Operation Dalek -- Latest Build Notes

If you've checked my facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Inkblot… lately, you've probably seen that I've been working on several construction-oriented cosplay projects. At the top of the list is a classic Dalek from Doctor Who, acting as our sort of "proof of concept" to make sure my build team and I can properly coordinate a large-scale project like this.

Stage one of Operation Dalek was a little less than successful, but we've rallied with a new plan of attack. We were using some blueprints that BBC released in a magazine back in the 1980s. We read over the instructions, figured out what we needed, and headed to the hardware store. After getting there, we started to realize that we had a few problems.

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1) Since the UK is pretty indecisive about measurement units (or at least was in the 80s), half the instructions were written in feet and pints while the other half were written in metric units. This is a problem in an American hardware store.

2) The materials list told us to get sheets of plywood that were 5x5 feet. The largest our hardware store sold was 4x4. Oops.

3) Our store doesn't sell chicken wire. That's hardly surprising in a suburban hardware store, though. I can let that slide.

3) Apparently our store doesn't sell ball bearings either. What kind of hardware store doesn't sell ball bearings? More importantly, what could I possibly need exactly six ball bearings for in making a Dalek?

4) Exactly how much is "one jar" of shellac? In my time on Earth, I've seen some very big jars and some very little jars. There's quite a range in there.

5) No smaller sink plungers at the store. Even then, apparently a "plunger" these days looks nothing like an actual plunger, looking more alien the Dalek I want to put it on.

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Okay, so we ran into a lot of problems. I'll admit that much. Still, this project is a go as we root our way through blueprints and mock-ups. We'll be having "Take Two" of Operation Dalek Stage One this weekend, hopefully with more fruitful results. Should be ready for the fall, although I'm still not sure which convention it will be in.

I'll be sure to keep you posted with WIP shots as they come up! I'll also be posting some rough sketches and whatnot of other projects as we draft them.

Stay frosty, mates.
Watson out.