model

Here is a ~20cm model of the TARDIS (or a police call box) made of the cardboard from cereal (and other food) boxes and plastic packaging*. It also has LED lights and sound effects.

Sorry this won't allow you to travel through space and time, yet.....

*Rather then going out and buying material to build this model, I realized I have a great source of cardboard sitting in my kitchen cupboards. Plus I could also use that annoying PVC packaging that almost any thing you buy these days is sealed in.

Step 1: Materials:

• cardboard -I used cereal/granola bar box cardboard -bonus if it's made from recycled material.
• templates -you can find this in the pdf file in step 2.
• clear plastic (for the widows) -I used the clear plastic (?PVC) that is used as packaging material

.

• blue paint, pen and tape.
• silver paint and paint brushes.
• glue and masking tape.
• ruler and X-acto knife or scissors.
• sandpaper
• small plastic tube or a drinking straw - I used a plastic tube that held erasers for mechanical pencils.
• 2-3 white LEDs, button battery, on/off switch, wire and soldering iron.
• Digital sound recorder.

Comments

[pottsjes]

this is an amazing project but i don't know where i can get the sound recorder... can you help? is it online?

[eburg917]

Thank you SO much for putting this step by step tutorial up! Cut out the pieces and painted them last night and assembled them this morning! Found the roof a little bit tricky but i made it work. Thanks again! I had loads of fun. :)

Heres my finished TARDIS:

[ChrysN]

That looks great!

[unlucky13465]

3 words, mine totally SUX!!!!
the graphics are to grainy, mine when it turned out looked like a little kid named amelia pond made it! Cardboard sticking out and uneven painting. How'd you get yours to look so NICE?

[Catherine Moody]

Thanks Chrys I have made a Tardis using your instructions. If you give me your e-mail then I could send you picturesw of it. My e-mail is [e-mail]

[ChrysN]

Cool. You can post them right here with your comment. Just click on the add images button under the comment editor.

[Catherine Moody]

Hopefully I have put the photo images of the tardis I made with this comment,
Catherine Moody
Thanks again. I am building another one now using wood veneer! And I am making another using card! I have a tardis production line going!

[ChrysN]

Your Tardis looks great! The wood veneer one sounds really cool.

[njc1230]

Would balsa wood work with this as well?

[ChrysN]

Sure that would look great, though you may need to adjust the measurements on the template to accommodate the thicker material.

[Osquar]

Is it ok if I use this as a base for a USB hub that I'm planning to make during the summer?
It's perfect!!!

[ChrysN]

Sure, that would look really cool as a USB hub.

[CoolCarKnee]

I am a REALLY big Dr. Who Fan. This really helped.thnx a lot

[Dusk Shadows]

amazing how did you become so talented

[Atraxi]

What brand/color of paint did you use? Your color choice is really spot on!

[ChrysN]

It's DecoArt Truly Blue.

[Atraxi]

Thanks!

[tutdude98]

nice :D but its better with plastic

[blasdetejas]

Awesome! I'll be starting on this tomorrow!!! Thanks for the instructions!

[blackrider23]

I plan on building this for a tree topper this year :)
Wish me luck! :D

[ChrysN]

Cool idea to use it for a tree topper!

[action pig]

Love this! Much cooler than the paper cut out I was thinking of making. Nice build!

[ChrysN]

Thanks!

[jperkes]

would u sell it

[ChrysN]

Sorry, I am quite attached to it and not looking to sell.

[jperkes]

very complicated but very rewarding

[peepee4]

we have every season of doctor who!
and i made a lego tardis

[sueman2]

can you tell me where i can find an intractable. if you did not use one, can you give me pointers?

[peepee4]

now i have a card board tardis!

[ChrysN]

Cool!

[lockpick]

This is amazing! Seeing as to me being American and a Dr. Who fan I will say that to a lot of Dr. Who memorabilia but this is amazing!

[ChrysN]

Thanks, have you seen caitlinsdad's TARDIS bookcase.

[Grey_valentine]

I had a total geeked out moment when I saw this. Great job. I love it.

[ChrysN]

Thanks!

[jessyratfink]

I somehow missed this version of the TARDIS! I love it! Very detailed, and the color is spot on! :D I'm going to be making a large one out of fabric soon. I'm so excited.

[ChrysN]

Using fabric, that sounds really cool.

[Gothic_Blueberry]

Absolutely Positively Fantastic!!! I have a group of cousins flying down from Scotland today, and I think they will love it!

[neverdrinkoliveoil]

This is an absolutely amazing project!

[ChrysN]

Thanks!

[Loosewire; SOE Operative]

Very well done. I find that the frosted milk jug plastic (HDPE) works quite well for a bubbled/frosted type of glass windows (like the type all of the police Captains have on their office windows in 70's and 80's cop shows).