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Post by samson on Oct 31, 2009 7:43:02 GMT 10
Hi Vintage Vanners, Just thought I'd show you all what I found the other day while working on the van. I was pretty excited. After taking off the aluminum cladding from the front and back and then rubbing off some black tar-like stuff this is what we found...    and on the front of the van we found this... You can see the paint has crumbled a bit more on the front. It feels it would be a shame to paint over the original paint. We're going to keep the original colour scheme.  Do you remember how it used to look?  This is the colour that we had planned to paint the caravan before we discovered the original style...  Just thought I'd get some photos of the cars with the van...It just looks so right - old cars with old vans  .    Have done a fair bit of work on the booth area. Finally finished the table. I picked up a 50's dining table from lifeline for $20 and cut around the damaged areas. So I used the original laminate from that. This is how she looked when we first bought her...  And now...    Used the dining table laminate on the sink bench-top as well. I need to get the aluminum for around the edges of the bench-top and the table now.  I'm still not sure how to get the port-hole out. Can anyone give me any advise on how to do it? Can't wait to get the van on the road and take it to the first Vintage Caravan run and meet some of you finally. ;D Thanks for looking. Shane |
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Post by myvan on Oct 31, 2009 10:30:53 GMT 10
Looks very nice
Kathryn
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Post by kingy on Oct 31, 2009 10:58:54 GMT 10
Great van Shane, your probably allready aware, but did you know that the old style table edging is still available - it can also be attached by using sikaflex adhesive (the black one, not grey) and held in place with tape till it sets unless you like the look of the screw heads showing Vans coming along well, if the work you've done on the interior is any indication of the standard of your work - she''ll be a jaw dropper Kingy  |
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Post by humpyboy on Oct 31, 2009 11:13:07 GMT 10
Love your van Shane, she looks a beauty, what state do you live in? I'm moving there cos it seems you don't need rego on any of your vehicles ;D
Derk.
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Post by Surf Tragic on Oct 31, 2009 11:56:53 GMT 10
Hi samson
That would be exciting to see what was under the alum sheeting, it sure improves the look too. Your Castle has a cosy feel about it inside, must be the colours you used, it is a terrific van.
If you want to remove the porthole , just start undoing screws, I see 4 on the inside, it may be a removable flange.
ST
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 31, 2009 21:13:27 GMT 10
G'day Samson, What a wonderful discovery you made under the aluminium cladding and tar - just fantastic! And what a great job you've done on the dinette as well!! Looking forward to seeing more as you go along. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Franklin1 on Nov 4, 2009 16:14:36 GMT 10
This van would be a rebadged Rowvan, yes?? This advertisement from November 1957 lists the various Windcutter sizes...  [...and Shane, if you found any lingerie in the drawers when you bought this van, you might have got one of the "SPECIAL HONEYMOON VANS"  ] By August 1960, the Windcutters were aluminium with a fibreglass roof and hydraulic brakes...  And then in early 1961, the latest Windcutter models were advertised...  By gee, you've done a really nice job on this van Shane! ;D ;D cheers, Al. |
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whippy
Full Member
"Twiggy" the Globetrotter
Posts: 462
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Post by whippy on Nov 4, 2009 21:37:38 GMT 10
Looking fantastic, would really go great with the chev. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by samson on Nov 18, 2009 13:30:19 GMT 10
Hi guys, Thanks very much to everybody for your comments and kind compliments. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all. It's been so busy before Xmas. Would love to know when the next vintage van run is going to be on up at the Sunshine Coast. Does anyone know where I can get an old fashioned pump tap. I found another bondwood vintage caravan on a property the other day, it looks like it's been there for at least 30 years, luckily it's under an old carport. It seems to be in very good condition. Going to go back and talk to the owner and get some photos of it. Hopefully it's for sale. To answer and ask some questions... Thanks Kathryn for your kind words. You're doing a great job on your van, can't wait to see it finished. Good on you for sticking to it. To Kingy, I'm wondering where abouts do you buy the old style table edging? I live on the Sunshine Coast, so any leads would be appreciated. Thanks mate. To Derk, I live in Qld, on the Sunshine Coast. It would be great if you could drive around with unregistered cars, it would save us a lot of money, but the EH is registered and has never been unregistered (I am the second owner and bought it in 1992) and Chevy is a project.  To Surf Tragic, Thanks for your comments. I did move that flange from inside the van ages ago when I first tried to get it out, but it wasn't actually holding the port-hole in. There were 4 other screws holding the port-hole in that I had no way of getting to. I got a hack-saw blade and cut the 4 screws from inside the van and succeeded as you can see in the photos below.  Hi Don, Yeah we were very excited to find that discovery. It seems a shame to paint over the original writing. Do you know of anyone that can do the exact writing for when we re-paint the van the original colours? ;D Hi Franklin1, Interesting comment you made. I am just curious to know why you think our castle caravan is a re-badged Rowvan? It has the original castle badge (I have taken it off for the moment) as well as "Windcutter, by castle" painted on the front and back. So i'm just wondering why you think that? Thanks, Shane. To Whippy, Thanks for your comments. I can't wait to get out there and cruise with all you guys. Finally removed the port-hole...   A couple more photos of inside the van. Changed the bed cover...   My castle badge...  |
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Post by kingy on Nov 18, 2009 14:20:03 GMT 10
Hi Shane, just check around your local steel suppliers, if they have'nt any in stock they should be able to get it in. I picked mine up locally (they had it in stock)- within a few k's from home
Kingy
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Post by firefighter on Nov 18, 2009 16:19:21 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 18, 2009 19:20:20 GMT 10
Hi Don, Yeah we were very excited to find that discovery. It seems a shame to paint over the original writing. Do you know of anyone that can do the exact writing for when we re-paint the van the original colours? ;D Hi Franklin1, Interesting comment you made. I am just curious to know why you think our castle caravan is a re-badged Rowvan? It has the original castle badge (I have taken it off for the moment) as well as "Windcutter, by castle" painted on the front and back. So i'm just wondering why you think that? Thanks, Shane. Hi Samson, Re the original writing: I guess you have two choices. One is to preserve the writing as it is in some way, even if you paint around it and put a bit of perspex or something over the writing itself. Maybe a bit tacky? The second option is to get a signwriter to replicate the writing. There may be an old-school signwriter around who could do it, however these days most signwriters use computers to create the images which are then transferred to vinyl stickers...which leads me to say that it might be worthwhile to talk to Daggsey (he of 'Lady Madonna's Travel' fame). Daggsey is a signwriter who has taken his computer and printer with him on his travels and has done a bit of signwriting for folks along the way. He is almost back in Perth now, but have a chat to him about the best way to go - at the very least he will be able to point you in the right (or is that the 'write' ) direction. Re the Rowvan connection: Franklin1 made the suggestion about your van being built by Rowvan because the Windcutters (unlike other Castles) had a number of features which were unique to vans built in South Australia: (1) The double cambered roof - in other words a roof which at its front and back edges and corners sloped two ways. (2) The way that the roof is quite distinct from the front and back walls, as opposed to the walls flowing into the roof in one continuous curve and/or panel. (3) The canvas or fibreglass roof which was used in South Australia for much longer than elsewhere. (4) The exposed roof joists inside the caravan. In its latter years, Castle seemed to have indulged in a bit of 'badge engineering' as did a number of other manufacturers, ie they put their name plate on vans built by other people. I don't think we've confirmed 100% that the Windcutters were built by Rowvan, but they do seem the most likely candidate based on the design of the vans. We do know that Rowvan built vans for a number of manufacturers/caravan dealers in other states. So that's the basis for Franklin1's comment. Don Ricardo |
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phargan
Junior Member
'WAY-2-GO' ready-t-go anywhere!
Posts: 83
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Post by phargan on Dec 13, 2009 11:02:18 GMT 10
Hi there Samson,
What you've done on the van puts my work to shame, its a veritable palace inside! All you need now is the Corgis!
I was intrigued by the wooden flap on the front in one of the pictures, was it for pot plants perhaps during a previous owners residence of the van? I take it that it folds down??? Or maybe its for keeping the grog out of reach of the kids!
The other thing was the cooker hood. It must vent to the outside though the wall, what a great idea for my van as the heat from aven boiling a cupper is too much in my 10 foot x 6 foot space.
Thanks again for the pleasure of seeing it. Hope you get time for a reply or PM
phargan
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Post by ronmcgr on Dec 13, 2009 11:48:09 GMT 10
Samson,
Looks like you had a pleasant surprise like I did, to find a nice van under that aluminium ;D
As for the sign, I wonder if Chris Dagg, (Daggsey) can reproduce it?
He is a brilliant guy with signs ;D
Cheers,
Ron
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morry
New Member
Posts: 40
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Post by morry on Dec 14, 2009 7:18:05 GMT 10
Hi Samson, One option for the name is to tape some tracing paper over the original and get the outline. From there you can make a template using Contact or similar - the stuff you cover kids schoolbooks with - stick it on, paint over that and then remove the Contact. Others may have better ideas, I have used this one and it's ok as a basic method. Cheers, Morry
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Post by vernon on Dec 14, 2009 18:08:43 GMT 10
What a great job you've done you should be so happy with yourself.
Can't wait to see it all finished. Your van actually looks alot like ours, the roof, attention to detail, aluminium over the ply, even down to the same screws. To date we think and so do alot of other VV'res that Vernon was a homemade job.
des and Kel
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Post by samson on Dec 18, 2009 17:13:45 GMT 10
Hi Phargan, Thanks for your great compliments. I'm really happy with the way it's looking inside. Still a fair way to go yet though. Cushions, curtains, lino, lights to be all connected. The list goes on. I want it to look very 50's inside, but it does take a bit of time to get it right. As for the wooden flap, I think it was put there to make some shade over the two front windows while you're sitting at the dinnette. Yes the cooker hood is a great idea, that's why I kept it when I purchased the van. Thanks again for your kind words. P.S I don't think my work puts yours to shame.
Hi Ron,
Yes it was a great surprise. Should be able to find someone who does sign writing. I will keep daggsey in mind. Just a matter of trying to catch up with him at the right place. We'll see how we go. Thanks for writing.
Hi Morry, Thanks for your suggestion. It sounds like a good idea. I will definitely keep it in mind.
Thanks again.
Hi Des & Kel,
What a great job i've done - what an unbelievable job you have done! Excellent work. Can't wait for the van to be finished either. Just got a few other projects happening at the moment as well. Just purchased a 57 Ford Customline. Doing a bit of work on it as well.
Thanks for your kind words.
Take care,
Shane
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Post by samson on May 23, 2010 10:49:54 GMT 10
UPDATE - 23/05/10Hi all, Got some progress pictures on my Castle. Had a bit of trouble trying to get somebody to wire it up with lots of excuses why they couldn't do it. I managed to get a sparky. He's 22 years old and had it all done within 6 hours. He did a great job and put in a safety switch box, transformers etc.    Purchased a 57 Ford Customline. One of my favourite cars of all time. Thought i'd get a snapshot with the van.  Some photos of the lights connected on our van     This one is 12V. Looks pretty cool considering it's a new light. Suits the van.  This aluminum window was annoying the hell out of me. Definitely not original.  So I built one the same as the others. Happy with the result. Could even buy the original style hinges from Bunnings ;D  Picked up some lino for $100.00. It's new, but it's as close as I could get to old style. Changed the support frame underneath the table so you can't see the ends. The lovely pink arrows show you where they were. You can also see the frame edges in my previously uploaded photos I've added. You know how it is, when you stand back and look at things and something bugs you and you just have to fix it.  Rubbing the outside of the caravan down this weekend, hopefully might be ready for Wintersun. Heard on the grapevine that it's the last year that Wintersun's going to be at Coolangatta and it's moving to Port Macquarie next year. Take care, looking forward to some feedback. Shane P.S Mildura looked fantastic. Definitely be there for 2012. |
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Post by humpyboy on May 23, 2010 13:07:28 GMT 10
Hi samson, she is looking real nice should be nice and comfy when you're all done, love the new tow car as well.
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Post by samson on Aug 29, 2010 18:43:44 GMT 10
Updated 29th August 2010Hi all, It's been a while since I've last updated. I always look forward to people putting updates on of their caravan projects so I thought I would put some up of mine. Here they are... Here she is in the first coat of primer...  Here she is painted. I haven't yet done the red pin striping along the top and bottom of the flash and also the 'Windcutter by Castle' has to be painted on the front and back, like the original. I made the spats out of marine ply. Happy with the way they came out.   When I first posted photos of my caravan, I got comments like "She shouldn't take long" and "It just needs a bit of paint" etc, but as you start the restoration, you really start to realize how much needs to be done to get it the way you want it.  Here's one with my 57 Chev Four Door Hardtop that I've been restoring for the last few years. This will be the tow car and the Ford Customline.  I was at a friend's house today. He has cancer and doesn't have very long to live. He dug this out for me and wanted me to have it so I thought I would share it with all of you.   Also was at Bunnings the other day. Got talking to a lady in there. She says she has a caravan at her place, been in the shed for years, has lead-light windows and a bath in the dinette section. Possibly 1940's. Told me that she has to clean the shed out and is going to invite me around to have a look at it. She may want to sell it as she has no use for it. I will keep you posted. Also can anyone tell me how I can get my older posts back from a couple of years ago. Take care. Happy caravanning! Shane
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Post by JBJ on Aug 29, 2010 19:48:10 GMT 10
Hi Shane,
As far as I know the posts are tied to your user name. So if you drop off , or are removed by me or someone else for some reason, unless you rejoin under the identical previous user name, you will not be recredited with the same posts.
But thats all I know, & there may be some way it can be done differently. BUT I cant do anything, & I'm supposedly in charge of membership
JBJ the eternal optimist
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Aug 29, 2010 20:55:51 GMT 10
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Post by samson on Apr 28, 2011 18:31:05 GMT 10
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Post by JBJ on Apr 28, 2011 19:09:37 GMT 10
Hi Shane,
Great restoration.
Good to see you doing what should be done with ALL old vans, thats getting out with your family & enjoyng life.
Cant do that if you stay at home making excuses.
Hope to catch up one day on the road.
JBJ
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Post by cobber on Apr 29, 2011 6:38:56 GMT 10
G'day Shane, You did a great job on that van and I bet she turns heads when you are out and about. Are you still going to have the sign writing done on the rear ? I reckon that will finish it off Cobber. |
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