TYJ : Police Box Recipes

[warmcanofcoke]

Time and again I run into a FAQ on this forum : How much does it cost to build a police box? / what do I need to build a police box?

Generally the members have historically been very helpful and tried to explain the differences between marine grade materials, and location of the various reference topics that are provided on this forum, and even pointed to various build diaries that provide excellent information.

I propose a workshop topic (Like this one) where we try to provide a variety of build by numbers recipes. 

This topic is for the Tom Yardley Jones style police box.
[Other Workshop titles can easily be created for other designs Such as the Colin Richman/Ed Thomas box.]

Here's an altered version of the plans with the 7+ posts. I'll keep modifying it as we discuss. It's high time this one was sorted out once and for all.

http://doctorwhoscarf.com/drwho/s18dev.pdf

We could break it down in to sub recipes:

Lamp  |  Roof  |  Top Signs  |  Windows  |  Panels  |  Door and Door Sign  |  Handles and Locks  |  Walls and Posts  |  Base

Here is what would be ideal for this topic:

Example:

Recipe: warmcanofcoke's TYJ Beacon
Build Thread: http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=3548.45
Author: warmcanofcoke aka: Nate


Relevant posts:

Page 4
2 January 2013 1:17 am
3 January 2013 9:38 pm
10 January 2013 4:15 am
3 February 2013 4:44 am
3 February 2013 4:45 am
Page 5
3 February 2013 4:46 am
5 February 2013 12:31 am
6 February 2013 1:53 am
Page 6
19 February 2014 9:01 pm
20 February 2014 5:49 am

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list of tools:
Drill (w/ drill key)
1/4" Drill Bit
1/8" Drill Bit (should be slightly smaller than the nails you use to build the box.)
Hole Saw (Sized Big enough for a light bulb)
Grinder Bit
Pipe Cutter

list of ingredients :
X1 : 5.5" Outside Diameter wide Nautical Ship Lamp Fresnel Lens http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=3028.msg32855#msg32855
X1 : plastic dome light
X2 : Circle Pine Plaque ("Walnut Hollow" brand {or comparable brand} reportedly 8" x 8" but actually measures 8.5" x 8.5" )
X3 : 1/4 inch thread screw rods
X3 : 9/32 brass tubes (Slips over the 1/4 inch thread screw rods)
X3 : Washers with 1/4" holes
X4 : Screws
X6 : 1/4 inch threaded nuts

X1 : 9" x 9" x .5" Wood Sheet
X2 : 9" x 4" x .5" Wood Sheet
X2 : 8" x 4" x .5" Wood Sheet

Nails: the amount you use is up to you.

Blue Paint.
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[/URL]

It should be noted : This is just one recipe. If people find it useful, give it a positive review.
My lamp was a fun build and it looks lovely, however I can not attest to its screen accuracy.

*Check out Timerotor's Build for that "screen accuracy" level of quality.
http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=2390.msg24031#msg24031

Many other fine builds also have that screen accuracy thing.

[warmcanofcoke]

How much wood does it take to make a door? and then make eight of them.

"8 door recipe".

Step 1 Build a Door. [Cut hole to insert Windows.]
Step 2 Build 7 others.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
list of tools:
Drill (w/ drill key)
Hole Saw for lock.
Table saw
Miter saw
Circular Saw
Wood Router with router bits.


list of ingredients for 1 Door:
X2 : Door Hinges with catch pins
X1 : plywood sheet cut to 22.5" x 78"
X3 : planks 3.5" x 12"
X2 : planks 4" x 12"
X2 : planks 3" x 78"

X1 : Central divider 2" x 78"
X1 : Door Handle
X1 : Yale Door Lock
X1 : Door Sign [Assembly described in a Future recipe]
X1 : Window Panel [Assembly described in a Future recipe]

22° angle trim molding around each recessed rectangular panel.

Nails: the amount you use is up to you.

Screws: the amount you use is up to you.

Wood Putty.

Blue Paint.


*OK - this is a proposed Recipe - I will update it as the recipe is tested.*

Looking forward to other people's recipes in this thread.  

[Davros Skaro]

This is looking great, but there is one item that you missed, LMSO (Laughing My Socks Off) & that's the main consistency, MONEY & lots of it.  

But love what your doing here.  

Chris.

[warmcanofcoke]

True. But with recipes, we can then go out and price building materials, maybe we will be able to answer the two most common FAQs, what do i need? and how much does it cost?

the main consistency, MONEY & lots of it. 

A Tardis is a vortex that you throw money into.

[galacticprobe]

...maybe we will be able to answer the two most common FAQs, what do i need? and how much does it cost?

Maybe there could be a ** by the "Door Handle" and the "22° angle trim molding", and a comment at the bottom like:

**Items may be omitted if building the 1963 Brachacki-Original version.

That would cut the cost down a bit, especially when it comes to getting the right handle, and all of that trim.

Dino.

[warmcanofcoke]

All recipes have an implied **.

This topic is for the Tom Yardley Jones style police box.
[Other Workshop titles can easily be created for other designs such as the Colin Richman/Ed Thomas box.]

[fivefingeredstyre]

Well, if it helps I just spent £200 on wood to make new doors for my box...

[russellsuthern]

OUCH!

That had better be some good quality wood!

I hope you post some wip pics & some pics of the finished upgrade as your box is one of my favourite ones on TB & I'm always keen to see how it's getting on!

Russ

[fivefingeredstyre]

Cheers Russ!

I've not taken any pictures yet; however I will make sure I do. I'm also looking to tone down the blue a bit and its always been a bit bright.

I should add though that i'm actually "double lining" my doors this time. Both sets of doors i've made in the past have both warped over time, i'm hoping that the additional layer of wood at the back will keep the doors straight; however the trade off is that it puts the over all cost of the wood up by another £50+

[russellsuthern]

Yeah, my doors warped quite a bit, too.
It bows in quite a bit at the top & bottom.
It's not really noticeable, unless you are looking out for it, but if it warps any more you'll be able to see light leaking out from it then I'll have to do something about it, although I'm not sure what...
I suppose I could take it off, put it between two chairs, then put a big weight in the center until it bends back, although I'd rather avoid that palaver if possible!
Anyone got any other suggestions?
I have noticed quite a few builds in the gallery section have the warped door look, you can tell by the triangular shadow at the top of the door where it meets the triple step....
So I'm guessing It's quite a common problem...

Regards,

Russell

[fivefingeredstyre]

Exactly the same problem as mine... funny how they always bow inwards...

Hopefully sandwiching the ply between two sections will do the trick

[russellsuthern]

Good luck with it.
I'll keep an eye out & if it seems to work for you I might have to have a crack at it myself...

Russ

[evil bob]

I am making an estimated cost list for building a TYJ now.  I will post it and the actual cost when completed.

[evil bob]

My best guestiment. I'll have material left over, but better safe than sorry. Please forgive the wonky formatting.

4' x  8' x 3/4" Plywood    1   $38.09       38.09
4' x  8' x 1/2" Plywood   10   $28.39      283.90
2" x  4" x 8' stud           20   $ 3.23       64.60
1" x 12" x 8' board           20   $14.18      283.60

Lamp                   1   $69.98       69.98
(allen + roth Stonecroft 13-in from Lowes)

Clear Acrylic Sheet             1      $44.99       44.99
(36" x 72" x 0.1" Menards)

4" hinges                        6   $ 2.97       17.82
2" hinges                        2   $ 2.48        4.96
Yale Lock                        1    $36.03       36.03
Sash D door handle             2   $13.78       27.56
Wood glue                        2      $ 4.99        9.98
wood screws              1 box   $10.00       10.00

Paint and Primer         2 cans $20.00       40.00
Caulking               4 tubes $4.98       19.92

Signage approximately         $200      200.00
                  
Total                                                 $1210.83

[Scarfwearer]

Coincidentally, the Brachacki box I just built came out at about £1200. It's not that dissimilar in size to a TYJ in terms of the amount of wood you'd buy, so I'd expect it would cost a similar amount if it was a TYJ.
I bought new softwood and 1/4" plywood, but I made my own signage and lamp from bits that cost next to nothing.
It would have cost considerably more if I planned to make it survive being outdoors for long. At the very least I wouldn't have been able to get away with paper signs!

Prices in the US and UK have tended to have a similar numerical value, because in spite of the differing exchange rate, products are generally more expensive in the UK, which usually cancels out the difference. (This may not be as true now as it used to be.)

My earlier Tardis was $800-900 (I built it when I was living in the US) but that was 18 years ago, and I think prices have gone up...