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Post by DC3Td on Mar 5, 2009 18:38:33 GMT 10
Hi atog. Gonna buy steel wheels & polish them up too? Ok, being faecitious there. Coming along real nice with all the trick trimware. Yeah, simple idea, short bit of time & piece as good as a bought item. cheers gordon
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 7, 2009 18:22:37 GMT 10
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Post by DC3Td on Mar 7, 2009 19:32:14 GMT 10
Hi Atog. Are my eyes playing tricks or is there the remains of a mural on the ground under where your van was? And if you were quick enough you coulda soap sudded the van down & let the wind & rain do the rest. cheers gordon
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 7, 2009 20:10:28 GMT 10
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 9, 2009 17:51:51 GMT 10
Registered at last Who's a happy camper vanner Look out roads here we come..... Welllll Maybe in June - July Still plenty to do inside and out
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 9, 2009 22:41:06 GMT 10
Congratulations ATOG, You've reached a significant milestone with your Olympic, and the work you've done on it so far is fantastic! Don Ricardo
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Post by sportsman 1 on Mar 10, 2009 16:04:32 GMT 10
Well done Atog,
keeps us all plodding along with our projects when you see that there is a light at the end of the long, long tunnel.
cheers, Leigh.
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 12, 2009 6:48:45 GMT 10
Thanks DonR and Sportsman It has been a long drawn out affair. Coming up to 18 months Still have stuff to do inside and of course the paint next month If I can get the use of a shed The rain up here is too regular and the humidity quite high So there are a few question marks over the repaint Originally posted this thread to keep me going and to show anyone that is thinking of doing up a van, what could be done Hope it has achieved that for the other members Might take a couple of weekends off (working on the van) considering it has been full on for the past month plus Used up all my holidays last month just to get the van this far It's all part of the fun... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog
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Post by kazandadam on Mar 12, 2009 11:30:58 GMT 10
Hey Atog, I don't think anybody couldn't be inspired by your work, I know I am!!! Keep up the good work, it'll look awesome with a new coat of jam. You're not thinking of doing a rosewood flash are you? Only kidding, the Quest is painted but in the photo's it came out white instead of cream, so while I'm out there putting the new wall sheets on this arvo I'll take some more pics & post them tonight - it look's awesome!!!
Cheers Adam.
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 15, 2009 12:02:21 GMT 10
Thanks for that Adam Been slack this weekend ..... decided to clean up the workshop instead of working on the van yesterday Today only a couple of hours painting the lounge and beds partially inside and partially out ..... Now up to one top coat on all surfaces Do have one issue with painting on beautiful sunny days These little beggars Bush bees seem to love the smell of turps and paint....... With about six hives around my place they come from everywhere to use freshly painted surfaces as a landing strip Oh well just glad they are around the place.... Sign of the health of the area Cheers Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 28, 2009 11:57:18 GMT 10
Hey Guys Decided to do a little .... in the van this weekend Bought a table stand at last and fitted it this morning Caravansplus to the rescue Here it is Oh not enough? OK How about this Arrrrrrhhhhh!!!!!! Now it makes sense ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Added a couple of magnets to the wardrobe and pantry doors to pull them up against the frame when closed Quick job but makes a nice sound when closed against the frame Did them top and bottom We'll see what else can be done on a lazy weekend ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 12, 2009 19:00:05 GMT 10
Evening All Thought I'd update the thread This is what the van looked like this morning You must admit it is a big shed Cheers Atog
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Post by firefighter on Apr 12, 2009 22:30:52 GMT 10
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Post by DC3Td on Apr 12, 2009 23:19:13 GMT 10
Hi Atog. I see you even got 'Hills hoists' on steroids & fibreglass carpeting under the work horses! Paint the `glass green,sling a canvas over the hoists,cupla beers & we`ll see what colour your van cones out. Cheers gordon
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 13, 2009 7:41:51 GMT 10
Hey Guys The shed belongs to an ex boss now a mate.... That is about a third of the shed in the photo in front of that is a metal work shop and in front of that is a cabinetmaking shipwright section that takes up about half the shed The "glass floor" is removed once a year ...... Bit of a build up as you can see Back too it this morning Cheers Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 14, 2009 7:55:25 GMT 10
Greetings Everyone Here's how we spent the Easter break FridayTow the Olympic to the shed and start stripping all the bits off Clean up and bog the repairs not previously done Finish about 5.30pm SaturdayContinue to clean up and remove old paint from repairs In the afternoon mask up and undercoat Finish about 8.30pm SundaySand the whole van and fill any missed areas with bog Spray the top coat in the Afternoon Strip all the masking off Finish about 6pm MondayRefit the shiny bits, doors and hatch Drag it home and park it on the front lawn.... Clean up the shed Finish by 1pm Monday afternoon...... Sleep ;D ;D ;D Word of warning to those painting a caravan Do it over a week or more...... Four day weekend .... just too short Cheers Atog
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Post by firefighter on Apr 14, 2009 8:06:47 GMT 10
Hi atog the paint job looks good from down here in mexico ...... but are you happy with it looks like you had a big weekend f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 14, 2009 19:12:17 GMT 10
Hey Firefighter The paint job looks good from down here in mexico ...... but are you happy with it looks like you had a big weekend f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Weeellllll There's good news and bad news Compared to what I started with... I'm over the moon happy There are so many little problems that we removed - that the van now looks vantastic But Having never done this before we had buckleys chance of doing it all right The ol dear still has a few issues We didn't have enough paint There should have been another 2 litres of top coat to cover it properly. So there are a couple of thin spots Using two pack requires you to be real fast The tin says 3-5minutes between coats..... That is a definite problem on a project this large If we had another shot at it .... the van would be perfect Considering the guy that was to paint it didn't show (he had sprayed two pack before) and we are total novices... Not a bad effort My saying is "The first time is always the worst time" Next time will be better ;D ;D ;D Thanks for the interest Cheers Atog
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Post by lovshack on Apr 19, 2009 10:55:07 GMT 10
hi ya atog
just got home from the big trip and am now catching up with all the goss on the forum
the van looks great, make that fantastic.
it feels good when you stand back at the end of the day and see what you have achieved doesn't it
these olympics are the way to go
45,000 kms in 12 months and the only thing was the kettle in the bottom cupboard knocked the door off the hinge, screwed it back on in 30 seconds....job done [ bloody bumpy qld roads]
have been home two days and miss the open road already [want to go again]
after living in a 16footer for 12 months, who needs a house with all the hassles
all the best
dave & pat lovshack
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 20, 2009 5:53:18 GMT 10
Hey Pat and Dave So glad to hear you've arrived home safe and sound Wife was only pondering yesterday morning "Wonder where they are now?" Didn't have to wait long for an answer ;D ;D ;D Thanks for stopping in when you were in Cairns If you decide to do another cruz around the block.... Drop in and say hi We may be able to rustle up a few more mud crabs for dinner Yeah the van is coming along great guns Still more to do on the interior and as you saw I followed your lead with the kitchen bench top Very happy with that The other half and I have decided to keep this one and work on getting a car next... The open road is calling ...... Who are we to not listen, will still be plenty of time until we can go but it will happen Thanks for your company and will see you on the road perhaps... Cheers Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on May 7, 2009 6:06:06 GMT 10
Well Gents Starting at a new job has all sorts of advantages One is seeing new stuff I can use on the Olympic Well .... not really new Have any of you heard of pinchweld? You've definitely seen it if you have an older car Cause your roof lining is held on the edges of the door by it I've seen it in older cars but never put two and two together So the roof hatch edge now has pinchweld on it This will stop the hatch rubbing a wear line into the gelcoat and paint on the roof As had happened before It is just a plastic U section with aluminium or stainless steel U's encased in the plastic Great stuff and will probably add more to any raw edges in the van Just added this extra bit onto the front edge so you can see what I mean Here's how it looks from the outside Would have liked to run it around in one continuous piece but the corners are too sharp an angle.... Cheers Atog Have since found that if you cut out the inside section of the pinchweld at the corners ..... it will go around .... Oh well.... live and learn ;D ;D ;D
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Post by bradngem on May 7, 2009 8:56:33 GMT 10
We used a simular product on our franklin but ours has a rubber under with the pinchweld sides, bought from clark rubber. Works well. Gem
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Post by atouchofglass on May 17, 2009 15:37:02 GMT 10
Thanks Gem Have been doing a bit more on the interior of recent Well - Last weekend was wet wet wet all weekend.... Sat in the van and looked around for little bits and pieces to do You know the feeling ...... you don't really want to do anything But ...... feel guilty cause no progress has been made for ages Lots of bigger jobs had been done and the little ones have been pushed aside. So little jobs were on the hit list that weekend.... anything inside. Fool the brain into thinking it is just "Preparing" stuff Started gluing up some frames I'm making While they were drying .......... There has been a couple of annoying leaks that just wouldn't go away Found them.... fixed them with Matrix Between showers ...... While the matrix was out - decided to mask and finish of the bottom edges of the overhead cupboards Fixed the holes in the floor from previous owners attempts at ..... don't know what And this The one on the left is the prototype for the one in the clamps Gotta love that drop saw Hard to see but you start with two 45 degree cuts and finish with 22.5 degree cuts to get around the corner Cause the middle piece isn't long enough to go right through the join Meaning the end two need a 45 to make a proper joinWhat's it all about you ask? Got four to make.... All different Here's where this one goes - round the top edge OK...... Boring But that was last weekend A bit more on the edging of the lounges this weekend Not finished yet but at least it is started ;D ;D ;D Will give the edges of the beds a go in the next week or so The lounge is the main focus for the moment Cheers Atog
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Post by olympicriviera on May 18, 2009 21:20:06 GMT 10
WOW atog......... Have a couple of months away from the site and look how much further along you are............looking really good.Not far to go by the looks of it
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Post by atouchofglass on May 24, 2009 8:16:47 GMT 10
Hey Olympicriviera Just keep chipping away at it and it will get there....... eventually Still working on the window frames. Decided to make a shelf for the fire extinguisher as you enter the van Here's a short version Made a mold using scrap timber a board and glue gun (my new toy) ;D ;D ;D Glassed it up Yep the fire extinguisher fits Bogged and sanded it ...... repeatedly Primed - filled and painted Took a couple of days to finish Probably cost around 30-40 dollars in bits Still have half a tin of primer and almost a full tin car bog and white enamel So really..... $10 - $15 in materials It just takes time Cheers Atog One week later.....Wasn't happy with a couple of small holes in the paint so decided to sand it back and spray with undercoat filler again.... Big mistake The filler crinkled the enamel paint up Sooo had to remove all the filler and paint - back to fibreglass and bog Then - Respray with filler Wait a couple of days sand..... spray with enamel Wait a couple of days ... sand and fill the last couple of holes and Respray with enamel only Looks good now ;D ;D ;D ;D Two weeks later Finally finished - except for the signwriting Glued matting inside to protect the extinguisher and edged it with the last bit of pinchweld
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