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Post by kerri on Nov 19, 2018 20:01:06 GMT 10
This is where I am up to with the van: Adelaide: After running around Adelaide, using all resources available (Canberra does not have alot) I found 12m2 of Polyflor 1430 Silvermist: www.polyflor.com.au/product/classic-mystique-pur/ I bought it for $150, yes $150 for 12m2. Retail, it would have cost me about $400-$500. It was worth the search. Adelaide had so many more factory outlets. So, stuck it in my car and drove it back. I then ordered 2m2, at retail price, from Polyflor of the 1410 Ladoga blue to match. I will be cutting these at 20cm and doing the blue, 3 diagonally. Like this  Vintage caravan floor by Kerri Insley, on Flickr Next, I went hunting for a door and stoneguard. Unable to find anything. If anyone has one, let me know. I have had the brakes pulled off the van and my friend is repairing them. I got a tow bar for the Holden from one of the chaps from the Holden club here in Canberra. I need to de-rust it and then attach it. I went to Allards allardpaintdistributors.com.au/ They are awesome, they make up the paint and he has the original car catalogues for paint colours from the 50's. They are helping me find the original paint colour for the van. It is something like this but I want to get a blue from the Holden days to match, then I can make a final decision on the interior blue. I have bought the curtain material, lace and seat cushion material. This is the base of the colour scheme. I have pastel things and vintage stuff to put in the van. Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will complete all the aluminium sheets for the van. That means a lot of polish. I will start to buff up the window frames. I will finish my home-made shelf and putty the walls, ready for the undercoat. I need to build a table and get the fridge checked. I am sure there are another million things to do. See how much I get done on a lot of coffee... Anyway, I hope everyone is ok. The days are tough for me right now, but I know I have all your support and will push through. Kerri |
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Post by Grasshoppers on Nov 20, 2018 6:09:21 GMT 10
Hi Kerri,
We have never met but have a common love of vintage caravans. I have followed your journey on this forum and just wanted to say that you are such a trooper and I admire your perseverance. Keep up the good work, you are a true inspiration!!
Sandi
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Post by kerri on Nov 20, 2018 13:11:46 GMT 10
Hi GrasshoppersI feel I should be getting an award for not having a nervous breakdown. But after so much loss, you learn to be more compassionate, empathetic and real life kicks in. No more stress for me anymore. I need to be kind to myself after so much trauma. Thank you for your kind words. I am very persistent and never give up in life. Just did another coat of paint on the cupboard doors, completed my shelf and cleaning more aluminium. Actually, is it easier to clean, scrub the aluminium when the sheets are off (on the ground) or put it all back together and then give it a good scrub. I find that if I want to hose it off when the aluminium is on (during cleaning phase). I don't want water to get into the windows. Thanks Kerri |
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Post by Grasshoppers on Nov 20, 2018 15:38:57 GMT 10
Hi again Kerri, Great attitude to have!! When restoring our aluminium Olympic we had only some of the panels off the van at various times. I cleaned those panels flat on the ground or on a table and found it much easier. Good for the mind too as one or two panels at a time was better than looking at the mammoth task that was left on the van. We still need to do some more polishing but I always keep in mind that these are old vans and there is something nice about their imperfections  All the very best, Sandi |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 22, 2018 15:41:14 GMT 10
I am absolutely giddy from the progress you are making. Don't forget to take a breath occasionally and have some much needed "ME" time too!  |
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Post by kerri on Jan 3, 2019 13:46:25 GMT 10
Hi everyone, Grasshoppers and Roehm3108 I am still in the land of the living. An update: I made a table!. I used old trim I stripped from another van and it looks great. Just need to decide on the laminex design now.  20181231_104728 by Kerri Insley, on Flick I started sanding the inside, back area so I can do an undercoat and make the bed/couch. No photo for that. I also started polishing the aluminium sheets ready to be put back on. My solution as at 2.47pm, Thursday, 3rd January... Hot water and soap to clean off dirt etc, a large brass brush to give it a good scrib, a nylon brush to buff it over and then the fine grade steel wool to get rid of the shine/buff marks. Now I know what you are thinking...way too much work and effort. But, from what I have read, we are all over polishing aluminium. I decided at this stage not to use any polishing products, as I don't think it needs it. It is pretty good the way it is. If I decide to polish it, I will go over the whole van once it is put back together. As you can see, everything is done by hand and only one at a time in 30 degree heat, so I don't faint or feel overwhelmed. It's a real shit staying motivated, but slowly getting there. I'm going hard over the next few days, had a few coffees. All good. tooleyau @koala ... |
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Post by kerri on Jan 3, 2019 13:57:51 GMT 10
Next thing are the windows. Need to paintstrip, polish, re-rubber and clean glass. How long will that take guys and girls.........  I think one whole day. There are eight of them.  20181230_091654 by Kerri Insley, on Flickr |
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Post by kerri on Jan 3, 2019 14:06:12 GMT 10
The most important thing EVER! I have named the van. Not telling though. I'll wait until I christen the van when it is done. In about 2058.
Kerri
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Jan 3, 2019 14:22:39 GMT 10
Next thing are the windows. Need to paintstrip, polish, re-rubber and clean glass. How long will that take guys and girls.... I think one whole day. There are eight of them. things are moving along nicely kerrie, you must feel pretty good about the progress. i don't want to throw a wet blanket on things but one whole day, each maybe. i started polishing the windows on the roadie and after an hour of hard yakka on one window, i decided that being (highly) polished might be a bit overkill so i decided to leave them all as antique/rustic. now i have to wait for the semi shiny one to "go off" to match the others. geoff 'n jude ps - when you steel wool the panels, make sure you use plenty of "real soap" (not detergent) on the pads and that will give a better finish with less scrub marks. |
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Post by kerri on Jan 3, 2019 14:47:51 GMT 10
Hi Geoff & Jude Nice to hear from you. Yes, I know, wishful thinking. I feel pretty good about getting things done but not easy one person, I need to keep myself motivated and focus on one thing at a time. I just cut 3 vinyl tiles from my sheet. They look great though. Everything takes time and always better with someone else. I'm not after fancy polishing but enough to take the dullness away. Thanks for the heads up about 'real soap'. I will give it a go. I have only done 2 panels, 10 more to go. |
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Post by Mustang on Jan 5, 2019 18:12:21 GMT 10
I have polished over 30 windows with this method to a respectable shine: How to Polish Tarnished Aluminum Windows There's not a product, brush, potion that I haven’t tried to rejuvenate old aluminum, I’m yet to find anything that works, better than this method: Best method I have found for polishing tarnished aluminum: (Non Oxidized) 1) Course steel wool , (pending condition) sprayed with INOX (pending condition) (WD40 is too light & dries out quickly) With this first step it is important to remove all lumps of tarnish. You can spray the surface with Inox the steel wool will remove lumps & lichen damage, if the dips are too deep, best left as part of the history. 2) Medium steel wool (any tarnished condition) 3) Fine " " " " “ Steel Wool is cheap, it wears out, change your pad when it balls up & keep up the Inox spray.
You should have reached a semi shine by the “fine” stage, if not you may have skimped on stages 1 & 2. Now the secret is to finish with steel wool 0000 still saturated in INOX. Rub like no tomorrow, then de-grease the Inox. Next Step
: I have tried Purple de-Oxidizer, Purple Polish, White bull bar shine, most others.... I now recommend AUTOSOL, apply after all of above, cheap & it works, However once you achieve a shine, maintenance with Purple de-Oxidizer followed by Purple Polish will give you a slightly higher gloss. It takes time, you cannot rush it, set small targets. |
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Post by hotrodandy on Apr 13, 2019 12:26:47 GMT 10
Hi, I have just bought a 1960s Viscount Valiant caravan and ready to start renovating it. what I am looking for is more details about the caravan. All I have is a serial number on the draw bar which says B177. Its 12ft long, 6.8ft wide and 7.7ft high. Silver but was painted maroon/brown. 15ft long to the end of the draw bar.image.jpegimage.jpeg Can anyone help. Kerri Hi, I have just bought a 1960s Viscount Valiant caravan and ready to start renovating it. what I am looking for is more details about the caravan. All I have is a serial number on the draw bar which says B177. Its 12ft long, 6.8ft wide and 7.7ft high. Silver but was painted maroon/brown. 15ft long to the end of the draw bar.image.jpegimage.jpeg Can anyone help. Kerri Welcome Kerri link to b358Link to down history lane
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Post by hotrodandy on Apr 13, 2019 12:30:30 GMT 10
Hi kerri, am currently working on my valiant van chassis no b181 heaps to do but getting there
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