For those who are not Dr. Who fans, Time And Relative Dimensions In Space = TARDIS:
This is a mod of a Rubik's 2x2x4. I designed the parts in Sketchup, printed them on Shapeways in WSF, dyed them using RIT dye (royal blue). The stickers were designed by me from pictures I downloaded, and printed onto this material using my inkjet printer.Those with sharp eyes will notice that I made a big mistake with the door handles, which printed only as stumps due to bits being too thin for the Shapeways process. I'll correct this if I make any more.

You can't really see it in the pictures, but the windows are different on each side so that they must be matched to complete a solve. I did not know what to do with the cubies in the bottom two layers to make them different, without spoiling the look of the design. Any suggestions?

Who cares about solving it? You have a puzzle that looks like a TARDIS!!

The epicness of it is amazing!! Love it!

I have seen the Untempered Schism, standing testament to the gap in the fabric of reality, through which can be seen the whole of time and space. I have seen the swaying mountains of Fellspoon.
I have gazed upon the Cliffs of Oblivion where jewels the size of a glacier reaches and then shatters into sapphires at the edge, falling a hundred thousand feet into a crystal ravine.
I have stood testament to the Phosphorus Carousel of the Great Magellan Gestalt.
I have saved a planet from the Red Carnivorous Morg, and I have named a galaxy Allison.
I have listened to the last murmured words of the Face Of Boe, an entity alive for countless years, and I have wondered among the silver trees of Gaillfrey, where they'd light the sky every morning like it was on fire.
I can feel the turn of the Earth, The ground beneath our feet spinning at a thousand miles an hour, and the entire planet hurtling around the sun at sixty-seven thousand miles an hour.
I have seen the cacophonous destruction of the Dalek armada as it shifted into a time lock in its battle against the Time Lords and I have watched the quantum lock of a weeping angel

But in all of my over 906 years and 11 incarnations of life, I have never gazed upon a site more brilliant, more beautiful, or more resplendent then what you have created. You have lifted both my hearts to dimensions more transcendental then the interior of the very vehicle you have crafted.
You have but to name what I can offer you for such a phenomenal prize. Perhaps you would be interested in the Black Scrolls of Rassilon, or a somewhat used Chameleon circuit, or a sample of the Crystal of Kronos, or perhaps a pad of psychic paper, or a model 4 sonic screwdriver?
If not, then maybe some more earthly possessions can be negotiated? In any case, I extend to you my most heartfelt congratulations on exceeding all expectations, and an open line to whatever you may need.

The Doctor

It's a puzzle. Puzzles are cool.



You could graffiti the words "Bad Wolf" across one, two or three of the sides. If done right it would make each piece unique.

(I would ask if you'll ever put it for sale on Shapeways, but that would probably get you sued by BBC )

Depends. I don't think there is much they can do if you're selling it as a "Police Box" and not a Tardis.

Awesome work Gus! It looks absolutely brilliant! I would propose that you throw in a bit of electronics for good measure, so that when you have the puzzle solved, the circuit is complete, and the light on the top of the Tardis turns on.

I don't know about the bottom center cubies, but I think you could make the very bottom cubies unique by colouring the base, or having something on the base that distinguishes the parts from each other.

Thanks for the kind words guys!

@Doctor who: Wow! I'm sure that no one has received such a beautifully descriptive comment.
@Alex, Luke: Good ideas for the stickers, but "Bad Wolf" might fall foul of the BBC.
@Luke: Yes, I'm sure that as long as I do not use the word Tardis, it might be OK.

I'll correct the small defects, see if I can make it a bit cheaper and put it up on Shapeways ASAP.

I hope you realize, though, that if you put this on Shapeways, I'll just buy it and paint it on myself.

Hey guys, I've made some small alterations to my design of the pieces for the "Police Box" Cube, but it is still about $60 on Shapeways. Plus you have to buy a 2x2x4 Rubiks Tower cube (22mm cubies), which on ebay are running at $25. I can supply images for the stickers. Is anyone interested in buying the parts from Shapeways, or I can supply a fully assembled puzzle (price depends on how much the 2x2x4 costs, and postage)?

I really can't see BBC suing a puzle maker for making a 2x2x4 TARDIS... since when does BBC stalk shapeways anyway?

Great puzzle. I love doctor who.

I assume the BBC couldn't claim any rights anyway (as long as you don't call it a "TARDIS"), as they copied the police box designed by Gilbert MacKenzie Trench in 1929.

I don't see an issue with that.. It may be a simpler solution than a standard 2x2x4, but it's a UNIQUE solution. I'm sure that if you want the complete 2x2x4 to solve then a standard one would suffice.

Cheers,
Burgo.

For a fully assembled and stickered puzzle, name the price, and lets make a deal! Allons-Y!

Just sign it with a silver marker, to look like cool street graffiti scrawled on the side.

Good idea! I'll sign it "Bad Wolf by Gus" or somesuch

I would love a fully assembled and stickered (and signed) Tardis!
Could you PM me a £price - I am in Ashbourne.
Thanks

Just had a thought... you could double your sales potential by producing it in black plastic

A BLACK Tar ... I mean Police Box You, Sir, are mad

That would be a great name for it as well.

i might be gone one day
it might be invisible
and it might fix its self and tern in to a pen





yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
finely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome. I just recently got into this show, and I love every bit of it.

Well done!

-Eitan

This could easily be sold as anything if you just supersede the binary binary binary.....
I really like this puzzle!

I've put this puzzle up on my new Shapeways shop if anyone is interested.

So cool will you be selling this?

Yes I have sold three already. (And remember BBC, this is a "Police Box" cube, based on the design of MacKenzie Trench ) Just pm me your location and I can work out a price for you.

If there's an Amy Pond inside I might also be interested.

There is enough room inside for a million Amy Ponds

"Then we'd be stuck with two Amy Ponds forever! Then what would we do?" - Doctor
Rory looks at Amy, raises eyebrows...
Amy slaps Rory.


I love them.



By the way, mine arrived. I love it! Still waiting for the stickers. I'm guessing they'll arrive on Monday.

Thanks Gus!

-Eitan

I really dislike Rory. Why are all the Doctor's assistant's boyfriends complete wimps and annoying?

Quite right, but then again judging by how she looked when we saw her age, she didn't hold up quite as well as Sara Jane Smith...


Well, consider the selection bias. If their boyfriends weren't annoying and wimpy, would they then be skulking away with a madman in a box? Besides, if they were stronger characters, then guys like Micky and Rory would be the assistants (in my day they were called companions) and Rose and Amy would just be the "girlfriends." That's not as easy on the eye to a predominantly male audience. Unless you're into Captain Jack, then I guess there is a little something for everyone...

Still waiting, should be any day now...