PROPS AND ROBOTS FOR YOUR EVENT

'Canberra Daleks & Robots' provides a range of robots to liven up almost any type of event. Whether it's a school activity, Sci Fi convention, presentation, short film or just a birthday celebration, Daleks and robots can add that extra level of entertainment. And they are educational too. Kids can learn to program them and find out how they work. There are seven Daleks, the Whomobile, Marvin the Paranoid Robot, five Meccano Meccanoids and several smaller robots, including an Alpha1s robot and EZ robot.


THE DALEKS

The Daleks were created by Terry Nation and designed by Raymond Cusick for the BBC television series Doctor Who in 1963.

The original long running series featured the Daleks in 13 stories and two feature films. Daleks are travel machines (as opposed to robots) and were created to facilitate movement for the mutated creatures inside known as Kaleds from the planet Skaro.


The seven Daleks shown here were built by Andrew Corson between 1987 and 2012. They are based on original plans and specifications. However, some features vary. Four are TV type Daleks and three are movie type Daleks. Since 1987, they have been used to promote over 100 events around Australia, including festivals, plays, short films, advertisements, conventions and other celebrations.

Original Meccanoid without head

Meccanoid released the first Meccanoid GS15-KS in 2015. Whilst very successful, it had little in the way of pre-programmed functionality. This was quickly rectified with the release of the XL2.0 model in 2016. The XL2.0 is a lot more entertaining before one even starts delving nito the progamming side. The Meccnaoid is controlled using voice commands. This is quite effective in a quiet environment with a clear voice and no discernable acsent. Otherwise it can be very difficult to control. The Meccanoids shown here (4 of them) have been modified to receive voice commands wirelessly from any audio playing device.

Marvin is the Paranoid Android from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. Built as one of many failed prototypes of Sirius Cybernetics Corporation's GPP (Genuine People Personalities) technology, Marvin is afflicted with severe depression and boredom, in part because he has a brain the size of a planet which he is seldom given the chance to use. Indeed, the true horror of Marvin's existence is that no task he could be given would occupy even the tiniest fraction of his vast intellect. Marvin claims he is 50,000 times more intelligent than a human. Marvin's voice was performed by Stephen Moore on the first five radio series and 1981 TV series. David Learner, who played and voiced the part for the stage version, operated his body. Marvin also released a single and EP in 1981.








Known as the Whomobile, originally called The Alien, this 3-wheel fibreglass bodied car was built by Peter Farries of PCF Motors, Nottingham. It appeared in Berger's house magazine as they painted it. Jon Pertwee (the 3rd Doctor) commissioned and paid for the car, and managed to persuade producer Barry Letts to have it featured in the show. It was fitted with an Imp Sports engine and Jon claimed it could do over 100 mph. After leaving Doctor Who, Pertwee kept the car and sometimes used it for public appearances. In the 1980s it was auctioned for £1700 and apparently has been kept in storage since 1996.

Formerly

The Grey Dalek

The GREY Dalek was built between 1986 and 1988. The Warrior or Worker Dalek is the most common type of Dalek. During the 1960s their outer casing was silver, changing over to various shades of grey in the 1970s. The base of a Dalek is covered by hemispheres. In the 1960s these were a light sky blue then black in the 1970s. "This was my first Dalek and it took 18 months to build. I started on the base section first, using diagrams from the 1983 technical manual. I wasn't able to complete the job until I obtained a copy of plans published in the Radio Times. Why did I build a Dalek? It was so I could participate in the Canberra Festival street parade. What better way to conceal oneself."

Earlier

1989 version

The GOLD Dalek was built in 1988/89. The Gold Dalek appeared in both Doctor Who movies. In the TV series a gold Dalek makes an appearances in "Day of the Daleks" and "Frontier in Space." It is used as a Commander intead of the Black Dalek. Being the first colour Dalek episode, the BBC may have decided gold was more interesting. "I tried to use light-weight materials such as foam board and poly-styrene to make it lighter. However, the surfaces were easily damaged and I had to replace the panels and hemispheres. In 1997, I fitted a new bumpboard and claw akin to a movie Dalek. For my second Dalek, this one worked really well with a great sound system and smooth ride."

Earlier

1990 version

The WHITE Dalek was built in 1990. The most significant variation in Dalek design was in the last Dalek story "Remembrance of the Daleks" where Davros' Imperial Dalek forces appear in their white casing and gold hemispheres with a new design. "This was a challenging Dalek to build because of the different design features. Initially I fitted polystyrene hemispheres to the base before finding some gold coloured Christmas balls to use instead. After attending a U.K. Dalek Convention in 2000, I modified its design to match an Imperial Dalek. It is now noticeably different to the 1990 version."


Earlier

1994 version

The RED Dalek was built in 1994. The Red Dalek appeared in both Doctor Who movies. In "Doctor Who and the Daleks" one is seen as second-in-command to the Black Dalek. In "Dalek Invasion: Earth 2150 AD", the Red Dalek is in charge of the saucer. "The construction process in building this Dalek was unparalleled. It was completed in just six weeks. Initially the design was standard, but later I modified the bump-board and fitted a claw as per a movie Dalek. In 1995, I discovered some chrome finished Christmas balls to replace the existing ones. The Red Dalek is probably the most popular. Its bright colour really stands out."

Earlier

1999 version

The BLUE Dalek was built in 1998/99. The Blue Dalek is the movie version of the Worker Dalek from the first Doctor Who movie. There are no slats around the mid-section that later appeared in the second movie. In the TV series, the Worker Dalek was silver and then variations of grey throughout the 70s. "This was my fifth and supposedly final Dalek and my main motivation for building it was that it would be my last. I wanted it to be different from the others, so I decided to go for the first movie Dalek colour scheme. I took great care to get the colours exact and it is probably the best finshed Dalek."

Earlier

destroyed 1991 version

This BLACK Dalek was built in 2009. Second-in-Command to the Emperor, the first one made its appearance in "Dalek Invasion of Earth," being referred to as the "Supreme Commander." Variations include some having silver hemispheres and others with white. "In late 2008 I decided the time was right to re-build the Black Dalek built by Stephen Bennett in 1991 and destroyed in the Canberra bushfires of 2003. I wanted this to be ultimate Dalek, so I introduced a blue LED strip light underneath and superior finish inside & out. I think the result is fitting for the rank of Supreme Commander."

NSD

Night shot

The New Series Dalek (aka NSD) was built in 2011. It was inspired by the brilliant new design featured in the first Dalek story of the new series in 2010. This was by far the most difficult Dalek to make. The design features are complex and vary considerably from previous Daleks. Without the detailed plans from the internet, it would be almost impossible to build. The most common colour scheme is bronze but I wanted something completely different so opted for a light green with a colour changing paint for the dome and hemispheres. The rotating mid-section was very difficult to achieve and can only be operated from the inside. This Dalek is remote controlled with servos operating the dome, eye stork and movement.

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