Dalek Storm: The Coolest Dalek In Town
Left: Chris Smith's CGI Dalek Storm / Right: Alan Clark's Full Size Replica
What do you do if you’re a veteran Dalek builder and you want a new challenge? Pick the coolest Dalek CG design around – and build it for real.
That’s exactly what Alan Clark did when looking for a fresh challenge. The design he selected was the ‘Special Weapons Dalek’ – a Dalek design originally created back in the 80’s by Alan ‘Rocky’ Marshal for the Dark Dimension Doctor Who 30th anniversary special that was ultimately never made. Years later, the ‘Special Weapons Dalek’ was 3D modeled together with a few modifications by Doctor Who fan Chris Smith – a self taught 3D artist who’s CG Daleks have attracted their fair share of attention from Doctor Who fans and Dalek enthusiasts.
“I’ve watched Doctor Who for most of my life but really only got bitten by the Dalek bug a couple of years ago and my Daleks have since attracted far more attention than anything I have done previously,” Smith told us. “In addition to Alan’s Storm at least seven other Dalek builders have started work on full size versions of my CG designs and two others that I know of have started building scale models.”
Smith points out that Clark’s full scale real-life model stayed true to his 3D version of the ‘Special Weapons Dalek’ design with only a few minor changes. In light of the changes, Smith then updated his CG version to match the finished product. The result is we have a cool CGI image of the ‘Dalek Storm’ model and the uber-cool real life version.
The following image shows the initial ‘Dark Dimension Special Weapons’ Dalek:
The 'Dark Dimension Special Weapons Dalek' design
Now, check out the images of Alan Clark’s 6 foot tall, fully motorised replica.
‘Dalek Storm’ is constructed primarily from a wood base and is said to weigh a whopping 150kg. It is fully illuminated with green, red and blue neon tubes which can be viewed in demo form via various YouTube videos here, and just in case you’re wondering, yes – the guns are functional!
Amazingly, both weapons are hooked to high power water cannons! Truly awesome and really quite scary when you see them in operation. Watch for yourself:
A video of its movement:
And finally the ‘Dark Dimension Special Weapons Dalek’ CGI is updated to reflect the real-life model Dalek Storm…with the nice touch of a storm in the background. Very cool!
We know that the ‘Dalek Storm’ isn’t new, it was originally designed decades ago and constructed more than a year ago – but that doesn’t stop us from still being wow’d by it.
So what is new? Take a look at Smith’s current labor of love - Second Empire.
“Recently I have been putting most of my efforts into Second Empire, an ongoing Dalek comic story featured on my website,” Smith says.
“As a first time comic artist I originally anticipated the comic running for 25 to 30 pages, however I vastly underestimated how long it takes to tell a story in panel format and the comic has recently passed the 200 page mark, with plenty still to go.”
A panel from Chris Smith's Dalek fan comic 'Second Empire'
We highly recommend you check out Second Empire – it is literally 200+ pages of Dalek goodness. To consider that this is from someone who has never worked professionally as a CG designer (his day job is a wood machinist in a sawmill) the word ‘impressive’ doesn’t do it justice.
“I am a self taught CG artist using Maxon’s Cinema 4D for the last 12 years as a hobby,” he says. “I have never worked in this field and have no wish to, I do it purely for pleasure and relaxation.”
Visit Chris Smith:
His website: MechMaster’s CG Lair
First page of his Dalek Comic: Second Empire
May 4th, 2009 at 3:33 am
Many thanks for posting the information about Storm on the website,Storm is fully drivable, i can get inside and operate Storm he also talks in the most menacing dalek voice ever…
May 4th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Thanks for dropping in Alan! Storm is the coolest Dalek I’ve seen so congrats on your work! Would love to see footage of Storm talking if there’s any floating about. Do you have an ETA on when your Dalek Storm website will be complete?
May 4th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
There is some footage of Storm talking somewhere on the net, just think Ed 209 from robo cop and thats about what he sounds like, the website should be up and running soon, in the next few weeks i plan to take some more video footage and upload it to youtube.
May 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Found some of that footage, it’s only brief, but it made me smile
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnMjdYJuFFE
May 14th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Hi the Dalekstorm.com web site is now up and running,Its still in its early stages, but its a start….
May 14th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Thanks for letting us know Alan. Have posted a short article to let everyone know:
http://www.scifiscoop.com/news/dalek-storm-website-launched/
May 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Hi The dalek storm web site has been added to, and now has more pictures and a never seen before video on the front page, i hope to get more added in the coming weeks after i get the May events over with….Thanks..Alan
May 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
This is DAVROS! This is DAVROS!
It has come to my attention that the automated assembly lines for the production of Special Weapons Daleks(codename STORM)have been activated by Daleks Klark and Zmith.
I GAVE NO SUCH ORDER !
All production must be terminated immediatly! You MUST…You WILL… OBEY ME!!!
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:14 am
Well hello there Mr Marshall, Glad you like Dalek Storm, And dont worry there wont be anymore, one dalek storm build is enough i dont think the wife would take another in the house,If you are ever in the area you are welcome to call and see the dalek at any time.
regards
Alan
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 am
Clearly, with Dalek Storm in your garage you need fear no one, not even his creator.
Well done Alan, an impressive realisation of my original design.
I have received your number via Charles Norton and will contact you soon.
Regards,
Alan.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Thanks Alan..
Ihave uploaded some more videos to youtube, search dalek storm and you should find them, The Dalekstorm.com web site has been updated now showing how storm is assembled and some of the inner working parts, and i have added a contact email address on there too.
Regards
Alan
May 29th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Hey Alan, great vids. I had to post these three, very cool:
A close look over Dalek Storm:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rZZbRX0pOI
Dalek Storm: “Exterminate All Small Children”
Child: “I’m not small!”
Hahah, you have to love it!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StU4pmmZFjg
And the television presentation:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VasAZ71vOTY
June 30th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Cool Dalek iam inpired by this Dalek! i am planning to make a Dalek (maybe not this detailed) but what type out of these a Genisis Dalek, a Imperial Dalek, a Time War Dalek or Yttarl out of Second Empire! Anyway one of the best Daleks in the World and 5 Daleks Wow!
August 4th, 2009 at 12:31 am
For those interested, Dalek Storm will be at the York Museum at the fingerprints of time exhibition this coming Saturday 8th August,
Please pop in and say hello to dalek storm and the other daleks that will be there, you will be safe as this is an in door event so the water cannons are de-activated…
Alan
August 7th, 2009 at 7:45 am
I truely impress with the Dalek Storm design.It is the coolest looking Dalek that I ever seen.I think Steven Moffat or other BBC writers should have the Dalek Storm in Doctor Who Season 5 2010 to battle the 11th Doctor(Matt Smith) & Amy Pond(Karen Gillan).Somehow Davros could have survive the destruction of the Dalek Crucible in Journey’s End & created an army of the Dalek Storm to conquer the entire universe.Well thankyou for your wonderful time.Daleks rule supreme!
August 7th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Hi,
I Think just one dalek STORM would be ok and keep the rest as they are, And just have it as a special weapons dalek to protect the emperor or Davros, There are loads of possibilities for it,
Alan
August 8th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Only one Dalek? Ok what about this.
What if Dalek Storm isn’t a protector Dalek, but a hunter – a legacy of Davros that was built specifically to hunt the Doctor through time/space and kill him. Like a Terminator Dalek…
Steven Moffat, give me some credit with that idea thanks…
August 8th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Hi Darren.
On the Facebook dalek storm page i have talked about that very same idea, sort of a Clint Eastwood type of dalek that always gets his man..Or a Bounty hunter type dalek that wont stop or the Terminator Dalek…it could turn up in any episode..just when the Doctor thinks he is winning the terminator Dalek turns up and he has to run like hell knowing that it will never stop hunting him down, the possibilities are endless….
Alan
August 8th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Great minds?
…after a few attempts at chasing him and failing Dalek Storm begins to round up the Doctor’s previous companions and imprison them, to draw the Doctor to him…a Dalek Storm and multiple companion episode!
August 8th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
yes it’s the Special weapons Dalek gone mad, Released from its holing cell by Davros and allowed to do its own thing around the Universe with one ultimate goal, To get the Doctor, Taking everything that gets in its way prisoner, including some of the other baddies from the series, There is only one race of doctor who characters that can stop Dalek Storm with there collective power of the mind, And Storm made the mistake of capturing one of them…
I will leave you to work the rest out..now where did i put moff’s email address…:-)
September 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
u will see a lot of info of Dalek Storm on the Dalek Comic Second Empire! He was Created by Science Dalek Yttral with Utimate Power.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:46 am
For those that Would like to see Dalek Storm up close, He will be appearing at the Magna Centre in Rotherham For the Time War 09 Event that is being held there on the 14th of Novermber 2009, Please come along and say hello and i will be happy to show you around Storm and let you all see how he works…
Alan
August 25th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I AM ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A 5″ VERSION AND WILL SHOW IT ON YOUTUBE SO YOU CAN COMPARE THIS TINY VERSION TO THE FULL SIZE ONE. WHAT A FANTASTIC DESIGN BUT TRICKY TO REDUCE DOWN IN SCALE AND KEEP MOST OF THE DETAIL. HAVE USED A CHARACTER OPTIONS DALEK AS THE TEMPLATE AND CUSTOMISED IT EXTENSIVELY. DENNIS.
December 18th, 2010 at 6:10 am
KUDOS…Dennis
Beautiful workmanship.
(Does that come in a Lotion Dispenser?)
Seriously…the size, scale, proportions. SPOT ON !
Dave
December 20th, 2010 at 2:06 am
THANKS DAVE. ITS ALWAYS DIFFICULT WORKING FULL TIME AND GETTING YOUR MIND IN GEAR TO DO A GOOD JOB ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I WAS INTENDING ON SELLING HIM BUT THE HOURS AND COST INCURED I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO PART WITH IT NOW. LIKE THE FULL SIZE STORM HE IS A TRUE ONE OFF. CHECK OUT MY REVIEW ON YOUTUBE THOUGH IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY. THANKS ONCE AGAIN, DENNIS.
December 24th, 2010 at 5:25 am
i have decided that after showing storm to all friends and family. its now time for someone else to enjoy him. he is 6″ high and is on sale through ebays dr who customs for a week. put in a bid for him while you can. once he’s gone he’s gone. thanks for all the kind comments on this build.