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Post by seeshell on Sept 9, 2015 21:37:22 GMT 10
Hi All
Again, I've searched high and low, but there's a lack of info on this topic: where do you go to get old aluminum venetians with cloth tape made?
Has anyone made new blinds recently, and who did you use?
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 9, 2015 15:23:06 GMT 10
Hi All Worth noting that colinandsue's "Miss Dorothy" Fairway also had the rare hand water pump seen in KFisher's Bessie: Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 7, 2015 10:41:04 GMT 10
Thanks Sportsman1 and Griffin -
Nifty meat safe, dish drawers and inbuilt radio!
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 4, 2015 22:18:12 GMT 10
Hi All
Is anyone aware of any companies or businesses that make aluminum framed windows, like those found in the mid 1950s? Larger single pane.
Any advice welcome.
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 4, 2015 15:14:36 GMT 10
Thanks for the jumpstart K!
I don't mind if the features are your own or original. Just interested in what is out there.
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 4, 2015 14:38:33 GMT 10
Hi King Fisher, Wiffie and Little Prince! I think it might be optimistic to think that your van will be ready by the Nats - even 2020. I don't doubt your capacity for hard work, repair, or ingenuity - rather, darling little babies have a way of taking up a good deal more time, money and energy than you ever plan. And of course it is completely enjoyable. I salute your rebuild, and hope that the pieces remaining can act as good templates for the job. Best of luck! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 4, 2015 14:32:21 GMT 10
Hi All I was looking through some old Keith Winser magazines as well as some others from overseas, as we begin to think about a new old van - we've been keen to build a vintage plan to suit us for some time. I'd like to customise it a bit, as many of the old backyard builders did. That got me to thinking about some of the more unusual features in vans. For example ours has a bed under the kitchen counter, but if you drop the counter down it becomes a sofa. I'd love to see unique features from other people's vans - special drawers, unusual cupboards, interesting internal fittings, different tables or fixings. Window mechanisms, whatever you think is a bit special and departs from the norm. What have you got? Please share your pictures. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Sept 2, 2015 7:43:34 GMT 10
Hi Ashlea0910 The frames of many of the old vans are relatively light, and the cupboards do provide a lot of the rigidity of the van. Additionally if you are considering carrying fridges, equipment, etc for a buisness, you're right there will need to be additional reinforcement. Also you will want to consider if the frame and axle are up to the additional weight as well. Many are underengineered, and won't have electric brakes which you are likely to need if the van is going to be substantially heavier. Depending on what you want to do, you might be better to buy a trailer with the right weight rating and build a body that suits you - there are plenty of old van shapes to copy. They're not that difficult to make, and you could construct the frame in such a way to suit your windows etc. It will also allow you to insulate, and run the right power to where you want it. And I can categorically say it is far easier to build than to renovate! And renovating is NOT cheap - buying an old van to "save money" over a new home build might be false economy! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Aug 23, 2015 18:57:42 GMT 10
Hi Cobber
Welcome back from your trip - looks like it was a real hoot!
As for the ad - I did have to watch a few times to truly appreciate Diftwood's contribution. Very subtle.
*wink* Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Jul 6, 2015 21:17:25 GMT 10
My goodness Al, where to start? I feel as if I've come to the end of a favourite book - the well loved character succeeds against all odds. Very satisfying! But, it also makes you a bit anxious. After all, how long until the author puts out another tale to fill the gap? Your work is to an exceptional standard - and you very generously documented it all for the rest of us to follow. I'm impressed with your ingenuity and frankly your straight pig-headedness (is that a term?) - five years! Now that is a commitment. As others have said, now is the time to get out and enjoy it. I hope the next books is about our hero chasing the sunsets. Well deserved congratulations to you, Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on May 20, 2015 18:07:47 GMT 10
Hi Miranda Your van is looking amazing, so I was sorry to hear about your dramas with the paint. I appreciate how upsetting it would be, because of all the work, sanding and expense - as well as the emotional investment, hey? We had a similar issue before using Northane. Nothing stuck to it at all, and the old paint just peeled right off! We detailed our issues on our van's page - it might help. We used Northane too - and have had no issue with it. But we got a lot of caveats. We were warned about watching for moisture wicking out of the wood - we painted in summer to make sure the van wood was good and dry. Another thing we were cautioned on was the type of sandpaper used - some non-clogging papers have "silly-con" in them and that deposits on the wood when you work and ultimately fouls the paint - the regular non-clogging kind is preferred. Also we were warned not to "admire our handiwork" by running our hands over the sanded wood - oil from your hand can deposit and then ultimately result in a paint failure. They recommended wiping the whole area down with metho/spirits before painting. Though it wasn't anything they insisted on, we needed to paint the van many times with the Shipshape primer undercoat. Mainly we did it because we had had difficulty getting paint to stick to our van - a very LONG story. Our van's wood had clearly been treated with something back when it was built that made it repel paint like a son of a gun. The ONLY thing that worked for us was using the related primer which really grabbed the wood and then the paint - and I think we did quite a few coats (not because it is needed, but it does fill grain well). So if that wasn't part of the regime last time, I can recommend it - from someone who has been there with the bubbling and peeling - and the crying! Chin up - really, it will all come good! Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Mar 31, 2015 9:13:14 GMT 10
Hi All Thanks for the comment on the photo. I like to get out and around on foot to do a bit of photography when we tour - and I couldn't resist the colours that day. Yes the building is the Penny Royal, and it's right near Kings. I thought that if I just showed the bridge it would all be too easy for you all - its hard to hold off a right answer for more than an hour. Next time I'm going to just put a picture of a tree. Guess that! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Mar 30, 2015 16:45:22 GMT 10
Hi All
Correct - it's Kings Bridge over Cataract Gorge.
Thought it was very interesting when we visited. Built in Manchester, England, disassembled, and sailed in parts to Tasmania, reassembled whole and then floated into place on pontoons. What a feat!
Ok, Griffin, you're it!
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Mar 30, 2015 12:22:07 GMT 10
Hi Everyone Where is this picturesque spot? Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Mar 30, 2015 11:14:15 GMT 10
Hi 2up
This looks like the Tooradin Airport.
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Dec 23, 2014 9:03:11 GMT 10
Hi Boblor Sorry to hear about your poor prognosis, but I am very pleased to hear you are enjoying yourself in your beloved Olympic. When you make it down to Victoria, please let us know so we can visit with you! Cheers Carley (Seeshell)
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Post by seeshell on Nov 30, 2014 18:40:10 GMT 10
Hey Derk This Viscount didn't have a big green 60s car with fins along with it did it? I think I saw that van heading down the Calder yesterday towards Melbourne as we were heading up to Bendigo for a Xmas lunch. If it was, it certainly looked lovely on the road...does it belong to a VV member or is it a car club accessory? Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Nov 24, 2014 6:56:34 GMT 10
Hi All Further to Don's excellent research - our windows in the Blue Flyer are much the same, which we discovered when pulling them apart to paint. Here's one that was stripped back and you can see the frame, and then the radius on the corners: Some were singles, and some double paned. Per the description, the window frames sit on the outside ply of the van. We just assumed they were home made, but perhaps they were kit windows. Cheers Carley
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Post by seeshell on Nov 22, 2014 15:16:46 GMT 10
And then... there is the thread you know about and have already contributed to ...about Stop-Turn_Tail _Lights (we might ask Seeshell to expand the heading there to include Reflectors...... ARE YOU THERE SUNSHINE ? ) So...... the thread needs updating Cobber. Derk let me know you were looking for the update - done! A bit out of the loop at present doing my thesis. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Nov 13, 2014 19:09:12 GMT 10
Hi JBJ The Kingsway is looking brilliant. I love the cherries and cream colour scheme. Can't wait to see it all back together - looking forward to the next set of glamour shots. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Nov 13, 2014 19:06:57 GMT 10
Hi Derk I was sorry to hear that you're not well, but very glad to hear at least that you're in good spirits and you aren't being knocked around too much by the treatment. You know what they say: No sense, no feeling. If you feel up for a visit some time soon, give me a ring, and we will pop around. Get well mate - Carley and Aaron
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Post by seeshell on Nov 13, 2014 18:53:14 GMT 10
Hi Sue We redid our 1951 bondwood van, the Blue Flyer, and used all the "Nor" products. They can be used on boats - so far the paint has held up amazingly well. It is still lovely and glossy but it's much more flexible. Because it is flexible, it doesn't seem to get any microcracks which ultimately are entry points for water, and wood breakdown. We used Northane for the top coats which is a 2-pac and it was excellent to mix and work with. We used a gun, but had never done so before. It came out really well. But I think you could use the same product with a good quality low knap roller and get an equally good finish - it settles, and smoothes out. I think that some others have used the other Norglass paints - I have a feeling it might have been Geoff and Jude, and I think JBJ did as well for his Styleleader Olympic. They might be able to provide more information about other products. Just to be clear we did use their whole system because we had had some peculiar issues with paint not "taking/sticking" on the bondwood. We found it worked well, but you might not need to use everything. We used: 1. Staybond epoxy (think araldite) for gluing repairs in the bondwood - but cheaper 2. Norflex epoxy filler (easier to sand and more flexible than car bog to prevent popping out with movement) 3. Norseal wood treatment (under the paint, after repairs, to make it water tight) 4. Northane gloss off a gun (we were novices and it came out fine and looks like old type enamel finish) I freely recommend it to anyone. We did some trials too with Bote-Cote which is the prepping system, and they have paints as well. We went with Norglass over Bote-Cote only because they would tint the Northane to any Dulux colour, and Bote-Cote gave you 16 marine colours to pick from and wouldn't tint it. You can read about our paint process at: Blue Flyer Page. If you want to know about Bote-Cote, Franklin1 is the gent to talk to. He's done a full van in the prep products, and is quite a convert. If the colour choices suited you, I think it would work just as well. Also, Cobber Bob will be along shortly - he's got a lot of good information about acrylic paints for vans. But of course, it's all in the prep - the paint is really just the icing. The very pretty, very satisfying icing. Best of luck in your project, Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Oct 19, 2014 16:19:10 GMT 10
...these things might be of some use if you have room to set 'em up inside your caravan..... Hi Cobber I would *never* refer to pressed tin versions - perish the thought! They are so interesting looking, and they are great for displaying old tea towels etc (a new thread?). However I don't think they were ever intended for use in a caravan - who would have the space?! So maybe more for show than for "go", hey? This type of coiled clothesline is attached to fittings and removed for travel. Connect the end around a tree or to a pegged out pole - very practical. Or here's a much smaller internal one that you could fix to the wall inside - we have one like this but I don't really use it. But I could! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Oct 19, 2014 13:18:48 GMT 10
Hi Cobber Clearly you don't do the laundry. The Marrick Quick Dry and others of it's ilk was the clothes airer of the day - not really a replacement for the standard clothesline. I can't find it now but I once saw an advertisement that touted its use for drying nappies and baby clothes that were too delicate for the line. In the picture, the baby clothes were threaded onto the battons through the arms. It might have also been good for delicate "unmentionables" too - far too salacious for public consumption! You put it inside the house or on your covered porch, perhaps in front of the fire overnight, and let things dry. So yes, I think it would go A over T in the wind - but that wasn't a design consideration! I do agree about the salt and pepper shakers though - cute, but really, NO ONE picked that up in the design process? Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Oct 19, 2014 11:03:32 GMT 10
Hi Sandra
What a beautiful job you've done on your calico - and having looked at a few threads now on the topic, I know more than one person will be tipping their hat to you! How well organised you were, especially tackling this as a solo job. The taped down pleats around the top of the van have the symmetry of upholstery, and she's drum tight by the looks of it. Impressive, and good for another 60 years!
How far you've come since last year with the relocation of your vans - well done to you for having a go and persevering.
Looks Supa! Seeshell
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