My '76 Microbus / Camper : Landyn

Original parts! It's technically a Microbus from new so they were there from the start. They've a few dings and splits, but they're there to remind me that it's nearly 40 years old!

 

Right, no updates for a long time! and not really an update now to be honest! Life has been a bit busy, especially for the Lazy amongst us and I'm soon to be moving house so don't expect it to get any quieter! Good news is the van is being used a couple of times a week for commuting and appears to be enjoying the drive, which is good.

The one thing I did complete was a first run at an interior, which some of you will have noticed for sale a while back. It has now gone, but I think it's worth recording on the rest thread as it's part of the story! A second interior is currently on the virtual drawing board with a change to 15mm laminate board instead or birch and a few other tweaks to be included... there's a cool table idea and a revision to the cooker seat that I'm really looking forward to putting into practice!! So watch this space for them and in the mean time here's a record of those sold on...

Walk-through Buddy Box, designed with a slanted base to level out the top of the box with the seat runners. Small map pocket at the front, fold down door at the rear, lift up top door and the now ubiquitous cup holders at the front.











Bulkhead Seats designed similar to the prototype bay Devon Caravette, so there is a back piece and a removable seat base.

 

One of the reasons for basing the desing on the Caravette layout is the possibility of creating more space by rearranging the box seats or easily removing them



Rear Quarter Unit designed to sit alongside our Volkswares 1150mm R+R bed. Small top access cupboard to the rear, large front access cupboard with cubby holes to make best use of the space over the wheel arch.













So with a bit of luck, I'm hoping to get cracking on the Mk 2 interior in June and hopefully get some use with it for some of the late summer shows!

 

So June became late August...



That is a half palette of flat pack, Mk II interior ready for me to get on with!

Immediate issue is waiting for the rain to stop so I can get it (and the camping gear) out of the van and then weighing up if I have time to build it and decorate the nursery before littl'un turns up! :O

 

I liked the first interior, can't wait to see what you do with the mk2!

 

rains stopped

 

All in the worksh... sorry, nursery!

In disappointing news the panels have come up at 15.4ish mm rather than 15mm as advertised, which means every F-ing slot needs to be adjusted!!! Not so happy!!

 

Thought I'd make a start...



The over width board is very annoying and I'm having to do a lot of trimming which shouldn't be necessary!! Ho hum

 

Loving the interior! That buddy box is amazing, is that something you did yourself?
Good work so far

 

Designed in Cad and CNC cut... although the oversized board and small tolerances are doing my head in!!

 

Loving the interior, you're skills are second to none.

 

So, guess who was allowed out to play on Sunday...







Coming along well in spite of the tedious removal of 5mm of laminate on each join!! Some of the little design improvements over Mk I are coming along nicely, certainly reinforced my decision to make a second interior

Run out of veneered edging and my mate has busted the collet in the palm router he was going to lend me so unlikely to finish any of these, but at least they should be structurally complete by the end of tomorrow... I strongly suspect we won't have any dry weekend for 10 weeks after that to route the edges!!

 

Another day, another box!!



Almost wish I had a week off, I'd have this lot finished and the room stripped ready to decorate as a nursery with a few more days like this!!

 

Couldn't resist doing a little bit this evening despite having a pile of homework to do!!

Trimmed the edges for one of the seat backs and trial fitted. Need to shave a little off in a couple of spots and check why the lid doesn't sit correctly.



And checked the buddy box for fit too...

 

Bit more over the weekend. I've finished the upright cupboards and fitted he doors. Only the tops to glue on once the edging is done. Fitted a few more of the catches to find I'm one short... Bugger!!

Very pleased with these so far (except the ding I've made in one of them )

Need to wire up the speakers and camping electrics for those bits that are easier to do out of the van. Mustn't forget to put a coat of something water resistant on the bottom edges while they're out too!!

 

Slower progress for a day or so. Got to sort out a bit of wiring and try to remember what I was thinking when I laid the cables 18 months ago!!

Took my temporary kick panel off to offer up the new one and check the spacing for the quarter unit. This was one area that didn't fit nicely on the Mk I interior, but I am very pleased that things appear a little better this time...

These little filler prices are loosely balanced in place :



The supports behind the panel for stereo stuff, packing out for the speakers, etc.



Fascia lined up...



Offered up to the quarter panel in the "workshop"



Going to take it out and try it in the van again tomorrow morning before work

Still waiting for a router tho!!

 

2 mins to check the assembled item fitted this morning



Floor needs a damn good clean tho!!

 

Had a day with my brother playing with the van.

First up was tweaking the quarter unit and the scribe panel to fit the van. In tweaked...



Scribe / closing panel against the c pillar



One of the mounting patresses for the kick panel under the bed, all fitting well....



Space here for....



Leisure electrics...



Hit a few more snags than I would have liked to today. The precut holes for the 240v sockets needed letting out and I've spotted the light switch holes are too small, so they're going to become a big C-line switch. Also, the kick panel / quarter unit junction needs a tweak That's the problem putting square furniture in a wonky old van!!

 

A bit of a distraction from the interior...



1 + 1...



Cut hole





Docked!!