Introduction: Friends Peephole Frame

By Paul Massey

I have wanted to make a Friends peephole frame replica for years but there are so many replicas out there it was hard to find a picture of the original to work from. Eventually I found a high resolution picture of the real prop and accurate dimensions. I also confirmed the original prop was made from paper mache.


Materials:
Thin corrugated cardboard
Newspaper
School Glue (PVA)
White paper towel
Bread tag or thin plastic
Acrylic paint. Two colours, yellow and slightly darker yellow.

Attachments

Step 1: Step 1

Put Friends DVD in the DVD player and press play.

Step 2: Step 2

Print the template. 1:1 scale is the same size as the original.

Click to Download Template

I chose to scale mine to about half size. Paste the image onto cardboard and paste rolled up strips of newspaper paper mache to the board following the shape of the printed template. Allow the frame to dry out completely. Be patient, sit back, relax. Order a Joey Special and watch Stevie.

Attachments

Step 3: Step 3

Add two layers of paper towel paper mache to the front and allow to dry. Then trim the excess card from the outside and centre.

Step 4: Step 4

Cut a V shape into a bread tag as shown. Cut a recess into the cardboard on the back to fit the bread tag. This will become mounting point/bracket so that that the frame can hang on a nail. If you don't have a bread tag you can use a piece of yoghurt pot or a phalange.

Step 5: Step 5

Add another two or three layers of paper mache. Make sure you paper mache over the bread tag on the back. Allow to dry and cut out a small hole over the bread tag. You can sand the frame with some 220 grit sandpaper to remove the high points if needed.

Step 6: Step 6

Paint the entire frame with two or three layers of the darker yellow acrylic paint. Allow to dry and then lightly apply one coat of the lighter yellow paint to the raised areas. If you don't want it yellow you could paint it to match one of the 66 colours of your bedroooOOOmmm.

Step 7: Step 7

Hang your very own piece of fine Italian craftsmanship on a small nail and add some blue tack to the back of the frame so that it doesn't fall off when you close the door.

Tips
-Use watered down school glue (PVA) as paper mache paste. Paste containing flour goes mouldy if its not properly dried.
-Use a laser printer. Ink from an inkjet printer could run when it gets wet and you won't be able to see the template.
-If you choose to dry the frame in an oven (@ <200F, 90C) or with a hair dryer, tape the frame to a baking tray to stop it warping.
-The paper mache won't stick to the bread tag so put some spots of super glue around the edge to hold it down.
-In order to get the frame perfectly aligned over the peephole on you door, put a tiny drop of paint over the V cutout on the bead tag and press it into place on the door. Remove the frame and there will be a dot of paint exactly where you need to put the nail.
-Put a layer of tape on the back of the frame so that the blue tack doesn't damage the frame when you take it down and show your friends to make them jealous.

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