P8 Compass Box dimensions and details

[Aeronca46]

I have a P8 compass , but no box .... I have seen "Englander" and his photos here of the replica box he fabricated. Can anyone provide accurate dimensions of the original P8 box ?
Cheers, John

 

[Airframes]

Hi John,

First, it's best to remove your e-mail address, to prevent spam etc - use the PM facility for messages.
You may get some help for the box dimensions and details from Spitfire Spares.

 

[Crimea_River]

Damn, and I was just at our museum today where there may be one in the stores. If you can wait til next Saturday, I might be able to help.

 

[Aeronca46]

Damn, and I was just at our museum today where there may be one in the stores. If you can wait til next Saturday, I might be able to help.

Sure I can ! Thanks.

 

[Aeronca46]

Hi John,

First, it's best to remove your e-mail address, to prevent spam etc - use the PM facility for messages.
You may get some help for the box dimensions and details from Spitfire Spares.

I'll give them a try, thanks.

 

[arc5stinson]

[QUOTE="Aeronca46, post: 1560313, member: 76871] ...Can anyone provide accurate dimensions of the original P8 box ?
Cheers, John[/QUOTE]

Hello, John.
Do you need metric or inches?

 

[Aeronca46]

Inches would be great - thank you very much!

 

[Crimea_River]

Saves me from going through a dusty storeroom. Good stuff.

 

[Allan Hunter]

The box I have for my early P8 is 7 1/8 inches square. The height is 4 1/8 inches, with the bottom part that holds the base of the compass being 2 3/8 inches high. You may want to double check these dimensions because boxes were sometimes not original to the compass. After the war boatyards sold these surplus compasses for hobbyist sailors, and I think they may have made boxes for themselves. My box has no Air Ministry certification stamps.

 

[Aeronca46]

Thank you Allan. So to clarify ..... looking down at the closed box I would see a square measuring 7 1/8 inches on a side? .... And is the total height ... looking at the closed box from the side ... 4 1/8 (top half) + 2 3/8 (bottom half) ... = 6 1/2 inches? And can you give me the basic length/width of the bits inside ... don't worry about the cut-off corners ... just L/W/H of the two different pieces that make each "brace" inside. Cheers, John (Ps .... have you any concern over the radium issue?)

 

[Allan Hunter]

Thank you Allan. So to clarify ..... looking down at the closed box I would see a square measuring 7 1/8 inches on a side? .... And is the total height ... looking at the closed box from the side ... 4 1/8 (top half) + 2 3/8 (bottom half) ... = 6 1/2 inches? And can you give me the basic length/width of the bits inside ... don't worry about the cut-off corners ... just L/W/H of the two different pieces that make each "brace" inside. Cheers, John (Ps .... have you any concern over the radium issue?)

Yes. the box, looking down on it, is square, 7 1/8 inches each side (actual). The total height is 4 1/8 inches. This means the bottom part is 2 3/8 inches, and then the hinge, and then the top is 1 3/4 inches. The wood of the four sides is 3/8 inch thick, and the top and bottom are 3/16 inch. All these are actual measurements. As you probably know, carpenters call wood 'one inch' which is actually far less, but these are as checked on a ruler.

Some boxes I have seen have a triangular section piece in each inside corner, but this is not the case on this box.

And no, I don't have any worries about radium.

Best wishes, Allan

 

[Crimea_River]

The Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, Alberta has two P8's in boxes.

 

[Aeronca46]

Oh perfect! Thanks very much. My faith in mankind is now restored.

 

[Aeronca46]

Allan .... almost done with my box .... just noticed on one other I saw on-line that the "Delicate Instruments..." stencil also appeared on the back of the box. Yours does not appear to have that - have you seen any others that DO?
John

 

[Aeronca46]

Except for maybe adding an inspection stamp inside the lid .... that actually says "Replica" ... here it is. Thanks again for your help. - John

 

[Crimea_River]

That looks really good. Decided to avoid the corner box joints though - probably a smart move.

 

[Rocketeer]

Pity I did not see this earlier! I probably have a spare box!

 

[Aeronca46]

Pity I did not see this earlier! I probably have a spare box!

Oh well .... I made one.