saDgit's flat-faced pop-top

[saDgit]

You know of course you can see the face of Jesus in that finish

I thought there was an unmistakeable likeness but I didn't like to brag

[saDgit]

That's it until October/November.

[derestrictor]

we have to wait until autumn for the conclusion to this project....

oh well I'll have to sit tight

[zildjian]

Yes Martin has plans over summer in UK but we won't be seeing his handiwork sadly so we'll all have to wait for the next episode

[saDgit]

It doesn't rain here very often at this time of year but when it does it ABSOLUTELY buckets down.


Still, it'll be sunny again tomorrow.

[Phoenixsp1]

Looking forward to the next instalment Martin

[saDgit]

Good to be back on the camper build again, except that there's still varnishing to do. Spent all day yesterday rubbing it down (Not sitting in the sun Zildjian!) and, after a bit of therapeutic on-line shopping (see 'Who's that knocking at my door?' viewtopic.php?f=15&t=623&p=8045#p8045), this morning I've put on what I think is the sixth and penultimate coat of marine varnish. I'm trying to fight off the internal demons that keep trying to persuade me that six coats is enough. Just one more.

[saDgit]

OK, time for an update. Despite my post of a week ago it is still summer down here at the bottom of France. (Just to put your mind at rest Zildjian. I know you worry about me .) 30 degs and sunny so the snails are still estivating.

They climb whatever they can, including one another, in early summer in order to get away from the heat of the ground and then seal their shells to conserve moisture and spend the next few months in a sort of suspended animation. When the weather eventually cools down and dew and rain become more likely, they'll come down from their various summer retreats and get on with whatever it is that snails do. For my part, I'm going in the opposite direction - making the most of the sun and warmth to try and make sure that the shell of my camper will be fully sealed and water-tight before there's any serious deterioration in the weather.

Well, as anticipated in my last post, I declared the varnishing to be finished and good enough after two more coats. That's seven coats of marine varnish in all, on top of two coats of epoxy sealant, so I'm reasonably confident about the durability of the surface. The finish is still not as good as I had hoped for but I think that's down to the problems I had with the first two or three layers which I described in an earlier post. It wasn't until after the fourth coat that I learned that it's best to approach it as a two-person job with one rolling on the thinned varnish with a foam roller while the other one 'tips out' with an almost dry brush to remove bubbles. Since we discovered that, Clare and I got the last three coats on much more quickly and with far fewer problems. Not exactly a mirror finish but it'll do.


Once the last coat of varnish had adequately cured I set about fixing the Rieco-Titan jack brackets to each of the four corners. I've really bedded them carefully into butyl mastic and Sikaflex 11FC to try and ensure that no water can get in behind them but those eight coach screws into each corner frame look like a potential source of trouble to me even though each of them is sealed with a 'waterproof' washer. I shall watch them carefully. On the two rear corners I have also fitted an additional, small bracket above the main one. These enable me to lift the rear jacks by about 300mm thus improving ground clearance when travelling. It's difficult to see from the photos but, when lifted in this way, the foot of the jack only just extends below the camper floor.
herbergeur d image

Also started filling and sealing the various holes in the bodywork - water heater flue and gas hatch on this side ...

... and water filler on the other side. I'm still waiting for the Seitz window to fill the big hole though.

And now the current job is fitting all the aluminium corner trim which I brought back with me from the UK.


It's a standard sort of corner profile, screwed from one side and with a vinyl insert tape to cover the screws. Like the jack brackets, I'm bedding it carefully into butyl and Sikaflex and I'm treating the screw holes in the aluminium with Tef-Gel before putting in the stainless screws so hopefully I'm eliminating any chance of corrosion and subsequent water ingress. (There's so much marine technology in this camper it'll probably float!) Perhaps foolishly, I'm saving the two long, curved pieces of trim around the edge of the roof, front and back, until last. I reckon if there are going to be problems that's where they'll be!

I've now got all the parts I need for the door so, once the trim is finished, I'm on to that.

[lamp-it]

so glad this is back underway again its looking great especially with the end in sight as well expect too

[saDgit]

so glad this is back underway again its looking great especially with the end in sight as well expect too

Thanks Rob, but the end in sight!? I wish.