I've resurrected a project I started months ago, a model of the Doctor's TARDIS console that I will optimize for use in Poser and distributed as a freebie. For devoted fans of the famed BBC series, this console is more or less patterned after the prop used in Tom Baker's "Key to Time" episodes. Here's the first station with the infamous door lever. Sincerely, Bill

This one has the Gallifrey Recall circuit. Sincerely, Bill

...a video monitor and joystick. Hmm, you think the Doc' might have played video games on a slow day? ;-) Sincerely, Bill

I think these are the materialization controls. I hope to model the last two this weekend, but real life obligations have a way of stifling my muse. Sincerely, Bill

saw a traveling version of the Tardis once at a convention, and surprisingly most of the controls were 'glued on' key covers for punch-card machines..;) I remember the center had something bobbing up and down..which changed a lot..but I only know the Baker and whoever-came-next years..;)

The prop you describe debuted in the special 20th anniversary story "The Five Doctors" (staring Peter Davison). A completely new prop was constructed to keep up with with what was considered modern technology of the day. Every second station had a video monitor (which never displayed anything more complicated than simple vector "wireframe" graphics). Some fans endearingly call that version (that was used for the remainder of the series) as the "blinking mushroom of death". Except for a Victorian styled writing pedestal inspired console used in series 14, all versions of the console had the "something bobbing up and down". There is debate among fans as to what this cylinder is called, but many refer to it as the "time rotor". When in flight, the cylinder constantly rose and fell; when landed, the cylinder retracted. Originally, it was intended to simply rise like a thermometer as the power increased. But it was decided the "bobbing" action more dramatically suggested time travel activity. The earliest console, helmed by Hartnell, had power station type levers, switches, handles and meters. Again, for 1963, the producers felt that conveyed high technology. There is rabid speculation as to what the console will resemble for the upcoming series revival in 2005. Sincerely, Bill

hmm..I saw this model in about '82 or so, so I guess that would be around the right time...

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=1601988

Hmm, 1982, eh? That's almost too early for the 20th anniversary set piece since it didn't appear on television until November 23, 1983. Maybe you got to see a sneak preview! Lucky guy! Tell me, looking at posting # 19, which of the images most closely resembles the console you saw? Sincerely, Bill

well, it's 22 years ago, so I could be off a year..;) as I rmemeber, mainly the top of post 19..to be honest, I was so tickled by seeing punchcard keys on it, that I should have paid more attention. This was some sort of traveling exhibition, it was in a tractor trailer, and you didn't get to stay long, but it was fun, nonetheless..

I was able to complete the 5th station before the weekend arrived. Just one more to model... ...Then comes the "fun" part, assigning materials in UV Mapper. Let's see, 40 to 50 objects per station, some having more than one material zone. Ugh! That's possibly 300 pices that I must assign! Yuck! Sincerely, Bill

...Finally, the sixth and last station! Now to "glue" the parts together, align them with the primary console model, load it into UV Mapper, and [*Shudder!*] start assigning Poser "ready" mayerials to the 300+ geometric primitives that make up the complete prop. [*Whimper!*] Sincerely, Bill

Here's how the whole thing looks fully assembled (sans glass column) and rendered in TrueSpace. You know, I'm kinda' pleased with it. ;-) Sincerely, Bill

hey, if you can do anything in Truespace..I'm impressed (I have 1 and 3, and it's confusing to me..;) great work.

WOW it looks great!!! Bsteph

...and finally with material zones designated and rendered in good ol' Poser 4. One thing I did not consider, while I applied planar UV mapping coordinates (in TrueSpace) for things such as the video monitor, scanners and radar, I did not plot out the other faces. Presently, if I were to apply textures to those unplotted surfaces, they would look horribly distorted. However, Moebius87 has asked if he can "borrow" the mesh for the texturing forum as a "community" exercise. It should be interesting to see what the participants create. Sincerely, Bill

Based upon discussions in some recent threads, I've opted to play it conservatively and have removed my "Doctor Who" related free items before I may be given an official "warning". Not that it really means anything in the grand scheme of life, but I'd rather not be penalized for actions that were once deemed acceptable. There are people here I've grown to like, and there is much valued information to be utilized. If I were banned, I would no longer have access to that information or some of my friends. This does not mean I will lock away the files, never to be shared again. Rather, I will seek other venues such as other sites still willing to share fan material. I will let you know what site(s) I have selected. I will not argue Renderosity's decision. As a privately owned site, the administrators have the right to decide what is permitted and what is not (as long as it does not violate state and Federal law). And if the reasons I've been told in confidence are correct, it does make sense. I am, however, saddened that members have been given "marks" against their permanent records after the site owners allowed the "concerned" items to remain for months, if not years. Especially when there's been a "screening" process in place since April 2003. Personally, I do not think that is fair, but again I will not debate the administrators' decisions. If requested, I will remove the "DW" tributes from my gallery should the administrators deem them no longer acceptable. Again, based upon privilaged information, that day will most likely come. Sincerely, Bill

Hmm.

I don't have any insight on the inner workings of Renderosity, here I'm just a regular member, but I can tell you about my experience on the topic.

When Bill released his console I was jazzed because he'd done a really nice job on it. I'd started one of my own back in April but never finished it. I had finished the rest of the console room and all that was just laying
around on the hard drive so I figured I'd pack it up and post it.

When I did, I titled it "TARDIS Console Room Prop". A short while later I got a very polite note from one of the Renderosity moderators explaining that the word "TARDIS" was a trademark of the BBC (which I didn't know) and that
using that title could open Renderosity up to potential legal action even though the post probably fell under the category of fan art. They suggested a couple of other acceptable titles. I picked one, the moderator edited the
title for me, approved it and that was the last I heard. They didn't ask me to change the thumbnail, only the title.

I understand their concern and I'm fine with it. I also thought they were very cool about the way they handled it. The model I posted was 100% original work eyeballed from the old episodes. If the BBC comes to me sometime down
the road and says they want me to take it down, I'll take it down. If they say they want me to add "tm" after the word TARDIS, I'll add "tm" after the word TARDIS. Call me stupid but as a free fan art item, I'm guessing that won't
happen. If I tried to sell it in the marketplace, that'd be a different story.

That said, I did notice that Bill and several others had used the "T" word in their titles but I didn't think much of it at the time. I've never had any issue with any online community (ever) over content I've posted but,
because of my involvement with the GPA project and some others, I'm used to being watched a little closer than most. Again, all fine with me because I understand
what it's like to be a site operator.

Point is, a bunch of people have done some really fine work. It'd be a shame to see it all taken offline because of a lack of communication. Seems better to ask the question rather than assume an answer.