Bigger on the inside TARDIS prototype
It uses 2 mirrors to make it look somewhat bigger on the inside. It is a prototype because I did not knowwhat this would look like in real life, so I did not even buy mirrors specifically for it, but used one from an old scanner thatI have cut to the right length (50-51mm. Also that's why it's 3mm thick, a thinner one would have been better).
Use a first surface mirror if possible (the reflective layer is in the front) as that minimizes the gap between the reflective surfaces and the illusion looks way better.
The stickers can be printed to the right size using IrfanView, as this lets you set the exact size of the image easily (2.8x2.8cm). I decided to go with stickers this time as my previous attempts at 3D text that has to be painted manually afterwards look pretty ugly when I paint them.
it is not an exact replica of any interior or console, but it was inspired by the interiors from the classic Doctor Who. It has to be adjusted to the limitations of the method.
There are multiple ways to do this illusion, but all have their drawbacks. The console is traditionally hexagonal, so it can be subdivided into 2,3,4 or 6 segments and they have the following pros and cons:
2 segments:
-not that much bigger (2a^2), you can see the entrance and your eye head on
+simplest, easy to make small, most console is real (1/2) so it can have more details, console is in the middle
3 segments (120°), symmetrical:
-still can see your eye but not head-on, still not that big (3-sqrt(3))*a^2) =~ 1.27a^2) and kind of narow near the console, some dead area (0.58a^2), god to put some electronics etc on a bigger model
+good amount of wall apart from the doors and mirrors, can have some interior, two whole sides of console available, door not seen head-on
3 segments, with the mirror behind the closed door flat on wall and the one in front of the open door at 120° angle to the first mirror:
-odd shape, no room for the open door, so it has to open outwards, be omitted, truncated or left partially open
+even less angle where you see your eye, centered, good amount of real room, wall and console. Can add a third mirror to make it even bigger. most of the advantages of the symmetrical 120° and is bigger: 3a^2*(1--sqrt(3)/8)=~2.35a^2. One big dead area, great for a model doubling as a moneybox
4 segments, off-center:
- off-center console, can see the entrance head-on, no room for hidden doodads, not hexagonal room
- no wasted space, best amount of wall available, good amount of console availabe (1/4), largest 4a^2 size. Good for a walk-in model like a shed with the console doubling as an arcade cabinet and fuctional shelves with items, mirrors are on already existing walls
4 segments, centered:
- even more lost space than 120° variant, can see your face again, looks like a cross which somehow isn't very TARDIS-like (usually a hexagonal layour), walls are mostly the doors.
- 3a^2 surface area, symmetrical, centered. cross layout can be suited for a kind of Gothic TARDIS inspired by a cathedral.
6 sides, centered:
-almost no wall on either side, just one real console side, can see the entrance head-on, not that big even though it seems otherwise:6a^2*(sqrt(3)/8)=1.33a^2, even the door won't fit in
- most TARDIS-like shape (hexagonal), wide around the console, centered, simple
So I think that the 4-segment off-center and some variant of 3 segment are the best compromise depending on application.
UPDATE:
I added the asymmetrical 120° version and the optical illusion is indeed better than in a symmetrical 120° version. Also a set of stickers was expanded to fit the screens in the details part, but I only ended up putting one on the small screen. The bigger screen looks better in uniform colour, since it has to be symmetrical due to only half of it existing.
The console with a corner pointed to the door is really messing with my Feng Shui, but making a two whole sides console instead on one whole and two half sides makes it looks less diverse so I left it as it was. The new mirrors are both 3mm thick, and 51mm long, one 14mm wide and one 17.6mm wide.