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Post by hilldweller on Jun 3, 2011 16:44:10 GMT 10
Thanks all, that was very helpful! It is done. Well sawn and sanded anyway, to open as one long length, with the back resting on the middle framework for support. Just need to cut some handles and then do the hinges. Have to say I'm impressed with what a little $30 jigsaw can do Atog a removable batten is a clever idea I never would have thought of - thanks. I think I can do that for the front seats and it would be good to have full-depth access.
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Post by hilldweller on Jun 1, 2011 16:27:57 GMT 10
Hi there. I'm stuck . I've cut out the top of the seat/bed base as one piece of 12mm ply for each side and I'm unsure where to cut next. The plan is that the back part of the lid (ie the bit running along the side of the van) will be fixed, so, questions are: would it work better to have the front part as one long hinged piece opening into the two compartments below, or one for each compartment? And should the hinges sit on top of the piece of framing or just in front of it? Any other advice very welcome . Now, p'bucket willing, there should be a photo somewhere around here.... Progress to date has been slow due to limited time and skills but I'm enjoying it (despite frequently wishing for a van with straight sides and right-angled corners!). The plan is those seats at the back can be either two single beds for small rellies or an almost-queen sized bed for grown-ups. There'll be a single bed across the front.
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Post by hilldweller on May 22, 2011 16:25:07 GMT 10
Wow that's one lucky van! Look forward to photos as it progresses.
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Post by hilldweller on May 13, 2011 10:58:07 GMT 10
Ooooh it's another of my van's Aussie cousins Nice to see the before and after pics in one hit. If only it was that quick in real life. End result looks awesome.
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Post by hilldweller on May 13, 2011 10:56:02 GMT 10
No idea (I'm new at this) but nice to see another NZ van on here. Will you post pics as you do it up?
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Post by hilldweller on May 8, 2011 15:49:19 GMT 10
Wow that's huge it's like a little house Look forward to seeing pics as the work progresses.
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 27, 2011 15:01:35 GMT 10
It has crossed my mind several times that a completely stripped out shell with nothing to copy from was not the most sensible starting point for a beginner project We live and learn..... Can someone advise what's the normal sort of width for seat bases (the ones with storage underneath that turn into beds at night). I'm thinking 700 ish though the Caravelle's curves mean the squabs will be slightly wedge-shaped I think. Too wide? Too narrow? And also what dimension timber should I use for the framing and what thickness ply? I have some 19x42mm and some 6mm ply but am wondering if that's sturdy enough? Would be a tad embarrassing if it collapsed under me on the first outing. And while I think about it, is there a normal thickness for wall linings and cupboard sides etc? Less than 6mm? Thanks heaps hilldweller
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 26, 2011 10:30:45 GMT 10
Oops. Apologies Banno if my post prompted you into showing your hand sooner than planned. Certainly shows the ongoing appeal of the original fibreglass shape (which is what I thought some vintage van owners might be interested in, not the actual vans themselves what with them being all that way across the ditch).
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 26, 2011 9:38:57 GMT 10
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 20, 2011 10:55:56 GMT 10
Absolutely LOVE that curtain fabric Kinda retro, kinda modern, and in keeping with the original colour scheme. It's gonna look awesome. Interesting to read about replacing the curved windows too. Been too busy with work lately to touch the caravelle but hoping to get some time next week to work on replacing missing framing.
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 20, 2011 8:33:26 GMT 10
Rollydog there's a pixie on TM at the moment. Is that the same as yours?
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 6, 2011 8:34:50 GMT 10
Hilldweller. I missed the start of this thread but welcome to the forum. I actually have a NZ van. It is a 1968 Munro Pixie 10 manufactured by Munro in Otrohaunga and sold new by John Withers Caravan Centre in New Plymouth. (All this info is from the badges attached to the van) Unfortunately the records Munro held for these were lost in a fire but if you ever see these vans I'd appreciate any photos as I want to compare the layouts of the stove/fridge/sink and bed area. Rollydog Will keep a lookout - sounds like a cute van. It would be worth you checking out Trademe listings from time to time. That's a good source of pics. Also, I'm pretty sure CI Munro is still in business - you could perhaps contact them for info.
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 6, 2011 8:32:27 GMT 10
Having now seen photos of your van I can see why you would think that the moulds were the same. There is only minor differences . Is your van a 14'er? What colour are you going to paint your van? I like the idea of changing a few things on our Kenny, but it is in such beautiful, original condition that we would be doing an injustice in do anything too much. We will add our personal touch with curtains etc. If you need any info or photos of internal stuff that might help you just send a message. Cheers, Mrs. Smiley Hey thanks for that kind offer Mrs Smiley. I may well take you up on it as I get further down the track. Agree that yours is such a great original example that it's worth preserving. Things like curtain fabric though really aren't made to last for 50 years and it would be natural for those to be changed - to my way of thinking anyway. Colour - hmmm well the thinking on that changes daily LOL. I'm not aiming to recreate how it was originally (I can't figure out what that was anyway) and I'd like it bright and summery. Maybe yellow or green with a little bit of white to highlight some of the moulding? What do you think? Edit: yes 14 ft
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 5, 2011 12:53:01 GMT 10
Hello Mrs Smiley Congratulations on being all road legal ;D. Mine's a NZ manufactured van called a Caravelle that looks to have been made from the same mould as Kennedys. It's very much a do-up LOL, which is why I'm enjoying the pics of yours so much. Now can I figure out how to link to the thread with pics in case you're interested? ....um....no But it's called 'newbie from across the ditch' and it's in general, last post was 1 Feb.
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Post by hilldweller on Mar 4, 2011 18:38:13 GMT 10
Nice pics thanks. So can you now carry a gas bottle and a spare wheel at the same time on the drawbar? Like the wheels too. For some reason I'm really looking forward to painting mine, though that job's a way down the track.
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Post by hilldweller on Feb 25, 2011 18:12:15 GMT 10
Wow that is great. Thanks for the link. You'd have to smile every time you saw that van Particuarly like the 'rust' A brilliant idea, brilliantly executed. And in case you're wondering, no I will not be attempting anything anyway near that league. Safe and sound and functional with some nice colours is plenty ambitious enough.
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Post by hilldweller on Feb 20, 2011 17:47:09 GMT 10
Thanks Atog. Been reading some of the old threads on here and getting a bit more confident about the next move. Have bought some framing timber, sikaflex glue, normal wood glue and even a small amount of fiberglass and resin etc. Took another look at the van and decided the front end has more of the original framing so better to start on the back. Had a closer look at the back and decided chipboard with wonky square-headed screws was not only not original, but not serving any useful purpose, so out it came along with various other patch-up bits and I think a couple of original bits that came off with later additions. All that’s left is a couple of short bits coming up at the bottom and those have inexplicably been sawn off about 4in below their intended height. Fortunately one of the front corners has enough framing left that I can see how it’s supposed to be. So ready for new framing but decided not in the right headspace today for measuring and cutting things on odd angles so started removing old staples and screws from some of the overhead framing. Those two lengths pictured are only just hanging on, swinging from their thin casing of fibreglass, having lost their support at both ends. The timber’s good though and I’m hoping I can reattach them before they fall off. hilldweller .
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Post by hilldweller on Feb 13, 2011 15:53:12 GMT 10
That's a lovely van. Congratulations and thanks for posting the pics - very useful as a point of reference cheers hilldweller
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Post by hilldweller on Feb 13, 2011 10:52:24 GMT 10
Hi there This is a general 'what do I need to know' question Any advice or pointers to earlier threads would be very welcome. My van (the Kennedy-lookalike that's actually a Caravelle) has about half of the original framing missing and what's left is a confusing mess of different sized timbers, single and double thicknesses, 'proper' wood and ply. There are curved pieces on the ceiling and around the corners. Some have been made from a straight length that's been bent and others are thick ply that's been cut to shape. Does it matter which method I replace them with? The sides are mostly vertical ribs that sit out from the curved fibreglass shell to create a flat wall and are (or were) held in place with fibreglass strips. Some bits - eg the delaminating ply across the ceiling that's causing a sag in the roof - are obviously structural and need to be replaced but the rest I'm not sure about. Should I aim to replace everything I think was there originally and then add extras if the new internal layout requires it? And what's the best way to attach the new timber to the fibreglass shell? Strips of fibreglass and glue? ?? Sorry about all the questions. I have made a bit of progress so far - with easier things like removing/killing rust and old paint on the chassis and the old floor has been patched and covered with a new layer of ply.
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Post by hilldweller on Feb 1, 2011 14:47:58 GMT 10
Yep go for it Don Ricardo. I'll see what I can find out about sutton mason boatbuilders - must be the same outfit surely. Perhaps that early publicity stunt caused them to change direction LOL It would be interesting to know how many were made. I've seen pics of two or three other Caravelles in what appears to be active use, and another one or two derelict so there are at least a few still about - and perhaps they're more likely to be found in the Akld area where Sutton Mason were/are which is the wrong end of the country for me. From a browse through expired Trademe (like ebay) listings I'd say there are more sunliners and lilliputs still in active service - but I could be wrong on that.
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Post by hilldweller on Jan 31, 2011 15:21:03 GMT 10
Wow what a great publicity stunt! Might need to do something about the hole in the floor before I try something like that Great to know who manufactured it boblor - thanks for that Very interesting to see the similarities with the lilliputs and kennedys too. From the side, the kennedy looks identical apart from the moulding above the wheel. This is too big at 14ft to be a version of lilliputs but perhaps one was influenced by the other. Did manufacturers design and make their own moulds? Could they have 'borrowed' another firm's design and modified it? Great pics Atog - unfortunately my skill level is nowhere near that league but it's lovely to look.
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Post by hilldweller on Jan 30, 2011 12:23:00 GMT 10
Thanks for the welcome. OK, photobucket willing, here's what she looks like This is pretty much as I got her which means I don't unfortunately have any of the original fittings and no door handle! The front window isn't original - should wrap right around in a single pane as the back one does. Fortunately the replacement is cracked which will help justify re-replacing it with a wraparound one. The floor is sound, apart from where holes have been cut and there's no sign of any leaks - as there shouldn't be with fiberglass I guess and apparently she was shed stored so the perished window seals haven't caused problems. Some of the remaining internal framing is OK, or will be if it can be reattached more firmly to the shell. Other bits need replacing including the timbers running across the front and back of the hatch, hence the props. Hatch itself seems OK but no fittings. The paint's been put on pretty roughly with a brush and rollers, presumably as an undercoat and they never got any further than that, but there are a few (not many actually, given her age) bits of bog under the paint that need more work. There's a patch over the left wheel that wasn't very smooth to start with and then cracked as soon as it went over a bump. I've had the chassis checked out and apparently the rust is only surface so I'm wire brushing and will put on some rust kill. Lights are brand new done in a hurry to get her road legal for the trip home so no time to look into more authentic fittings. Thoughts and advice very welcome . Atog - one caravan is quite enough for now - though the sunliners/concords do look pretty cool :o
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Post by hilldweller on Jan 29, 2011 18:55:17 GMT 10
Hello all Are Kiwis allowed on here? I'm hoping so because wow, what a treasure trove of information and inspiration ;D Had a sudden rush of blood to the head over Christmas and bought a late 60s van . It's a project LOL - just a fibreglass shell on wheels - and going to be a challenge as I'm all new to this. The brand name is Caravelle but from the pics I've seen on here it's nothing like what you call a caravelle but oddly enough is very similar to a Kennedy. Different front and rear windows and I think the roof might be a bit different but the sides look identical . I can have a go at wrestling with photobucket if you like.
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