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Thread: My Teardrop
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1st September 2013, 03:46 PM #1Senior Member
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My Teardrop
MERCURY ONE.jpg18JUNE2008.jpg19JUNE2008b.jpg19JUNE2008c.jpg
My teardrop camper currently undergoing refurbishment. 9'L x 6'H (from ground).Replacing wide axle/wheels/plastic guards with original style underbody axle & FX Holden wheels & aluminium Austin Devon ute guards which are only 3 3/4" deep & more in keeping with the style/shape. At the rear is a hatch which houses the galley kitchen - ice box/esky/cooker/etc.Internally is good cupboard space & provision to sleep two.
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3rd September 2013, 05:50 AM #2Skwair2rownd
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- Nov 2007
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- Dundowran Beach
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- 694
Was looking at the idea of a teardrop but SWMBO refuses to entertain
caravanning or camping.
The old teardrop is very practical design; lightweight, small footprint and
good use of space.
Have fun with the little fella.
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6th September 2013, 11:16 PM #3Senior Member
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- Sep 2007
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- Country West Oz
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I like that, what are you towing it with?
Regards
Bradford
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7th September 2013, 01:52 PM #4Senior Member
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Hi Bradford. I`ve just bought a 1962 Voxy. So more fun to muck around with while sorting out the teardrop.
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7th September 2013, 02:11 PM #5
Nice van
On our recent trip to FNQ saw lots of Vauxhalls, some towing vintage vans.
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7th September 2013, 02:34 PM #6Senior Member
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Hi BigShed & thanks. I bet some were from the vintagecaravan(dot)com forum where you`ll find the story behind & ongoing refurb of "my teardrop" (members photo album,page 7). gordon
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7th September 2013, 02:56 PM #7
As there were lots of Vauxhalls without vans as well I am more inclined to think there was some sort of Vauxhall owners meeting up there.
Quite a few old Bedford vans decked out as campers as well.
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15th November 2014, 10:50 AM #8Senior Member
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Been a while since talking about the teardrop as other projects have come & gone & as i`m nearing the end of particular fit-out items i`d been searching for & bought i find i need to once & for all get to the point of the exterior. It was factory clad in unpainted aircraft aluminium sheeting circa 1948/1952. Some 15-20 years later the sides were replaced with diamond patterned aluminium for the same owner & by the same company.I`m quite content leaving the sides as is. However about ten years a new owner painted the entire `van in 2Pak.His reason being he thought the aircraft aluminium was too far gone to buff & polish up.That hasn`t sat entirely well in my thoughts. Now i`ve worked in the sheety game but have no idea about paint. I know there`s a myriad of ways to remove paints but i`d like to know other folks ideas from here as to wheather its a viable proposition.The underside of this aluminium,all nice & shiny is as good as the day it was laid.And i can swing a buff as good or better than some being a detailer now. Thanks
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16th November 2014, 07:04 PM #9
to remove the paint , i would recommend an abrasive disc , called a CLEAN & STRIP from 3M and most other Abrasive companies also make a similar product.
but you must use it on a sander polisher , NOT an ANGLE GRINDER, these are designed to work best at 2-3000 rpm , they will remove the print on a coke can and leave the metal intact.
with 2pak , I don't think most chemical strippers will work, and those that do could damage the aluminium.
Jeff
vk4
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16th November 2014, 08:03 PM #10Senior Member
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MyPix 669.jpg
Hello Jeff & thanks for your reply. Above pic (the only size i have of it then & can`t enlarge clearer) was taken prior to a former owner painting it, shows to me at least that the ali couldve been rescued albeit sitting where you see it for ten years uncovered. I shall look into the product you mention in detail as being ali you only get one chance realistically to get it right. There is a section at front that rolls under maybe 8" which if the 3M product fails won`t be noticed as i`m fitting a stone guard over that area which has been badly pitted.At least it will give me a better idea of how it could/should look like when stripped of paint.
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16th November 2014, 08:13 PM #11GOLD MEMBER
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- Oct 2007
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- vic clayton
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I've had success using soda blasting on admittedly smaller scale projects was quite good at removing2coats of enamel and original coating off a ali security door also I have used citristrip with excellent results removed powder coating . Haven't tried it on Ali though.
Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs .
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17th November 2014, 10:19 AM #12
The two problems I see here are..two pack paint and Diamond pattern sheet.
Betweem them they just about ilimiate every meptod of paint removal that I know.....combine that with the aluminium substrate...yeh...not good/
Seriuolsy it would probably be quicker to re-sheet the thing
cheersAny thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
Most powertools have sharp teeth.
People are made of meat.
Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.
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17th November 2014, 08:43 PM #13Senior Member
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Gday Soundman. Not touching the diamond patterned sides. Wanting to rid the 2pak off the aircraft sheeting from front over roof & back only. Of the 3 built in this design this is recognised as being the only one remaining by the original owner/former curator of Whiteman Park Museum WA where it used to be displayed & is Australias first aluminium commercial build. If i can`t successfully remove the paint i`ll just continue its refurb & fit-out. thanks
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30th December 2014, 12:23 PM #14Senior Member
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- Tasmania
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Some stuff thats happening with the teardrop: FX Holden wheels/whitewalls/hubcaps.This is a dual themed project so Sports caps can be swapped for Mercurys when needed as well as a pair of
Austin Devon mudguards.
.1SPATS.jpgTD BUILD 22D.jpg
1FXb.jpg
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30th December 2014, 01:00 PM #15Senior Member
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- Mar 2013
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- Tasmania
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I `m adding internal storage to space between door opening edge & front.With that in mind i decided upon using ali aircraft food boxes.I got a beaut Qantas one albeit a bit damaged & wanted another but couldn`t find the same so opted for a similar one. The Qantas one had no lid & damaged top & shelf slides which i removed.I made a lid & added a period handle & catch.I also made a new front panel & used the original front handle/panel.I still had one slight problem,that being a 1" height difference with the second box.Solved that by finding a length of ali strip with nice profile.Cut & pop riveted the two boxes look almost the same.Waiting for some aircraft rivets to arrive & then will have boxes chemically cleaned & anodised.These boxes will situate each side within a frame which will also serve another purpose later.The dual theme i mention refers to the speckle painted timber stripped to bare & clear coated to show the wonderful 60 odd year grain. However taking all but three minutes i can transform the entire cabinetry to show a totally different decor that fits in with its origins.No lights.No cameras.No cloth.Just a lil bit o` trickery.
Box 1.jpgBox 1b.jpgBox 1f.jpgBox 1g.JPGBox 1k.JPGBox 1m.jpgBox 1p.jpg
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