Woody my 72/73 bay window resto project .......an epic tale of rust.......

Have you tried down Albert Road in Southsea? There might be some in the antique shops, but if not theres a new-ish sewing shop opposite the tesco which has a load of old machines as window decoration... might be worth a look!

 

Good luck finding one, it's what everyone wants, just buy the door cards will be cheaper and much much much much muchly much quickerer, but that's not your style , MOD training for yer

 

Ask on freecycle for a sewing machine

 

I might have a look next time I'm down there ...think I'll be lucky if I find a walking foot one though ....keep an eye out for me if your in the area

Thats not like you, not to have one ready to sell to me at full retail price

...your right though, its not my style to pay some one, when Mrs Diddymen is more than capable (once we get the right machine)

good call, I might try that ...its finding one at the right price and within a reasonable travelling distance ....can you put wanted ad's on ebay

...there are plenty out there ...just not for the money I want to spend

 

anyway update time...

cover off again



does that count?

 

ok, so I've done some waxing of the underside





thats about all the waxing done all bar a few nooks and crannies, which I will get with the spray cans of Bilthamber ....I hope its all just about done as I've used a full 5ltrs!!

and yes, filling up the engine lid will also fill up the number plate light with cavity wax

and I found the perfect match to the original poptop catches in stainless steel - with retaining pins



took me ages to find exact ones ....when I compared them I noticed the brand protex was stamped on the old ones too

well, I couldnt put the old ones back on could I !



hmm what else?

...ah yes, a bit more to the headliner, also got the new light fixed in place



and painted the steering wheel and fitted it back on



shame I couldnt see my alligning marks and fitted it one or two splines out ....bet I'll scratch it if I take it off again!

I'll dig out some more pics in a bit

 

@Diddymen I have a Singer (I think) industrial sewing machine in my cellar. It worked when last tried 20 years ago, but I expect it needs a bit of a service. It has a monster motor. You're welcome to it free and gratis, but you'd have to come and get it. I doubt it's walking foot, but it munched it's way through monster thick swodges of material making curtains for posh people so I'd think it would make mincemeat of vinyl.

It did have a piping foot, but I can't find that.

I'll go and take a picture.

EDIT, no I won't I left the camera at work.

 

You are a real Gent that is a very kind offer

TBH, the industrial machine Mrs Diddymen has is pretty good, it does munch through most things and doesnt miss a beat ....but the foam backed vinyl is proving tricky, the feed seems to stall a little as the vinyl is 'sticky' so she gets even stitches and then really close stitches as it 'sticks' to the foot ....a little help feeds it through ok, and if you go slow its not too bad ......but you all know how fussy I am

I have spoken to a few specialists in sewing machine repair and auto trimmers and all have said its a feed issue which will be overcome with a walking foot machine to feed top and bottom as it gives that little exra help feeding it through.....thinking I know best I have bought her a roller foot and tweeking the feed dogs, but Mrs Diddymen said she cant use our machine to get the finish I want with the material we have

@zed, if it is a walking foot machine I would take it off your hands and I wouldnt expect it for free , if it is a standard feed then I will thank you once again but say no as I have my mind set on a walking foot now(if I ever get my van on the road and see you at a show/meet I'll get the beers in for your kind offer )

Mrs Diddymen has accepted I get obsessed with these sort of things and I wont be able to settle/focus or do anything else on the van (or the house) until I have found a walking foot machine lol!!!!

 

last few pics of bits you've seen from my last post.....but from a different angle

 

what interior lights did you buy in the end … any good?

 

Got the lights from ebay - 6 x 30mm LED spotlights and a rotating LED strip light

....cant tell if they are any good as I've not connected them to power yet ...but they look nice

in hindsight I could have gone a little bigger with the spotlights (dont think they will be that bright)

 

What can I say, other than I'm sew excited

sew what I hear you say

sew why all the bad spelling?

I got a bit of a bargain from ebay

....a new walking foot sewing machine, and it was a real bargain, I managed to get it for £100 cheaper than what it was listed for .....and its the dogs danglies, and Mrs Diddymen is pretty pleased with it too



It has really been chomping through the upholstery

got the first panel done, one of the kick panels



....I think Mrs Diddymen's sewing was a bit better than my fitting it to the panel, but it came out pretty damn good even if I do say so myself

....even got time to fit it into the van today



I also spent a bit of time making sure all the other panels fitted nicely, hopefully Mrs Diddymen will crack on with a bit more sewing through the week and I might have a few more panels to fit next weekend (although I want to get over to Brighton Breeze on Saturday)

 

Nice one Diddy. You and Mrs Diddymen are making a fantastic job of the interior. That kick panel looks spot on.

I'm going to have to look into getting myself a decent sewing machine as I still need to do my door cards etc and do not want just flat vinyl over them.

I'm going to Brighton on Saturday in the bus, so might see you there.

 

Cheers mate

Unfortunately I won't be in my bus for Brighton breeze .....I'll keep an eye out for you

A good sewing machine is well worth the money, as is good quality material

You probably don't need an industrial walking foot machine but it does make sewing so much easier, and good quality stitching ...,even I could use it ....but mine wernt quite as straight as Mrs diddymen's lol

 

I like your white dash - was thinking about doing that to mine as the van is Pastel white and the dash is currently badly sprayed black over a previous maroon. What paint did you use?

 

Pastel white 2k on my dash

 

Awesome! the kick panel looks great

If i could offer a belated tip... if you notch the fibreboard where the pleated seams are, you can get them to lie flat as you wrap the panel round. I guess you'll have some on the front doors too?

 

Now you tell me lol ...good tip

The door panels should only need cut outs for the piping as the fluted panels will be bordered but flat vinyl panels

I will notch the other kick panel when I do it though

 

Sorry!

 

looking awesome dude!!!!!