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Post by andrew on Feb 8, 2009 20:01:50 GMT 10
G’day all, Have just finished putting on the internal walls. I am just starting to play with the kitchen set out. Will be a cooler week this week So I should be able to get a bit more done. Regards Andrew
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Post by andrew on Mar 11, 2009 20:40:33 GMT 10
G’day all, Been plodding away in the shed. Scaled down the side of the van to 1/3 for the shape of the mud guards and had cut out the ribs for the lid. Will be sticking four pieces of 7mm Ply together for the ribs. Put some laminex on the bench and mounted that in position and have made the lid. Cut out the first part of the ceiling and dry fitted to see if all was right. Took it out and primed all the inside and replaced the ceiling all ready for when I Get the nails tomorrow. So I am making headway towards the October deadline Regards Andrew
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Post by andrew on Apr 10, 2009 21:32:46 GMT 10
G’day all, The family has gone to the mother-in-laws for the week and will be back On Sunday and with them gone, it has brought a teardrop to my eyes. Yep, the one in the shed. Good Friday was good. Made and hung the cupboard doors in the kitchen. Used the hardware from the van that I decommissioned. Here is a photo of how it now looks. Just have a strip to put on the front of the bench and that will finish it bar Paint and wiring. Now moving on to the inside to fit it all out Regards Andrew
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Post by andrew on Apr 17, 2009 23:11:11 GMT 10
G’day all, Finished painting all the inside of the cabin and the kitchen of the teardrop. Used the handles and hinges from the old van. Put shelves above the doors And edged them in ally. The back shelf folds down to store bags on or fold up To give us more room inside when loading up for a trip or whatever you would Need more room for in a teardrop. Quite happy with how it is all coming along. Next is the mudguards and wiring Then I can start to put on the external walls. Just got to keep plugging away at it. Many thanks to JBJ for what he said on a thread awhile back, about the fall of many A good project due to perfectionism. This was someone else van that they built and The walls have woofs and hollows in it, no wall is square or plum and that is what I Have to work with so I’m doing with it what I can. It’s not a show room job but it’s Not jerry built either. I’m a bloke in a shed restoring a vintage van to get it back on The road to go away on holidays with the family. Life’s good! Sermon is over. Regards Andrew
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 18, 2009 7:41:32 GMT 10
Hey Andrew She's looking good Enthusiasm seems to increase when putting new bits on..... rather than just fixing up someone else's poor workmanship Talking about mistakes people make Some seem to go crazy collecting a heap of vans Their yard fills up but they never fix one up..... Have seen that happen before and never seem to hear from them after that.... Stick to the one ... finish it to your satisfaction and then go for the next..... if that is what you want It is addictive after all ;D ;D ;D ;D Keep at it mate and you will soon be towing her down the highway with the widest of grins on your face Cheers Atog
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2009 13:25:36 GMT 10
Hi Andrew .. Like JBJ and Atog have said. Doesnt have to be perfect. Ya dont have to have a dozen vans and ya can take as long as you like to build up your TD. Your doing a great job. You have come a long way since that first post back in March 2006 Just keep plugging away at it and all of a sudden you will get over that hurdle and start to see the finish line.... Word of warning .. The interior fit out can take longer than the outside and galley area. Better start doing a bit of Yoga or Pilates to subtle up the body mate... after about 300 trips in and out of a TD door and working in a cramped environment ya feel like ya have been put through the wringer. Not as easy as opening a full size van door and just strolling in with a tape measure and a saw in your hand. Keep at it mate..... it'll be worth it in the long run. Reddo
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Post by willyn on Apr 18, 2009 19:19:12 GMT 10
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Post by andrew on Apr 20, 2009 21:56:14 GMT 10
G'day all, Thanks ATOG and Reddo for the encouragement. Will start to fit the external walls later in the week when the screws arrive. I get a bit more excited with every piece that goes on and your always trying to think about three steps ahead so that you don't stuff anything up. Reddo, just as a by the by, the kids have found a little wanted poster in their lego that reads " legoredo". broken down by the kids, that is lego red-o. So they made up a little man that they have called Reddo and he goes camping in the lego teardrop that I built on new years eve. other people go too but it is Reddos' teardrop. Apparently the TD has an oven cos they get the wind up timer and when it goes off, Reddo has to get the cake out of the oven. There's food for thought. Regards Andrew
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Post by andrew on Apr 26, 2009 21:41:05 GMT 10
G’day all, Been down in the shed and this is the end result of my work. Had an off cut of 3mm masonite that I thought would be big Enough to go over the tops of the mudguard frames but it was About ten inches short so it is down to the hardware tomorrow For another sheet of masonite. Here is a photo of the mudguard frame. Before I knocked off tonight I wanted to see how the guards would Look. I think they will be pretty bloody good. Has that old “ Go-fast” look. Here’s the shots of the guard where it will go. It’s coming on. Regards Andrew
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2009 7:40:10 GMT 10
Hi Andrew. The guards look cool mate. I suspect that you are planning on running wider wheels than you currently have on the van.. yes / no?? Can i suggest that you "brace" the underside of the gaurds somehow to support the outer guard timber profile?? Maybe some ply cut into triangle shape corner braces . There will be a bit of weight in the guards even with masonite as the cover. Masonite is pretty hardy stuff but it doesnt like moisture. Give the underside a couple of good coats of primer sealer then coat it with some sort of Bitumen / rubber based paint to help seal it and protect it from the constant blasting from road grime etc. Not tryin ta tell ya how ta suck eggs but....Have ya thought about using "Bendy Ply" or maybe sheet aluminium or zinc anneal for your gaurd tops??? Reddo
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Post by Daggsey on Apr 27, 2009 9:15:30 GMT 10
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Post by andrew on May 1, 2009 22:23:47 GMT 10
G'day Reddo, I am just going to run the 13" holden wheels on the TD. If I want to in the future there is enough space to put something bigger. Yes they look big, 12" wide, but I like the look and to be able to get the wheel out, whilst trying to keep a spat look with out having to have the outside face removable or on hinges or lifting the guard further up the body, I opted to make the guard wider and cut out the minimum amount without it being too tight to remove the wheel. Thank you for the brace reminder. I will do that. Tried to bend the masonite. Did it with confedence that the masonite would go around the bend. Yep...broke it with confedence too. Having to specially buy the masonite to do the job because the scrap piece I had, that I thought was big enough, wasn't, I have now gone into tight mode. Was thinking of everything I had on hand, ply (heated or wet), wet the masonite, what I could acquire from work. Jacqui suggested flat gal sheet, as she gazed over at the Free range van, which is all gal sheet. Yer, that went down like a lead balloon. But I will be getting some gal flat sheet off the engineering works next door, next week. Anyhoo, didn't do much this week after I went into damage control after the masonite incident. Will jump back on the horse tomorrow. Regards Andrew
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Post by atouchofglass on May 2, 2009 7:34:53 GMT 10
Hey Andrew Mate..... dare I mention a much maligned material that could also do the job for the guards..... Foam..... ;D ;D Shapes up real quick, easy to work and with, .....eeer and with a covering of ...... fibreglass ... extra strong and it will last forever Won't rust when you forget to wash the cow pat out from under the guard.... doesn't rot cause there wasn't enough time to repaint after many happy miles in wet weather Infact.... it's virtually indestructible Worth adding fibreglassing to your skills You'd be amazed what you could do with the stuff ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Fibreglass techniques Cheers Atouchoflglass
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Post by andrew on May 4, 2009 21:54:22 GMT 10
Thanks ATOG, Just asked the pattern maker at work about it and he reckons it would be no probs. Mentioned it to Jacqui and she would like to see a mock up that has the guard thinner with a full cut out of the wheel so that it could come straight out off the studs. So the jury is still out as to which way to go. Thanks for the suggestion. Regards Andrew
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Post by andrew on Feb 1, 2010 20:57:41 GMT 10
G’day All, Been a while since I have written on the forum. Been busy with blacksmithing, Foundry closures, the Grandfathers passing away, Christmas and kitchen renos, But I am back in the shed, and I know I said I would have it done for Coledale (did I say what year?) but I have a deadline of May for some reason. Anyway, enough blab, you want photos, so have a captains at these. Putting the J mould on. Had to move out of the shed to put it on in one go. Hatch is on. Bit of stuffing about to pack the edges up to seal it but we got there. Mud guard on. Yes they are big but I wanted a spattish and go fast look. They are 1/3 scale of the teardrop shape. VERY slow bending of masonite. Could not get a full side shot cos of shed wall but you get the idea. And as Pete would say,” and that is your bloomin’ lot for the week.” Regards Andrew
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halps
Full Member
Get out and enjoy your van man!
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Post by halps on Feb 1, 2010 21:27:32 GMT 10
Andrew, to me it looks like you have done a great job. Keep it up. I love reading about other people's jobs, difficulties and how they overcome them.
It will look even better once painted (as everything does). As I said, keep the progress shots coming as they provide me with nightime reading.
HALPS Brisbane
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Post by cobber on Feb 2, 2010 5:49:57 GMT 10
G'day Andrew, A deadline of May you say.... that does sound good. Have you noticed the "Meander Down the Murray" thread ? we could pick you up on the way to Lake Goldsmith April 30th then do something together in May Cobber.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2010 6:37:59 GMT 10
Hi Andrew... Can you hear my applauding ?? No.. you can't?? That is because i am typing at the moment... so i will cheer you on instead.... I have said it a million times before... Its great to see people having a go at restoring .. or... building a van to thier own design or taste. There is a heck of a lot of people on this forum that have ... through having a go.... found hidden talents that they didnt know lurked within them. I also reckon it is a great hobby for teaching patience and perhaps a bit of anger mamagement.... many times we go through the failures ( best refered to as learning curves) and our calm and temper is put to the test. We stop... cuss.. swear.... and then sit and plan how to overcome those "stumbling blocks" Often we come up with our own answers.. And... there are times when we simply turn to the forum and scream HELP !!! Before ya know it there is a string of replys from other long suffering builders/renovators/restorers. Great aye Looks like your on track for that May finish. Hardest part now will be stopping yourself from hurrying along to meet that deadline. Dont hurry... do it once , twice.. or maybe three times.... but dont charge along and stuff it up now that you have achieved so much. Great stuff mate Reddo - supporter of all homebuilder teardroppers ;D
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