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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 24, 2012 22:06:49 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell, What wonderful photos of your van! It's great to have a pictorial record of the life of the Blue Flyer. In addition you have some photos from the forum during Murray's stewardship, and now you can add your own. Just fantastic! I agree the stripe is very familiar, as are the spats. Interestingly too, the wooden framed windows of the 1948 are almost identical, although in place of the window to the left of the door we have a porthole. Given the van was built from 1950 and completed in 1951 it does hold that he might have been copying a look from a current caravan of the time. Jennison Pathfinders did use the waist stripe around the van with the line lowered at the front and back around the windows, however it was a fairly common decoration in the 40's and 50's. For example both Overland and Paramount caravans from Victoria were decorated in this way in the mid-50's. Similarly, the decoration over the wheel arch (can you call them spats if they don't partly cover the wheel?) was not uncommon on vans built by various manufacturers in the 40's. For example, not only Jennison but also Nomad (maybe John Jennison's influence though?), Road Cruiser among others. So, Arthur may have been taking his styling cues from other caravans, but it may have been from caravans of the period in general rather than a specific brand? Others have already identified the tow vehicles, but I've been thinking about the various caravans in the pics. There's a couple of shots of a Carapark, and I wonder if the Conricks had a regular group of friends they went caravanning with, because the Carapark is camped next them on several locations. The bondy that appears in the two 1955 Palm Beach photos is quite interesting because it has several similarities to the Conrick's van - the waist stripe, the coloured spats and the side windows divided into two panes. The latter feature is not all that common. Some Nomad caravans had that type of window, and later on some Litecraft vans did also. I'm pretty sure that the van isn't a Nomad (and it's too early for a Litecraft), so maybe it's another homebuilt van that incorporated some of the same features as the Conricks' van? I'm still working on the van with no window at the back shown in the 1957 photo...  Don Ricardo |
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Post by mgandwartz on Feb 25, 2012 8:30:59 GMT 10
Dave, would love that.
Guys, thanks for clarifying the cars. Knew they were jags, just wasn't sure the Mark.
Now here's a tease, I know it teases me. There's a good Plainsman for sale in Melbourne. Only problem is the price. $28K
There was a Wayfarer for sale in Brisbane, i'll contact a mate and see if its still available. He also has my old Mulliner built Phase 1 vanguard Estate which i am trying to talk him into letting me have back.
Still working on that other tow car I was talking about, but had an unexpected outlay which has put me behind a bit. Did you figure what it could be yet?
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Post by JBJ on Feb 25, 2012 9:14:15 GMT 10
Hi,
That Plainsman would be a very rare car. If its reasonable, the price is not bad, compared to what an equally rare USA model would bring.
Problem with all old cars ( & vans) is that they often are in need of more repair than you can tell until you pull them apart.
I found out the hard way with my Dodge, but luckily (for the car) I have been able to manage the rebuild work & cost. Most people would have scrapped it.
JBJ
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Post by seeshell on Feb 25, 2012 9:38:39 GMT 10
Hi Don I don't doubt that you know more about the decoration than anyone - interesting to hear that those stepped stripes were a common motif. I'm interested at the moment because I want to reinstate a flash/stripe. You're perfectly correct to say it could have been copied from anywhere - just interesting that the pseudo-spat (yes, what should it be called when it's painted on?), the size of the hatch and style of windows also mirror the Jennison. I'm curious if that style of window with the radius corners also common? Had other vendors also adopted very large hatches? With regard to the other vans that are regularly in the shots - they may have been friends, or they may, like we do have a set time we go to our camp each year - you see the same vans each time, as others also have set times they show up. I hope in time we will be great friends with the "regulars" at Portarlington - most of the people we camp with now are families who have been coming for 35+ years...third generation! We're the newbies, and as such are rightly viewed with reserve - we're up to smiling passing chats now, and maybe in another 3-4 years, we'll be fully accepted and up for regular visits. After all, you don't want to invest in relationships with transients!  ;D Cheers Seeshell |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 25, 2012 13:00:21 GMT 10
I hope in time we will be great friends with the "regulars" at Portarlington - most of the people we camp with now are families who have been coming for 35+ years...third generation! We're the newbies, and as such are rightly viewed with reserve - we're up to smiling passing chats now, and maybe in another 3-4 years, we'll be fully accepted and up for regular visits. After all, you don't want to invest in relationships with transients! ;D Hi Seeshell, Know what you mean! We have been going to our summer spot now for six years, but many of the people there have been going there for 50+ years. They went as children, and have continued as adults. For the first few years the "real regulars" pretty well ignored us, and it was the people who had been going for 3 or 5 years that chatted to us. However, this year Dona Ricardo and I reckon we have cracked the big time. Several of the "real regulars" stopped by to chat and said "We have been looking out for you, and wondering whether you were coming. We love your van". Woohoo - we think we've been accepted as non-transients!  Don Ricardo |
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Post by barkpaint on Feb 25, 2012 17:11:34 GMT 10
Hi seeshell, I am sure you will come to enjoy "Port" as it is know in our family. Two or three generations would stay down there, years on end. Col used to go there as a kid (now 60). Same families year after year. As the grandparents became older, the travel became harder from Bendigo, and we discovered Echuca.... only an hour from Bendigo and now our family like to go north, to the Murray. We have started a new tradition. We still speak fondly of the days in Port, perhaps a beach holiday may come up again. Cheers, Heather
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Post by Roehm3108 on Feb 25, 2012 17:45:25 GMT 10
Several of the "real regulars" stopped by to chat and said "We have been looking out for you, and wondering whether you were coming. We love your van". Woohoo - we think we've been accepted as non-transients! Don Ricardo VINTAGE CARAVANS RULE - AGAIN ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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mia
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Post by mia on Mar 5, 2012 21:16:55 GMT 10
Oh your caravan is gorgeous! Love the colour, bluebird fabric! What a magic place for your lil girl to play!
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Post by seeshell on Mar 10, 2012 16:22:22 GMT 10
Hi All We've managed to find a very good signwriter in Melbourne, who came out today to have a look at The Blue Flyer. Very excited - he's a brush and enamel only man.  However, before we get the writing done, we are really going to need another few coats of paint to freshen the outside. It's not bad, but it has gone flat and there are a few areas that show a bit of wear. Our van has been painted with oil based paint - so I gather we have to go forward with that again.
A few questions:
The signwriter recommended a bit of polyurethane hardner in the paint - anyone done this? Good idea? Bad idea? How much do you put in? Do you use gloss or semigloss paint? Any paint brand recommendations? I gather about 240 grit for the initial sand back would be ok, since our finish is in reasonable shape to start with? What about between coats? 600 or higher? If there's advice around the process to get a better, smoother finish, I'll be glad to be given pointers. Over to the experts! Seeshell |
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Post by smiles on Mar 12, 2012 20:39:04 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell, just looking at the old photos, they're really great. I noticed in the photo with the fab boat Swish, a caravan at the back has our identical annex, (grey with red stripes & made by George Pickens in Brisbane) which we use on our Overland, mentioned by Don Ricardo as having a similar stripe to the original stripe on your van. When we sanded back the van, we found the remains of the stripe. We took careful measurements and have re-painted the stripe exactly.  smiles |
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Post by seeshell on Mar 13, 2012 6:55:11 GMT 10
Hi Smiles
Lovely van and annexe you have there - the stripe on your van is very similar to what was on ours.
At present we are looking at reinstating a flash on the van, but are unsure if we will take it back to what was originally there, or do something a bit different to our own taste.
Right now there's nothing on the sides - and it is *very* plain. Too much so.
I'm wanting to have some signwriting done that plays up the porthole, and our "flyer" theme. Whatever we decide to do, we had best get a move on - Cowra is coming closer by the day!
Paintbrush in hand,
Seeshell
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Post by philouise on Mar 13, 2012 16:18:42 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell
I have just had the best time reading about your beautiful caravan, and wanted to say that it is incredible to know the history of your van to this degree. Congratulations!
Kind regards
Louise
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Post by seeshell on Mar 14, 2012 20:35:58 GMT 10
Hi All The Fridge Saga (as I have come to think of it) continues. The current gent who has our Morphy Astral won't touch it - it's not staying cool, and they don't like to change the gas in the fridge. Results vary and are too unpredictable - might last 10 years, might last 10 minutes. Our solution is simple: gut it, and put all new modern workings behind the old beautiful body. Simple, right? However, try and find someone these days who actually FIXES anything! It seems everything is really disposable. I had to spend about 10 minutes explaining to one man why I would want the old fridge over a brand new Dometic... I have one or two more places to try - they at least offered to look at it, but warned me I was going to be gouged. I can at least respect that - they're honest about what it will take to come out of the "too hard" basket!  Crossing my fingers- Seeshell |
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Post by humpyboy on Mar 14, 2012 20:51:35 GMT 10
We're such a throw away society these days  imagine all the cool stuff laying at the bottom of the tip. |
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Post by seeshell on Mar 14, 2012 21:09:30 GMT 10
Hi Iris
That's where it is now...no luck.
Cheers
Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Mar 18, 2012 10:30:18 GMT 10
Hi All
Well today we have begun preparing to paint the van - pulling off the old work out lights, off with the porthole, and an aluminum panel on the rear that was pulling away from the body and needed resealing.
The van had been recently painted, but on removing the fittings, it's clear that it had at best two very thin coats of paint. It's in good shape but we have needed to be careful sanding back to avoid going back to bare wood! I guess it can be considered a good primer coat.
We did discover one problem when we removed a "bum" panel of aluminum on the back of the van. Because it wasn't sealed well, moisture has got under it. No rot, but it has to come off, and dry out before it can be patched and sanded, sealed and the panel replaced. More time out of the slim budget!
It's hard to type as I've been in in "Mr. Miyagi's" class all morning...
Wax on, Wax Off....
Seeshell
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Post by hocking4 on Mar 19, 2012 13:14:43 GMT 10
Well, that is simply gorgeous! Lovely van. Owesome history.
You must be stoked!
Sad about the Olympic, but what a great find to heal those wounds.
Looking for some shelf space?... those Hella's look good on the back of Olympics! ;D
cheers
Bruce
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Post by seeshell on Mar 20, 2012 7:27:42 GMT 10
Hi All The Fridge:Happily we have found a refridgerator repair man, Noel, who is prepared to replace all the workings which cannot be recomissioned on the fridge. The trade off is that the whole fridge will be just that - no freezer box, or it adds a level of complexity and cost we don't need. It suits us just fine. Once we know for sure the work is good, I'll post the contact for Cobber to add to the suppliers list. The Paint:The sanding back is done, and now we need to move the lights to their new locations so we can patch up the old holes. In sanding back (and taking off the J mould - bugger of a job!) we found that some of the wires for the 12v running lights were running up the inside of the dressings! No harm I guess, just a surprise. We will be departing from purist territory on the paint: we will be applying a 2pac. We wanted the "oil paint" shine which is period appropriate. The new acrylic paints are wonderful for flexibility but less so for shine. Also with the right protection, the 2pac should last a bit longer than either of the other solutions. The other benefit is that you can get three coats on and touch dry in about 1.5 hours. It will be a good base for the signwriting. 2pac is harder to apply perfectly outside a booth, but that really doesn't worry us. A few bits of grit and a blemish or two will be quite ok. Gutted fridge, non-period paint! Let the flogging begin. Seeshell |
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Post by seeshell on Mar 31, 2012 20:12:25 GMT 10
Today has turned to custard.  We spent some of last week stripping things off, cutting new holes for lights, and starting the sanding to cut the gloss off the paint on the flats so the new paint would adhere. Given it had only been painted a year ago, it seemed a reasonable assumption that that would be enough. That was our first mistake!  Around some of the openings (porthole, electric entry point, old light holes) there appeared to be some softer paint. So I scraped it, hoping to get back to something well...adhered. And I kept going, and going and going....   The paint was literally sheeting off like sunburnt skin. In the end a simple job - a bit of a freshen up - has turned out to be bigger than Ben Hur.  It doesn't appear to have been primed before it was repainted. I'm always astounded that people will do a lot of hard work and spend their money, and not do something properly. So... The rest of the side, the back and front, and the other side to finish tomorrow. Will need to prime and let that set, and hopefully she might get colour at Easter. Time for a Bex and a lie down, Seehell |
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Post by cobber on Apr 1, 2012 7:04:16 GMT 10
SEESHELL !!!! Will the paint be dry in time for Cowra You must some sort of purist  to go to this trouble to have " The Blue Flyer" looking all spick and span for us to admire.....thank you, and good on you, I hope it all goes without a hitch from now on. The colour of that ply looks like it might have been "Reswood"..... it doesn't rot. Cobber. |
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Post by seeshell on Apr 1, 2012 8:10:55 GMT 10
Hi Cobber
Interesting about the Reswood - I had wondered because of the colour, but wasn't sure on two points.
A. I know the date of the van manufacture is 1950-1951. Reswood started in 1952 didn't it? In which case Reswood was made earlier than thought, or it may be another type of treated ply?
B. The reddish tinge appears to be only on a single side (the other side is painted but 'thin' areas don't seem to show the colour underneath). It may be there, but I can't see it. Was the Reswood protection one sided or whole of sheet?
Given what I know about the builder Mr. Conrick and his focus on boats, I wondered if it might not be some marine treatment he applied. Or it could be something else - red oxide lead based primer which was pretty widely used under enamel paint of the period?
Arthur's wife Noelene remembered the ply was sourced from DeHavilland as war surplus. DeHavilland specified how the wood was made, but I've never been able to find out if they made their own laminated wood in house or if they bought it from suppliers (of which Reswood might have been one?).
At least there's an upside, I'm going to get to see what's under all the colour. Reswood or something like it for sure...no rot and no patches that would have indicated past rot.
Cheers
Seeshell
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gregw
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Post by gregw on Apr 5, 2012 15:51:25 GMT 10
When I was a kid I remember seeing a van very similar to the "Blue Flyer" at Towonga Caravan Park (near Mt Beauty in the kiewa valley). It was parked in the same place each year for a number of years. It definitely had the same style of hitch, that was one of the reasons I noticed it, it also was a similar size with a similar look to our Bondwood 1958? Franklin caravan. That was back in the later 1960's. My family went to Towonga Caravan Park for many years at Christmas times, sometimes for as long s 6 weeks. I guess there were a lot of similar vans around.
Greg
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Post by seeshell on Apr 5, 2012 18:02:07 GMT 10
Hi Greg How interesting! Based on what we know of our van it summered not far from Sydney until it went into use as a spare room at a summer house in St Georges, NSW in the early 1960s. Given the price of the Jones wheel, it would seem reasonable that they were quite rare. So it makes perfect sense you would remark on it when you saw one! I've always wondered how many Jones Wheels were produced overall, and how many are still in use. Do any of the experts know? Just as a technical note/question: The Jones wheel needs a very rare 1 3/16" imperial wrench to handle the nut on the stub axle...was this a common size in the day? Do others have nuts this size on their vans? Cheers Seeshell |
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gregw
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Post by gregw on Apr 6, 2012 11:12:24 GMT 10
Giddy Seeshell, I,m pretty sure when I saw the Jones Wheel hitch it would have been 1966 and later, as you say it was memorable, there. Must be a reason they were not so popular as it seems like a good idea. I am sure there will be someone who knows. Good luck with the van, maybe something special needs doing to the ply/board on your van before regular type paints will hold on well
GregW
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Post by seeshell on Apr 6, 2012 12:32:03 GMT 10
Hi All STILL stripping paint, windows, etc. Some of it came off in sheets, and then about 40% didn't and has been a real pain in the butt, and we picked at it through all last weekend.  But I do have the best father in law in the world - while Hubby and I were at work this week he secretly did strip the paint off the far side of the van. Imagine my surprise this morning as I prepared for another day of burnt fingertips!  I have managed to collect a war wound though (accidentally bumped myself in the cheek with the paint gun). A bit stingy and sore, and I look a treat with a plaster on my face. But like the old saying "It's not a party, until you break something..." All clear at the front, and I'm not sure we're going to put the aluminum back on. I like the plainer, less fussy look:  My daughter Sophie was helping (she picked up all the paint strips) but then lost interest and started dreaming of bunnies.  Final sanding and primer tomorrow - pictures to follow! Hope everyone is getting the most out of the Easter break - Seeshell |
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;D
imagine all the cool stuff laying at the bottom of the tip.
to go to this trouble to have "The Blue Flyer" looking all spick and span for us to admire.....thank you, and good on you, I hope it all goes without a hitch from now on.