Cost cutting

Priced up the lightweight furniture boards  I would need to build the kitchen and cupboards.
£720 Inc delivery.
B&Q have an online sale on!
I decided on cream gloss for the majority of panels with mint gloss accents some draw fronts etc.
I'm having a rummage on B&Q website and they've reduced nearly all the end panels in cream gloss. So some working out later and a bit of math re weights etc. I ended up buying 6 tall end panels and 6 standard height end panels all cream gloss and at a cost of £284 with free delivery! As with the lightweight board fittings are extra and we might need to rethink drawer fronts as couldn't find a pale mint but there's always spray paint! So I reckon I'll be able to build the units complete for the same or less than just the lightweight boards!

Weight of the panels vs boards:  the panels were about 30 kg heavier but I'll be cutting a fair bit out so if I remember I'll weigh the panels to get exact comparison.

View to the rear

Hatch posts

Eee what a palaver! Still that's finished ! So just doors and hatch to cover, if and when we sort the blinds but either way seems it just might be curtains at back as so called made to measure .....don't do made to measure in the old fashioned sense you can have what you like within colour and size they want you to have!
I emailed one firm to ask what the actual width of the pleat was a week later no reply!!!!

Hatch posts

Started on the final hatchback posts just got the top rail to do, but it'll mean removing the (or hopefully just unscrewing the bottom part!) Light pod / upper bed box.
So that can wait until tomorrow!

Handbrake

Just need a decent handbrake grip and decide black leather or cream suede gator!

Thermal Screen

Was looking for something other than plain or with eyes in! Came across Vanshades on tinternet they allow you to send in your own designs and within reason can reproduce onto the screens.
Seeing as my van is black, I like Daffy Duck and remembered one cartoon where they ended before Daffy was ready and they showed him trying to get from behind the screen.
Job done and so there it is ! Excellent
PS I know he's not real !

Handbrake cover

Building the cover for the relocated handbrake
3mm ply from my heap of scrap! Glued and stapled.
I've notched it for the two lugs on the main frame of the handbrake mount.
We'll see if I need a further securing bolt,screw whatever!
Probably ha ha

Gas supply

There seems no hard and fast rules out there for self build gas fitting.
I've spent hours wading through data which basically aimed at business builds.
So I've gone with using 2mm mild steel, backed with 3 ply. Glued and screwed to form a small enclosure as possible.
It's mildy amusing that all has to be sealed especially the door, when you have to have an opening for the pipes to units and filler cap!
So when glue and paint dry ( used a can of metal spray for interior of box)
I'll position it for the drop hole and cut the filler hole (70mm) in side of van.
I haven't made my mind up about the door as once all in place I'll only need to access the bottle and pipe work for servicing so can't really see the point in having it on hinges to open, maybe some simple hooks at the bottom  and latch at top

Melton Mowbray

Trip to see family and show off the van
Mpg ave 40.9 not bad , haven't quite done 1K yet.
Comfortable quiet and back to being able to see over the hedges again!

Front B to C posts done

Just the back to do!

I can see why people use the carpet to line vans!

The faux suede is a pain! Ha Ha

Nearside Doorframe covered

Decided to make a start on the roof sub frame and B post nearside lining.
The suede is a bit if a pain as you have to be very careful to press the cloth to the frame not using your fingers! If not careful you'll find that the glue soaks into the cloth and leaves small indents!

Anyway had to pull the B post plastic covers away and undo top seatbelt bolt.

And then rescue one of the hidden fitting studs from the depths of the post!!!

I had a few pieces of the suede left over and luckily there was enough to cover the B post.

I first did the sub frame which is a bit of a tricky shape by the B post and as the suede DOES fray!! Needed to put a 5mm hem where it joins the upper bed carpet. We were going to hem it ( stitch) but had a play with a couple of left over remnants. And if you protect the cloth and spray carefully it was fairly easy to fold the small hem over and stick it down. Key here is carefully and slowly giving the glue about a minute before folding. Worked well.
So removed the door rubber enough to work the cloth.
Stuck the hemmed edge to the side of the subframe first let it set before smoothing it down along the length whilst doing the shaped end by B post.
Then glued the rest down and replaced the door rubber at the top. Best way to do this as you want it to trap the cloth as well is replace it by pushing it from inside at an angle that allows it to open slightly under pressure which allows it to overlap the new suede.  Works fine
I then did the B post easy job this time found that gluing the frame from the door rubber lip inwards worked fine.
Put all back together was fine.

To get around the LED lights as they are wired into the sub frame. Was to remove the " bulb" then remove the light frame ( two screws) then cut the cloth in straight line just smaller than the frame and push it though. Then mark the screw holes before then stick the cloth. Just a case of rethread the wires back into the frame and screw back onto the cloth.

Insulated

Both sliders and rear hatch now insulated with Dacron.

De Badged !

Plastic scrapper
Hot airgun
White spirit
Colour T cut
Hi Gloss car wax

Took about an hour to remove ,wash and wax

We have mains electrickery!

Nothing runs off it mind lol!
At the moment any way , I will probably get the Waeco mains adapter for when we are parked up on holidays . But this is as complicated as my 12 & 240 volt set up will get. The solar panel gauge show volts in and out and the leisure Battery is directly wired to the solar panel. That will always keep it reasonably charged ( 140amp panel) 7 LED lights are also wired directly to solar panel when all on it shows a load of just 0.1 amps.
When we had zig units and gauges everywhere only time I took any notice was when something went wrong!
We've never used all power up on the leisure Battery even on 80's tech !
Don't go on holiday to watch TV even in this country so as long as the fridge works .............

Fridge

Got a good deal on the new CRX 60 Waeco, the extra 10 Ltr capacity is in the depth. Which means the offside cabinets will need to be 60cm deep to allow the air gap etc. I'm fitting it over the wheel arch when I build the cabinets.

So decided I'd temp wire it today, at full throttle it's not that noisy you'd hear it at night when on but the new built in fan is quiet .

We will probably go down to Cornwall in September for a week so will take the fridge (strapped to the rear seat frame for travelling!) And slum it in our posh new van ha ha!