Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Onlyrwd]

The Thomson just happened to be at the right place and the boss was in a good mood letting me keep it inside giving me time to work on it during my lunch breaks.

The body isnt too bad, few scuffs here and there, odd dents along the lower half. depending how easily the rest of the panels come off, as in me not bending them most if not all will go back on as I know sheets of ally cost a few quid! All the bodywork will be resprayed before fitting back on that way there is no overspray, minimal masking and a better finish. All new stainless screws and modern sealants and glues will hold it together for another 40 some years

The safari is a bit stop start due to being stored away from work or my house. I get to do bits on it but during the 5 years I have spent about 2 years working away from home, got divorced, lost my house, lost all but one of my cars

The Safari as it is now. Looking at it there seems a lot less to do, the only walls needing work are the kitchen and bathroom areas.












_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED

[HMK]

I had to do the same sort of repair in two of the corners of my Robin. I used some remaining good small square section wood from the remains of a scrap van that got broken up.....treated it with loads of green Cuprinol before replacing the skin.

They always go in the corners....never pull on the handles The handles coming off in your hand is the first sign of the corners rotting out

Looking good - you're making a more thorough job of it than I did

[Onlyrwd]

Top tip that, never pull the handles Best way to check a caravan you are thinking of buying

Its one of those jobs where it would have been harder to fix the corners and walls in situ, lot of work but it makes it a neater easier job.
_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED

[T-line H&I]

You're getting on great with the Thomson Mick!

Getting there with the website, sorted and updated 500+ files today, some minor problems and some headaches but put in a full 10 hrs today. Should get round to the rest of the out and abouts to go on in the next few days, health permitting!

Was going through the PC last night and I have some 200 folders now with different things to add so looks like it may be a long winter!

And to think thomson-caravans was supposed to be a wee hobby for an hour or so a week! LOL
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http://www.thomson-caravans.co.uk
Thomson Caravans History and Information

Graham P Thompson

[Onlyrwd]

Bit more stripped off today, need to stop now until I get some of the wood replaced, its starting to loose any strength it had.

Its ok though as I went to collect the wood tonight, turned out the photo of a lot of wood was his previous sale, this one was about 3 times the amount, all 7ft long!!! Large inch thick plank of solid Mahogany will do nicely for the corner sections and roof spine front end

£35 for all the hardwood which is cut to caravan size and £20 for the Mahogany, Bargain!!!








_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED

[Onlyrwd]

[Dalek63]

hello
Great job your doing on the old girl! Had similar work to do to our Car Cruiser. But sorry to put a negative point in here, the wood you have isn't ideal for the framing. Mahogany is very brittle and especially in inch sections will crack under any stress.The best wood for the job is close grained pine. Light and strong. dont go for the any old pine it has to be close grain to have the strength. The only hard wood coach builders used in cars and caravans was Ash because is very springy can take the flex of movement and is ultra strong, so you could use that if your lucky enough to find some.
_________________
I can resist anything except temptation ! ( Oscar Wilde)
"Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." ( Mark Twain)
http://www.period-classic-caravan-club.co.uk/

[T-line H&I]

Hi Mick, looks like you have a big job on your hands but can say that seeing the frame like that gives a new insight into the construction etc that we rarely see.
Originally they used Canadian pine on the wood framing which at the time was among the best timber available, Thomson's old adage of using the best I believe! Other restorers have used marine ply for the specialised shaped pieces in the past with good results.
Thats a great load of wood for the price!

On another note but still restoration of a caravan, a chap in Canada has e-mailed me asking of companies who manufacture the lengths of rain drip guards that go over the windows on some older caravans. If any of you chaps can suggest a supplier for these I will pass on the details, thanks in advance.

Keep up the good work Mick, you are an inspiration!!!
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http://www.thomson-caravans.co.uk
Thomson Caravans History and Information

Graham P Thompson

[Onlyrwd]

[Dalek63]

hi Mick
From the wood you have I would be inclined to use the american oak, thats strong and will be reasoanbly flexable. The beech is very prone to rot and as i said the mahogany is very brittle. If your bonding the inner panels to the frame, ( which I did to on our restoration of the Car Cruiser ) the oak would be good for the job as that will reduce the flexing of the frame.
_________________
I can resist anything except temptation ! ( Oscar Wilde)
"Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." ( Mark Twain)
http://www.period-classic-caravan-club.co.uk/

[Onlyrwd]

Thanks, I will sort it out and see what I have. Some of the less structural parts may get the other wood then if I dont have enough Oak. Hope to get a few hours on it tomorrrow and get a few of the main supports changed to help hold the roof up

By the way, What colour is American oak? I have the Brown Mahogany, lighter pine colour almost and a grained brown with flecks... does this help
_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED

[Dalek63]

hi Mick
The light pine colour is the beech and the grained brown with flecks is the oak. Good luck with the restoration, should look grand when shes finished.
Cheers
George
_________________
I can resist anything except temptation ! ( Oscar Wilde)
"Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." ( Mark Twain)
http://www.period-classic-caravan-club.co.uk/

[Onlyrwd]

Excellent.. Will sort out what I have tomorrow. Bought a Mitre Saw for the joints and have a bizzillion screws (thats a lot) and glue so its good to go as they say
_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED

[Onlyrwd]

Sorted the pile of wood, taken out the strips of Mahogany and out of the 300 or so strips only 8 were beech, the rest is Oak Took some samples to a timer yard near work and without telling the old bloke what I thought they were he identified them all within seconds!

Might get an hour to work on it today, a couple of the easy to get at bits will get done first as well as the roof supports so it stays the right shape.
_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED

[Onlyrwd]

Got 2 bits in today, photos dont come out well from where it is, maybe a bit dark

Shows the new bits where the clamps are...


_________________
Mick


78 Cavalier GL
78 Manta Berlinetta

67/68 Thomson Glenelg WANTED