“Sneaky pictures” tease the return of the Doctors deadliest enemy

WARNING: This Article contains SPOILERS

Over the past few months, as Doctor Who goes into filming theres quite the buzz about when the Daleks will be showing up again, and now we know!

The official BBC site has shared some “sneaky pictures” from the set, all of which tease various parts of the Dalek anatomy. What I find even more interesting however, is that they reveal that a number of the Dalek designs will be appearing in the next series, as they have confirmed: “…the Daleks are being wheeled before the cameras once again. But which design? The answer is ALL OF THEM!” Including one of my favorites the Special Weapons Dalek, I wonder if they will use mine.... My Special Weapons Dalek
 
Along with the 'sneaky pictures' theres also a glance at a Dalek eye in the new series 7 trailer that has recently exploded on the internet...

In February I posted about the new series toys that are coming forward, suggesting this might be a sneak peak into the new episodes and seeing 'bits' of Dalek may just confirm at least some of whats to come

Just some photos of K-9

Construction has now come to a halt, finances are a little low right now and more important things have to be paid for first.  But with that said, cosmetically K-9 looks the part, so I decided to take him outside for a bit and take a few photos...

Not only a mans best friend... but a little girls best friend also

What the cool Geeks are wearing: Vote Geek in 2012 by SevenHundred

Todays $10 t-shirt deal of the day over at Teefury is this awesome design - themed shirt called “Vote Geek in 2012" by SevenHundred

The sale began this morning at 00.01 EST and will continue until midnight tonight where this design will no longer be available on this site.  And like most DW themed shirts its already become a 'Popular Item' based on only the sales of the past few hours.

Heres what the artist had to say:

It's a geek twist on the classic Democrats and Republican logos... I felt these groups of fans were constantly competing over who's franchise is better, so I figured they'd need a political style symbol to stand alongside.

Plus with the US on the run up to full election mode, I really hope that people will buy and wear this tee when they go to vote - and get photographed for local newspapers... Or international newspapers... Or the Wall Street Journal... Or Time Magazine. You know, something small like that : )

In-fact i'd love it if people bought the tee and customised it a little - maybe actually 'Vote' on their choice with a fabric pen, or embroidered an X or whatever... I'd love to see the results either via twitter @Seven_Hundred or on my Facebook page: Seven Hundred Shirts

Personally I think thats a GREAT idea, and I think once I get mine Ill be placing a nice big circle around K-9.... I would LOVE to see a bunch of these if you get one PLEASE send me a photo with your 'vote'

Allons-y

K-9 Build - Day 20

Just a quick update, last night I put together a small LED sequencer circuit board.  the idea is rather than have the lights flash in sequence ie 123456789 I would simply place the LED in random places so it would be more 827416395 giving more of a random flashing effect.

So heres the photos:

DAY 20

first of all drilled the holes for the LEDs and marked the colour

I modified one of the lenses to fit a normal on/off switch from Radio shack

The simple LED sequencer with LEDs attached.

First Test of Control panel lights...

something that has become apparent is how the RED lenses look more pink with the white LED, Ive two options.... 1. change the LED to a red LED or 2. find some addition colour filters and cover the LED.

Also noticed that the big buttons dont look all that great so I think Im going to disconnect them, in all honesty I think Id rather they just not be on than look like that.

So still a little work to do but as far as first tests go.... I think it was pretty successful and I like the on/off switch conversion.

Jenna-Louise Coleman named as the Doctors new companion

The Emmerdale actress is confirmed to be replacing Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) as the newest companion to Matt Smith's Time Lord in the BBC sci-fi show's seventh season. Coleman's debut we be on this years Christmas special.

Jenna-Louise Coleman named as the Doctors NEW companion

Gillan, who has played Amy Pond since Matt Smith took the role of the Doctor, is due to leave the show this year and the 25-year-old Coleman will replace her soon after.

Speaking at BBC's Broadcasting house this morning, she said that she was a "huge fan of the show", commenting: "I'm beyond excited, I can't wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure.

"Matt Smith did my audition with me. It was fun and I felt like we were in it together."

Details of Coleman's character are being kept tightly under wraps but Steven Moffat did say "It's not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it's about to happen. Even by the Doctor's standards, this isn't your usual boy meets girl."

Coleman made her big screen debut in Captain America: The First Avenger and is soon to star as Annie Desmond in ITV1’s Titanic.

Coleman even has the support of past companions based on a 'Tweet' coming from Katy Manning (Joe Grant) on Twitter  today : @ManningOfficial “The new Dr who girl must be absolutely thrilled ! I remember how blown away I was 40 odd years ago”

Season seven of Doctor Who is due to air this Autumn.... and it can't get here soon enough.

K-9 Build - Into Day 19

Heading into 3 weeks of this build and Ive kinda hit a wall.  Right now I'm pretty much as far into the build as I can go without more finances.

K-9 looks like K-9 right now but there's no robotics, no electronics nothing to make him move.  I'm trying to figure out robotics and exactly what I need to him mobile.  Again this means visiting the forums:

• http://k9.replicarobots.net/
• http://izzy-k9.blogspot.com/
• http://darthmoose74.blogspot.com/
• http://www.thereplicapropforum.com/
• http://whoprops.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=k9

 Until I've collected the parts, I've also gone a bought myself an LED sequencing kit, I'm going to use it for the control panel.

Upto Day 19

So here's the current progress, I read that a lot of people have used the small red suckers you get from the Nerf dart gun type toys, so I used one as a temporary thing but it really was to small.  After scouting eBay for a little bit I found a neat looking sucker, right colour and pretty much perfect size.  its used as a stand for the iPhone and cost me about $2

 All I had to do was cut the ball off and drill a small hole into the stem.  For now it is just bolted to the Visor but eventually I think I'm going to have it setup to extend much like the real thing.  But like I said, its bolted and certainly cosmetically it looks great...

Access Panel:

It is just cosmetic, it doesn't open.  In order to get to the inside you need to disconnect the base panel, and go from underneath.

For now, I'm using a piece of perspex with a grey coat of paint on its reverse as the side screen.  Eventually I want to get one of those digital photo frames, but like I said at the start with finances having to go else where I am going to have to find cheap alternatives, for now!

As I continue me learning and such into how to make K9 mobile I want to thank Doug Dixon for all his help with ideas and places to go to get some of the stuff I need, I actually met Doug at Hurricane Who last year and it was him who told me about the flat pack kit.  So again Thanks Doug.

Remote Control Questions - NEED HELP

I want to make my K9 completely remote controlled but I have some questions...

Ok so I'm a complete novice/newbie in regards to making something Remote controlled, yes Ive played with RC vehicles and added and taken bits away but never built from scratch.

First thing Ive thought about was just putting a large RC vehicle inside and using that BUT I'd kinda thinking that it would be better if I was to learn how to do this for future projects also.

So, heres what I have managed to acquire so far.

Ive ordered 2 of these motors:

• 280 Watt
• 24 Volt
• 2750 RPM
• Rated Current: 15.4 Amps
• 11 tooth sprocket
• Bracket Hole Spacing (left to right): 96mm (3-¾")
• Bracket Hole spacing (front to back): 43mm (1-¾")
• Overall Length: 101.6mm
• Overall Width: 90mm
• Overall Height: 76mm
• Shaft Length OA: 1 inch

From reading other posts this should be more than enough PLUS it can run on 12v (right?) What I would like to do is perhaps attach the wheel directly to the motor as seen in other builds.

what wheels should I be looking for? Ive seen people use large electric wheel chair wheels but also small rubber wheel, I like the idea of the smaller wheels but want it to be able to travel over rough surfaces with no problems.

I was also told I would need a speed control so I found and bought this:

• Control the speed of a DC motor with this controller
• High efficiency, high torque, low heat generating
• With reverse polarity protection, high current protection
• Working Voltage: DC 12V - DC 40V
• Control Power: 0.01 - 400W
• Static Current: 0.02 A ( Standby )
• PWM Duty Cycle: 10% -100%
• PWM Frequency: 13 KHz
• Size (L x W x H ): Approx. 73 x 60 x 27 mm
• Knob Diameter: Approx. 13.5 mm
• Material: Plastic, metal

Will this do the trick?

Also told I need a power distribution panel, not really sure what Im looking for there.

As for making this RC, Ive found a few 3ch and 4ch transmitters and receivers but not sure if thats what I need, how would I wire this all up?

I do have a FUTABA Skysports 4 remote and the FUTABA FP-R127DF 7 CHANNEL DUAL CONVERSION RECIEVER, will this work? I know its for aircraft but I just dont know if this is going to be what I need. Also, how would I connect the motors to the 3 pin receiver?

The receiver is powered by 6V but the motors need at least 12V is it just one of the three pins that is essentially the on/off switch, while the others are power to servos?

Also, and again so sorry for all the questions, but if both motors are controlled by the speed controller than how does K9 turn?

I feel that I may have botched the setup a bit so any help would be really great right now!

Thanks for your time

Paul

Happy St. Patrick's Day

In honor of St. Patrick's Day my TARDIS will be green...... today only mind!!

 

K-9 Build - Day 13

Going into the 2 week mark, and I feel I got quite a bit done.  Not as much as I would really like BUT enough to show progress...

So here's the latest photos:

Day 13

Added a third handle to the rear of K-9

 

Added a black trim to where the side screen would go, along with a little more rust

Because I still want to get into the head and play with the electronics as well as maybe one day making the sucker/scanner go in and out electronically I used velcro to attach the visor.

  

Now K9 is a little more mobile, with three casters attached to the base

 

Button Lenses ARRIVED, only three days after I ordered them... thats fantastic

I've decided that I'm going to make the control panel hinge, there will be 12 LEDs underneath which will flash in a random sequence much like some I've seen at conventions.  Ill be working on that probably over the next week or two.

What the Cool Geeks are wearing: CAFFEINATE! by APSketches

Todays $10 t-shirt deal of the day over at http://riptapparel.com/ is this Dalek/Starbucks themed design - themed shirt called “Caffinate" by APSketches

The sale began this morning at 00.01 EST and will continue until midnight tonight where this design will no longer be available on this site.  And like most DW themed shirts its already become a 'Popular Item' based on only the sales of the past few hours.

K-9 Build - Day 9

Actually got a LOT done today, least that's how I feel and that makes me feel good.

The light blue metallic paint I found at AutoZone worked a treat, for some it may be a little to blue but personally I LOVE it.  Like most of my builds I'm not building a replica I'm building my self a K-9, making it mine.  And just like my TARDIS I wanted it weathered, beaten up, rusty and with more character.

So here's the newest set of photos:

Both the head and body now coated in the 'light blue metallic'

 Using sandpaper I roughed up the edges giving it a more beaten up, used look.

With a selection of browns and copper paint I set to work adding rust.

 

The collar is the material my wife found at Joanne's, I simply sewed it and then added some Velcro to hold it closed.

Still need to order the buttons for the control panel, and I also need the sucker for the visor, a dog tag,  put together LEDs for the eyes and I have to look into making the whole thing remote control  but all in all as it stands right now I'm so very very pleased with how he looks.

Handles:

 I actually found the handles at Home Depot, each cost about $4 and are pretty close to the original look.  The original handles actually went out of production years ago. 

View Screen:

I read on a forum how some people have placed those digital photo frames inside the body as the view screen.  What I didn't know is they can also play video so I may just have to look into getting myself one.

Quick Update:

With the help of the guys and girls of http://whoprops.proboards.com/ I was able to find a US based company that stocks the colour lenses for the control panel, they also stock the buttons/switches BUT they run at about $12 a piece still, so Ive ordered the lenses roughly $2 each and they should be here in the next few days.  Ill probably just put together a simple LED circuit to illuminate the lenses.

Pity the buttons are so expensive as I would have liked for them to have operated some of the functions.

The website is: http://www.newark.com/ and the part numbers are:

3 x 66F9713 - Red  
3 x 66F9715 - Green
3 x 66F9716 - Blue
3 x 66F9714 - Amber/Yellow