(West) German telephone boxes

[Ultravanillasmurf]

I am looking at making some street scenery for Twilight 2000 and other Cold War gone hot games.

One item is a telephone box.

I photographed this somewhere in Germany a few years ago.


Any idea the age of that design?

[Westfalia Chris]

It looks quite a bit like the TelH78 model which would have been common in the 1980s. Not an expert on the topic, but I recall the design with the rounded corners quite distinctly for the late 1980s, especially in smaller towns.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Thanks.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Thanks for the identification, it led me to:
https://telefonzelle.de.tl/Historie-Telefonh.ae.uschen.htm
There are drawings of a number of East German ones that will also be of use.

I also found a reference to a film.

[Wyrmalla]

As far as models, model railways may be the first place to look. Though having them custom made seems like the only option other than that.

[Carrakon]

It looks quite a bit like the TelH78 model which would have been common in the 1980s. Not an expert on the topic, but I recall the design with the rounded corners quite distinctly for the late 1980s, especially in smaller towns.

As an addendum: It would also be perfectly fine for the 1990s. Indeed in the  small-ish town (ca. 50,000 inhabitants) I grew up in, those things soldiered on until the telephone boxes were done away with completely due to the advent of cell phones.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

As an addendum: It would also be perfectly fine for the 1990s. Indeed in the  small-ish town (ca. 50,000 inhabitants) I grew up in, those things soldiered on until the telephone boxes were done away with completely due to the advent of cell phones.

Thanks.

I took that photograph four/five years ago in a city - just not sure which one.

It was before the bizarre Smurf Ogre army I saw in a Games Workshop shop.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

As far as models, model railways may be the first place to look. Though having them custom made seems like the only option other than that.

Thanks.

For the first iteration I am using a Blotz 'phone box  number 1. The windows are wrong (it is a representation of the later sheet metal and glass UK box).

I have shaped the roof into a slight dome and painted it yellow (no white spray so it has been a bit laborious).

Hopefully I will have it "finished" today.

I will have to convince Blotz to do Telephone Boxes of the World.

[YPU]

It seems like a trivial shape to do as a 3d drawing, so custom made would be quite possible.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Well, here is the first try.


The door and sides have the wrong shape windows but it is quite distinctive (ignoring the BT goes Yellow period).

When I have another go at one of these kits, I will glue the roof on and then file the new roof shape. I will also use some Milliput to fill in the slight gaps that show up when something is painted yellow. I will also have some spray white and yellow paint...

Some Soviets for scale (against a Sarissa Small Terraced House).


The door still opens,


To be more accurate, the door handle should be made from some brass rod.

[Westfalia Chris]

I wonder if you couldn't just add some inserts from cardboard - two layers with proper-sized windows cut out, and some clear acetate between them for the windows.

Add the outer layer first, fill any gaps to the MDF parts and sand smooth and re-paint yellow. Then glue in the acetate sheets on the inside of the outer insert and add the inner layer.

Apart from that, it's reasonably close. The proportions are a bit off, but then again it's a tradeoff one will have to accept if it is for 28mm skirmish.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Interesting idea. I would probably just put an outer layer with the correct size and shape windows, then square acetate sheets could be pva glued in after painting (plus it reduces the number of holes I have to cut accurately).

You are right about the proportions, definitely a bit SD. The other (British Red) telephone box is distinctly SD/Chibi.

Saying that, the Empress British box looks suitable for O gauge.

@YPU, you are probably right, but that is outside my skill, capability and/or budget. ^__^

[carlos marighela]

It looks quite a bit like the TelH78 model which would have been common in the 1980s. Not an expert on the topic, but I recall the design with the rounded corners quite distinctly for the late 1980s, especially in smaller towns.

You don’t happen to work for the German version of the PMG/ Telecom do you Chris? Otherwise your knowledge of telephone booth marks and models would be slightly disturbing...

Actually, I just noticed a newish one here in the city the other day. They have become so exceedingly rare in these parts, maybe it will spark a movement. Chaps in anoraks with clipboards noting down models and serial numbers.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Well you can do tours - http://www.discoverglasgow.org/police-box-walk-02/4578988612

Maybe there will be maps http://www.policeboxes.co.uk/police-boxes-today.html

[carlos marighela]

Maybe in a post-Brexit UK it will be a boon to the tourism industry.