In 2005, Russell T Davies very wisely adhered to some basic rules when introducing an updated design for the new series episode "Dalek"... namely, don't change the overall shape too much! The latest re-design is the result of two dimensional thinking... it works on paper, the elevational view (with some shading) looks ok... but inevitably, in three dimensions, it really sucks! Get the camera angle wrong and the prop looks grossly deformed and disproportional... "like a hunch back" I read somewhere? Yes, quite!

The old basic design rules worked... simply because they had been around for 50 years and we were all so used to it! The re-design is a brave idea... but badly executed. Unfortunately, it looks like we're stuck with it. The kids will love the new daleks... but the older, original fan base I feel, will be switching off in ever increasing numbers. As for the new colours... well, I couldn't resist creating this image...

The new 2010 series Daleks? Click on the image below for the previous design.