Lego TARDIS With Flashing LED

I was curious to see if I could combine a flashing LED circuit with the LEGO TARDIS (#21304 - http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Doctor-Who-21304). With a little bit of drilling, I was able to mount an LED under the TARDIS roof and show through the clear studs. The flashing circuit (breadboard and battery) is still external to the TARDIS.

Parts:

• Lego Doctor Who #21304 - http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Doctor-Who-21304
• Flashing LED circuit : to be expanded on
• Super bright white LED : https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9850
• Drill with the following bits : 7/64 and 3/16
• (optional) 2x Lego round brick 1-x-1 with open stud : to act as drill guide

Step 1: Remove the "light" From the TARDIS Roof

Remove the "light" portion from the TARDIS roof.

Step 2: Make Small Drill Hole

Drill completely through the roof section using the 7/64 drill bit. Note: I used some handy "round 1x1 bricks with open stud" as a drill guide.

Step 3: Drill Larger Hole to Hold LED

Remove and set aside the portion of the roof that sits above the six-by-six blue plate.

Flip the six-by-six blue plate over.

Drill a larger hole through the two pieces (blue plate and gray plate) with the larger 3/16 drill bit.

Then re-assemble the roof.

Step 4: Flashing LED Circuit

Author Note: I had an existing Flashing LED circuit using 555 timer chip from another project. The LED is a super bright white. I will need to develop/link to separate instructions for that.

Step 5: Insert LED Into TARDIS Roof

The 3/16 hole we drilled is just snug enough to hold the LED in place.

Step 6: Re-assemble TARDIS

Place the TARDIS roof with LED back on the model. Run the wires out through the "doors" and carefully close the "doors". Fortunately for us, the "doors" are at the back of the model!

Step 7: Done!

Attach the 9V battery.

Comments

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

Great TARDIS design. Now you just need a Doctor mini figure.

[AngusL3]

it's the official LEGO Tardis

[gpender]

Do you think the battery would fit if you used PCB cut to the size of the components, so the whole set up would fit inside? Too bad it's not really "bigger on the inside".

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

A PCB would definitely be smaller than a breadboard. But if you really want to save space you can use Free Form soldering where you solder the parts directly together with no board. But that is really hard to do.

[marmstrong22]

If you buy a little $1 flashing tealight from the dollar store, you can use it in conjunction with a simple transistor to make a blue led flash without the need for 555 timer or big 9v battery. you can use a coin cell or two to drive the whole thing

[iangoh]

I was looking at taking apart Flashbanz light up bracelets. Definitely could work it in. A downside for off-the-shelf flashers is you have no control over the flash rate.

[nextuz]

The Tardis is from a official Lego set, a Dr Who figure is in that set :)