While his classmates set to work on coffee tables and dressers, he was mapping out plans for a TARDIS — an acronym for time and relative dimension in space, as any Dr Who buff could tell you.

Based on the original 1963 television prop of a time machine disguised as a London police box, Mr Lowe’s replica comes complete with LED lighting, doors and wheels.

“I’m actually working on it as we speak,” he laughed.

“We were assigned a free project to demonstrate some of the skills we had learnt during our first year.

“I thought ‘oh well, I might just make a TARDIS’.

“It ended up requiring more than what we’d learnt.

“I think the teachers were thinking more along the lines of a coffee table or small stool.”

From plans he found on the internet, Mr Lowe has been working on his replica one day a week for the past two-and-a-half years.

“It’s as close to the original Doctor Who prop that I could get,” he told The Standard.

“I’ve changed a few features.

“It’s made from Vic ash (timber) so it’s quite heavy — it’s a lot more solid than it needs to be.

A part-time pharmacist at Camperdown’s Murray Fry Amcal Pharmacy, Mr Lowe began cabinet-making as an outlet from his often “intense” occupation.

“It takes my mind off it,” he said.

“It’s something completely different.

“... (And) it’s a fulfilment for me.

“When I went through high school, I sort of missed out on manual skills.

“It’s been really confidence-building.”

This year Mr Lowe is studying certificate three in cabinet-making and is looking forward to future projects.

“I want to get on and build other things,” he said.

“I’ll probably do something a bit more conservative.”

bziegeler@standa rd.fairfax.com.au