TARDIS model - How it works

Several comments have asked how my TARDIS model was put together. So, eight months later, here's a video showing the structure of the model. I hope it explains things.
The model has three mirrors - two corner-to-corner diagonals, and one larger mirror at the back of the box.
The diagonal mirrors reflect the side walls, making it look like there's space behind the TARDIS. They also have the outline of the TARDIS body cut from them, so the interior can be seen through the back of the TARDIS.
Only half of the interior has been built, so the reflection in the back mirror doubles its size and creates the illusion of the box being bigger on the inside.
The model's had a few knocks since the original video - bits and pieces are falling off, and the mirrors are starting to warp - and my shoddy craftsmanship is more clearly exposed! :D

[@maladroitmodeller]

The original no-spoilers video is here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/equkf4akrrGces0

[@misteralex01]

Maladroit Modeller that’s honestly amazing

[@danny109]

Maladroit Modeller. Dude I love this thing so much. Can you make a tutorial on how to make it because I would love that in my room. Plus. Great vid

[@dr.cheeze5382]

i don't need to go to the video anyways. i've got an eye for tricks like this and i instantly know there are two 45 degree mirrors in there. am i right? (i have also just realized that i have no proof that i didn't watch the video, but if you look hard enough you can see the mirrors in the back) edit: yep i was right

[@gabrielfsilva6979]

TARDIS Doctor Who TARDIS It was the Magic

[@Lumibear.]

This is how I called it, but even after seeing this, when watching the first video, I still can’t see it, it’s just works too perfectly, amazing, now make a full sized one ;)

[@maladroitmodeller]

I would if my flat was big enough!

[@Lumibear.]

Maladroit Modeller - nah, you need to get commissioned to make one with the BBC, for public appearances. Imagine the reaction from the kids, stood there in the real world, and there’s the TARDIS, and through the doors steps Jodie, and then there’s the console 20 foot back in there behind her, yet they can walk around the 10 foot trailer it’s in! The BBC needs this! ;)

[@adamorand88]

Oh my goodness yes. The wonder the children would get from seeing this in real life...

[@theta2170]

The problem is, the illusion breaks down if you get too close. You'd always need to be standing at a distance. The lighting would have to be exactly right, including the surrounding room. Any glare on those mirrors and the illusion breaks.

[@Lumibear.]

Theta - I think it could work if you just scaled up this model, proportions and all, but I’m curious about the new TARDIS interior and if it has a centre console with a high time rotor set back centrally from the door, if so it could be possible to scale it up, and if not there’s no point in the conjecture, but we haven’t seen it yet.

[@kalinystazvoruna8702]

You need to be hired by some studio to build models for them because your work is sooooo professional! Awesome build!

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thank you!

[@LGWalkingTours]

Respect, that's beautiful.

[@Lallander]

This could scale up to full size. That would look amazing.

[@pilotwhaleproductions5880]

Lallander might not work because you would have to keep the mirrors super clean

[@Lallander]

It's the same trick used in various funhouse illusions. Wouldn't be that difficult. Teller of Penn & Teller has a hall in his home that uses this trick.

[@pilotwhaleproductions5880]

True

[@taohudson]

@@Lallander where did you find this information about Teller? I’d love to find out more and try and find pictures, videos etc... Thanks!

[@Lallander]

I saw it years ago in a video where he was showing off his house. I don't remember more than that. Sorry.

[@tokutickler]

Four incarnations of the doctor disliked the video. They don't like how the tardis was redecorated.

[@Awelbeckk]

You know the Doctor is a fictionnal character, and so what you wrote is just bullshit, right?

[@samyamalamsal]

@@Awelbeckk don't you have a sense of humour... he was being sarcastic

[@Awelbeckk]

No. No, he wasn't. He was just doing an overused meme that stopped being funny years ago.

[@neick120]

@@Awelbeckk i bet u have no friends

[@Awelbeckk]

And you lost your bet.

[@CybermanBill]

Your next video should be a step by step tutorial on how to make this Tardis and all the supplies needed!! I’m sure many people would watch and give it a go at trying to make one following your instructions! Great work!!

[@deeznuts23yearsago]

It’s a paper craft model with a mirror at 90 degrees 45 degrees off the wall so a triangle section of the room is the tardis

[@livingcoffee_edits]

So much detail, it is honestly amazing. I was more amazed by the level of detail of the console more than anything else

[@starlord2112]

A great effect. And like the best SFX, agonizingly simple...

[@ledoc3172]

That was REALLY CLEVER ! WELL DONE !

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thanks! :)

[@misterdalek9151]

Are you French ?

[@ledoc3172]

And ??

[@misterdalek9151]

Just are you French, that just a question, your name is "Le doc" that's French, no ?

[@ZelphTheWebmancer]

I knew it was done with mirrors but I didn't know it was like this. Very well done.

[@xman577]

Beautiful work I was totally blown away when I looked through the door the first time

[@tallkid2244]

*OMFG!!!* 😨😨😲😲 *THAT IS FLIPPING AWESOME!!!!* THAT ILLUSION IS BRILLIANT!!👍 LOVE IT; *KEEP UP THE PHENOMENAL WORK, MATE!!* 😊😊👌👌🔝🔝💯🔥🔥🔥

[@DaniaxII]

lmao just a kid tryna look cool

[@danielm4874]

Omg stop with the emojis. *JESUS*

[@lukewhitehouse2931]

I can now die happy knowing how this works 😊

[@josephcheeseinthepie6915]

This is simply genious! It's amazing how optical illusions can be combined to blow someone's mind. If you're wondering, the rhyme was unintended in the previous sentence. You did an absolutely amazing job on this model. Have a good day, Maladroit Modeller! Regards, Joseph cheeseinthepie. 10/20/2018

[@the10thleper]

Awesone! Love it, damn good job. I'm a professional model ship builder 23 years full time. I build some of the largest model ships in the world. Take a bow, very nice work. I love the Tardis. I must try this. Thank you

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thanks very much!

[@FarReachingSignal]

This is fantastic!

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thanks!

[@kagenlim5271]

Allons-y

[@everettrailfan]

Holy crap, the interior is so well detailed!

[@sunnysideup2292]

This is awesome! I would never have thought of the way you did it

[@RialVestro]

That is freaking genius and I love it.

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thanks very much! :D

[@Daldi564]

That is legitimately the coolest thing I've seen today.

[@lfewell2161]

State of the art technology could not have done a better job. seeing it with your own eyes is a must.

[@uneducatedpineapple4119]

That’s the coolest tardis model I’ve ever seen!

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

You're very clever; I love your passion for modelmaking as well as the workmanship.

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thank you! :)

[@SharlexUwU]

holy shit after 4 months of research i found nothing and gave up... thank you sooo much for uploading this video!

[@maladroitmodeller]

Sorry it took so long! :)

[@User39945]

This is a very smart optical illusion give this man some likes!

[@milokarlson9108]

I know right!!!!!!

[@RClaffieJr]

So it really is done with mirrors :) Brilliantly done

[@samfivesixeleven7598]

This has inspired me to want to make my own. Maybe an Eccleston/Tennant version.

[@uheldigehelt]

oh no, I feel inspired to do my basement like that :O it's so simpel but my mind took too long to process it. Love it

[@FranciumBoron]

Ah, the classic mirror trick! Very nice.

[@TJS123]

That’s so cool, it looks so realistic.

[@MrTrevcarter]

Absolutely WONDERFUL. I want one...….

[@FirstnameLastname-ll1ji]

I would honestly buy this. It looks awesome

[@peterd440]

That's really creative and very impressive.

[@dktibbot]

I make superhero action figure dioramas but this is beautiful beyond description... definitely would like to do a full size version

[@thegooddalek2986]

This is just phenomenal!!!!!!!!

[@chinareds54]

"Is this a knock-through?" -Bill Potts

[@denissmith7671]

Absolutely awesome!

[@jackofmodels1429]

I totally dig this, thanks for sharing.

[@darrenbrear]

Excellent job

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thank you sir

[@d4rp645]

Oh My God YOURE BRILLIANT!!

[@GalaxyMN]

That is brilliant!

[@peterloohunt]

Admirably clever.

[@fastertrackcreative]

This would make for a cool museum piece

[@pstentaford]

You sir, are a genius. Quite simply a genius.

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thank you, sir.

[@davidscottn]

wicked freaking awesome. Hats off to you !

[@nneykobar_hali]

Amassing visual illusion!

[@veritastime9522]

That's really clever. Love it.

[@tomos7715]

That's amazing! Love the detail!

[@RamLaska]

Freaking beautifully done!

[@derekhart3308]

Surprise there isn't a knock on the door and asked to make more for that's brilliant made and love have one for the character options figures .

[@Camfilms321]

YOU DID IT ! so that's how huh ? THAT IS AWESOME ! well done ! the Secret is now out ... though the magic is lost ... just kidding lol . But thats awesome! I hope you do other tardis's as well that would be so cool to see an 8th Doctors one ! Keep up the great work !

[@maladroitmodeller]

This wouldn't work with the layout of most other TARDISes, but I reckon it would for the 8th Doctor's - good idea!

[@LUN4RM00NS]

Thanks for crushing my dreams of haveing a bigger on the inside tardis

[@MitzoYam]

Using mirrors means this! couldn't understand before. awesome

[@ScorpFOZ]

Wow just wow! great job!

[@caseysopinion961]

wow, amazing model, im really suprised at this

[@bribri7872]

That so freaking genius and FANTASTIC

[@angelsone-five7912]

Wicked. You know the old saying, "it`s all done with mirrors".

[@justalittleaspie8464]

THAT’S GENIUS!!!

[@Calumetto]

Well that's super-clever. Bravo.

[@xLoveLexii]

That looks so cool!

[@evo_is_confused]

That's AWESOME

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thanks!

[@ShekharNeupane]

Truly a masterpiece 👍

[@maladroitmodeller]

Thank you!

[@harvestercommander3250]

Woah that’s amazing. Truly amazing.

[@eleones]

Brilliant! Subscribed!

[@Channel스2깸성]

Mirror magic trick?! Who the hell is your man! I love you Doctor!😍🥰😘🤩

[@FarronAnimations]

OH MY GOD THATS BRILLIANT!!!

[@DobradoGrandeCastelo]

I have no words... :O

[@The12thDimension.]

They should use this trick in the actual show to make the Tardis look bigger on the inside. Very effective!

[@RedcoatsReturn]

Soooo clever and skilled! 😲😊👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😊👍👍

[@charleshacker9506]

Brilliant,not what I predicted.🧐

[@lindamuvic8110]

That’s really ingenious.

[@avemariahackett9405]

You are amazing! Bravo!

[@WaywardSister92]

So damn cool! Now wheres the doctor....

[@mialevi1341]

Hopefully you mean the 9th doctor

[@TeaGamingPanda]

Oh that’s brilliant!

[@bloodyeyes4899]

It's too beautiful 😭

[@sgtrinity4047]

These need to be available to be sold.

[@Xizilqou]

This would be better if the mirrors were not slightly dirty, before that broke the illusion this was very convincing it's very clever

[@NCXDKG]

Mirrors, of course! Genius!

[@1TW1-m5i]

I want to see a real life doctor who museum done just like this.

[@maladroitmodeller]

Me too!

[@miwiYT]

very nice, well done. The one thumbs down might be from australia

[@uneducatedpineapple4119]

Come on man

[@Iloveowlets]

wOW.. nicely played my friend, nicely played (im Australian btw, stop getting so offended you numpties)

[@WatchingTrainsGoBy-PassingTime]

@@ntck Don't worry tack... He's overcompensating because all the thumbs up are from people that can't tell the difference between the 2 genders.

[@ntck]

@@WatchingTrainsGoBy-PassingTime oh boy seeing my old comments feels like a kick to the face

[@WatchingTrainsGoBy-PassingTime]

@@ntck lol I don't know why... You were right.

[@47606odin]

very clever. well done

[@2000freefuel]

awesome work, now can I see one built using a portable fairgrounds toilet?

[@DavideMazzetti]

So brilliantly simple :-)

[@JohnD640]

Nice illusion!

[@mo-vs8gu]

That is so clever omg!

[@enderlynxwilloze7935]

I’m sorry my mind can not comprehend this RN

[@nemesis3295]

This is soooo cool!

[@neutronst444r]

THIS. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

[@shawngreenwood6417]

I love the model it looks awesome

[@MobiusBandwidth]

amazingly amazing!

[@drjitters]

Brilliant! Thank you.

[@LydiaTereK]

That’s so neat!

[@writerpatrick]

This would make an interesting paper-craft; the mirrors are the only tricky part.

[@mikeembleton8713]

Amazing well done.

[@acompletelyrandominternetuser]

So, this is how the time lords managed to make a large space able to be inside a box. Leaving my stupidity aside, it is a very nice model 👍

[@awild93]

Honestly want to build a whole room like this.

[@palehorse864]

I'm curious, would it be possible to put a mirror in the TARDIS and build the interior below it at a 90 degree angle? The only thing I can think of being problematic is that the mirror would be too long

[@pokelolmc6826]

The bigger-on-the-inside illusion is amazing, but I want to know how you did the details for the interior and console.

[@maladroitmodeller]

It's a mix of all kinds of stuff - foam board, thin styrene, silver paper, glow wire, acrylic tubes, transparent film, fibre-optic wires and lots of silver paint!

[@kevinmorgan4043]

Great! Fantastic! Real cool!