byobpb

[GodSend25]

Thats right, Build your own British Phone Booth.

My father and I have been interested in these for quite some time.  Unfortuantly the authentic irons ones weight 2000+ pounds and are quite expensive.  There are several wooden based replicas available on the internet, but in the true BYO spirit, I would rather do it myself. Of course painted Fire Engine red, with a working phone for my bar downstairs.


Heres a good example of one :

http://www.britishbits.co.uk/


The actual difficulty of the shapes that need to be cut seems to be minimal.  I was thinking about making all 4 sides out of 1/2' MDF (or particle board), while using plexi and moulding pieces to create the windows.  The floor will be made out of something a little mroe robust, probably 3/4' MDF (similar to the floor on Lucids arcade plans).

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best type of material, or any hints in general?   I am also hoping that someone might have some measurements available (or maybe knows of one close by that they could go take a few measurements for me).

Ill be starting a visio template this afternoon with the select few measurements ive been able to find online (only the base w/d and overall height).

Cheers boys.

[Stingray]

I'd love to have one of these myself, but am suffering no delusions about my ability to make one myself. Good luck in this project!

There happens to be one across the street from where I work. I could probably get some measurements for you if you let me know what you need exactly.

-S

[GodSend25]

Thanks Stingray.  Ill be making a diagram in the next few days (perhaps just hand drawing and scanning at this point).  You can fill in any info you can find, and that would be excellent....  Most of my measurements are for individual pieces which ive located on ebay....

[fredster]

Look out Dr. Who!

[DrewKaree]

I was thinking about making all 4 sides out of 1/2' MDF (or particle board), while using plexi and moulding pieces to create the windows.  The floor will be made out of something a little mroe robust, probably 3/4' MDF (similar to the floor on Lucids arcade plans).

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best type of material, or any hints in general?  

I'm taking it that you're using the molding to create the individual lights (frames) on top of a full sized sheet of plexi, yes?

If so, make it easier on yourself and do half lap joints at the intersections of the molding.  Also, if going this route, make the gridwork so that it will be held in place at the edges so it will be removable for cleaning.  Much easier and less frustrating to do the sheet of plexi all at once, rather than square by square.

[GodSend25]

I was thinking about making all 4 sides out of 1/2' MDF (or particle board), while using plexi and moulding pieces to create the windows.  The floor will be made out of something a little mroe robust, probably 3/4' MDF (similar to the floor on Lucids arcade plans).

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best type of material, or any hints in general?  

I'm taking it that you're using the molding to create the individual lights (frames) on top of a full sized sheet of plexi, yes?

If so, make it easier on yourself and do half lap joints at the intersections of the molding.  Also, if going this route, make the gridwork so that it will be held in place at the edges so it will be removable for cleaning.  Much easier and less frustrating to do the sheet of plexi all at once, rather than square by square.

Thanks for the tip DrewKaree.  Half lap joints are what ive been thinking about using the entire time (I dident know thats what you called them though) over one giant sheet of plexi (I may go with real safety glass depending on price).


I found a full size Jubilee model not more then 15 minutes from my place last night, totally by accident.  Looks like a replica because its made of wood, but its full size. Im going to return on the weekend and snap some pics and take a heapful of measurements.  Ill post my findings here just incase someone wants to build one as well.  Of course you could always scale everything back and make a bartop version to hold a normal phone or something

[Ghoward]

I love this idea!! Please post any plans etc.... I want to build one of those puppys myself.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where to get the gold crowns from? What wood would you use for the roof?

Gary

[DrewKaree]

I bet if you could fashion the gold crown out of wood, you can go to a craft store and pick up some gold leaf to put on it.

[GodSend25]

Well, Im off tonight to take those pics.  Ill see if it still hows the crown attached, and if so I will return with some clay or something and make a mold of it.  That way worst case I can make some resin copies.

[Ghoward]

Does anyone have any measurements and photos yet for this project idea?

Gary

[GodSend25]

Gary.  

I took some measurements a few nights ago (When I got home I realized I missed a few...).

I was trying to put them into autocad or something similar, but in the interest of time I think I am going to just draw it out on a piece of paper and then scan it for you guys...   Ill have to return again and take some pics of the unit in the light, but here is one from the pubs webpage...

http://www.cockandpheasant.com/contact.html

At this point I only took measurements of 1 side, because all 4 are the same (minus the "back" which is the the same size, yet lacking all the details such as molding and windows)...  And of course the 1 side has a door, which effectively is just the window + bottom portion on a hinge.

[Ghoward]

Gary.  

I took some measurements a few nights ago (When I got home I realized I missed a few...).

I was trying to put them into autocad or something similar, but in the interest of time I think I am going to just draw it out on a piece of paper and then scan it for you guys...   Ill have to return again and take some pics of the unit in the light, but here is one from the pubs webpage...

http://www.cockandpheasant.com/contact.html

At this point I only took measurements of 1 side, because all 4 are the same (minus the "back" which is the the same size, yet lacking all the details such as molding and windows)...  And of course the 1 side has a door, which effectively is just the window + bottom portion on a hinge.

Great let me know when you get everything together. I'm up for building one of those for sure! Any plans would help just scanned in would be great.

I've just been told by my wife there is one in someones yard in Florida very close to where we live so I'm going to have to take a look.

Gary

[GodSend25]

   Ok, I made a little page that can be found here http://www.mcarthurexpress.org:8080/ .

The measurements can found there.  All in inches of course.  Now I havent even had a chance to add up all the measurements to make sure they make sense mathematically, so something may be off (I made a few guess' because of the rounded corners of a few pieces).  

Let me know if you have anything to add.  I am going to sit down this week and try to build a scale model out of cardboard just to see how I should begin.

If all turns out will I may consider making 1/4 copys for selling on ebay.  

I am still a little puzzled by how I am going to do the roof piece...

[Ghoward]

 Ok, I made a little page that can be found here http://www.mcarthurexpress.org:8080/ .

The measurements can found there.  All in inches of course.  Now I havent even had a chance to add up all the measurements to make sure they make sense mathematically, so something may be off (I made a few guess' because of the rounded corners of a few pieces).  

Let me know if you have anything to add.  I am going to sit down this week and try to build a scale model out of cardboard just to see how I should begin.

If all turns out will I may consider making 1/4 copys for selling on ebay.  

I am still a little puzzled by how I am going to do the roof piece...

Hi,

Your basic plans are good, I haven't had chance to take a look at the one near me yet but it's in someones yard so I guess I will have to ask them.

I've been thinking about the roof myself a great deal. I think maybe thin plywood might work but it's not going to be easy getting it to look right.

I think I sent you an email quite sometime about about this subject if you would like to talk more about the roof etc.... email me.

I have to thank you for thinking of something as cool as this to build, it's a great idea.

Now I have two things to build a phone booth and a Jukebox.


Gary