Taking shape

The seat boxes are going in today! It seems such a shame to cover up the beautiful wood panels but it has to be done! We're replicating what was originally in the Fiat when we bought it, however we've shortened the bench seat by the side door so that it doesn't cover up the door way. We've decided instead to have an in-fill piece that is stored under the seat. It means that we will lose a little bit of storage but it will make living in it feel so much more spacious. From a design perspective it also looks really nice having a long bench on one wall and a shorter one on another. The long bench extends beyond the table and allows for a space to sit next to the table rather than behind it.

For this summer we've decided just to leave the floor bare until we can find a floor covering we like. Nate loves it because it is so smooth and slippery. He has had all his friends in it sliding around on the floor!

Cause gaffa is a guy's best friend

Unfortunately we haven't been able to find a replacement skylight yet. We're holding out to find a vintage one to suit the car rather than just fit a new caravan skylight. We've had about a week of very heavy rain and discovered that our temporary solution wasn't quite watertight so today Woz repaired it with silicon and swathes of gaffa tape. Tomorrow the last ceiling panels can go in!

Seats you

The first shots of the camper with the panels back in. We're still missing the panels near the skylight as we're waiting for a clear day with no chance of rain before we attempt to fix the problem. But already it is looking beautiful. Different types of wood have been used throughout so the panels aren't uniform in shape, but it does seem to add to the vintage look. I love how warm and homely it makes it feel and I can't wait to wake up to that beautiful curved ceiling. Once again, it is very reminiscent of living on the boat.

Today we started to build the bench seats. We've ordered four seat belts for the back of the car. With three in the front and four in the back we should be able to fit seven people in the Fiat once it's up and running. Perfect timing for our trip to Denmark and for exploring Austria this year with all the guests we have lined up.

Crouching room only

Things are moving forward on the Fiat. We've been driving it around for a few weeks now. To Woz's delight we've been keeping up with the traffic at 120 on the motorway (that being said, that scenario requires a generous helping of momentum and bit of gravity on a downhill slope.)

The camper has felt very much like an empty shell since Woz removed all the wooden panels to sand them and re-stain them. We weren't sure if we could successfully sand the curved sheets of plywood but they had been quite poorly stained by the last owner and they were generally very grubby so we decided to give it a try. Woz decided to pop his head in to a local woodshop (Tischerlei) with one of the ply panels to see if they might be able to sand them for us to save us a bit of time. He noticed that the apprentice had already stopped for the day and so Woz asked if they'd like him to do it himself. Austria being Austria (no policies and procedures in force regarding health and safety), the friendly boss ushered him towards the machinery and off he went. It took him about three days to sand all of the individual pieces and then he left the sheets there to be sprayed professionally with a clear satin stain.

 We got them back on Saturday morning and we went straight to work to fit them. It just happened to be pouring with rain, (thankfully) which led us to discover a leak near the skylight so we've fitted all the panels with the exception of the two near the leak. The panels look so beautiful now so the last thing we want to do is risk water damage.

Preparing the first sheet.

By the time we finished the last panel it was dark so there's no 'after' shot yet. Tomorrow's job!

Tomorrow Woz will pick up some more timber from the hardware and we'll start work on making the bench seats for the table (which then fold down to make up a double bed.) The rush is on now to get it all done in the next three weeks when we plan to drive to Denmark via the Czech Republic and Germany with my brother Matt and his girlfriend Emma. They arrive in a week and we travel in three. Nothing like a deadline to get you moving.

Must be the floor

When we bought the Fiat it had an old musty smell to it. In restoring the Fiat we had ripped out pretty much everything in the back including the seat cushions and the old lino which was damp hoping to rid the camper of the smell. It was such a pity to rip out the vintage green lino. It had to be done unfortunately. It was badly damaged and was definitely carrying a musty smell which no amount of hot days was going fix.

After all that, we found that the wood lining the floor of the camper was also musty, so out it went. This means that from the back section of the car we're only keeping the wooden panels for the ceiling, walls and doors, and the gas hot plates. It's hard to believe this is going to be a home on wheels with any feeling of warmth to it. Right now it feels very industrial.

Goodbye vintage lino ...

Woz two Austria nil

After what has seemed like a very long road, we've finally been kicking some goals lately. Woz has been working away slowly at what has turned out to be a very big job - registering the Fiat.

Registering the Fiat in Austria was always going to be a challenge. Basically, when it comes to any bureaucratic decisions, if something hasn't been done a million times before the same way, then it can't be done. Unfortunately our approach to just about everything in our life either hasn't been done before or at least hasn't been done in Austria. So importing an unregistered old-timer from Poland was always going to be a risk. Thankfully, we'd done it once before, with a newer car registered in Texas (that's a long story!) So we were able to approach the task with some confidence. But it was still going to be a challenge.

In a textbook exercise in cross-cultural relations, a job which could take a week or so, has taken months as Woz has had to make several visits into the testing centre to sweet talk the guys who work there into accepting the Fiat for registration.

The conversations go a bit like this ....

"Hello I would like to register my car."
"Okay we need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"Actually it is from Poland so they don't have a Form XYZ. What information does the form contain?"
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"They don't have that form in Poland, can I give you a similar form?"
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"Okay then! Nice talking with you!"
 
Woz goes home, researches Form XYZ. Finds out what is needed and goes back in with the information.

"Hello I'd like to register my car!"
"Okay we need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"Actually it is from Poland so they don't have a Form XYZ.... "
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"I don't have the form, I have all the information you need though. It is on these three documents, but if you look, all the information you require is there."
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."

Repeat this process during several visits with several different people until finally, (as of Wednesday this week) they agree to register the car!

Having registered two imported cars now, Woz has worked out a few tricks.

1. Don't take no for an answer.
2. Don't attempt to sway anyone in one single conversation. Chip away at it in bits. This is also connected with number three.
3. Become familiar to them. Strangers don't get to upset the status quo. Friendly familiar characters can just about get away with it.
4. Ensure the conversation ends on a good note. Distract them by steering the conversation towards something they are passionate about. In registering our last car Woz found out that the manager was a fellow Porsche fanatic and so they were immediately the best of friends.
5. If all else fails, say "But I was speaking to Herr Eisl and he said it was fine." (Crucially, Herr Eisl is the manager of the testing centre!)
6. Take the papers and run.

Project Grill

The majority of the jobs on the Fiat thus far have been fairly insignificant photography wise. New spark plugs, new leads, yada yada yada. But Woz has also been doing some cosmetic work. The main project for the last few days has been sanding back and painting the grill on the front of the camper. It's amazing what a bit of sandpaper and a can of paint can do. Thankfully we have a gravel lane next to our house which is very forgiving of Woz's spray painting projects!