Welcome to the Asylum Project, a series of new blog posts containing galleries that showcase my collection of custom Dalek Asylum inmates. Since the majority of the Daleks seen in Asylum of the Daleks are New Series Daleks, it makes sense that the majority of the figures in the collection are too. The story of the New Series Dalek design is fascinating, and it covers a fair bit of old Dalek history too, as many of the parts for the first Dalek prop of the revived series came from early Shawcraft props from the 1960s. Overall, the new design does a great job of emphasising the important aspects of the classic Dalek design whilst also bringing new elements that make sense as natural evolutions of the design. The bulkier shoulders, wider base, taller ear lights and more metallic, armoured design match excellently with the recognisable Dalek silhouette.
In keeping with that philosophy, these Daleks have generally been customised in ways that are consistent with Dalek damage seen in the TV episodes.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 III of the New Series Dalek Asylum Inmates series will cover my collection of custom Time War Daleks in my Asylum collection that have been customised to appear insane and damaged, either as a result of the Time War or their time in the Asylum.
Damaged Dalek Time War Survivor
Not all Dalek customs have to be fancy, and this is a prime example of an easy custom that could be accomplished with simple tools. All that has been done to this Dalek is a light wash, although the base was removed to ensure that the colour didn’t run. Several coats of light grey and black Citadel paint were used for this effect, and the end result was scrubbed with a clean cloth to emphasise the grime in the corners and recesses of the model – this gives the Dalek an aged look.
Several of the Asylum’s insane inmates are restless, and the prowl the corridors of the Asylum day and night to search for prey. As for what they consider prey, anything goes – the local vermin, repair drones, even fellow Daleks. These Daleks are not capable of any kind of stealth, however, as the cacophony that they make when moving around can be heard from entire chambers away.
Custom Damaged Swamp Dalek
This custom was inspired by a story in the news about an old Dalek prop that was found in a swamp in Hampshire, and I created this paint job with the idea of a Dalek that had been abandoned in a swamp in mind. Clearly there are no swamps in the Asylum, as the planet is covered entirely by snow and ice, so this Dalek would have had to have been abandoned in a swamp and then picked up and taken to the Asylum. This custom was originally a Dalek Sec figure, the weathered effect was done with silver dry-brushing and the green detailing was added using Citadel paint.
Having made its way through the vicious jungle-swamps of Spiridon, this Dalek Scout was finally picked up by its brethren – though it was destined for the Asylum due to the years it had spent in the swamp. This Dalek sits in the halls of the Asylum and has done for decades, yet its swampy appearance remains…
Custom Critically Damaged Dalek
This Dalek is a shining example of a ‘creative’ use for a Damaged Dalek Thay figure. For those who don’t know, this variant of Dalek figure was created due to the appearance of a Dalek that is missing three of its back panels in the Series 3 two-parter Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks. This custom was created to resemble a Dalek that had been abandoned mid-repair, or perhaps one that was simply critically damaged and in dire need of repair. Several of the spheres on this Dalek were removed and, using hot glue, I replaced them on the ‘damaged’ back panels. This gives this impression that the Dalek is missing spheres in several locations.
Having lost its offensive capabilities and motion, this Dalek sits patiently waiting repairs. However, the repair drones are focused on upkeeping critical systems, and cannot spare time for individual Dalek medical care. As such, this Dalek has taken desperate measures, having cannibalised nearby parts to keep the lower half of its casing held together.
Custom Pock-Marked Dalek
As mentioned by the representative for the Dalek Parliament in Asylum of the Daleks, not all of the inmates of the Asylum are there for insanity, some are simply damaged, or battle-scarred. This Dalek was likely disabled by local resistance, and rather than send it for repair, its superiors condemned it to the Asylum as punishment for its failure. This custom was created using a standard Dalek – the spheres were removed using a hacksaw, which was also used to cut into the gunboxes. The Asylum stamp was printed on using red paint.
With no firepower or manipulator arm, all this Dalek can do is wait. Though it sits catatonic, it could awaken at a moment’s notice, particularly if there was a suitable Dalek nearby to entrap – though it must wait until it is at full strength, otherwise it would surely be exterminated on sight.
Custom Opened Mutant Dalek
This Dalek was originally a mutant reveal Dalek, though it has been heavily modified. The Dalek itself had to be completely taken apart, as for this custom to succeed the mutant housing had to be modified. I removed the control panel, and separated the mutant from the base so that it is now a removable piece. The front panel was cut in half and the inner mechanisms of the gunboxes were removed, and I used hot glue to position the two pieces of the front panel in the ‘open casing’ position as seen in the New Series. The entire figure was given a black sprant paint (with the mutant removed) and I later gave it several coats of dry-brushing to emulate the weathered, metallic effect.
Not all Daleks that sit idle are waiting for an unsuspecting casing owner to come along – some are simply insane. This former Dalek commander sits with its casing permanently open, judging those around him for hiding in their “battle shells”. Surprisingly enough, his ranting draws absolutely no reaction whatsoever from his compatriots.
Next Post: Custom New Series Dalek Asylum Inmates – Part IV
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