Bad Wulf's Model Blue Box

[bad wulf]

Sorry this has taken so long to put up, but as always, life got in the way.
Intro
I have a habit of taking on one or two fun projects a year. Usually the projects I pick evolve me learning a new skill. (for example I spent six months learning how to hand sew so I could make a kilt..see fun, odd projects)
In February, a friend and I were discussing my organic vegetable garden and what I was planning to plant this year. (Another of my wacky projects a few years ago)During the conversation he said,"I think your garden needs a TARDIS garden light!." I couldn't have agreed with him more! So I went online to find one..and yes I know now that they don't exist! So my summer project ,"Project: Solar TARDIS", was born. I wanted to build a two foot tall wooden TARDIS, that would have a solar powered light lighting the signs and windows. There were only a few hurdles, 1) I live in an apartment (my landlord let me use a small plot of land on the grounds for my garden, I pay him for it with what I grow) 2) I have never done any woodworking before in my life and 3) I had no idea how to build a TARDIS!
So after a many months of research (mainly on this site) and a model made of card, I started on my ol' blue girl.

[bad wulf]

The Doors
My workshop and tools

I started with the doors first. I was going to cut the windows and panels out of a solid sheet of wood. I started but quickly came to the conclusion that it would take a long time. So I opted to use strips of lattice and build the frames.


I then cut the backing out of a thin piece of plywood


I used molding for the corner posts, but I added a strip of lattice to each side for the door jams
I got excited and wanted a peek ahead

[bad wulf]

The Base
I then started the base. I mitered pieces of plywood to support the doors but left a hole in the middle so I could rig up the lighting. I then glued pieces of lattice on the bottom. The picture below is the first base I made. I later built another one after the TARDIS was mostly finished, as this one would have not supported the weight of the finished TARDIS.

[bad wulf]

The Windows
Before I mounted the doors to the posts I put in the windows. I used thin pieces of balsa wood I picked up while on a business trip. (My little city does not have a hobby shop and the local hardware store I bought my supplies from does not carry it) I notched the windows with a hobby knife where they intersect and glued them. I mainly built them the same way you would on a full size TARDIS.



Peek into the future

With my card model

[bad wulf]

Some Painting
Since the model was to be an outdoor one, I wanted to make sure it was well protected. So after the window frames were finished, I painted the backs of the doors with outdoor primer and then with an outdoor finish.

Then I primed and painted the window frames..

[bad wulf]

Finishing up the Windows
For the window "glass" I cut up a clear plastic sandwich container and with some fine sandpaper, "frosted the windows." I then glued them into place. (that was a bit of a pain!)

With some LED light

[bad wulf]

The Door Mounting
Until this point none of the pieces were not glued together. So when the time came I mounted two doors to a post in an L shape like this:

And let them dry for 24 hours before I glued the two L shapes together. Before that though, if you look closely at the picture above you will see that I glued wax paper to the inside of the window to help keep it water tight.
Everything glued together drying!

More to come soon!

[deck5]

You do very neat work!  Puts me in mind of those porch lighthouses that the cottage set like to have.

[geminitimelord]

I was going to say what an awesome looking build...... until I saw the Yankees hat....

[bad wulf]

Thanks for the very kind comments...and yes I am a Yankees fan..3rd generation..with a dog named Jeter! Hate me not my poor blue box!
Signs
I made my signs using my beloved lattice. I wanted the signs to light up, so I made them much like you would on a full size box.

[bad wulf]

Door Jam
I had to put the top jam in before I glued on the signs..yes I used lattice..

[bad wulf]

Roof Part one
I placed little off cuts of wood inside, near the middle, of each sign to help support the roof.

For the roof boxes I used..you guessed it lattice..but a bit thicker than the lattice I used for the doors. (I am on my lunch at work but I will place the exact sizes when I can get home to my journal!)


More to come tomorrow!

[Scarfwearer]

Very much enjoying seeing how you put this together - it's a really nice build!

Crispin

[bad wulf]

Thank you Crispin for the complement..this site really helped!

Now where was I (doing this on my lunch break...again!)

More Roof

After finishing this part of the roof, I painted the inside with more weather proofing white primer. I also added a few extra pieces of wood to support the lamp supports.



I angled 2 sets of tongue depressors at a 45 degree angle and 2 sets flush with the roof to help support the roof slats.

[bad wulf]

The Lamp Support
I built the lamp support much like a full size TARDIS..and yes it's made of that handy lattice stuff! I them painted both inside the housing and the outside to both weatherproof it and the white will also allow any interior light to bounce off it it.