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Post by kezzbot on Dec 1, 2009 9:35:07 GMT 10
Hello, my father and me are currently doing up an 1977 viscount and thought I should post the progress of our little project for anyone who is interested. Basically what is planned is ripping out everything except for a couple of cupboards, and redoing it all anew. I took some photos last week when we first started work:  There she is an oldie but a goodie, set me back 2.4k, was quite happy with that considering it has a new draw bar and the chassis has been completely rust proofed. I’ll take some pics of underneath later on.  Corner windows are shot, will be replacing them.  Hatches are old and leaking, need to be replaced.  As you first step in the door to the right. The dining table chair thing in the middle of shot is going for a office\computer table. Wardrobes to the right are staying.  Bookcase just in front is staying, might make it a bit bigger tho. King single bed will be where the camera is now. Kitchen bench down the far end is going for a complete new one.  Two benches out.  I'll post more pics tomorrow of where we are up to atm. |
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Post by millard1399 on Dec 1, 2009 12:04:45 GMT 10
G'day kezzbot, and welcome to the forum! ;D ;D Everybody here is interested in seeing what others are doing to their Classic caravans!  And here you are doing up one of those wonderful Viscounts, no less! ;D Looks like you got yourself quite a good van there. Should be more than enough room to put in a Department Store, a couple of specialty stores, and a bowling alley to boot.   And ain't that new drawbar a corker!? Gotta admire people who plan to have it done by Xmas. Wish I was able to do that with the mess I'm trying to put back together! Keep us posted on how things go. We're always looking for inspiration to urge us on in our own projects. Great to have you with us! ;D cheers, Al. |
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Post by bobt on Dec 1, 2009 20:41:26 GMT 10
Hi kezzbot
Welcome aboard.
You managed a good purchase there.
They are a very popular van..
Good luck with the reno.. We will all be interested to hear and see your progress.
bobt
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 2, 2009 23:24:43 GMT 10
Thanks guys. After lengthy logistics and many trips to the shops, construction has started on the new kitchen. Here are some shots:  Old kitchen has been removed, old wall sheet has been removed and wall cleaned with sugar soap. New corner windows have been put in, protective film is still on, I wont remove that till I finnish construction. I used a material called polycarbonate, it is highly flexible. At the shop I bought it from the guy there bent the sheet over on its self and proceeded to put his entire weight on it causing it to bend at a very sharp angle, causing no damage. End window has been removed, ill install the new one when the window sill has been finished.  The wall space where the a fridge was once had been patched up in a really dodgy manner so i have removed the dodgy patch job and made the hole in the wall large as to make it easier to patch properly also noticed that they didn't install any insulation before they boarded up the wall.  I am happy to report tho that all the other walls and roof seem to have foam sheet insulation and the caravan stays nice and cool even in direct sun. ;D  Foam insulation installed. Orange juice anyone?  Kitchen cupboards started. The ply sheets you can see there is a 3mm ply with a veneer on it called vanilla wood. it has a bit of an orangey tone there in the light of the flash but in more natural light it looks more light brownish. Ill be doing the inside of the cupboards in that to see if i like it and if i do then the outside too. |
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Post by millard1399 on Dec 3, 2009 7:25:36 GMT 10
Wow! Coming along VERY nicely!! No mucking about with you guys! I can see why it will be done for Christmas, with heaps of time to spare!! ;D ;D And yes, I'll have an orange juice please. It's thirsty work sitting here scrolling through all your impressive photos! Now, some questions about the 'vanilla wood' veneered ply. Who makes it? Where did you buy it from? How much per sheet? I used Gunnersens 'Rezilience' paper overlay plywood in the "Classic Blonde" colour, to re-do the walls in my Millard. It was a stock item in Bunnings, but they no longer carry it. Which is a shame because I was looking to get some of another colour called "Blue Suede" to re-do the ceiling in the pop-top roof. Might have to go visit a plywood specialist outlet in my region, and see what's available on the market. So, any further info on what you've used would be appreciated. Look forward to seeing more pictures of the job progressing. Some really good work being done there so far!! ;D ;D cheers, Al. |
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 3, 2009 9:00:39 GMT 10
Thanks Al, yep its all go here. The ply came from www.sharpplywood.com.au/index.php, I have been impressed with them so far so they might be worth a look. It is a polyester overlay ply and they are charging me $35 for a 2400 x 1200 sheet. Sharps makes it easy for me as they are only 5 -10 min from where i live. Tho i went there yesterday arvo to pick up 2 sheets of 12mm ply and both of there fork lifts where broken down so i couldn't pick up any. They offered to deliver it to me for free which was nice and true enough the guy just dropped it off this morning about 10 min ago. |
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Post by bobt on Dec 3, 2009 19:42:57 GMT 10
hi keezbot
looking good...
playing with wood and being waited on hand and foot...
what a loverly life you have there.........
Stop watch is started... now lets see how ya fair ;D
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Post by philouise on Dec 4, 2009 12:25:42 GMT 10
G'day Kezzbot.
Very impressed - great job your doing.
I will be even more impressed if you stick to your timetable.
Its a large van - will you put in a bathroom as well as the items mentioned by Al.
Its good to see all the interior lining is to be replaced - looking forward to the finished photos for ideas on my future renos.
And what about the exterior - any plans?
Keep up the good work.
Phil.
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 4, 2009 23:33:08 GMT 10
Sorry Al, that vanilla ply is actually a paper overlay ply not polyester. Thanks guys, no, no bathroom will be installed. Most of the time the caravan will be at a farm which there will be an external shower and toilet or at a caravan park. If i decide to go bush-bashing then I'm sure i can figure something out. Before Xmas the main things i hope to have done are the kitchen, side bench, window above the kitchen, computer desk and bed. After that I'll plod away at new lino, internal roof boards, hatches, either paint or new boards for the walls. Externally i would like to a reseal the roof and main joins. and a paint job. It seems a bit overwhelming when i think about it all in one hit... |
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 9, 2009 8:23:00 GMT 10
 Here is a shot of underneath the van. ill need to hook up the brakes at some point. |
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 9, 2009 20:25:25 GMT 10
 Steel bars welded to the draw bar, they are for the external unit of a split system air con. The front bar is longer as it is the width of the unit to protect it a bit in case i jackknife.  Kitchen footings in place.  Hot water, cold water and waste water pipes in place. We glued scrap foam pieces in places to help reduce any chance of rattling pipe syndrome.  Hmmm... pipes.  My father Ray marking the hole for the waste water pipe in the board that will be the cupboard floor. It is a external 12mm 5 ply. We have painted the bottom of the board white to help it resist any moisture.  Wullahh, like magic. ;D  clamped ready for screwing. |
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Post by bobt on Dec 9, 2009 20:52:47 GMT 10
aaah now in my head I can see the plan... A rolling restoration... Just the way to do it. do a bit go use it. This gives you the motivation and incentive to do a bit more and perhaps change a bit here there.. Looking goood. Impressed with the chassis work. Shower and toilet... personal choice thing. In my house I would have no say in the matter. bobt |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2009 21:16:27 GMT 10
Hey Kezzbot,
That sure is gonna be a fine looking viscount when your finished with her I have been quietly watching your progress with great interest as I also have a tandem axle viscount that I am in the process of gradually fixing up, predominately for work accomodation as I sometimes go and work in the bush with my job.
It looks like you and your father are doing a very professional job with the kitchen cupboards.
Nice work mate and I might just borrow a few ideas off you if thats ok.
Carl
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Post by kylarama on Dec 9, 2009 21:42:35 GMT 10
Looking good.
I like the jockey wheel set up.
What type of hot water service are you fitting?
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 9, 2009 23:09:26 GMT 10
Thanks guys! Sure thing Carl no probs at all. By the looks of your avatar pic it looks like we have the exact same van!  Haven't decided on any mobile hot water that will me permanently fixed to the van yet Kylarama . I know there is the instantaneous ones that sound pretty good but I have been warned away from them from a pretty reputable source that they can cause hassles as they draw huge amounts of power and can over load things but haven't really done all that much research into it so any info / experiences you guys have had with different types would be good. Where the van will be stationed most of the time I plan on setting up a external solar hot water system. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2009 9:55:42 GMT 10
Hi and a belated welcome ... over here.  The chassis restoration is remarkable. And not one complaint of grit in the eye. |
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 17, 2009 0:25:37 GMT 10
Thanks Wahroonga, the chassis work was already done when i bought it and was done by the guy i bought it off, a friend of the family a guy called Gavin so Gavin if you are reading this, good job mate. Here are a couple more photos of the kitchen that i took about a week ago:  First dividing wall going up this wall will separate the under sink cupboard from the pull out pantry. Extra boards have been added to allow the pull out pantry runners to be screwed to.  sweet I left the camera in the van so thats all I can add atm. I'll post some more tomorrow of where we are up to atm. |
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Post by wbski007 on Dec 17, 2009 2:09:42 GMT 10
G-DAY mate,
great wood working job, very professional, my hat is off to you guys, she looks like a very solid van and diffinetly worth the effort your putting into it, might think twice about the bath room tho,the older you get the handy'er they are, one really doesn't take up much room and its alot easier to do now. A big thanks for shareing your work on her with us, great photos.
cheers and thanks for the OJ,
Wayne
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 18, 2009 22:55:03 GMT 10
Gday Wayne, thanks for the advice but its all planed out now and don't think i can fit a bathroom. But I really think it will be ok ... But i know you'll prove me wrong one day when i really busting and there is nowhere to go...  Don't even know how much traveling I'll be doing in it as of yet so hopefully ill be right. Don't know how well these would work. Here are some shots of how the bed is progressing:  Frame up. It has been screwed to the frame and screwed and glued to the floor.  Center bar and legs in place. The piece of timber on the left hand side is what they use for making door frames, the slats should fit in that nicely.  Stay.  The black stuff is powder coated perforated aluminum sheet. It will be going around the base of the bed frame to form the back of the kick board.  Slats ready for routing.  Done. |
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Post by kezza on Dec 19, 2009 0:38:14 GMT 10
Beautiful work
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Post by wayne kopinski on Dec 19, 2009 4:45:05 GMT 10
G-DAY Mate
platform for bed looks great, nice routing job, you won't have to worry about that one sagging on you, if it does sag its not the bed its the ground under neath ;D
Cheers Wayne
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2009 7:28:41 GMT 10
Love the step by step. Thanks. Anyway to easily access the valuable storage space beneath the bed? |
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Post by kezzbot on Dec 21, 2009 21:44:39 GMT 10
Yep Wahroonga you will be able to lift the mattress and have it sitting on its side so you can remove 1 of two slat sections to get to the space under the bed. You'll see in more detail, read on ---> Work continues on the bed:  Removed part of the end board and struck green carpet! We'll be making a bedside table there.  The floor board actually goes quite a way past the end of the sloping end board. Seems like a waste of space for the sloping board to come so far forward.  Two coats of a exterior paint on the legs, the color was called night sky... so yeah, black then i guess.   Slats cut to size. Time to put them together.  Done. Phew that was easy...  Should look something like that when we are done.  First coat of varnish goes on. Should last for ever after this. Ive switched cameras, so sorry if these couple of images are to large for you guys with ancient monitors, if they are just tell me and ill make them smaller.  Two coats of hi-gloss black around the edging.   Kitchen has taken literally 5-6 times as long as we thought. I now know why people use MDF. Kitchen definitely wont be finished by xmas. |
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Post by kylarama on Dec 21, 2009 22:13:52 GMT 10
Nice bit of cabinet making there. You or your dad a cabinet maker? Tradie?
I'm a chippie by trade who also does alot of joinery work, but I don't think I would do to well with a caravan fitout.
I tend to over engineer everything, which in a caravan means extra weight.
My mind still boggles when I look at whats used in the Millard. Yet it's all lasted 33 years so it must be strong enough.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2009 7:45:43 GMT 10
Wow and wow again. Coming on nicely.
Just had a read back through the progress.
One question on the choice of copper plumbing work. Did you consider flexible line for water ... which is industry std?
I'm also amazed that a van of this vintage was insulated.
Can any other Viscount owners report insulation in a 1977 or so van?
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And ain't that new drawbar a corker!?
