Welcome to the Asylum Project, a series of new posts including galleries showcasing my collection of custom Dalek Asylum figures. Several of these Daleks have been showcased on this blog before, however they have all changed greatly since then and new custom Daleks have been added to the collection.
Part I of the Classic Series Dalek Asylum Inmates series will cover my collection of custom Classic Daleks in my Asylum collection that have been modified to appear destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Although they appear more rarely than the 2005 New Series design, Classic Daleks are still a staple of a Dalek custom creator’s regular inventory. Thanks to the release of numerous Classic Dalek Collector’s Sets back in the mid 2010s, particularly the prominent B&M re-release of the Dalek Collector’s Set #2, Classic Dalek figures are a common sight in Dalek lots and bundles for sale. The most common varieties are the three Daleks features in the second collectors set – the Dalek Saucer Pilot from 1964’s The Dalek Invasion of Earth, the Black-domed Emperor’s Guard from 1967’s The Evil of the Daleks, and the gold Supreme Dalek from the 1972 story Day of the Daleks.
Despite their relatively rarity, finding broken classic Daleks is unfortunately a common occurrence. There is one silver lining to this, however, in that broken Classic Daleks make the perfect base for destroyed Classic Daleks, particularly since they are rare. It has to be noted that almost all of the destroyed Classic Dalek customs seen in this showcase use broken figures as their base models, no intact rare Classic Daleks were harmed in the making of these customs. I was particularly lucky in that, thanks to proximity to the local B&M, I was able to acquire a large number of the Dalek Collector’s Set #2, as will become apparent as these blog posts continue. Without further ado, let’s get into the showcase:
Custom Destroyed Skaro Dalek Asylum Inmate
This custom was made using a heavily modified Saucer Pilot from the previously mentioned Dalek Collector’s Set #2. All that was required to make this Dalek from The Dalek Invasion of Earth resembled a Dalek from The Dead Planet was the removal of the bulky base and a light repaint. The dome was painted silver and the rest of the Dalek model was given a silver coat to ensure uniformity. Following this, the spheres were painted cyan and the custom was painted with a black wash to give it a grimy look.
Undoubtedly the more prominent residents of the Asylum are the older Daleks that reside there – though many are destroyed or catatonic, old Daleks litter the Asylum’s halls, and were the area not so dangerous many Dalek historians would have a field day in the facility. This particular Dalek dates back all the way to the Doctor’s first encounter with them on Skaro, though it has been rotting in the Asylum for thousands of years.
Custom Destroyed Imperial Dalek
One of the benefits of having a wide range of Dalek models present in the second Collector’s Set is the array of opportunities that are presented. Due to the fact that the BBC repainted many Dalek props in the Classic era, many Daleks share the same base model, with only the colour schemes telling them apart. As such it is possible to completely rework a Dalek figure for a completely new purpose with just a few coats of paint. This custom perfectly illustrates this process, as this Imperial Dalek custom was once a Day of the Daleks Supreme. With the head removed, the base replaced and sporting an off-white and gold colour scheme, this custom really looks the part. The innards were made using pieces of plastic held together with hot glue and painted over with black, silver and green, and the entire custom was given a black wash to add the Asylum feel.
A casualty of one of the old Dalek Civil Wars, this former Imperial soldier now languishes in the Asylum after suffering severe damage to its casing. The current status of the mutant inside is unknown, as the Asylum medical computers are not programmed to operate on the slightly unorthodox Imperial Dalek biology.
Custom Destroyed Earth Invasion Dalek
This custom was another created using a Dalek Saucer Pilot, though this one has been heavily modified with the top cut off via hacksaw and the manipulator arm removed. The top part of the Dalek has been fitted with a papier-mâché wreckage with part of the neck section grille attached using hot glue. The idea for this custom came from the fact that in early Doctor Who serials dead Daleks would seep green goo as they died. This custom was therefore created to give the impression that the top part of the Dalek was destroyed long ago, and the green goo has long since fossilised. The entire custom was given a grey wash to enhance the sense of long-abandonment. Unlike several other The Dalek Invasion of Earth-themed customs in this series, the base of this Dalek is removable, meaning it can also double as an early The Dead Planet Skaro Dalek.
In the depths of the Asylum, dead Daleks have been rotting for millenia. This particular specimen was put in the Asylum long ago, and survived for years even after the top half of its casing was destroyed by in constant infighting found within the Asylum. However, after long years of dereliction the Dalek mutant within the casing eventually retreated into a hateful hibernation, and its secreted Dalek blood has hardened to form a repulsive biological shell, fused with the remains of its casing.
Custom Destroyed Emperor’s Guard Dalek
This custom was created to represent the early stages of the previous custom’s destruction process – this Dalek has just been destroyed, so the green goo is vibrant and the mutant inside is active. This Dalek is based on the dying Emperor’s Guard Daleks seen in 1967’s The Evil of the Daleks, when rebel Daleks infected with the Human factor invade the throne room of the Dalek Emperor and destroy his casing, killing his guards in the process. The camera lingers on a dying Dalek mutant as a writhes in the remains of its casing. This custom was created using pieces of plastic, metal (particularly old screws) and cardboard held together with hot glue and given numerous repaits. The stubby tentacles are actually the fingers of a 12″ Dalek Sec Hybrid figure, painted the same green as the mutant and held in place with hot glue. The casing was painted using black Citadel paints and a black water-based paint wash. The mutants eye was created using silver paint over a blob of dried glue, which I then drew over using red and blue permanent marker.
A resident of the Asylum’s upper levels, this ferocious Dalek mutant simply refuses to die. Lashing out at all who come near it, the creature plans to leave its damaged casing and acquire a new method of transportation, almost certainly by slaughtering another of its own kind. The creature inside is past caring about Dalek homogeneity, however, as it is quite insane, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive the dark, treacherous depths of the Asylum.
Sacred Icon 