Doctor Who Experience - in 3D!!!

I have got an absolute TREAT for you today!

This week I had the opportunity to revisit the Doctor Who Experience in Olympia, and thought rather than just get some more endless photographs of the displays, I would do something EXTRA special.

I know a lot of my readers are in the US, so are unlikely to get the chance to see the exhibition at first-hand.

So what I’ve got for you is the near next-best thing - a walk through the displays - in 3D!!!! Well, one of those panoramic views you can interact with.

Below are the panoramas relating directly to the Fourth Doctor.
You can see all the panoramas
I took by clicking this link

Doctor Who Experience - in 3D

First up is the line-up of The Doctor’s costumes, giving you a real sense of how they are presented.

The Ten Doctors

Romana Frock Coat (blue version) pattern grading stage one

I'm still working on my Tom Baker coat - but things have been a little slow of late as I’ve been distracted with a number of other projects - Ultimate Tennant Suit ... Season Six tweed ... Six Frock Coat ...

One of them has also been a commission from a friend to make a proper Romana Frock Coat for his wife!

Like a few of my other commissions, the request has been slightly left-field from the original: rather than in PINK it is to be in a cornflower blue; plus I need to make it for a larger dress form - all of this is easily done, but it just takes a bit of attention and application to make it work.

Firstly the fabric is fairly easy.

I am using my new supplier who I have been working with on the Six Frock Coat. He can dye short-run wools for me to match my exact colour requirements.

I then need to adapt my pattern block to fit the shape I require.

To recap, the work I have done so far on my Tom Baker coat involved creating a block true to Lalla Ward’s size from the pattern trace I took. I then went through a couple of rounds of pattern grading to bring it up to a male form size.

Lalla Ward was literally a size zero and the Pink Frock Coat she wore was tiny. For this commission I will need to create a block to the same vertical dimensions, but increase the girth by grading it accordingly.

My starting point where I will jump back in will be the original Lalla Ward block.

I had already done an initial enlargement of the block by using focal points, from which I projected the pattern shapes larger.

Luckily for me when making the Tom Baker block, Lalla Ward is fairly flat chested, so there was negligible bust allowance to remove, but now I need to go the other way and build it in to create a proper bust shape.

But before I can do that I need to size the block up further.
This time round my tutor favours a slicing and dicing technique.

Here is how we did it.

Bonhams auction - 29th June 2011 -the viewing

This week is the bonhams entertainment sale, so I popped along to the viewing to see the Who-related items for myself.

There is only one item relating the Tom Baker’s era: one of the original Mona Lisa paintings from City Of Death.
Like the real thing the paint is done on wood board, but on this occasion cheap ply wood!

It was hand painted and some of the brushwork is actually pretty good close-up. It was a shame the face doesn't really look like the real Mona Lisa!

Pity the words This Is A Fake weren't visible . . . although there was some mysterious notes on the back (see right, bottom). Maybe it’s something to do with the Da Vinci Code? Or maybe not!

Bonhams auction - 29th June 2011

Being June, it’s time for the next bi-annual Entertainment Memorabilia sale at Bonhams.

As usual there are a scant few Doctor Who items on offer, some more interesting that others.

Sale 19036
(29th June 2011)
Entertainment Memorabilia

As usual I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:

Lot 113
1st Doctor (1963-1966)

Lots 111 & 111a
3rd Doctor (1970-1974) - plus 2nd Doctor (1966-1969)

Lots 116 & 117
5th Doctor (1982-1984)

Lot 112
7th Doctor (1987-1989)

Here are just the lots relating to the Fourth Doctor era

Lot 114
Dr Who: a 'Mona Lisa' painting from 'City Of Death'
Oil on panel, 57 x 72.5cm (22¼ x 28½in)

Estimate: £1,000 - 1,200
Sold for £2,400

Footnote:
Featured in the Tom Baker story broadcast in 1979, this is one of six such paintings produced. According to information received, this particular painting hung in the Dr. Who production office during the 1980s.

Lot 115
A miniature TARDIS model, created for exhibition purposes, of painted board, with plastic paper-backed windows, and plastic casing to light, having internal electrical workings (plug removed), height 5ft, width 15 inches.

Estimate: £150 - 200
Sold for £900

Dafter Who

You wait for ages, then two real daft commercial cosplay items come out soon after each other!

This week sees the release of two Forbidden Planet Exclusive T-shirts depicting the costumes of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors.

They are quite witty in their design, making you look as though you are wearing the costumes yourself!

Available in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large, they cost £15.99 each.

I haven’t seen them yet first-hand, but I gather the print quality isn’t all that.

As if that wasn’t enough (please make it stop . . .  ) mid-July will see the release of ‘official’ dressing up costumes for the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, Leela and Tegan!!!

Again these are available through Forbidden Planet, at £39.99 each.

I wouldn’t exceptions too high – not for £40. They look to be not much more than Halloween-style fancy dress costumes and definitely not day-to-day wear!

That said, they are good value for money if you need a quick and cheap costume for an up-coming convention of Who-related event.

Doctor Who Experience -Fourth Doctor incarnation

This weekend (Sunday 20th February) sees the official opening of the Doctor Who Experience exhibition at London’s Olympia.

Amongst the displays is a definitive collection of costumes worn by The Doctor through his regeneration (see left and right). Some out of necessity are replicas, but many are original and screen-used.

On Thursday I went to the first of the paid previews, following on from a couple of weeks of tester days to iron out teething troubles. While I was there I took a good set of photographs of all the costumes on show.

I have already written a Full Review of the exhibition itself, but here is a more targeted write-up focusing on the items of interest to a Fourth Doctor fan and giving them a more detailed look.

James Acheson - Dressing Doctor Who

I had a nice surprise through my letterbox today: my copy of the Jon Pertwee story The Mutants on DVD (see right).
It is officially not out until Monday, so it was a bonus to get it a couple of days early.

I know it’s a Third Doctor release, but of considerable interest to Fourth Doctor fans is a 20 minute featurette talking to James Acheson. The Mutants was the first time he worked on the series, but of note he would later go on to design Tom Baker’s costume for Robot.

He talks at length about his work on The Three Doctors and dressing not only Jon Pertwee, but also William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton; about devising a suitable costume for Elizabeth Sladen on her inital outing as Sarah Jane in The Time Warriror; about perpex bowler hats for Carnival Of Monsters; building Giant Robots; creating the Zygons; going on wild goose chases for period costumes for The Masque Of Mandragora; before becoming disillusioned with his work on The Deadly Assassin.

Fourth Doctor costume transition

This week I’ve been taking a little look at an area of The Doctor’s costume that sometimes gets overlooked: The Costume Transition Scene!
I’m taking about that moment in the first episode of a new Doctor where the old skin is finally shaken off and a re-designed costume helps define the start of a new era in Doctor Who history.

When William Hartnell became Patrick Troughton, it wasn’t just his face that changed – his costume miraculously regenerated at the same time (see left).

Later, when Jon Pertwee took over, his new clothes were more realistically introduced by having The Doctor lift them from the changing room of the hospital where he is taken at the start of Spearhead From Space.

But it was Tom Baker’s transition scene that was the first to make some play on the anticipation of what The Doctor would be wearing.

Looking through the list of regenerations, I have realised there seems to be two dominant scenarios for these scenes:

The Hospital Changing Room scenario

The Third Doctor steals the clothes of a hospital consultant before stealing his car as well; after the Eighth Doctor emerges from the morgue, he takes the clothes of a surgeon, who is going to a fancy dress party; the latest regeneration sees the Eleventh Doctor lifting a the parts of his costume from the hospital locker room as he strides through.

The TARDIS Dressing-up Room scenario

Although we don’t see the dressing-up room, the Fourth Doctor keep popping out of the TARDIS dressed in unsuitable costumes; the Fifth Doctor finds his new clothes in the TARDIS, almost as if he was supposed to; the Sixth Doctor is the first to be seen in the dressing-up room to choose his new clothes; followed by the Seventh Doctor who goes through a similar selection; finally the Tenth Doctor makes his choice from a re-imagined dressing-up room, courtesy of The Mill’s special effects gurus!

A trip back in time

This blog is designed to cover my costuming work, but today I thought I’d share something a little special with you, dating directly from Tom’s era as The Doctor.
It’s a bit of a selective snapshot between the end of the Jon Pertwee’s Doctor and the start of Tom Baker’s rein as the Time Lord – but for me it encapsulated and defines my memories of the time and transports me back there in a flash.

In the mid 1970s I started keeping a scrapbook in which I stuck any Doctor Who photos (often taken from the Radio Times) or related memorabilia I found that interested me.
These particularly included the two waves of in-packet giveaways from Weetabix in 1975 and 1976, as well as by Typhoo Tea also in 1976.

I eventually spanned three scrapbooks, which where in fact small, square ring binders, in which I made my own insert pages from folded foolscap paper.

Merry Christmas to all my readers!

I can’t believe a year has flown by since I last wished everyone a Happy Christmas.

Looking back though, a lot has happened and I’ve completed or started a number of amazing projects.

From updating my Tennant Coat; making a Five Coat or two; starting a replica Tennant suit jacket using original GAP Trousers; making a couple of Inverness Capes (must get round to writing that up!); as well as some smaller item such as Five Hatbands, Six Cravats and Seven Hankies.
However, I think the most exciting has been starting work on a replica Six Frock Coat, which I am so looking forward to getting done next year.

I hope you’ll join me in the following months as it starts to come together.

H+M Frock Coat

With all the frock coats projects I have done lately (Four Coat, Five Coat, Six Coat), I have become more attuned of the cut and style of such garments.

It was funny then to see a coat in the window of H+M as I passed on my way to college last week (see right).
As well as being 3/4 length; having large lapels; and a stand-up collar, it displayed the distinctive waistline seam running around the coat from front edge to front edge - something I see as frock coat essential!

This warranted further investigation, so I went back to take a closer look after class.

The coat is made from black cavalry twill, which (as its name suggests) is often used for military uniforms, though this is a cotton rather than a wool. The buttons are metal, pewter-like with a coat of arms. The stand-up collar and pocket flaps are edged with a double strip of black silk ribbon, as are the epaulets on the shoulders.

The cuffs are rather spectacular!
Usually cuff (on a suit) have a few token buttons sewn on the back edge; a more expensive suit will have a small vent and a surface sewn, but not practical buttonhole under the button; a fully tailored jacket may well have the vent, but with fully working buttons and holes, though for little actual use. This coat has this with five full-sized practical buttons and holes! Very nice.

Sadly the outer pockets are just large patch-pockets rather than being set into the waistband seam, and the back of the coat does not have the distinctive curved seams as on all the frock coats I have worked on.

Nonetheless, it is a great coat (pardon the pun) and as well as having the styling of a frock coat, it also reminds me on the military style coat Matt Smith wore for the publicity tour prior to the premiere of Series Five.

Lastly a lot should be said about the price - a mere £69.99! Can’t go wrong!

Though a word of warning: when I bought mine two of the front buttons were missing, which I found had been put in one of the pockets. This wasn't an issue for me - after all I know how to sew a button on! But while doing so I found one of the other buttons loose, so had to reattach that as well.
While I was in button-sewing mode, I decided to take e two spare buttons provided and attach them to the back, making the coat even more frock coat styled.

I can now step out in pride!!!

Cameo Auction - 23rd May 2010

Searching back through the old auctions I have covered in my blogs, I came across this one at Cameo Auctioneers near Reading. I also then found a sale I did not know about at the time, and here are the Fourth Doctor era items form both sales.

Cameo Auctioneers
(23rd May 2010)
The Angels Film Costume Auction

Lot 144
Tom Baker the Fourth Doctor. 
A pair of brown leather shoes worn throughout the series.

Estimate:
£200 - 300

Bonhams costume sale - 24th February 2010

Here is yet another auction containing items from the
Fourth Doctor era, this time the big one from February 2010.

In a few of weeks time there is another costume sale at Bonhams in Knightsbridge, this time selling off a vast number of items which have featured in the various exhibitions that have been held around the country.

Since I covered the previous auctions at Bonhams on the 16th June 2009 and 16th December 2009, I felt I should do the same for this, but because there are SO many items on offer, I have split them up by Doctor.

Bonhams costume sale - 16th December 2009

Here is another auction containing items from the
Fourth Doctor era, this time from December 2009.

This coming week there is another auction at Bonhams in Knightsbridge of Film and Entertainment memorabilia.

Amongst the James Bond and Beatles items (and Laurence Oliver’s costume from Richard III) are a number of original Doctor Who costumes.

There is small batch of further items form the Angels costumes archives, containing a couple of Doctor Who lots.

The, after a number of film posters and other memorabilia, there are six more Doctor Who lots, though this time not directly from Angels.
Star items amongst them is a full Tetrap costume from Time and The Rani.
Also on sale is a set of rehearsal scripts form Robots Of Death, which went unsold at the Bonham’s Auction on 16th June 2009, so anther chance to grab them if you meant to bid last time around.

The viewing is Sunday 13th and Monday 14th June, so I went on Monday and took some more detailed pictures, particularly of the Tetrap costumes.

In the meantime, below is a full list of the items on offer, taken from the online catalogue so they can be seen all together and long after the listing on Bonhams will have been removed.

Bonhams sale 16905
(16th December 2009)
Entertainment Memorabilia including some items from the Angels Collection of Television & Film Costumes

I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:

Lots 165A
Fifth Doctor (1981-1984)

Lots 166
Sixth Doctor (1984-1986)

Lots 164
Seventh Doctor (1987-1989)

Here are just the lots relating to the Fourth Doctor era

Lot 1
Vampire Guards/ Servants Of The Great Vampire from State Of Decay featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast November - December 1980.
A guard’s tunic, of heavy khaki coloured canvas, with large stud detail to front, laced to back and sleeve seams.
Estimate: £200 - 300
Sold for £420

Lot 2
Vampire Guards/ Servants Of The Great Vampire from State Of Decay featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast November - December 1980.
A guard’s tunic, of heavy khaki coloured canvas, stud detail removed and sleeves missing.
Estimate: £150 - 200
Sold for £120


Lot 164A
Thawn’s costume from The Power Of Kroll (1978/9), light blue and light tan diamond-patterned tunic with pale blue braid, gold-coloured stripes to right shoulder, matching belt and trousers, with fake blood, all three pieces labelled with actor's name, Neil McCarthy.
Estimate: £650 - 750
Sold for £960

Lot 165
Four Doctor Who rehearsal scripts for The Robots Of Death, November-December 1976, for all four episodes, each comprising numbered mimeographed pages, with details of cast, crew and sets, together with a short typewritten letter to Hilary Minster from Margaret Lewty, assistant to the director, Michael Briant, dated 14th October 1976 and reading: Enclosed are 4 scripts and a friendly note from Peter. Do hope you'll like the part of S.V.7., and signed.

Footnote:
Hilary Minster (1944-1999) was a British character actor who appeared in a number of classic TV series, including Z Cars, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Secret Army and 'Allo 'Allo. He did not take the role of S-V 7, but did appear in two other 1970s Dr. Who' stories, Planet Of The Daleks and Genesis Of The Daleks.

Estimate: £250 - 300
Unsold

Lot 165A
Dr. Who: a Time Lord robe, the V-neck surplice-style garment woven in pale brown and black diamond pattern, tape ties to sides, with label inscribed FUT 488.

Footnote:
Purchased from the Longleat auction in the early 1990s, this is believed to have been used in the Tom Baker story, The Deadly Assassin, transmitted October/November 1976 and Ark Of Infinity, with Peter Davison, shown January 1983.

Estimate: £500 - 600
Sold for £420

Lot 166A
A Shrivenzale foot moulded and painted foam latex with faux fur, approx. 61cm (24in) long.

Footnote:
According to information received, this was purchased at the 1983 Longleat auction, together with the other foot. The Shrivenzale featured in the Tom Baker story, The Ribos Operation, September 1978. It is thought that the feet are all that remains of the costume.

Estimate: £400 - 450
Sold for £480

Bonhams costume sale - 16th June 2009

Now I’ve got a new place for all my Fourth Doctor costumes, I thought I’d pull together all the recent auctions that have included costume pieces from Tom’s era.

Here is the first, from June 2009.

This coming week there is an auction at Bonhams in Knightsbridge of Film and Entertainment memorabilia.

Amongst the James Bond and Beatles items (and Christopher Lee’s original cape from his first Dracula film) are a number of original Doctor Who costumes, some dating right back to the very first season in 1964.

Also on sale are three Doctor costumes; one from Jon Pertwee’s last series; Jon Pertwee’s jacket when he appeared in the Children In Need special, Dimensions In Time; and a near complete Colin Baker outfit (sadly missing the coat).

This is an opportunity I can’t miss, if not to bid, but to at least go along to the viewing and take a closer look, and maybe some decent photos.

Ironically I have just done a replica (to a slightly different pattern) of the Six trousers, so now I will get the chance to check out my work against the real thing close-up. I will take a swatch of the fabric I used and compare it.

The viewing is Sunday 14th and Monday 15th June, so I will go on Monday and take some more detailed pictures, particularly of the Doctor costumes.

In the meantime, below is a full list of the items on offer, taken from the online catalogue so they can be seen all together and long after the listing on Bonhams will have been removed.

Bonhams sale 16808 (16th June 2009) Entertainment Memorabilia including items from the Angels Collection of Television & Film Costumes

I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:

Lots 1 to 4
First Doctor (1963-1966)

Lot 5
Third Doctor (1970-1974)

Lots 14 & 15
Fifth Doctor (1981-1984)

Lots 16, 462 & 465
Sixth Doctor (1984-1986)

Lots 17 to 18
Seventh Doctor (1987-1989)

Lots 17 to 18
Ninth Doctor (2005)

Here are just the lots relating to the Fourth Doctor era

Lot 6
Frederick Jaeger as Professor Marius from Dr Who: The Invisible Enemy, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast October 1977.
A khaki green jacket, of wool, with leather shoulder patches and raised linear motif to front, labelled inside “Morris Angel & Son Ltd., Theatrical Costumiers, 119 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.2” and inscribed “F. Jaegar”, together with a pair of black leather shoes with khaki green spats (2).

Footnote:

The Doctor's doctor, Professor Marius, introduces K9 and this series is the first in which the legendary character appears.

Estimate: £300 - 400

Sold for £540

Lot 8
Paul Seed as Graff Vynda-K from Dr. Who: The Ribos Operation series, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast September, 1978.
A full length robe, of longhair sheepskin, with gold braid and black thread tie, together with a robe, of ribbed satin effect material, having large fur-trimmed cuffs and slit to front, with gold and silver coloured stars to front, labelled inside “Bermans & Nathans, 40 Camden St., London, N.W.1” .

Footnote:

This costume features in all four episodes of The Ribos Operation.

Estimate: £800 - 1,200

Sold for £1,440

Lot 9
Graff Vynda-K's Guards from Dr Who - The Ribos Operation series, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast September 1978.
Two guards outfits, each comprising: a metal effect helmet, of plastic, spray painted silver, with applied metal studs, with foam padding headrest inside; a cloak, of red coloured wool, with rope tie to neck; a mail effect tunic, of woven fabric, edged with suede, with applied metallic effect rectangular plates, side fastening with buckles (2 outfits).

Footnote:

These costumes feature throughout the Ribos Operation series, and Tom Baker can be seen wearing one of these costumes during the scene where the Doctor disguises himself as a guard.

Estimate: £800 - 1,200

Sold for £1,680

Lot 10
Neville Jason as Prince Reynart from Dr Who: The Androids Of Tara series, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast November - December 1978.
A gold lamé robe, the fabric with floral pattern heavily decorated to neck with braid and jewels, having high collar, with epaulets edged with black braid and decorated with enamel style panels and jewels, cuffs decorated with black and gold braid, having hook and eye fastenings and burgundy coloured silk effect lining, labelled inside “Susanna Wilson” and inscribed “Dr. Who, Mr. Neville Jason”.

Footnote:

This robe is clearly visible during the coronation sequence of the series.

Estimate: £450 - 550

Sold for £840

Lot 11
Declan Mulholland as Till from Dr Who: Androids Of Tara series, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor,
first broadcast November - December 1978.
A suede overcloak, of brown coloured material with buckle fastenings to front, having rounded collar, and black heavy cotton lining, with short sleeves.

Footnote:

The character of Till is the hunchback servant in the episode.

Declan Mullholland also worked on Star Wars when he played the stand-in for Jabba the Hutt, in the since deleted scenes.

Estimate: £550 - 650

Sold for £456

Lot 12
Vampire Guards/ Servants Of The Great Vampire from Dr Who: State Of Decay, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor, first broadcast November - December 1980.
A guards tunic, of heavy khaki coloured canvas, with large stud detail to front, with artificial blood spatter effect, laced to front and sleeve seams.

Footnote:

The guards can be seen wearing tunics of this type whilst the Vampires prepare to sacrifice the hypnotised Romana.

Estimate: £250 - 350

Sold for £900

Lot 13
Vampire Guards/ Servants Of The Great Vampire from Dr Who: State Of Decay, featuring Tom Baker as The Doctor,
first broadcast November - December 1980.
A guards tunic, of heavy khaki coloured canvas, with large stud detail to front, laced to front and sleeve seams.

Footnote:

The guards can be seen wearing tunics of this type whilst the Vampires prepare to sacrifice the hypnotised Romana.

Estimate: £250 - 350

Sold for £660

Lot 464
Four “Doctor Who” rehearsal scripts for “The Robots Of Death”, November-December 1976, for all four episodes, each comprising numbered mimeographed pages, with details of cast, crew and sets, together with a short typewritten letter to Hilary Minster from Margaret Lewty, assistant to the director, Michael Briant, dated 14th October 1976 and reading, Enclosed are 4 scripts and a friendly note from Peter. Do hope you'll like the part of S.V.7., and signed.

Footnote:

Hilary Minster (1944-1999) was a British character actor who appeared in a number of classic TV series, including 'Z Cars', 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', 'Secret Army' and ''Allo 'Allo'. He did not take the role of S-V 7, but did appear in two other 1970s 'Dr. Who' stories, 'Planet Of The Daleks' and Genesis Of The Daleks'.

Estimate: £400 - 500

Unsold