Small caravan box by Tom

[ipy]

There are some small bubbles but I generally accept the way it looks. I will try to flatten them but do not plan to cut or inject paint inside with a needle so not to break the surface of canvas.

As I planned, I did not use a glue at all. Just a paint, which gets naturally sticky when dries. Sometimes when I left hair from a brush on painted surface I could not remove it after it dried without breaking a layer of paint. The same way I glued canvas. As there was painted plywood underneath it was watertight itself. Applying canvas and covering it with another layers of paint gives enough protection against water, I think.

I designed the final version of a painting scheme. On the picture attached it is just a semi- transparent layer of gray patch object applied in Inkscape, not a real shape painted on a trailer. But I will paint the same shape on a real trailer this week, if it does not rain. What do you think about how it looks?

[dales133]

I realy like that paint job.
By far the best design yet.
I realy realy like it.... looks like someone paid a graphic designer to enhance a shape

[Sheddie]

Looks good

[KCStudly]

Suits the shape very well. I like it!

[ipy]

It started to rain again and forecasts say it will rain several days in a row. So I bought another gazebo and placed it like the previous one. This time I also installed 3 walls so when it rains during strong wind raindrops will not be blown under the roof.

After I removed foil the caravan was covered with, I realized that there is water on the roof (worn up foil). But water was very easy to remove from the canvas and it looks like nothing bad happened to it.

There were several threads torn from canvas, glued with paint, close to the egde, where cloth covering roof ends on the surface of a wall. I was not able to remove them- glued so strong. In other case I would be mad at them, bit this time I am very happy.

[noseoil]

Tom, I like the paint you have chosen & it looks like the canvas worked out very well. With good paint, it should stay there for ever. Is this a very wet summer, or is it usually like this where you live?

I have a gazebo over my build (the sun is too hot here!) and two big blue tarps. The tarps are tied down & have cinder blocks holding them in place. The gazebo is screwed into the ground & tied to a tree, my fence & landscaping timbers. I still hope this will be good enough for some of our storms.

[ipy]

The canvas I chosen is generally supposed to be used as a lining for coats- material to be put on inner side of a coat. It reminds silk but is made from chemically achieved threads. It is very smooth and I think today, when I paint its surface again, will look great. After I draw edges of gray areas I will use filler to straighten end of canvas, as it is a bit wavy at the moment.

The paint I use- Bondex Acrylic Enamel- is said to give up to 12 years of protection. If I need to repaint it after 6 years, it is still ok.

This time I screwed gazebo`s legs to a large piece of wood and put some concrete blocks on it. Hope it will protect them from flying away.

The weather in Poland is unpredictable. Sometimes it does not rain whole weeks in summer but there are very hot days, sometimes it rains just one day but sometimes it rains whole month. Autumns are usually rainy and windy, winters give snow and springs are wet and windy.

[dales133]

By the sounds of your seasons tom I'd be escaping somewhere else in my caravan other than summer and maybe a few weeks skiing !
Can't wait to see your paint job

[ipy]

I spent last days doing small, but taking a lot of time works on my trailer box. Today I can show some results: gray area around side window is ready. The rest of the capsule needs to be painted white again and then I will paint other gray areas.

On the right side there is installed (and sealed) child bedroom vent as well as a lamp.

On a rear wall there are aluminium profiles around entrance.

On a left wall there is a window.

On a front wall there is a window as well.

On 4 corners of long walls there are handles fitted and surrounded with a plywood elements, covering gap between capsule and a trailer board.

On the roof there is a sunroof sealed.

Inside I installed internal part of the sunroof and started to build construction of the bed.

Next week I would like to get the trailer ready for the first trip, without fully equipped interior, but completely finished on the outer side.

[dales133]

Looking good tom, I bet your pleased with it.

[ipy]

I painted gray shapes I designed last time. They look quite pleasant to my eye and give impression that the caravan is not too 'boxy'.

I am ready to install hinges for rear door as well as a kitchen hatch.

My dad helped me with an external lamp: instead of using one bulb I bought 4 LED torches with really strong light, my dad took light sources out of them and connected to each other so when I switch the light on, all 4 sets of LEDs go on. Light sources are glued inside lamps. Tomorrow I will remove tapes and close the lamp.

[KCStudly]

[dales133]

nice!

[Sheddie]

Excellent. You are doing well!

[ipy]

I installed front vents, which took me long. Closed and checked side lamp- works great.

I am thinking if I should install a kitchen hatch hinges on the top, or bottom edge of a hatch. If I install on the upper edge, it would open up and create a kind of a roof. If I open it down, it becomes a table, which is a better solution. But, would it be safe? Wouldn`t it open accidentally while on the road?