Slowly, very slowly making progress.
With the cold wet weather its a case of picking the job to suit conditions.
When its dry and warm enough to be outside, it's taking out the nickel plated self-tapping screws. Taking the corner sections off to clean underneath, glue and seal back into position, then redrill for rivets. Finally, rivet sections on. I am finding the hand rivet gun difficult to use these days.
My hands haven't the strength in them they used to have. Either that or my rivet gun lever handles open wider than they used to. I missed a hydraulic rivet gun on ebay a week or two back and am regretting it now.
It is paying dividends though. A couple of the areas that used to drip are now dry
When it's too cold or raining, it's inside.
I have cut and fitted some of the spars for the cooker/sink unit, and started framing out the overhead cupboards. I have cut some of the PVC sheet and test fitted that in a couple of places. That seems to work well and I will seal with silicone sealant when finished. Cutting and fitting Celotec insulation board is time-consuming, to say the least. Having a lightweight build is not without its problems
Trying to prop up insulation board onto the ceiling is a bit like building a playing card castle. You prop one up with what you think is enough tension. Move on to the next only to find the extra upward force flexes the roof and the first prop falls out. I have settled on doing one roof plate at the end of each work session
Working in the camper in the cold, even with the greenhouse heater working has its problems. The cold outer skin and a warm interior mean I get condensation on the surfaces and have to dry them before gluing the insulation in place. I don't know where its all going but, so far I am on sheet 7 of the 1200mmx2400mm Celotec sheets. One more should do it
I am using Gorilla Grab adhesive to put the insulation on, and am on tube 4 of that.
I hope all this insulation pays dividends because with the Celotec sheet at just under £30. each and the adhesive £10. a tube, then the PVC at £40 a sheet, and £60 for van carpet it might have been cheaper to burn fivers
When we have had a good torrential downpour, and I am sure the cabover is good and watertight, I will fix an seal the PVC in place ready for the Wheat Van Lining carpet I have ordered. I have decided not to add a layer of aluminium foil insulation as I think the 2mm PVC and 5mm carpet will be enough
Time will tell
With the insulation in the cabover all glued in position, I have noticed I can see where the spars are in the condensation pattern on the outside in the morning dew pattern.
Insulation, dew, spars, no dew.
So the spars are giving a cold bridge
When the PVC and carpet are in place I'll see what it looks like then
I have been taking it easy on the build recently having missed all my self-imposed deadlines BUT.
Next years racing calendar is out which has prompted a new deadline
I know I shall meet this one because it's going finished or not now I can bolt it on.
Somewhere to sleep,
something to cook on,
something to keep the beer in
sorted
By the time we get to Easter, I hope I have fitted one of those Chinese heaters too. There are showers and toilets on site so the luxury of having my very own is low down on the priority list.