|
Post by atouchofglass on Nov 1, 2009 7:28:44 GMT 10
Hey Rolly Thanks for the tip Had never thought of that Sadly I would need a hell of a lot a fridge doors Used all 30mtrs and still need another 10 Cause we haven't done the roof hatch yet Parsimonious: "Tendancy to be very careful when spending money" Had to look it up ...... didn't have a clue you meant Arn't we all Rolly? A dollar of my money in my pocket is always a better thing than in the shopkeepers It's all good The box mould that I made and posted on this thread earlier Was to make ............ THIS Then it was primer filler sprayed and topcoated Had to make a floor for it with ply covered in laminate, a base in timber as well as a door The door was timber framed and the panel was gelcoated fibreglass Where does it go? HERE Added a little seat for the top and can be used as a night stand Another project comes to a close Stay tuned More to come Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Nov 9, 2009 7:27:51 GMT 10
Well the nose cone is up to paint stage Just a couple more coats and we'll be fitting it If it would stop raining Interior is just about there Do you think the Missus is getting anxious? ;D ;D ;D Or am I being given a hint ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Mar 9, 2010 17:21:44 GMT 10
Gidday Everyone Well before going up to Lake Tinaroo on the weekend, the trouble and strife let me know she wasn't happy about the single beds. This photo was taken before refitting the small cupboard.Originally it was OK but ..... well....... She wanted a double..... So I had no intention of ripping out the two singles What to do ? Easy buy a sheet of 12mm ply - dock it to size - rip it up the middle. This gave me two pieces 1850 x 600 and a left over One on top of each single bed (under the mattresses) until needed. Take them out when needed rearrange the beds and ...... here's the results ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Now we can have double or single beds as needed. All for the price of a sheet of ply Talk about a huge bed, luxury plus ..... It's bigger than the queen size we have at home. Miles of room!!!!!! Because it sits over the single beds and the small cupboard- the bed is 1800 wide and 2 mtrs long. No complaints about having no room to stretch out now ;D ;D Cheers Atouchofluxury
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Mar 17, 2010 6:28:27 GMT 10
Hi Guys Well the story continues..... While preping the van last year I installed a water filter. Reason being that I wasn't sure of the quality of water that we would encounter while travelling. Well it was definitely used in Bowen. The camp had access to bore water only..... hmmmm ok for washing and showers... ...... .... but.... don't drink the stuff. It is highly mineralised and has a smell and taste. There is also a small amount of algae in the water. The stink stays in the filter no matter how much water you flush through it. Algae must live in the filter. Couldn't get rid of the smell when using mains water wherever we went. So changed it today. Little bit late but better than not at all. You will notice at the bottom of the photo that under the bed has been seperated where the water filter and filler are. I knew there would be water spilt when changing filters or if there was a leak. So that section is seperated and almost waterproof. So .... What else has gone into the Olympic of late? Well The shake down trip to Bowen also showed up the lack of bench space. Once the Microwave is on the benchtop there is little room for preparing food while cooking. Sooooo Added this over the past week Bit difficult to get in and out of bed unless....... It can be folded out of the way. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Little more wood work to do before I make a latch to hold it up. Laminated on both sides so it blends in when folded up. Glad I had extra laminate left over. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Bit of fun doing wood work after all these months. Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by humpty2 on Mar 17, 2010 18:46:50 GMT 10
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Mar 18, 2010 7:07:39 GMT 10
Morning Gents Thanks for the compliments ....... all donations gratefully received. ;D ;D of compliments that is Hey RonHad a look at the site you are talking about The page on biofilm was very interesting. My filter was definitly suffering that. Also the link to the free water alerts..... www.freewateralerts.comIs a must look for everyone Thanks for those. May invest in another filter from best filters some time in the future. Other expenses on the go at the moment. Hey HumptyMate haven't you finished that Olympic yet? ;D ;D ;D ;D I know you've got room down there, so when I'm doing the Round the Block trip.... May just drop in for a few months and finish a few things for you. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Bet you couldn't handle visitors for that long "I know he said he'd help but the bloke is making too much noise at 10 oclock at night..... the old coot is worse than the possums - At least they don't use drop saws, panel saws and flippin' routers " ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Keep at it mate. She will come up a treat when you get the time to finish her. Seems I've got a job helping fix Tonyh's Olympic Then helping with yours then..... Maybe I could make a business out of this Atogs Mobile Caravan Repairs Or Repairs- Olympic- Urgent- Gentle and Helpful Or R.O.U.G.H for short ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Currently raining in Cairns..... so what's new Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Mar 25, 2010 8:42:48 GMT 10
Hey Guys and Gals Update on the water filterCleaned out and sterilized the filter housing Replace the algae breeder with a new filter and it's good as new. So what you say? Well I thought about chucking the smelly filter away but... Having a bottle of sterilizer used for homebrew - I decided to wash and sterilize the old filter. Old? Had only been used for about 3 months. Too new to just bin. Sterilized it in a bucket for a few days and dried it out..... No smell - no nuthin. Will keep it as a spare- at $20 a filter it was a cheap save. If you come across bore water in your travels and I suggest you will. Buy some homebrew sterilizer (sodium hydroxide) it will save you a few dollars replacing filters. It is also great for removing the sweat stink out of your workshirts. Cheers Atog Provider of useless information and tips.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 12:58:11 GMT 10
Your doing a great job there atog! Good thinking with the bed idea, I'm with the wifey on this one. 1 bed is definitley better than 2.
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Apr 5, 2010 14:37:49 GMT 10
Thanks Andrew The double bed was definitely an improvement Used it and tested out the new extension to kitchen bench as well You don't know how much you need something until you start using it. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Apr 21, 2010 8:09:32 GMT 10
Hey Everyone Thought it was time to show a few of the problems with the Olympic and my fixes As you would know Cairns is a ...... little wet most of the summer and regularly up until May of each year. That causes plenty of opportunities to find out where caravans leak. One of the reoccurring issues Olympics have is the door doesn't always fit well. Often there is a rotted out floor at the entrance. This is the van door not fitting properly. Some fit an extra bit of aluminium over the door as an awning. Clever little dicky birds bend the top of the door with weights and fix it there. (Good one Tonyh) But my van was already painted and so I came up with this solution instead. The water that does come inside the door goes down both sides and out the bottom. Maybe not ideal but at least it means no extra bits on the outside. My trip to Bowen and then the Gold Coast must have opened up a couple of joins in the van windows. Again the rain in Nth Qld found the issues..... The kitchen window has been one of these that regularly caused me ... issues. Resealed it and made an awning to remove the problem all together. Lets hope it works ;D ;D ;D The advantage of doing it this way? Instead of extending the awning out - it adds only the thickness of the f/glass to the width of the van. It also fits in quite well- IMHO Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by hwyman on Apr 21, 2010 13:56:42 GMT 10
Atog good job there just wondering no doubt you resealed the windows with butyl or sikaflex etc does the exterior wall have to much flex causing the leak?. Hwyman
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Apr 22, 2010 7:20:53 GMT 10
Giday Hwyman The joins may have been open when I repainted the van As I had to strip off some of the sikaflex/matrix then.. One on the back window also opened up fractionally That's all it takes for water to find a way to seep inside. Or it opened up while traveling. Not really sure But with the gap filled again and the awning ...... Let's hope it doesn't leak again. Can't see how it could really. Thanks for the post Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Apr 30, 2010 9:28:23 GMT 10
Well the van has had a little trip as recent as yesterday Not a holiday trip But a needed upgrade to the running gear. Ride height hasn't changed much - but that's because the stub axles are now straight instead of on top of the axle. Springs also retempered. The blacksmith that retempered the springs says that jeep used the same springs in 1957-58 So now after 40 years the springs, axle, brake cable, gooseneck, and associated bits and pieces are back to new status. Must add to anyone doing up a van Don't follow my lead Do up the running gear first.... not lastA series of events lead to me doing the running gear last Mostly ignorance. Still need to replace the rims. Now can confirm the rims are early falcon pattern. Got to pay off the axle and hubs first Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Jul 11, 2010 13:40:34 GMT 10
Well not much happening of recent with the van Only really been able to upgrade the rims One of the old rims had a slow leak Know it was the rim... cause it had two different tyres on it in twelve months Only a few extra things to go ...... Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 11, 2010 18:13:14 GMT 10
Hi ATOG, I read the post about your father's Olympic on the Olympic thread. I hadn't realised that you had the family link - you've probably mentioned it before, and perhaps I missed it. Anyway, now I know where your interest in Olympics comes from... Our childhood experiences have a pretty powerful experience on us, don't they? I can think of a number of people on the forum whose love of V V's stems from their holidays in caravans as children, and quite a few people whose interest in a particular brand also links back to their holiday experiences (myself included). I reckon if we talked to people with period tow cars (including those with rods) the same might apply to the vehicles they have. Back to your father's van - was it a Stardust? There were a couple of 21' Stardusts at Mildura. Pretty impressive vans! Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Jul 11, 2010 19:04:32 GMT 10
Hi Don Richardo Yep the family only had the 21' Stardust for a year before selling it
The childhood memories are still very strong as I was to do Correspondence while we travelled..... Only really got up and down the East Coast
Cairns was a paradise to me .... hence now living here.
Having a room of my own as a child was also a great experience... it was so small the cupboard couldn't be fully opened. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Laying on my bed reading daredevil comics..... arrh the memories ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Jul 30, 2010 18:43:21 GMT 10
Thanks Arthur I hope it helps anyone who is interested in restoring an Olympic. Or any van for that matter. When I started I didn't know anything much about restoring vans, 12V electrics or how it was going to get painted or paid for...... Now have heaps of information about all of the above. My thought is ..... If you really want to do it..... Just get in and go for it. The rest will follow ;D ;D Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Aug 7, 2010 8:35:18 GMT 10
Hey Bill Mate the cost of this rebuild was higher than most cause I spent on things like Stainless steel, rosewood, hydraulic rams, extra fibreglass bits, extra lighting, perspex mirrors and a hundred other things that don't immediately come to mind. The interior was stripped out so that the only original bits inside are the glass cupboard doors over the kitchen and the door striker ;D ;D ;D Bit over the top for most ..... But it was all about having fun and learning the skills required to do up a van. So yes it was expensive. Material costs and a small amount of tradies labour 25k If you decide to do one up without all the extra bits.... Some have told me they have spent 16k and ended up with very nice results. So ... for 16 ... you will end up with a nice van in my opinion Do it over time and it won't hurt the pocketbook .......... as much ;D ;D By all means keep in touch Just ask a question in the general section and I'm sure it will be answered...... many heads have to be better than just one. There are people from all trades and backgrounds here so someone will know the answer to whatever the question is. Why not start your own thread relating to your Contessa and your rebuild? ...... it helped me push on with mine. All the best Atog
|
|
|
Post by scotty on Sept 9, 2010 21:40:37 GMT 10
Hi Atog, You've done a great job on the van, you should be very proud, and pleased, with with all the time and effort you have put into it. The end result is fantastic, hope you enjoy the time you spend using it. Cheers Scotty
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Sept 10, 2010 16:30:21 GMT 10
Hey Scotty Actually I miss working on the van It filled every weekend and most evenings for almost 2 and a half years. So have other projects on the go just to fill in the time ;D ;D ;D ;D Not getting much use at the moment.... But it will in the coming months Thanks for the interest Cheers Atog
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2010 18:10:35 GMT 10
You have done a magnificent job,have followed your progress with great interest!Oh to be handy!!! hughdeani
|
|
|
Post by kazandadam on Sept 10, 2010 22:24:08 GMT 10
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Sept 12, 2010 7:29:39 GMT 10
Hey Gents Thanks Hughdeani Glad to see it gave some ideas to you and others ;D ;D ;D Anything done on the van was just a trial and error thing. I don't have a grounding in any of the trades needed to do up a van. But managed anyway. ;D ;D ;D If I can do it so can anyone..... just need to go for it. Hey Kazandadam Yeah it will be real nice when I get the time to go on a few more outings with the van. Wasted this weekend just doing nothing..... it was a beautiful couple of days... We have three seasons in Cairns About to rain Raining Just finished raining Some nice weather inbetween times though ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog Update Well it's now been 12 months since the van has been completed And I8 months since registering. Been to the August 2009 Cairns Swap Meet Some of the trips have been interesting Such as Bowen for two months work Nov 2009/ Jan 2010 Then onto the Gold Coast And two trips to Tinaroo dam April 2010 August 2010 Swap Meet in Cairns Sept 2010 Second trip to Tinaroo And lastly to Mission Beach in October Lucinda August 2011 and then again in April 2012 On the way to Lucinda after cyclone Yasi December 2012 Newell Beach above Mossman ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Atog
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Nov 4, 2010 6:02:06 GMT 10
Hey RG81 Glad to see you are joining the fibreglass fraternity. ;D ;D ;D AnnexesA lot of the members use them Some of us don't Boblor has a roll out annex either side of his Olympic Bobandjacqui have an annex Atouchofglass hasn't gotten there yet..... Mine will be free standing as I don't want to punch anymore holes into the fibreglass shell than is needed. Fibreglass techniques.Have a read of this It won't give you everything but it is a GOOD start. vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=technicalstuffboard&action=display&thread=4145Since making the small bits and pieces for the Olympic I have seen some real nice glossy sheets of laminated ply.... Possibly at Bunnings. That would give you a real nice finish if used. Remember lots of "Mould release" on any mould made. Nose ConeIt was used for one trip..... Drove to Bowen and then had to turn around in a spoon drain.... Tore it off .... So decided not to replace it Besides the wife hated it . The black rubber on the front of the vanCame from a rubber shop in Cairns It is a flooring of sorts A bit oily and quite heavy for it's size If you choose to use something like it You will need to scuff the back with a sanding disc on a grinder. The reason being is it will not stick well if you don't The first time I stuck in on with Matrix and didn't scuff it It lasted from Cairns to Townsville before dropping off. Fortunately I saw it starting to go and pulled over Walked to the back of the car and it was on the ground. You can see the result in the second photo in the update above. Bowen was a real shake down trip ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Hope this helps Cheers Atog
|
|
|
Post by hocking4 on Feb 15, 2011 9:16:06 GMT 10
Hi ATOG, matey just read the thread and that is a touch of class! your efforts have paid off. You are the King of the fiberglass mould!!! very inspirational. hope to start our resto soon. no doubt we will talk cheers Bruce
|
|