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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Gunbird on 10 December 2014, 09:19:12 PM

Title: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Gunbird on 10 December 2014, 09:19:12 PM
I've got a Polic Box Tardis to paint up in 20mm, and was wondering what the correct kind of blue is. And no, I'm not joking.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Westfalia Chris on 10 December 2014, 09:32:41 PM
Personally, I'd go for a nice deep ultramarine, like RAL5002. Alternatively, base-coat it an even royal blue and add a pin wash of a dark Prussian Blue, like Vallejo's (I really, really like their Dark Prussian Blue, my favourite dark, flat blue ever and great for non-shiny washes on various lighter tones).
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Connectamabob on 10 December 2014, 11:45:44 PM
There were a bunch of different TARDISs built/used over the decades of the show, with a number of different blue shades, so I don't think there is a "correct" TARDIS blue. It's just a matter of eyeball approximating whichever Doctors TARDIS feels most "right" to you.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Brandlin on 11 December 2014, 01:11:19 AM
Scarlet red. Like the Glaswegian ones.

The tardis hasn't been a consistent colour, nor were the boxes themselves a consistent design or colour over the years.

http://www.policeboxes.com/pboxhist.htm

I suggest you pick a dark blue you like and argue like fuck it's original and everyone else is wrong.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: No Such Agency on 11 December 2014, 03:49:16 AM
I suggest you pick a dark blue you like and argue like fuck it's original and everyone else is wrong and how terrible Moffatt is and how Clara sucks and the show sucks
That seems to be the way to watch the show lately... even I do it :P

Just use whatever blue you have a full bottle of.  Not too dark, unless you want to spend ages bringing the highlights up (my personal experience).
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: FramFramson on 11 December 2014, 06:06:28 AM
I believe the correct answer is "Tardis Blue".
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: YPU on 11 December 2014, 10:01:39 AM
This is surprisingly civil, I was expecting people to start shouting their preferred "correct" TARDIS blue. The doctor who fandom sometimes runs thick on this forum. Not that I completely free of it.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Gunbird on 11 December 2014, 10:24:10 AM
Well, I was curious if there was a fixed blue colour, I wasn't aware there were different variations of it. And to be honest, until I saw a episode last year or so, I had not seen it since I picked up a Blacktree Dalek in 91-ish and watched a rerun on the BBC I think. I'm not a fan but the blue box is so instantly recognizable  ;D
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Tactalvanic on 11 December 2014, 10:48:34 AM
The best thing you can do, is to go with the original Doctor.

Paint it in gray scales, to represent black & white TV, original series recordings.

Avoids the blue shade problem entirely.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: zenbadger on 11 December 2014, 11:03:58 AM
IIRC colour depended on the force to whom the box belonged but they would be painted the same colour within a particular police force. Added to that is the problem that given the same base colour, some would be painted in a high gloss and some in a more satin finish, weathering would also fade some to a paler or greyer shade and they would stay that colour until a Royal visit or some other civic occasion. The BBC Tardis seems to have been a satin-finished dark royal blue which would not be unusual for the Metropolitan Police.

I finished mine in Val 72143 Heavy Bluegrey washed with 72018 Stormy Blue and it looked OK to me. I wish I had photographed it before giving it away.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: fairoaks024 on 11 December 2014, 12:10:50 PM
If you use foundry paints, their deep blue looks spot on to me,

But as others have said, it really varied over the years and in real life from box to box.

Many years ago my father ( who was a copper in the 60s-70s in the met) knew a guy who's job was painting police boxes. He said it was supposed to be 'Oxford blue' but he would
Mix any dark blue and black together if he was running  low on the 'official' colour.

Hope that puts your mind at ease

Regards

Jim
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: S44lade on 11 December 2014, 12:21:43 PM
The BBC approved Tardis blue is actually Pantone 2955C. (Cyan 100, Magenta60, Yellow 0, Black 52)
but the link here will probably help you out as it shows them over the years

http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=3860.0

As retrieved by one of my cybermites
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: psyberwyche on 11 December 2014, 12:59:34 PM
Example of the different ones here:
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QNL-TDi6YyU/UqeELLmUCkI/AAAAAAABPLU/OzAkVbeqga4/s800/doctor+who+day+of+the+doctor+costumes+tardis.jpg)
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: psyberwyche on 11 December 2014, 01:07:24 PM
A more graphic representation here:

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pf-FbNWmU-o/Ugm_HuSBatI/AAAAAAAARVI/_rJOhGcDxyQ/s1600/call_me_sexy_by_paulhanley-d3kq3ki.jpg)
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Gunbird on 11 December 2014, 01:08:55 PM
Very helpful guys, thank you very much!
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: zenbadger on 11 December 2014, 02:08:11 PM
Just shows that the era when you were a kid makes a big difference. Only the 1976 TARDIS looks the right colour to me  ;)
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: jp1885 on 11 December 2014, 02:52:51 PM
I'll keep an eye on this thread, as I have a police box in the painting queue...
Slightly derailing the thread, but where can the more cack-handed painters among us get transfers/stickers for police box lettering and signage?
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Mr Tough Guy on 11 December 2014, 03:01:30 PM
You could always paint it in "inspector Spacetime" Red  :D

or is that too heretical  ;)
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Centaur_Seducer on 11 December 2014, 03:27:14 PM
I thought it was red.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Le Collectionneur on 11 December 2014, 06:06:13 PM
For my home made game based on Doctor Who, I use a Tardis and I painted this on Ultramarines Blue
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23K5AO8pA2U/UpI8ddDiXOI/AAAAAAAAABM/0KdSMUf8J5g/s320/Tardis.JPG)
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Steve F on 11 December 2014, 06:39:26 PM
Tentacle pink!  I'm glad you're happy ...

(http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w519/SteveFlanaganUK2/Odds%20and%20Ends/HappinessPatrolTardis_zps979f4eab.png) (http://s1079.photobucket.com/user/SteveFlanaganUK2/media/Odds%20and%20Ends/HappinessPatrolTardis_zps979f4eab.png.html)

… and I'm happy you're glad.

When they painted it back again, it ended up the lightest blue of all.

Here's another good source on the Tardis's appearance over the years, though it only goes up to the 2005-09 version, not the subsequent "brightest, brightest blue".
http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/tardis-police-box.html (http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/tardis-police-box.html)
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: Cosmotiger on 11 December 2014, 07:04:54 PM
I'll keep an eye on this thread, as I have a police box in the painting queue...
Slightly derailing the thread, but where can the more cack-handed painters among us get transfers/stickers for police box lettering and signage?
Company B makes some:

http://035f399.netsolhost.com/companyB_anime.html (http://035f399.netsolhost.com/companyB_anime.html)

Scroll all the way down to the bottom.
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: jp1885 on 11 December 2014, 07:19:37 PM
Cool, thanks Cosmotiger! Are they easy to get in the uk?
Title: Re: So...what's the correct blue for a Tardis?
Post by: JoeRugby on 12 December 2014, 02:07:26 PM
I went with coat d arms high elf blue and a dark tone wash
(http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc508/NateRugby/imagejpg5-10.jpg) (http://s1215.photobucket.com/user/NateRugby/media/imagejpg5-10.jpg.html)

Not spot on but I'm happy with it.