Lottie, a 79 full restoration Part 1/2/3/4/5

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by martinvention, Jul 12, 2015.

  1. Your bus will be really quiet and comfortable with the work your doing. I am really looking forward to when I do the interior of mine. Some metal work left and building the very best type4 2 liter I possibly can. I sew and do woodwork reasonably well, it’s the part I am most excited about.
     
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  2. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    Do you have a thread for that? I'd be interested in the details.
     
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  3. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator


    Fab work @martinvention. I always like when work is done with a nod to removal for future users too :)
     
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  4. Many thanks nice folks for your encouragement. When its been a bit too dull and cold to be outdoors I have been writing an owners manual to provide future users with comprehensive details how to operate the fitted habitation gear, as well as fitment details so that it can be removed and/or improved without damage.
     
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  5. Now firmly grounded by the plague so cracking on. Kitchen cabinets and various locked doors with first of many paint coats:
    Kitchen cabinets in primer.jpg

    After lots of fettling to make a template from old flooring I finally cut my piece of new vinyl and glued in place. I was pleased that the grey pattern matches the grey vinyl I have used for the A/B/C posts and seats. I have left a small upstand all round the area behind the kitchen cabinets and under the internal water tank to catch any spillages before they invade anything below. The edges of the ply flooring were sealed with mastic and I will repeat the exercise for vinyl edges without an upstand. The oak threshold strip will get another coat of grey stain and then be sealed with some wax polish.

    Vinyl Flooring laid.jpg
     
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  6. "STAY AT HOME" well the mantra is certainly doing Lottie a power of good; on-board water tank, gas locker and kitchen cabinets finished and fitted: Kitchen cabinets painted 1.jpg

    Kitchen cabinets painted 2.jpg

    Kitchen cabinets painted 3.jpg

    The next challenge is to source the right colour Formica for the worktops and tables without travelling. Also trimmed interior of cutlery drawer in blue and grey vinyl:
    Cutlery drawer trimmed.jpg

    The list of jobs to do is now small; wheels/tyres + final alignment check, poptop, cab seatbelts, windscreen wipers, leisure battery, Historic vehicle/MoT exemption, and then probably STAY AT HOME, no probs I like being at home.
     
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  7. Do you need to fit a bed as well, or is the seat up in the pictures?
     
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  8. Good work by the way.

    Up side of this situation is quite a few buses will end up nearer finished
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  9. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    It's all getting a bit blue/grey inside?
    Are you going to cheer it up at some point?
     
  10. Hi Zedders, there is a cunning plan to add a slight dash of colour with blinds and the poptop ceiling. Hi also to Paulcalf, the rock and roll bed base and back will go in soon when I have finished the cabinets and electrics. Ditto re buses getting more attention during lockdown, let us all hope that there is soon a vaccine or better drug treatments so that the old VW Wave can been exchanged without a second/third virus wave.
    [​IMG]
     
    paulcalf likes this.
  11. looks good Martin, what paint did you use?
     
  12. Hi Paul, almost the same as the body, epoxy primer, cellulose primer filler and topcoat. Lots of coats over a couple of weeks and plenty of rubbing down. You can still tell it is wood but with a nice sheen. Hope Desmond is keeping you busy.
     
  13. I am pleased to say that the mail order and delivery systems are working well and I have fresh vinyl leather, glue, scrim, and foam rubber from Martrim/GB Foam Dct so my sweat shop is busy and a nice spot for lockdown leisure. I had a half a roll of calico from a previous job and am using it to cover the foam. Just waiting for the zips so I can sew in the base and stretch the covers over the foam block. Making rear cushions.jpg
     
  14. Also now have number plates for Lottie, though a neighbour said she should be called Mae West or Dolly, wonder why? Front with bezels plates and badge.jpg
     
  15. Over engine cushions.jpg
    Slowly getting there, though made schoolboy error and the right hand one will be redone and re-tensioned up a bit more.
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2020
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  16. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    I probably missed it earlier but I was wondering why two cushions rather than one big one?
     
  17. Hi Zedders, I have reinstated the spare wheel well which will be used for storage, a puncture repair/inflation kit for sure but also to allow carriage of a spare if that is required in the longer term, so best to plan for that, with a loose cushion over the top.
    I have re done the other over engine cushion with the rib going the correct way and finished the seat cushions. Fingers sore from guiding through sewing machine and many attacks by basting pins. Might make some face masks before the shed is converted from sew sew sweat shop to Formica cutting and stick place.
    rear cushion reworked.jpg

    Rear seat cushions.jpg

    Bed cushions flat.jpg

     
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  18. Well the upholstery was tricky but now all done and I have moved on to another tricky area. Formica for the tables and plywood worktops. I was planning on some "Mouse" grey to tone with the vinyl trim but twas pricey and not possible to get without breaking lockdown. But I had been watching E-bay for some time and Snows gallery big sheets for little money with free delivery, though not Mouse. I had been a little worried about too much grey especially when Zedders asked if I was going to "cheer it up a bit" and I took a leap of faith and bought an 8'x4' sheet of Dove from Snows and unusually it came good with a lovely colour match for the flooring and fridge front. But there was another worry as I knew Formica was difficult to cut and handle. Suffice to say with care and patience we are getting there:
    Worktop before formica trimming.jpg

    Small table formica.jpg

     
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  19. More about Formica, 20 years before Lottie was built I remember my father being perplexed when making kitchen worktops and covering in blue Formica. It was difficult to cut to a clean edge, chipped easily and was then sharp as hell. Well its a great product that has withstood the test of time and apart from lots of colours and textures it is still a bit tricky to work with. After a bit of trial and error I found the best way to cut straight edges was by scoring deeply several times with a very sharp tile cutter, going through the colour layer and almost all the way through the brown backing, then fold slowly until parted all along the cut. Corners could be cut in small nibbles with tin snips but always with a generous margin. Stick with generous coats of contact/impact adhesive, left to dry, position Formica directly over timber with several thin wooden rods between, check positioning and withdraw middle rod, push down to start contact and repeat for other rods working outwards. Finally all edges were finished with a router edge trim bit which has a small ball bearing to rest against the timber below and provide a flush edge. Finish edges with fine abrasive on a hard block at a shallow angle to the top face face. Enough babble its all on U Tube, some piccies:
    Hob fitted.jpg
    Nice to finally fit hob unit with seal all around. Note to self - SS heat deflector to be made for left side of hob to protect headrest which is in this photo at most rearward position.

    Kitchen finished.jpg

    Happy with the Blue, Grey, Whitish theme and nice rounded corners. The Formica edge strips were cut from the 8' sheet edge and went on easier than expected.


     
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  20. Poptop needs some work. I have never seen or heard of an elevating roof with this lifting arrangement by Holdsworth. Basically a pair of arms front and back that pivot on a bracket secured to the metal roof and slide in channels under the single piece poptop. The arms are counterbalanced by pairs of scroll springs. The fact that it is uncommon suggests it did not work well, but I will renovate and give it a good trial before considering alternatives. Here is the business, they rest front and back of the opening and the arms swing outwards when roof is down. I guess stability is assisted by the canvas being in tension when fully up, though I imagine raising and lowering might be less than straightforward.
    Pop top arms and springs2.jpg

    The timber frame below the GRP and its partner attached to the roof metal flange meet front and back but there is a 20mm gap all along the sides and I think it was designed to grip the stitched folds of the canvas ?? However the front and rear edges of the GRP despite the seals had both worn through the tin top paint and there was some rust. I have decided to add some timber to the top frame, to fill the 12 mm (front and rear) gap left when it is resting on the tin top and also loose the side gaps as I think there is plenty of space to accommodate the canvas between the poptop and roof sides. Photo shows the front addition and the shaped ends. Pop top extra frame front.jpg


    When poptop is done Lottie is out in the cold and wet so I have decided to tailor my old Maypole cover to the Bay shape. Fitted for some marking up, I will also have to patch some holes where a rodent decided to overwinter!! In garage with maypole cover.jpg
     
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