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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 8, 2023 12:52:46 GMT 10
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Post by hilldweller2 on Apr 16, 2023 12:56:11 GMT 10
You're nearly there Ray. Looking forward to more pics as the final pieces come together. Do you have a plan in mind for your first road trip? Shame it's not thistle season.
That solar panel is interesting. I had no idea you could get something that thin.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 26, 2023 7:41:06 GMT 10
Hi all Not so much an update, but rather so bit of stuff that is of interest to at least one person on this site. I decided to convert an existing ice-box I had in my lounge, into a sink cupboard for Thistle-Do. To keep the weight down, I took out the back panel and removed the sawdust as well as the internal gal box. The box had this stamp om it, which might pique the historians. I'm thinking it's Queen Victoria?  I can't make out the word though?  |
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Post by Johnny & Annie on Apr 26, 2023 8:57:33 GMT 10
Ray,
Looks like LYSAGHT to me.
Australian steel manufacturer.
John
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Post by cobber on Apr 26, 2023 16:35:52 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 27, 2023 7:00:52 GMT 10
Thanks for seeing Lysaght in that printing, John! Thanks also to you cobber, for your input. Unfortunately, there isn't any more useful printing on the gal to provide more info. I did do a google search on the logo and came up with this, what looks like a logo registration certificate going back to 1906. Perhaps it's a bust of a Lysaght family member, as I doubt that you could register Queen Victoria's picture, and she had died by then anyway.  |
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Post by shesgotthelook on Apr 27, 2023 8:27:35 GMT 10
Did a quick bit of Google Lens, was thinking maybe Hera Queen of the Gods but no, it's definitely Queen Victoria  |
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Post by Roehm3108 on May 18, 2023 15:06:16 GMT 10
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Post by Mustang on May 19, 2023 8:43:16 GMT 10
I like the tiles.
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Post by hilldweller2 on May 19, 2023 15:15:08 GMT 10
Ah yes methinks you were a little misleading about your plans for the interior colours in your earlier post with that nice but not especially remarkable cream/sand paint! I will look forward to seeing what comes next  The timber brenchtop and the tiles look great together. I like that there are so many different colours and patterns. |
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Post by Roehm3108 on May 20, 2023 7:47:13 GMT 10
Hi HD Nah, I'm not that clever as to mislead anybody. Its just the way things evolve. The colourful tiles were happenstance. When you think about it with small caravans, once the furniture is in, there's really not much wall space to see so why worry about bright colours. I prefer to highlight using accessories such as the tiles. I also have a luggage railway rack going in, which will feature another area.  |
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Post by tooleyau on May 20, 2023 19:45:13 GMT 10
What we did with an old ice box was convert it to a fridge using novacool fridge components. Runs on 12volts. Attachments:
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Post by hilldweller2 on May 21, 2023 8:29:19 GMT 10
Love the luggage rack! Looking forward to what comes next.
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Post by Roehm3108 on May 23, 2023 15:02:44 GMT 10
tooleyau, this is what the icebox looked like originally the top door is now the front upper door. Everything except the top frame, the small plywood fill panel and rear T&G panels have been reused. As the framing was oak, I couldn't get myself to toss it, despite it being heavier than I wanted.  |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jun 2, 2023 18:17:27 GMT 10
Hi all Managed to get a bit more building done this past week. Built storage bins around each wheel arch (yes there will be lids added later).   The framing for these will also act as support for the sofa/bed. I have two mattresses I bought out of a doctor's surgery after they remodelled it to a different corporate colours. They were 1900mm x 800mm, with high quality vinyl covers. I had an upholsterer friend halve the width of one to 400mm wide and resew it for me. I've now built two frames to the size of the mattresses, recycling the sliding bed-base ply from the original camper.  Here's what the bed will look like with the mattresses on.  I have yet to work out how to convert this to a sofa, bearing in mind I have that shelf in the way behind it. It can't be moved as it has a structural purpose as well. I'm hoping to work out a way to gain a bit more floor space (2-300mm) when the bed is in the sofa position. Any suggestions on how to go about doing that are welcome! The cupboard shape you see beside the bed may be familiar to some people. I had planned to put it into Cino Vardo but decided to build similar replicas instead at that time. This time, these 1930's cupboards will be built in the position it sits at the moment. They're oak too, so this is becoming a rather precious caravan! It gives me great storage for a small van. Maybe this addition plus the sink cupboard with vintage tap plus the luggage rack qualifies this build as a vintage caravan!! |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jun 17, 2023 13:59:15 GMT 10
Hi All The past few weeks have given me little time to spend on the build, but I have now finished the hatches over the wheel arches as well as building the sofabed frame. The larger squab is 800mm wide and the smaller one I had cut down to 400mm . It was always going to be a challenge working out a way to have the backrest only 500mm from the front when in the sofa position. The futon click-clack hinges wouldn't work so I developed a simple sliding post for the backrest, which seems to work. The pics show what it will look like. I will be fitting very heavy duty Velcro to fix the backrest squab to the frame next week. Hatches (lids made using the plywood base of the old camper beds):   Sofabed in bed position  Sofabed in sofa position  I don't expect the backrest posts to be a head-hitting problem where they are, as the mattress is actually 1900mm long. There will be sufficient storage space for the bedding, behind the backrest when the bed is not in use. |
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Post by shesgotthelook on Jun 20, 2023 9:45:10 GMT 10
Hi Ray, I would consider putting doors at the front of the under bed storage. Once the bed is made, it is a huge pain & very hard on one's back to lift it up. I have & have had a couple of vans with this design & never put the bed back to seating position. Just my 2 bobs worth. Great job you are doing by the way.
SGTL
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jun 20, 2023 18:24:59 GMT 10
Hi SGTL Nice to hear from you and thanks for your input. Very early in the build, I actually considered outside hatch doors with a tunnel boot in the back section. I put it into the "too hard" basket!! The bigger 800mm wide mattress will always sit where it is, regardless of whether used as sofa or bed. The backrest part is quite light (even for this old codger) and sits in front of the bigger mattress. The front hatch lids are very easy to access and will contain items I want to use regularly. The back hatch is slightly problematic but will only have stuff stored there which I won't need to access that regularly. Granted that once the bed is made it becomes more difficult. Having a door vertically still means crawling under the bed, which is virtually impossible for me these days. It can be a project for the next person   . |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jun 20, 2023 18:29:06 GMT 10
Hi All The heavy duty velcro for the sofa back cushion seems to be working. A couple of pics of the finished look, with the rail luggage rack above. Today I installed the front and side windows. No, I didn't make them!! Got them from Marketplace. Bed position  Sofa position  Front Window  One of the side windows  |
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Post by hilldweller2 on Jul 9, 2023 9:35:34 GMT 10
Looking good Ray Love that red vinyl and a very ingenious solution to the shelf/backrest issue. Flash windows too! |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Aug 31, 2023 7:42:31 GMT 10
Hi all No, the project hasn't been mothballed! Been a bit distracted with other work the past couple of months and much of the work really didn't warrant photos. I now have AC and DC power on board and it all seems to be working as expected. It's a minimalist system but will run lights and fridge. The battery box has sufficient connection points for charging input as well as USB and lighter socket connections. Charging for the 120ah lithium battery is via DC/DC charger from car alternator and 160 watt solar panel. I've added a 5amp AC/DC charger to maintain the battery when under the carport. I've also built magnetic flyscreens to the side windows (the front window came with flyscreen installed). The door was originally right-hand hinged, which I flipped to a left-hand hinge, as well as adding the security screen to the window section. The white panel is yet to be painted to match the wall. I'm on the home stretch and the "to do" list is now much shorter. Some touch-up painting inside and out, fitting curtains and door blind and new tyres will pretty much mean it's usable. Heading out west in a couple of weeks for a shakedown trip. Yay!!   |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 7, 2023 11:59:22 GMT 10
Some final pics of the interior fitout. Heading off for some time out next week, so will post pics of her outside the carport after that. View from entry door:  View towards front  View to rear  The old is but a memory!  |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 28, 2023 10:46:15 GMT 10
Well folks, this journey has come to an end! Officially my little build is now called "Thistle-Doo". Hopefully she will have a nameplate done, in due course. Below are some pics of the first trip away, accumulating about 2000 klms through central Qld, doing what caravanning is all about - enjoying the great outdoors!     Thank you for having joined me on this construction journey and your encouragement and advise along the way. Hopefully, you've also been encouraged in your own restoration or build along the way. |
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Post by Surf Tragic on Sept 28, 2023 18:42:45 GMT 10
G'day Roehm3108,
That looks amazing, you are amazing, getting all that done & now using it !! Well done, you have helped to motivate me with my project.
Surf Tragic
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Post by Mustang on Sept 30, 2023 15:47:06 GMT 10
A most different Jayco, well done on the project, just a small one.....I would paint the toolbox.
Cheers
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I can't make out the word though?
The timber brenchtop and the tiles look great together. I like that there are so many different colours and patterns. 
