Moving on in the windows finishing stages.
Inner lining back in, now its just a matter of making a nice edging / sill.
After I ordered the window I was regretting having ordered rounded edges. Making it so much more difficult to finish the inside off, oh my oh my.
The challenge was getting the rounded corners right, which took its toll, once the inner wall was in I found out that nothing much ran level to the frame of window with corners and sides and the top. I did how ever get it right on the bottom. Right so here I go with so much as a file, chisel & hammer all hard work but not getting anywhere fast, lastly I used a dremil with the little sander which shaped the corners well.
But I'd had enough. Stuff, it will have to do.
On with the laminate.
First part on, the photo showing construction to keep the pressure on as I used sikaflex which takes a few hour to cure. Ok yes it looks a mess here, but I am not finished yet.
Opened
In the meantime I adjusted the gas struts to get the angle right, so it doesnt rain in when opened.
Closed.
Inner lining back in, now its just a matter of making a nice edging / sill.
After I ordered the window I was regretting having ordered rounded edges. Making it so much more difficult to finish the inside off, oh my oh my.
The challenge was getting the rounded corners right, which took its toll, once the inner wall was in I found out that nothing much ran level to the frame of window with corners and sides and the top. I did how ever get it right on the bottom. Right so here I go with so much as a file, chisel & hammer all hard work but not getting anywhere fast, lastly I used a dremil with the little sander which shaped the corners well.
But I'd had enough. Stuff, it will have to do.
On with the laminate.
First part on, the photo showing construction to keep the pressure on as I used sikaflex which takes a few hour to cure. Ok yes it looks a mess here, but I am not finished yet.
Opened
In the meantime I adjusted the gas struts to get the angle right, so it doesnt rain in when opened.
Closed.
Ahh Blood!
(Considering my photo was deleted by admin, I deside to give you the opertunity to look at it or not - your choice, but it is so trivial you will probalbly be disappointed)
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4889/qthf.jpg
Such a big project does not go without knocks and bruises. Several on a weekly basis. This one was the worst of all incidence. Touch wood - Thank god.
Window is now in and the nights are cold so it is important to keep it above 15deg. so the sikaflex 252 adhesive cures properly.
So wraped it up with insulation, blanket and covered it with plastic and that was just the outside.
Now the inside. My little gas burner turned down low kept the temperature perfect at 15 to 17deg the whole night until 10:30 in the morning when the sun came out and we got natural heat after the night cooled down to 8deg.
(Considering my photo was deleted by admin, I deside to give you the opertunity to look at it or not - your choice, but it is so trivial you will probalbly be disappointed)
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4889/qthf.jpg
Such a big project does not go without knocks and bruises. Several on a weekly basis. This one was the worst of all incidence. Touch wood - Thank god.
Window is now in and the nights are cold so it is important to keep it above 15deg. so the sikaflex 252 adhesive cures properly.
So wraped it up with insulation, blanket and covered it with plastic and that was just the outside.
Now the inside. My little gas burner turned down low kept the temperature perfect at 15 to 17deg the whole night until 10:30 in the morning when the sun came out and we got natural heat after the night cooled down to 8deg.
Looking good! Fits - Go J.
Now its a matter of wait till the rust kill enamel dry's and tomorrow sikaflex 252 bond.
I managed to find a marine window maker specialist. He had a hinge window which he makes to size, fantastic quality. So I dug up the courage to cut yet again another hole, the biggest yet. Now its pretty scary for me.
First had to take the wall lining of. Cutting the reverse camera wire oops!
4 weeks later:-
So today after picking it up after 4 weeks wait, I mark the cut. Tomorrow the cut.
First had to take the wall lining of. Cutting the reverse camera wire oops!
4 weeks later:-
So today after picking it up after 4 weeks wait, I mark the cut. Tomorrow the cut.
INSTALLING FANTASIC VENT
Promptly I decide to install my FANTASTIC VENT which I imported from US. Another job I had hoped to get done elsewhere. But with time on my hands now and a coupke of weeks rest behind me, I feel a little more like I might be able to manage it. Besides I bought a nibbler to cut metal so the cut should be a piece of cake now.
The roof not flat but....
So here we go pulling off the roof panels. I was clever enough to not seal most of them thinking in advance. So thats where it has to go not much choice.
The nibbler - A great tool indeed. I paid $89 for it new. It was on sale reduced from $400. I start to cut and it stops after 1inch! What the heck! So I try in another part it works again. Mmm ..... oh yes now I know its the strip pieces Mercedes have on the ceiling. Dam now that is just typical, nothing is easy just nothing. So down from roof AGAIN. Eventually I get it removed.
Back to the Nibbler. It is so freehand that I couldn't get a straight line. The template I had was too small so I also had to make the original hole I'd made a bit bigger which didn't help. But the nibbler made much lighter work of having to do it.
I already had a 12volt wire hooked up ready. So that was easy and yep she's up and running.
The roof has a little curve so fitting the trim may be a little bit more diffecult but that is typical.
Promptly I decide to install my FANTASTIC VENT which I imported from US. Another job I had hoped to get done elsewhere. But with time on my hands now and a coupke of weeks rest behind me, I feel a little more like I might be able to manage it. Besides I bought a nibbler to cut metal so the cut should be a piece of cake now.
The roof not flat but....
So here we go pulling off the roof panels. I was clever enough to not seal most of them thinking in advance. So thats where it has to go not much choice.
The nibbler - A great tool indeed. I paid $89 for it new. It was on sale reduced from $400. I start to cut and it stops after 1inch! What the heck! So I try in another part it works again. Mmm ..... oh yes now I know its the strip pieces Mercedes have on the ceiling. Dam now that is just typical, nothing is easy just nothing. So down from roof AGAIN. Eventually I get it removed.
Back to the Nibbler. It is so freehand that I couldn't get a straight line. The template I had was too small so I also had to make the original hole I'd made a bit bigger which didn't help. But the nibbler made much lighter work of having to do it.
I already had a 12volt wire hooked up ready. So that was easy and yep she's up and running.
The roof has a little curve so fitting the trim may be a little bit more diffecult but that is typical.
Now my resting place - couldn't be bothered to make it perfect mainly because I had no energy for it. So long as I have a place to sleep is fine for now.
So covering the gas box was an easy place to start.
This job was never something I could imagine completed. So this build was all just start it and work it out as I go.
Here's it is completed with TV it's high at 710 mm because the generator has to fit under it.
Its made up of 3 sections. 1 permanent in the top photo and a middle peice allowing access through the door, also a 3rd piece covers the geni but can also be lifted off so that I can put move the geni in or out. At 120 kg I wont be moving it much once its in.
PACKED AND READY FOR MAJOR TRIP
I was all ready packed to leave north to the warmer part of Australia Queensland.
In January I had a verbal quote of $880 to have a serving side hatch builtin in Queensland End April May. So I rang the company and told them I would be arriving in the next couple of weeks and would like to make a definite booking date to have the work done.
Paul then tells me he doesn't remember a thing. So I go to all the trouble of sending old mails with photos. Now he remembers but suddenly he makes the matter more complicated so much more that the quoted price is raised to $2200 plus tax. But the quote was written strange, I looked incomplete.
Then I ring him and ask if the job will be completely finished inside and out ready to trade - He was beating around the bush, trying to make a complexity out of a simple question, but I stop him on his tracks to give me a straight answer. He says "No inside finish will be extra." Right so with that. No choice, got to find another alternative. Not wanting to support dishonest sales tactics.
I finally find someone who does Mr Whippy van sliding serving windows in Melbourne. So I make my way to him. Who build out your van! "I did" no I mean which company did the work on your van! "I did" No your not understanding me. "Yes I am, I built it myself all of it." Well then you can do it yourself. "What! no I don't want to, I can't anymore, I am wrecked I've done enough. After discussions father (boss) says to son in Greek "it is too clean now it will get too messy, don't do it." Theo the son then was kind enough to encourage me and give me a valuable contact of a Auto window fabrication place who would cut to fit with a frame!
Now I was set to have this done like in 2 weeks as I had 2 shows coming up in Queensland in 3 weeks. But the order can not be done earliest 4 weeks. O dear!
That night I make a difficult discussion to delay the trip and cancel show. I have to get it done I have been runaround for this number way too long. So I quickly put the order in after pulling down the range-hood & paneling. To make matters worse I get another show offered to me which I also have to send my humble apologies as I now can not make it.
Ok decision is made. Right now is the time to work other stuff in the 4 weeks I have left in between.
So covering the gas box was an easy place to start.
This job was never something I could imagine completed. So this build was all just start it and work it out as I go.
Here's it is completed with TV it's high at 710 mm because the generator has to fit under it.
Its made up of 3 sections. 1 permanent in the top photo and a middle peice allowing access through the door, also a 3rd piece covers the geni but can also be lifted off so that I can put move the geni in or out. At 120 kg I wont be moving it much once its in.
PACKED AND READY FOR MAJOR TRIP
I was all ready packed to leave north to the warmer part of Australia Queensland.
In January I had a verbal quote of $880 to have a serving side hatch builtin in Queensland End April May. So I rang the company and told them I would be arriving in the next couple of weeks and would like to make a definite booking date to have the work done.
Paul then tells me he doesn't remember a thing. So I go to all the trouble of sending old mails with photos. Now he remembers but suddenly he makes the matter more complicated so much more that the quoted price is raised to $2200 plus tax. But the quote was written strange, I looked incomplete.
Then I ring him and ask if the job will be completely finished inside and out ready to trade - He was beating around the bush, trying to make a complexity out of a simple question, but I stop him on his tracks to give me a straight answer. He says "No inside finish will be extra." Right so with that. No choice, got to find another alternative. Not wanting to support dishonest sales tactics.
I finally find someone who does Mr Whippy van sliding serving windows in Melbourne. So I make my way to him. Who build out your van! "I did" no I mean which company did the work on your van! "I did" No your not understanding me. "Yes I am, I built it myself all of it." Well then you can do it yourself. "What! no I don't want to, I can't anymore, I am wrecked I've done enough. After discussions father (boss) says to son in Greek "it is too clean now it will get too messy, don't do it." Theo the son then was kind enough to encourage me and give me a valuable contact of a Auto window fabrication place who would cut to fit with a frame!
Now I was set to have this done like in 2 weeks as I had 2 shows coming up in Queensland in 3 weeks. But the order can not be done earliest 4 weeks. O dear!
That night I make a difficult discussion to delay the trip and cancel show. I have to get it done I have been runaround for this number way too long. So I quickly put the order in after pulling down the range-hood & paneling. To make matters worse I get another show offered to me which I also have to send my humble apologies as I now can not make it.
Ok decision is made. Right now is the time to work other stuff in the 4 weeks I have left in between.
