Swing out bracket back from the powder coaters this week and all installed. Works a treat!
And the swing out in action! Lovely stuff. Hopefully get the cooker and heater plumbed in soon so I can use them.
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**Ray Ley Products!**
I’ve been saying for some time now that I’d start making a few of the bits that went into Iris available for others to buy.
So here we have the first; curtain tie backs.
A pack of 8, made in black vinyl with a silver press stud measuring 10” x 1.5”. A nice contrast to a pair of bright curtains.
£27 including p&p.
Drop me a message if you’re interested in a set. I’ll be able to do other colours too if there’s interest.
Made the ever important herb and spice racks for the van to mount inside the cooker unit.
Front cabinets
The shorter evenings have meant the front cabinet and under bed panel have taken quite some time, with only a few hours of good light.
The cabinet carcass all cut and assembled:
Max helping me out with the iron on trim:
Shaping the top surface:
And all installed in the van along with the bed kick panel:
The last time we had cabinets in Iris was about 7 years ago when we first bought her.
Our Orla Kiely fabric arrived last week so I’ve been busy making curtains for the van. I didn’t get any progress pictures but they’re double faced with black out material in the middle.
All 8 made up:
And hung in the van:
Making a super cosy area to sleep in when they’re shut:
I’ve a fair bit of material left over from the bits I’ve been making so I found a few further bits to make.
The sun visors weren’t in the best of shape as the foam had lost all of their sponginess so I made some new ones.Old covers used as patterns to make new pieces:
The metal frame from the old ones was then removed. You can see how battered the foam was from where the frame was tearing through:
And new foam cut out from some scrim I had left over:
Once sewn up and put together I think they look pretty nice, just need a few new clips for them:
Just a few odd jobs this week.
Fitted a connection to the air filter to hook up the fuel tank breather:
Made a spare wheel carrier out of the same fabric as our poptop. Decided I don’t like the look of it on the van so took it off and chucked it in the garage. Much prefer the naked look. Oh well.
This weekend’s job. Start the curtains. I’ve already made some tie backs out of the leftover vinyl I had. Should inject some 70s colour into the van!
Roof bed complete and front seat tear down
Continuing with the van upholstery I got the roof bed cushions all made up and installed over the weekend. The rear one is gigantic and interesting to try and man handle around the sewing machine.
B sat and watched the kids on our street for 10 minutes or so. He loves it up there.
I’ve stripped down both front seats now to start making new covers for them.
The frames overall are in pretty good condition, however the drivers back had cracked:
Quick tickle with the welder and good as new:
7 years ago we bought an old VW camper. Don’t think I’d done so much as change a car tire.
3.5 years ago we decided to take it off road to complete a much needed full restoration.
I can’t begin to describe the amount of time, effort, patience and money it’s taken to get to this point. My van related posts from the last few years give a bit of an indication of what it’s taken.
Today that 47 year old little camper passed its MOT! I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved.
Thank you Max, for putting up with an eternity of me coming home late at night covered in rust, grease and paint. For keeping me sane, not many others would. For keeping the lights on and our lives moving while I put everything else on hold.
Adventure awaits.
Both rear pieces of glass back in tonight with a huge hand from Max. These are quite simply horrible to fit.
