The Republic of Heaven

Okay, so I'm working on an alethiometer replica, and I'd love everyone's input / opinions.

I've seen the one used in the HDM play, but I'd rather go with the version depicted in the posters. I've also decided to go with no lid and just the velvet covering.

Here's my symbol test so far -- as you can see, it's made to fit on a 9cm aleth. You can view the test here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tv/66284760/

Cool. Nine centimetres seems about right.

it looks awesome!

Looks awesome? Isn;t it a bit early to tell what with so far it just being symbols from the British editions?

Anyway, I love the idea Juno (as I love your avatar - I kept meaning to edit the little birdy for my avatar) and wondered about exactly how you wanted to do it. Are you going to stick any mechanism inside so you can turn the dials? Or a magnet or something so the needle moves randomly?

My advice would be to find somethin in a junkshop you could base the shape on, but then I don;t know how skilled you are in metalwork - orif you were thinking more of a cardboard replica or something.

Another thoughts I had: in itself a pretend alethiometer is a pretty but useless object. Why not make it into a clock? I might try that myself, actually...

My replica is going to be of the poster aleth. I'll probably do the first one in resin, as that's what I have access to. I have some friends who cast bronze, but that may end up being to cost prohibitive for me.

I actually thought about doing a paper model version. I love Pepakura (paper model software) but in the end, I want something a bit more substantial. If I like what I turn out, I might microscribe it into the computer. Although I saw the 3D pic done on another Web site -- he could relatively easily turn that into a paper model. Heck, he could probably go to a rapid prototyping place and have a replica made that way.

That said, I know there are a lot easier ways I could be doing it, but part of the process is me learning different softwares and materials manipulation. I've played with resin casting before, doing replica medals for fencing competitions and such, but nothing as involved as this.

Last night I completed the template for tracing the symbols behind the hands. I threw a low-res version of it up on my flickr account along with a 9mm resized version of the poster alethiometer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tv/sets/1430123/

I've given some thought to the internals -- from crazy stuff like using the innards of a multimeter so that when you hold it in two hands the needle moves based on your natural resistance to some electronics that will randomize the needle.

As to being pretty and unfunctional, that's what I'm all about sitting on my desk at the moment is a golden snitch, a glass cube containing the milky way, an astrolabe, and a time turner.

I love props and prop replicas, though I must admit this is my first from a book (the Harry Potter stuff is all based on the movie representations).

I've gone on way more than I intended, but I'm still having a good time!

Kyrillion -- did you notice my owl winks if you stare at him too long?

Last night I completed the template for tracing the symbols behind the hands. I threw a low-res version of it up on my flickr account along with a 9mm resized version of the poster alethiometer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tv/sets/1430123/

I'm working on the internal background.

I've actually decided to go with acid-etched magnesium that will then be coated to look like brass. These are my failed prototypes (one in wax -- I was going to cast it in plastic, and one in thin aluminum).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tv/6875720 ... t-1430123/

I have a bit of a dilemma...I had the centerpiece design acid etched into magnesium, and now I've fallen in love with it...I have a copper plate coming Monday, that I'm sure I'll fall in love with as well... the plan was to get the copper nickle then gold plated.



Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/tv/sets/1430123/ to view the whole photo set.

The magnesium just looks so . . . subtle. . . if you know what I mean. I threw some coins in the pic for scale purposes.

My alethiometer may end up deviating from the pics...


Comments welcome (and encouraged and desperately pleaded for)...[/img]

ohhh that's beautiful!

It's very nice. Don't limit yourself to what's in the illustrations; it won't be as fun for you.

And I keep going and going . . .

More here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tv/sets/1430123/

Wow, that's pretty. Love the intricate design. Good luck with it.

I'd go with the copper, if I were you. But that's mainly because I'm a perfectionist and would like to stick to the images we've got. And I'm not you, so go for whatever you love *nods vigorously*

The completed ivory dial:

oooooohhhhhh!

Can I please have it?

Yet another test assembly. The inner ring isn't completely cleaned off (that's why it's no spray painted). I will also (probably) recast the center section because I feel that the symbols need to be raised a bit more.

*Curses talented person*

That's truely impressive, mate - stick these on ebay and they'll go like there's no tomorrow!

At first I thought that this would end up being one-of-a-kind, but with the processes I'm using, I'm positive that I'll be able to "mass" produce a non-working (the crowns won't turn, or the hands) version.

Wow, that looks amazing. I'm really impressed with your talent and creativity!

*wishes she has talents to make alethiometers*
*or anything constructive, for that matter*

Now all in easily viewable form.