afternoon every one are we sitting comfortable , then i will begin sizes are for a 12" by 14" nation brood box made from 1/2" ply wood you can use standard frames there will be just a gap at the bottom which is of no inportance
Roof 490 x250mm
roof sides 490 x 150mm
roof ends 225 x 150 the top roof piece is the size to go on the top and the frame is screwed through the top and can be glued if you want
Brood box sides 460 x 370mm
base 190 x 410mm
brood box ends 190mm x 330 ( i used 3/4 cause i had some spare but 1/2" will do)
then to make the ends and the returns you want two pieces of ply both 190 mm wide and one 140 long and the other 110mm the shorter on goes in the middle with the longer on finishing flush with the top of the box
as for the enterance i use either one or three 14mm drilled holes but its up to you,
now we start the long and drawn out agro of finishes , quality, roof materials etc, i am sorry if its brief but every time i open my trap it gets slapped by someone one the forum for some reason
the better the finishing sealer( paint ) the longer the life span, you can make a canoe out of cardboard and aslong as its paint properly yes you can sail the channel(yes it has been done) what i save on materials by using what is called shuttering ply which is classed as external, not water boil proof or better still marine ply, i get hold of pieces of ply make the box and then use either sadolin white opaque or dulux paint also in white .the extra cost of the paint is saved ten fold from the cost saving of ply wood. now lets talk life exspectances
ordinary shutting ply left out side untreated two year three if your lucky, painted with sadolin or dulux paint 15 years plus, my allotment shed is made from shuttering ply and coated with the cheapest b and q green wood stain going and is 5 years old with no damage anywhere, so expected life of brood boxs are ten years plus minium.
Roofing materials.
now where do i start, how about just a coat of paint?
want better or more how about a piece of 1mm thick lead sheet stuck down with evo stick, in between whats wrong with a frindge door stripped down and folded over, an old oil drum cooking oil or car oil cut the lids off and fold it again over the top. in a hurry how about a stapler and a plastic bag or poly sheet, you can buy a one millimeter sheet of ali for aroung a fiver for a nuc and nearer a tenner for a national, £15 if it full price, if you want why not try fibre glassing the roof, butly pond linner and a stapler?,as for the final bit i will redo the making a nuc video with some roofing bits