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I built a light box out of tissue paper, poster board, and an 18"x18"x24" cardboard box last night. I'm pleased with the results but I'm not sure I have enough light.

I'm using two lamps with 40W equivalent 5600k daylight bulbs, one on each side. Here are two pics I took with my phone. I still needed to use the flash to illuminate the mini.

Any comments or suggestions to how I can improve the shots would be most welcome.

More light. You want to cancel the shadow as much as possible.

If you still need the flash, then you don't have enough light Maybe try halogens in the 60 to 80W range?

One thing I found out over time is that the actual light level is not as critical as eliminating the shadow, and providing enough light to get contrast between light and shade. This is especially important if you're using a flat white background. Blue gradients (with my camera at least) are far more forgiving.

After that you can bring up the brightness and contrast in photoshop, adjust colour balance, whatever else you need to.

In short, the purpose of the light box/tent is to provide consistent, spread light, as much as it is to strongly illuminate.

You may also want to bring the models forward away from the backing sheet.
I use 3 lights - 1 on each side & 1 on top.
I have 2 of these (which are great) & a desk lamp:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PhotoSEL-LS11E21-Tabletop-Studio-Lighting/dp/B004DW8346/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1391286866&sr=8-4&keywords=studio+lighting&tag=chrome03-21
I also have this kit but the lights get very hot which the ones above don't:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Studio-colour-Background-Tripod/dp/B0064MRG64/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391286935&sr=8-2&keywords=light+tent&tag=chrome03-21


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BTW the desk lamp is something like this but with a base (same sort of bulb though):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kanlux-HERON-KT017C-B-Small-Black/dp/B00505VNQ0/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1391286988&sr=8-27&keywords=desk+lamp&tag=chrome03-21
If you get one of these be careful where the transformer is - I bought 2 others with the transformer at the bottom of the lamp stand rather than on the plug & they were so heavy they ended up breaking the peg that slotted into the base.