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Post by shesgotthelook on May 5, 2013 9:08:26 GMT 10
Nooooooo Dave, I just watched that movie last night. Scarily reminiscent of myself- convincing other half to buy vans, overloading with food for big trip & ending up with bent axle, picking up rocks around Australia etc ;D She was a beauty though hey?
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Post by seeshell on May 5, 2013 19:45:56 GMT 10
Hi SGTL and others, I think the funniest part of how the trailer went off the rails was the "souvenier" rocks...played hell with the ride and towing. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Nov 5, 2013 16:49:05 GMT 10
It seems like years since we’ve been working on the van – but it has only been a few months. It’s not for lack of interest! We certainly tried to, but for ages it seem to be doing some degree of *wet*: fog, misty rain, regular or torrential rain, hail and snow flurries. And it’s been cold enough up here to need to scrape the car windows nearly every day until about two weeks ago, and when I head off to work around 5:30 the paddock looks white in the morning from the frost. But the weather will be on the turn now, with temperatures where epoxy will set hard in under three weeks - hooray! And a few decent dry days together for paint work. So we decided to prime all the windows, door, hatch and eyebrows this long weekend – while the going was good. After we prepped everything, it was all hung out under the garage lean-to – looking a bit like some art installation. Again, I did the chemistry etc, and here is the artist at work: EyebrowsWe ordered pressed aluminium “eyebrows” from Vintage Trailer Supply in the USA – they have a nice profile and make a lot of sizes which will meet most needs. They have a nice rounded out corner with a flipped up edge. Partially stripped of the powdercoat:The only downside (apart from not being locally sourced) is they come powder coated – you can strip them, or paint them to suit (as we plan to do). We scuffed them up with sandpaper to a dull look in preparation for primer coat. The front and back windows needed an “eyebrow” wider than they make. We bought two, measured the overhang for each side, marked off, and cut with the drop saw to get a clean square edge. Trimmed up a little bit of scrap and used it as a brace underneath to support the join and give more area for the epoxy to attach to. Here they are “cooking”; afterwards the joint will be sanded a bit, and the whole primed and painted – like a bought one! The UniBrow:The various sizes ready for primer:As it turns out the scrap curved “ends”, when joined together, might make a nice electrical service cowl – hmm. WindowsI think the past owner decided that friction hinges would be easier than the existing window hardware. But to make room for the way the new hinges operate, he took a 2” square block out of the top corner of each window. Which isn’t a problem, unless you think windows should be watertight. Kids today, huh? To correct it, the window frame had to be chiseled back at the top around each missing corner to give the inserted fillet somewhere to bond to. Pieces were cut for each missing area and clamped in (with epoxy taking up to three weeks to “go off” in the cold). Each window was then sanded back and filled, ready for primer. Front and back of the window repairs:The new hardware will take her back to original: a telescoping rod, piano hinge and a barrel bolt. Got some nice nickel plated brass hardware from a window company in NZ made for restoring 1950s houses so should be just the go. The DoorThe door is really in good nick, and was well made. Either open or shut, the door is in the weather all the time, so we decided to paint the whole thing with the two-part paint. Right now, it’s stripped of hardware (nice brass hinges and a lockwood set sitting in the chemical bath now), and has been sanded back for primer. The first coats of colour will be all over white on both sides, and then we have to hang it back up. This will make sure the taped up flash lines for the other colours will be even down the whole side of the van, including over the door. So a bit to do there yet. The Jones WheelAll the parts of the wheel assembly (apart from the tyre and rim) are being stripped back as far as possible and given a light sand with an angle grinder. I’ll follow with a light hand sand, then I’ll be masking up the front of the van with brown paper, sliding it between the drawbar and body. I’ll go spare if I get hammertone on the body. To get to all the nooks and crannies might involve some high-complexity contortions – I hope I can stick the landing! Hope you are all going well on your own projects – Seeshell
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Post by Cruz on Nov 5, 2013 18:16:55 GMT 10
Great work. Might send you one of my projects.
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 7, 2013 17:47:52 GMT 10
Looks like you're back into it with a hiss and a roar! I admire your attention to detail. Looking forward to the next update too
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Post by cruisindoug on Nov 7, 2013 18:15:57 GMT 10
Like your eyebrows Carly! Good to see you back in to it.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 8, 2013 0:49:43 GMT 10
G'day Seeshell family, Great to see the work resuming on the van after the winter recess with your usual meticulous preparation and painstaking research. I love the pic of the windows hanging in the air. It does look like some sort of art installation at MONA or somewhere. Perhaps you could have open days as an art gallery - with artist in residence being Mr Shell - and charge admission to help with the cost of the van renos? Don Ricardo
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Post by seeshell on Nov 17, 2013 17:50:22 GMT 10
Good evening All - A bit hard to see in the afternoon light under the tarp – but after 15 months, we’re *right back where we started* with a blue van. Have decided to simplify the flash now, since we have eyebrows, awnings, and in the fullness of time some signwriting. Don't want her to look uh..."tarty". The Blue Flyer is once again blue: Cheers Seeshell
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 23, 2013 10:49:56 GMT 10
You're right, it is a bit hard to see from those pics - you'll have to post more! Congratulations on getting back to blue after your paint issues marathon.
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Post by seeshell on Dec 15, 2013 20:32:02 GMT 10
Hi All Progress! Today the hatch went back on, and for the first time in nearly 18 months, we had windows! Still mounting the window braces, but the stainless piano hinge worked a treat. The eyebrows are in my office, waiting for me to cut out gaskets to mount the eyebrows and porthole. Matches the awning fabric quite well - when its made. The Lucas glass lights are rewired and mounted - just waiting bulbs. Finished the last polish of the porthole. Still have to repaint the drawbar, and mount the sailtrack temporarily to handle the awning roof. More pictures to come. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by hilldweller on Dec 16, 2013 16:54:24 GMT 10
That blue is lovely! Can't wait to see a pic with the awning roof up. Are you counting down to a trip away at Christmas? And yes I'll be heading away in the Caravelle Mabel will have to wait 'til next year (or the one after, or ...).
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Post by seeshell on Dec 16, 2013 19:05:30 GMT 10
Hi HD I hadn't noticed before, but it's "forum blue" actually. We're using an old awning I picked up until the proper awning (with the fabric shown) can be made. That can't happen until the trim goes on, and THAT can't happen until the last of the paint goes on. While it does need more coats, we're taking it for Xmas, and then when we get back ..."one more sand and two coats on the body and roof"...then the trim will go on for good, and the sign writer can come. And then to the inside jobs. Off to Portarlington, on the bay in Melbourne, for two weeks. Yay! Are you heading to the beach, the mountains...? Wherever you go, plenty of people always stop by for a chat if you have an old van, don't they? Best way ever to meet people. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by barkpaint on Dec 18, 2013 16:18:56 GMT 10
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Post by seeshell on Dec 19, 2013 19:38:36 GMT 10
Hi Heather You're right we're off to Portarlington - I recall you said you used to go in your childhood. Hopefully we're making the same sort of memories our darling little girl will remember when she's as old as we are. As you say, and I think DonR has experienced the same, it's taken nearly five years to be on speaking terms with the "street" - you have to prove you're a stayer before they invest in knowing you. We always have a good natter with Old Maria, our nearest neighbor. But we can't just yell out her name because its like West Side Story - half the girls, mums and Nonnas would turn around if you did. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by barkpaint on Dec 20, 2013 13:38:55 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell, your last two sentances seem out of context...am I missing something?
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Post by seeshell on Dec 20, 2013 15:00:16 GMT 10
Hi Barkpaint Just that the part of the camp we are in is full of Italian and Greek families who have been coming for yonks . Our "next door neighbor" on Foam Road is Old Maria, but you wouldn't call out "Maria" since it could be her daughter, granddaughter or her cousin ... It makes me think of when Tony shouted up to Maria's window in the musical "West Side Story". How did 50 windows not fly open for the same reason! It does make it easy to remember names though! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by brenten on Dec 20, 2013 20:28:37 GMT 10
i to used to go to portarlington a lot i had a house up on the hill near the cemetrery...brenten
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Post by rosycheekk on Jan 8, 2014 9:34:40 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell Curious to see how the van is coming along I might have missed this already in your posts so far, but I was wondering where you got the bluebird curtain fabric from? And seperate to this, would you ever consider hiring out the completed van for a wedding photo shoot? Look forward to your response. Rosycheekk
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Post by seeshell on Jan 9, 2014 18:37:22 GMT 10
Hi All Well we've had the Blue Flyer out for a run for our annual two weeks at Portarlington to test out the new exterior fisnish (still a bit more trim etc to do). A number of members mentioned they've had a bit of connection to Port, and it's a really pretty spot. As you can see from the photos, the view is pretty hard to take from our campsite. Views from the front and side windows: We had an awning we bought sight unseen to use until our new one is made for us - but it turned out to be a pretty good fit and match for the van. There was some really wild wind, and even a mini tornado while we were there. Ended up making a run to BCF for new galvanized poles when the twistloc aluminum ones folded like bendy straws! In the fullness of time, we'll have our timber ones ready, but we were pushing to get everything back together to go. She certainly stood out from the other vans, and we got a lot of drop by visitors. People just love looking inside - I made my bed every day by 9am (something I can't claim I do at home!). Wouldn't do to have guests see her all out of order. Wondering where we can get in for Australia Day weekend, to get another stay under our belts! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 9, 2014 19:55:56 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell, Great to see that you and the Blue Flyer had a successful sortie to Port Arlington and back, and obviously all had a good time. The van looks great. You're doing a great job on her! Don Ricardo PS Seeshell, I had literally just finished posting the above when I was sent the following photo taken of a caravan seen on the Geelong Road today. Gee, that van looks familiar I couldn't believe it. How's that for an amazing coincidence? (We'll overlook the seating position of the person who took the photo... And no, it wasn't me.)
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Post by King Fisher on Jan 10, 2014 16:51:40 GMT 10
WOW! that looks great. Looking forward to catching up at some outing and seeing all that hard work for real... It's so nice to finally get out and use our old vans.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2014 19:42:59 GMT 10
Your van looks fantastic! looks like all the hard work you put in has paid off,well done! hughdeani
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Post by akeepsake on Jan 18, 2014 15:12:33 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell what a great van with great history and great info on restoration painting etc! I thought by the early pics it was a Jennison with that waist stripe and painted spats lol! Thanks for your message I will call you soon and would love to chat re Northane products etc Cheers Andrew
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willow5075
Full Member
Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Feb 5, 2014 21:11:19 GMT 10
Well I wanted to click the Like button but seems it's not turned on anyhow your van looks great
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Post by seeshell on Feb 6, 2014 7:57:32 GMT 10
Hi DonR, KFisher, Hughdeani, akeepsake and Willow5075 - Thanks very much for the kind comments about the van. Neither of us are "tradies", just keen amateurs, and are pretty chuffed with the results we've got considering our limitations. Further and final work on the van's exterior is on hold at the moment - in fact everything is on hold! We're taking March off to paint the house - weatherboards, windows...and more and more sanding. And I have to say, with all the practice on the van lately, I'm really dreading it. Maybe it's paying for a past life. My maiden name really was Paynting...fate? :\ Cheers Seeshell
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