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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 12, 2018 7:17:57 GMT 10
A quick glimpse of what the roof of the bay window will look like. Happy to say that I've finally finished playing with those compound angles and only straight cuts remain for the bay wall panels. None of this will be permanently assembled till the van walls are up and all window frames fitted. The roof panels are 9mm marine ply, but will also have the calico seal treatment together with the van's roof.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 13, 2018 16:45:02 GMT 10
So folks, have you ever wondered what $800 worth of plywood looks like? ?? Not a big heap, is it??? Had to go all the way to Brissy because I wanted 2700mm long ones!!
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 15, 2018 8:09:57 GMT 10
And now arrived the framing material. Had a quote on meranti and nearly died!!!
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Post by cobber on Sept 15, 2018 15:54:33 GMT 10
G'day Ray, I knew this thread existed (and so did you ) but I've had trouble finding it. I am wondering if it was in your subconsciousness and has inspired you to take on this project of yours ( with some modifications ! 😉 ) Cobber.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 16, 2018 20:00:39 GMT 10
Great bit of sleuthing young cobber!!!!! That thread bring back some memories, and perhaps subconsciously it did influence me. WHo knows? ?? I also have a couple of silver gypsy caravan charms which I've had a few years. That too could have been the influence!!
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 17, 2018 23:37:39 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 18, 2018 21:12:20 GMT 10
The shorter blue timber in my last photo was to be the wall framing material - 70mm x 35mm termite treat house studs. I figured that they would be a bit of overkill, so took them to a friend's place who had some yard space where I could create sawdust aplenty and with a $50 something Aldi table saw ripped them all down to 45mm x 35mm size! Tidied them up with my trusty planer! Today the upwards build began! Like turning the first sod on a construction site I felt it was worth photographing the first post erection. By day's end, the front framing is up: The corner posts and the two full height posts are held onto the baseplate via a 150mm x 150mm x 6mm gal brackets. The window opening is for the bay window already constructed earlier. The two short offset posts under the horizontal part of the window frame are for later attaching the brackets underneath the bay window. The double support above that window frame is for later attachment of the roof battens. The two blue upper horizontal pieces are merely spacers and won't form part of the final structure. I had to check to see if that bay window would actually fit, didn't I!!! I think it'll do very nicely and not look like the proverbial pimple on a pumpkin! Some of those American ones seem to be sooo small! Perhaps it has something to do with the climate? Can you imagine the completed bay window here? Tomorrow I will try to scribe the roof curve onto those posts.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 19, 2018 20:59:56 GMT 10
Had a productive day today and installed the framing for the two sides of Cino Vardo A view from the back looking forward Those of you with eagle eyes might see the black texta marks at the top of the front framing. Each post actually has two line, the upper line will be the level of the top of roof in the curve. The roof framing is going to be the interesting one! After the back framing is finished it will be time to add the cladding. That will stiffed the framing even further. I have aligned the top of the side window frames with the top of window section of the bay window. The top battens you see on the sides are there for bracing only and will be removed when the wall plywood is fitted. I am working in rather limited space at the back of my tandem carport. At this point I have not levelled the trailer as I only have one stay fitted to the back. So I'm doing everything by tape measure. When I checked the square of the front frame this morning by measuring the diagonals, I had a variance of about 1mm!!!! Not too shabby for a novice!!!
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 19, 2018 21:44:47 GMT 10
Onya Ray. You`re doing a superb job.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 21, 2018 7:12:41 GMT 10
Well yesterday was another one of those "sod-turning" photo moments - the first wall panel was installed!! A nerve-wracking "cut and paste" time of cutting that first sheet for the bay window opening. I am using 25mm stainless steel nails plus liquid nails, to make sure it all stays on. Just to prove that the rear wall framing is also installed:
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 21, 2018 23:14:07 GMT 10
G'day Roehm, The more I see of Cino Vardo, the more it reminds me of this van from the 20's photographed in Geelong... (Source: Geelong Advertiser, Monday, 24 August 2015, page 33) ...or alternatively an English Eccles with the bay window: But if that’s what you end up building, you'll definitely need to get the tow car to match! Anyway fascinating to see what is being created in your carport! Don Ricardo
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 22, 2018 7:30:45 GMT 10
Hi DonR Thank you so much for your contribution of these photos. I had not seen those vans before. That Eccles looks like it has a pot belly bow in it. Here is a different angle of what I think is the same van. post imageYour pics do raise the question about what started this so-called current "gypsy" caravan popularity overseas. They seem to be more of a copy of what you found, than the very ornate original gypsy horse drawn caravans. Now about your tow car suggestion - a great idea! Perhaps you could start an online group fundraiser for whatever it would cost to purchase such a vehicle for me!!!! Always interesting that like a car you might have bought, once you take an interest in something, you see the same or similar thing on a regular basis thereafter. A month ago I saw a replica gypsy horse-drawn gypsy caravan on the back of a truck, heading to northern parts. Yesterday while having lunch with a friend at Boreen Point near where I live, I came across this in the front yard of the local pub Inside the pub was this photo of it's original use
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 22, 2018 21:10:22 GMT 10
Hi Roehm, Your're right about the early Eccles. They did have bow sides - a bit more challenging for the home builder, eh? How about the Tivoli Garage van for inspiration then? I like the Apollonian Hotel 'charabanc'. Maybe your next project could be a replica? You could bring it to the VV Nationals and use it to transport people around the campsite... Don Ricardo
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 23, 2018 6:47:50 GMT 10
Hi DonR Thank you for giving me some additional goals for my next building challenge!!! Now, how is your fundraiser appeal going?? I see you didn't comment on that!! Meanwhile, not being happy with my arc outline on the front frames, I've been bending my mind towards creating as perfect an arc outline as possible, before cutting my wall panel. So yesterday I set to work and ended up with this template cut from an offcut of ply I used on the floor. I am more than happy with the result of using that template. At least if there is a mistake, it will be the same on the front and back walls!!! To all you doubters that it was going to be too high to get out of the carport, you can now see that there is more than enough clearance. Good headroom inside too - just a tad over 2000mm in the centre! That upper panel will stay only tacked on for a while, for reasons that will be obvious later in the build. Next is to do the same for the back wall - permanently fixing the lower panel and tacking the upper. Thence the same treatment for the side walls. That will give a nice tight frame for the roof to go up. Well, that's the plan anyway, but I have others!!
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 23, 2018 22:35:32 GMT 10
Gotta have a Plan B Ray.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 25, 2018 16:34:50 GMT 10
Well folks, in the interest of balanced reporting I did have a slight setback yesterday. I won't say that I had made a mi#@!*&, but there certainly was the need for a design adjustment. It was actually the fault of my 80something year old retired carpenter/boat builder consultant neighbour!!! If you scroll back to earlier photos, you will note that there are 5 vertical studs in the front of the van. BUT, for reasons unknown, I added six vertical studs (probably just because I could!!) to the back wall. That meant that only the corner studs lined up (it was to be hoped)!! But those stud posts were all meant to be the support for the horizontal roof bearers, so, practically speaking, they ALL needed to line up with each other. So, amongst other things, yesterday was spent re-setting the studs to what they should be! You can see that result of that in this pic Today was spent sorting the back wall out. Again, the top section is only pinned for the time being. Stupidly, probably as penance for not adding a hatch, I have decided to have a curve on the back door! Well, the real reason is because a rectangular one would hit the roof frame when opening it, because I want it higher than I had in the Hunter Minor (its door was under 1600mm high), where I was continually hitting my scone!!
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 28, 2018 15:56:36 GMT 10
So, as another week draws to a close, I am happy to report that the four walls are now there. As i already mentioned, only the bottom level ply is permanently affixed. But it is nice to actually see a shape forming, rather than sticks and sheets of plywood. The short-term "to-do" list reads something like this from this point onward: 1. Mark out the outline of where the horizontal roof battens will notch into the front and rear upper wall panel. 2. Cut out notches 3. Bevel battens so that the top of the battens align with the roof curve 4. Fabricate door arch for the rear wall frame and instal 5. Cut upper rear wall panel and permanently instal it and the other three upper panels 6. Instal roof battens 7. Paint roof battens 8. Paint underside of roof panels in clear varnish (three coats) 9. Instal roof panels 10. The upper nine "to-do's" should bring me close to "wine o'clock" time, when I can write a further list!!! Those roof battens are going to be quite long, as there will be an approximately 100mm overhang at the front and a 600mm overhange at the rear, for the rear verandah!! Total length 3300mm! You forgot I was having a rear verandah, didn't you!!
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Post by willies on Sept 28, 2018 16:28:54 GMT 10
But I guess there isn’t enough room for a spa on the veranda? Taking shape and looking good.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 28, 2018 16:46:56 GMT 10
Wow Roehm, The more I see of Cino Vardo, the more genuinely old school it is looking. I reckon you're going to have to replace those mag wheels with some wooden spoked wheels to add to the faux authenticity. You can always depend on me for helpful ideas... Will there be room for a rocking chair on the verandah? Don Ricardo
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 28, 2018 21:02:46 GMT 10
Hi DonR Thanks for the high praise. Be careful, cos next thing you'll be promoting this thread to the Members' Album In all seriousness, despite suffering my first workplace accident and dripping my blood in a new sheet of plywood, despite almost electrocuting myself when my 12 years old Ozito planer finally spat the dummy, after 5 house renos and 5 vintage caravan resto's (no there was no warranty claim, nor would the lovely blonde in Bunnings tools section come to the great planer funeral, even after I wrote such a great eulogy), despite previously mentioned design hiccups, I am totally enjoying this project. Dare I say perhaps even more than restoring a vintage caravan!!! To the person who's handle likes water but actually lives in the country, I recommend you try it! The only regret that I have is that I simply don't have the height clearance facility to incorporate a lantern roof. Those of you oldies who know me, know how much I love those roofs and for how long I have been trying to talk a certain person who has an original lantern roof caravan to actually part with it rather that letting it sit in the shed because he's gonna do it up one day! That beer belly look would also have been an interesting challenge. I agree with you DonR, it does look very similar to the 20's vans you posted and which I have checked up on since then. Which probably means that it's an easy design and any dumbo can build one! Now, about the wheel change, all I can suggest DonR is that you get moving on that crowd fundraiser for the towcar we talked about earlier and perhaps UP the ante a bit, so that there is enough dosh to include matching wheel rims with the towcar. You certainly have the gift of the gab and pen to raise more funds than I will ever need for this project. So don't just sit there chuckling, get up and do the work!
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Post by Franklin1 on Sept 28, 2018 22:35:12 GMT 10
G'day Ray,
Great progress on your project so far!
You seem to be building a 2-wheel version of a "Shepherd's Hut" (see images here ). Are you going to make curved bows along the length of the ceiling to support the roof battens?
Following on from your Rubik's cube colouring, I'm hoping we see a ceiling mural as detailed as this one
Have enjoyed following your thread. Keep on keeping on!
cheers, Al.
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Post by Koala on Sept 30, 2018 8:11:01 GMT 10
Hi Ray, You are making good progress there and moving along quite well so to slow you down a bit I suggest that you make a double cambered roof As you have a clean pallet to work with this change would add a bit more style and give you another challenge. Koala
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 30, 2018 15:45:34 GMT 10
A spa on the back verandah? Great thought willies, but I guess I'm gonna have to "make do" by using the kitchen sink!! Al, because it's only a 2600mm length, and after speaking to cleverer people than me, I will only have "beams" from front to back without any bow shaped support. The "beams" will be 70mm x 35mm. Between that and the physics of the plywood, it all should hold up without further reinforcement. Now Mr kenny koala. Your advice is pretty much on par with the rest of the staff working in the big green shed!!!! I actually don't have a clean palette to work with, because if you look at the design of the double cambered roof, you would notice that the walls at the front, back AND sides need to be curved at the top for that to work!!! For me to make that happen (and just to please you!!) I would need to build a curved clerestory on the side walls and than sit the roof frames on top of that!! AND FURTHERMORE ......... you have forgotten that I already am right at the height limit in my carport with what I've got, let alone making the roof higher with a double camber. That's why I don't have a lantern-roof either. Gee, good staff are hard to find at the big green shed, even in our national capital!! DonR - I am giving the rocking chair due thought! At least that would be easier to arrange than a double cambered roof!! (maybe you should apply for a job at the big green shed in our national capital!!!) Nah! I think you're more qualified for a job at that other house that has half sunk into the ground!!! (The builders of that place also probably got help from the staff in the big green shed and look what we ended up with!)
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 4, 2018 6:31:28 GMT 10
Hi all Across the road from where I live is a servo complex, with a free camping area behind it. Yesterday I was told that a gypsy caravan like mine was travelling down the road. When I got to the road, it was parked at the servo getting fuel. AFter getting my camera and returning, the rig was parked in the carpark. The owners were a couple and their son, living on the road. After asking for and receiving permission to photograph the vardo, from the man, I had only taken one pic when the female partner came to me and asked that no further photos be taken as they normally get paid for allowing that!!! Well there you go!!! So nobody else has taken a photo of this van since they've been on the road? a rather extraordinary attitude considering they also work from "home" - he is in IT while she is a clairvoyant/witchcraft purveyor! This is the van: I had seen pics of this vardo before on the internet. It is actually a rather clever design, in that it fold down in half like a Prattline, but they are now leaving it up when they travel, because they are living in it. (or is the raising mechanism not working any longer!!). And, of course it does have a lantern/Mollycroft roof! Here is a link to a few more pics: www.asgardiansky.com.au/news/article/62/www.asgardiansky.com.au/about/Vardo,%20Gypsy%20Wagon,/
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Post by Mustang on Oct 4, 2018 19:31:02 GMT 10
Should have had your palm read Rohem, then you may have got a look inside??? I like the lantern roof.
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