I'm not really looking to go overboard with the electrics on my build (they can get pricey alright ), and was wondering whether anyone knows any lightbulbs or tube lighting (for the lamp, windows and upper signage) that doesn't require a generator or a power supply but will still provide a bright light?  

I'm not looking for any flashing features or sound activated lights, just your regular light that can be turned on and off. If anyone has any tips please let me know!

Something I discovered whilst watch an episode of Car S.O.S was electro-luminescent paint...

It's basically paint that lights up when you pass a current through it, unfortunately it's a bit dim but it would probably be quite easy to wire

You could try a battery operated camping light.
I bought one for a tenner from Tesco.
It was quite bright & had a constant & flash mode.
It does end up costing a bit in batteries, though, although I got mine from the pound shop.

In the end I did get fed up constantly having to change the batteries, so I ended up wiring it to the mains just to make life easier.

Good luck.


Russell

Yup.  I just bought the brightest camp lantern the local store had for the price I was willing to pay.  Hung it about level with the POLICE BOX signs.  It lights them up, along with the windows and the phone panel.  I had a solar lamp in the signal lamp, but the wiring went sideways (again) and I haven't gotten around to fixing/replacing it yet. 

Something like this?

https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/004092-eurohike-18-led-camping-lantern.html/922930/?istCompanyId=d92b362f-ac8a-4a8a-87ca-c56eafad7955&istFeedId=2f99410f-1124-43d5-8232-86c184f09479&istItemId=aqiprrrp&istBid=tzwr&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoZWx2LHi6AIVQbTtCh0GlQQaEAQYAiABEgIJl_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That looks about right.
Mine looked like this:


I also tried some stick-on battery powered lights. (Again from the pound shop.)
You just push them to switch them on.
They were quite bright, but their batteries did run out REALLY quick:


Hope that's helpful.

Regards,

Russ

I had this delivered yesterday:

It was just over £20. The main attractions for me are that it's 1000 lumens and rechargeable with a USB connection. Not had a chance to properly test it yet, but it's supposed to run for 8 hours on maximum brightness, with a charge time of 6 hours.

Here's a couple of quick test photos from last night.


I'm now going to look for a solar light for the top lamp.

Francis

A solar lamp will be trickier for the modern boxes.  You've got that rain cap structure with the little knob on top right where the solar cell is on my box.  I guess you can come up with something, and given that my driveway solar lights seem to work in spite of the robins using them as perches (and pooping all over the solar cells), you can probably get away with having the knob in the middle of the solar cell without losing too much power.  

Or figure something else out and share with us how you did it.  

Quote from: Volpone on Apr 25, 2020, 02:45 pm
A solar lamp will be trickier for the modern boxes. 

Or figure something else out and share with us how you did it. 

Mmm...

I haven't ordered it yet but I'm thinking about this solar, remote control light for the beacon. I have a 6" wide lantern chimney lens ala a Fresnel wich lets me holesaw the top cover and silicon o-ring the join for water tightness. Above the wooden lid sits an acrylic custom blown hemisphere, to spec height, with a flange the diameter of the wood. I think this unit will fit inside the plastic cap and shine down into the lens. The remote has on/off and a flash cycle. If i leave the dome clear, the solar panel will gather sun. The unit also charges a phone or tablet so I can mount a screen inside the box to see where she's landed.

I'm looking for a second solar unit for the bottom of the lamp hole to light the interior if i can get the solar panel as the lamp base. https://nzl.grandado.com/products/300w-solar-light-powerful-remote-control-usb-led-solar-lamp-with-power-bank-function-emergency-light-outdoor-camping-light?gclid=CjwKCAjw0a-SBhBkEiwApljU0q0eKYmNKylOtdU_Ht1d2Qe0A56wQRg1MDVOH_Q-EvGWGgbC17SNYBoCadsQAvD_BwE&variant=UHJvZHVjdFZhcmlhbnQ6MTk3ODgwNDc0