Bantam

Porthole on the starboard. Think I might have it nearly ready for the next Burger fuel meet.

Dragged it outside for a photo. Have stripped all the trim, door, lock, mudguards etc off and started clear coating. Lots of sanding and filling first.

The rear kitchen area is going to be for food prep and storage of plates, vegemite, gingernuts, English Breakfast tea etc. Beer storage will be in a trusty chillybin. Cooking will be on the WeberQ. I will check that height for you soon. A little bit more done. Glued the outer skin in place. Man that was fun. Got glue everywhere on my clothes. Let the glue set for 7 days before removing straps. Stole a doorlock off an old screen door I had laying around. Nice narrow mortice with small 30mm backset. Fitted the edges with ali right angle extrusion. Just a few jobs left, then will strip the bits off it to clear coat it.

Hopefully not a next time. Mate I had everything unbolted. I blame the sidedrafts. Next time the whole bloody lot, engine and box is coming out.

Yeah, will either buy some curved ones on TM, or I have heaps of big plywood offcuts so will make a MDF mould and laminate 3 or 4 pieces to get that oldschool curve....

Glued up 3 sheets for the main part of the roof. Will let the glue cure for a week before fitting. Glued the outside skin to the hatch. Wrapped how it turned out, I give it a cuddle every time I see it! I haven't trimmed or fitted it to the body yet so super happy as I thought it was not going to match the body line. Heaps of beer to celebrate this week. Just the roof to do now, will need a bit of thought and quick hands. Glue dries fast and a 3metre sheet is fun to handle. Once thats done, its mainly ali trim, and pretty bits to do. Yeha.

A huge thanks to Blair for the window blades. I owe you some beers, make sure you come to the next burger fuel night. Still working on the door, Thats a protective cover on the louver blades. Looking sweet.

Cheers nvmyvl. Running out of time fast for Brits at the Beach. Need to put in some hours this week. Hinged the door up. I have some 20x10mm angle ali that goes around to form the door stop and weather tightness. Getting ready to glue the lid on. Will buy a cheap pack of straps and have timber going across to squeeze the ply onto the spars. Need to get every thing just right, plenty of glue ready and a few helpers. Only one chance to get it right. Just getting the ply use to the shape. One more piece to be glued onto the big sheet. Looking at using International Paints two pack clear finish. Spoke to a boatbuilder who recommended it. I will be use it on the outside, if I get it cheap enough, will use in on the interior. I will just be using a brush and roller. Thoughts?

Well a month later and it's going again. Got the drive shaft back yesterday from ADL, $370 for new diff yoke, two UJ's and balance. Fitted this morning, pumped some crude oil in the box, picked up boot lid I had painted and fitted it. All good. No leaks so far. Blasted up and down the motorway. Its good to have it running again. Still have to fit the pretty bits.

Fitted the louver blade carriers and frame today. Ran up some Fijian Kauri I had laying under the house into profiles to suit. I will order some clear perspex 150mm x 6mm blades to fit. Every thing is just dry fitted atm, will seal everything before gluing. Now to hang the door. Cheers

Parts from Burton Power turned up 6 days after ordering. Was only after gearbox gaskets but the the freight was heaps so had to order pretty bits I didn't really need to make it worth while. I got bearings from Bearing Wholesale in St Johns. Brought a one piece propshaft for TM. Its at Driveshafts in Penrose getting the right end fitted. Job for the week.

No, they have fur seal up sides and will be fitted into a rebated moulding. I can stick some Raven seal to blades if needed. Got to vent the dutch oven it will become after curry and beans somehow.

Decided to fit opening louvres to the door. Framed up the door and inside frame 90mm ply. Need to machine some Kauri 45x45mm to fit in the opening, then fit the ali louvre carrier to that.

Brought a single piece drive shaft to replace this one. Pickup tomorrow. Got the Haines manual out. Not my smartest move... Followed the instructions, pretty easy. To get the extension off, you have to take out the Layshaft. No worries. Ahhhhh bloody little roller bearing every where. About this time I was thinking raid one of the boys spare gearboxes. Gave it a clean and read on. Pack the bearings in grease said the manual. Made sense so carried on. Got it back in position, fitted the input shaft. Need to get some gasket paper tomorrow to cure the oil leak between the extention and gearbox. If I get this all back together and working beers all round.

Got sick of the oil leaking from the gearbox. Had to inject oil every month into it. Jacked the bugger up and set to work. Bloody sidedrafts make the job hard trying to reach the bolts. Got there in the end. Couldn't get the box off the shalf, top was hitting the tunnel. Bloody sidedrafts again, I had raised the motor to clear the brake fluid bottle. Off with the engine mount, still no good. Finally jacked the front up even higher and bingo. Might need to clean the car and driveway of oil stains. Hanger bearing well worn, will do the UJ's as well. Plus gearbox gaskets.

Fitted some lights, all working well. Hope to fit hatch light and USB port on Sunday. Will finish the insulation now and get ready to skin exterior.

Nan, the next one maybe. You have to use 3 layers of ply to it, the middle one being a 18mm cutout frame with polystrene in it. Only plan to use it in summer.

Sealed the ply with a few coats of poly. Got some sheets of 20mm insulation and started to fit 2 layers of it. Running the wires for lights and USB ports.

Full size double bed fits nicely. Has wardrobe and USB ports/ 12 volt chargers, LED reading lights etc going in.

Yeah, will glue up some ply curved ones, The metal ones just unbolt so nice and easy.

Tare weight is 220kg, less about 50kg for the sides. Construction is light, may be 100kg, plus bed and beer.

Up to wiring now, sealing the ceiling, insulation then outside roof. Chur.

OK, word is out, was going to keep the lid on this, but here is my latest project. Want it finished for Brits at The Beach in Oct. Towable behind the Escort and removeable for when I want the trailer for work. hqx2zcmh.tb3.jpg

Ill be there.