Gypsy Sunshine, a vardo build

[Terra6]

As I'm sure you've all been waiting to find out how to make pro grade interior cabinet finish without the tools, training and experience. Remember adapt, improvise and overcome.
That's what I do.
Craig's, Facebook, Goodwill and garage sales are all excellent sources of pro built cabinetry that you don't have to build yourself or can't build. Reduce recycle and reuse. In my area, a dresser or hutch can be had from free to $50. With careful selection, research, can come across something that will fit your budget, decor and interior. Can always paint or refinish.
Cut or drill to fit and install.

I managed to get a free hutch and solid wood table. Goodwill supplied a hutch and cabinet for less than $25 each and some chairs that I will reupholster for $5 each. Also picked up a showpiece bureau of solid wood for $40. All in keeping with my vintage gypsy vardo theme. Pics to come...
There is a plethora of old style tv hutches and entertainment centers for sale which are unwanted as today's new big screen tv's don't fit in them rendering them mostly useless on the market today. But for our purposes, can work perfectly for storage.

The hutch I picked up had a solid pine front but everything else was heavy MDF. Too heavy and detrimental to a lightweight camper build. Find a lighter model or improvise?

I decided to enroll it into weightwatchers for a serious reduction.
I cutout sections of mdf, but how much is not too much? Going back to my IKEA days and assembling their furniture, mdf cross beams were 3-4 inches wide so I figured that must be safe.
Side panels were opened up leaving a 3 inch frame. Removed inner shelves and cut out the top and bottom ornamental extensions and voila! Figured about a 50% weight reduction. All I really wanted was the pine face with the other sides being hidden and just screwed into existing walls.
Problem of heavy weight at the tail end solved.

Cutting off the front and attaching it to a lighter 2x2 frame would also work for even further weight reduction if so desired.

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[Terra6]

And everything has been done solo so far.
Just little ol me, myself and I.
With only a drill, saw, stapler and paint brush really.
Ideally, encouragement for others. Simple builds with nice results are possible without allot of tools and investment.

Put up the walls myself with braces and a day of no wind.

PMF done alone with a method that works for me.
I've done 3 projects with 7x14, 6x16 and now 6x10ft walls plus roofs. First time used TBIII for canvas bonding but my last two have been strictly with just latex paint on ply which has given good adhesion and happy with the results.

Here's how I do it that is fairly fast and efficient. Similar to wall paper hanging. Check out some videos to get a feel for it.

I don't wash nor preshrink my canvas. Straight from HF and out of the bag. Unfold. On a 6.5x6 wall, I stapled the half folded over cloth across the wall half way up.
One staple at each side. Paint one roller width or two above the cloth all the way across. Then Paint the same amount on the cloth just below.
Flip the cloth painted Side up and onto the painted wall.

Loosely staple leaving slack the cloth all the way to the top.
Gently lift, pull and adhere the two painted sections together removing creases by starting at the middle and going up to the painted edge. Then working out to the sides removing creases till you get to the edge. Staple when tight and right on the edges at the paint limit. Remove the top staples and allow fabric to fall back down.

Do another section and repeat till you reach the top.
You're half way there.

Lift the undone bottom section all the way up and staple at the top. Now work your way down to the bottom.

Paint a section on the wall, then the same size full width section on the canvas. Remove top staples allowing top to fall and the two painted sections to touch. Gently lift and pull, starting at the center to remove creases. Work towards the edges. Once you get the hang of it, becomes easier.

Mostly now, I gently pull flat and even at the middle, and gradually brush ripples and bubbles with just my hands. The trick is in how well and smoothly you can lay it initially. Do that fairly well and the rest goes easier.

Work your way down to the bottom. I use staples to start, hold and finish for final edging. Many use only TB. I find the extra adhesion of a mechanical attachment as worthwhile insurance against future glue adhesion issues. IMO.
On this build, will have 3 top coats on the canvas.

I've also used liquid nails at the edges as well, which has bonded well, and should be just as durable. Then painted over the top of the canvas.

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[Sparksalot]

Building right along. Another 20 hrs for a 35 hr total to date.
Finalized the interior layout and sourced materials.
Costs- ouch. +$1000. Haven't totaled everything. Afraid too.

I spent 6 months to get Rose what we called “campable” back in the day. During that time the receipts just went into a folder.

After the first trip or two, then I totaled everything.

[saywhatthat]

will you be able to remove the tire if you have a flat. It may be the picture looks it bit tight

[Terra6]

Agreed Sparks, always something to add but build costs and time will be an overall general number for reference purposes.
Ballpark.

Saywhatthat
There is a few inches gap so no problem removing wheel and its not clear in the pics.

For those wondering about the adhesion of canvas with paint only. Used a 1x2 leftover for a mixing stick yesterday combining a few different colors of mistint that were roughly in the same tone. Laid the stick down on a panel overnight. When I went to reuse the stick today, couldn't easily take it apart from the panel. Took serious effort. See before and after pics.

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[Terra6]

Lots to update since last post.
Put in a total of 120 hrs or so to date.
Have finished the exterior, paint and most of the trim.
Installed 4 custom homemade windows.
Am on to interior finish and finally the gypsy decor at the end as therapy
Lots of pics and details since standing on the roof.
:thumsup:

This is the canvas that you want from HF which had no seams. Big top. Got 3 out of 4 no seams. Yay. Not lucky on the next trip. All had seams and I checked all 6 they had in stock.

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[Terra6]

Had to redo a sidewall and wasn't looking forward to that.
Last Saturday was sunny warm and windy so tried to get at the PMF early in the morning before it got too hot.
Unfortunately the conditions were excellent for paint drying and it was flash drying within 5 mins. In the direct sun, wall facing south, good breeze and zero humidity. Perfect for painting except when you want it to go slower so the canvas will adhere.
Tried to motor through as fast a possible and doing larger sections. Was a mistake since paint was surface dry when mating the sections together so got poor overall adherence with lots of ripples from lift.

Waited almost a week for more optimal conditions to tear off and redo which went well and smooth.
Yay!
This time only did 1 roller width at a time, paint and assemble. which worked well.
Started near the bottom with the seam. Glued and stapled straight and worked down then up.

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[Terra6]

Final result of wall redo. Smooth overall and straight seam.
Repair went well enough considering.
Onto trimming and windowing.
2 decorative windows at the ends and 2 2x3ft acrylic sheets as panoramic windows for each side. Hinged at top and develop a mechanism to open.

Quite happy to be at this stage after almost 3 steady weeks worth of work. Overall looks like a HD prefab shed. Decor and pizzazz required to to transform into an artsy gypsy vardo.
What can we pull off?

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[Terra6]

Incorporating some decor as I progress. Contrast trim, custom glass and trim style. Incorporating the name into the trim decor and design. And a Dutch door for that ancient vintage style. First artsy steps to go from garden shed to artsy gypsy vardo.

Gypsy Sunshine will always greet you with bright rays of warmth and sunshine everytime that you enter.

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[Terra6]

Window details.
Used the foam and ply cutouts to make drop down, privacy interior shade covers utilizing scrap PMF for flex hinge across the top.
Also made rain flaps over the top of the windows to hide the hinges and keep rain off the top of the window to stop rain and water infiltration. Used scrap PMF once again.

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[Terra6]

Finally able to move into and onto the interior which in this case
is simply move in furniture. Easy peasy and it all fits in there nicely with still lots of space and room. Central entrance and aisle. Storage, kitchen and counter down one side. Bed along the front. Dining and sitting chairs down the other side. Debating shower and portapotty dedicated area or leave open and only when required, pulled out of storage.

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[Terra6]

Tonight's sunset as seen through the decorative glass windows adding a little ambience and enchantment to Gypsy Sunshine.

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[Terra6]

And what else do I have up my sleeve for an artsy gypsy vardo?
Only time will tell.
Had a couple crazy thoughts go through my imagination as I was busy building today...

[Terra6]

Finessing right along with finish details and the interior.
Hopefully some artsiness and magic will start to happen.
Someway somehow. Made a run for some magic ingredient materials for a gypsy transformation. Happy with what I picked up that could really

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[Terra6]

Gypsy Sunshine has been blessed by both the Sun and Moon.
A good omen for magic to happen.

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