How-To: Build an official BBC Dalek, ca 1973

Craft & Design Robotics
How-To:  Build an official BBC Dalek, ca 1973

dalekplans.jpg

Apparently if you wrote to the BBC in the 1970s or early 1980s wanting to know how to build your own Dalek, they sent you this fantastic set of official plans, which are now preserved for posterity in the cloud-mind at Tom Rathborne’s site. [via Neatorama]

More:

12 thoughts on “How-To: Build an official BBC Dalek, ca 1973

  1. https://me.yahoo.com/a/QAC_IytrqMTvt6lDXLPZM2gaWjGHPAuFSuKpys4-#458b9 says:

    It was not sent out by the BBC, it was published as part of a Radio Times special magazine celebrating Dr Who. It had a listing of every storyline up till then and lots of great other stuff. I bought it at my local newsagent.

    the downside is that I don’t think the plans were very accurate. If you want to build one then the Workshop manual is a better bet. also http://www.dalekcity.co.uk/

      1. https://me.yahoo.com/a/QAC_IytrqMTvt6lDXLPZM2gaWjGHPAuFSuKpys4-#458b9 says:

        my error, it was obviously used afterwards as you say. You can see from the front page it refers to the Terry Nation story that appeared earlier in the magazine.

        1. Sean Michael Ragan says:

          No worries! =]

  2. paulbo says:

    We spent a relaxing Saturday a few weeks ago putting together a remote control Dalek using stuff out of our recycling bin (and a “my little pony” radio controlled car).

    http://www.filthwizardry.com/2010/08/diy-remote-controlled-dalek-from.html

    The kids loved it, but the head was a little too flimsy and didn’t survive them playing with it on the swings… (I don’t think they understood that ‘rovey’ was supposed to be out conquering the galaxy, not playing on swings).

  3. Superpants says:

    I never had this article, but there was a book which gave dimensions and lots of good diagrams and pictures of variations of Dalek, K9, the TARDIS and other monsters which was a favourite of mine as an 8 year old;

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Technical-Manual-Mark-Harris/dp/0722148259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285327784&sr=8-1

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

View more articles by Sean Michael Ragan

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK