RayH wrote:I live in Ascot...
Another one for the National Gathering!
RayH wrote:Great to see such an active club !
I should point out for clarity, we're not actually a club, just a bunch of like-minded Portafold enthusiasts. Clubs involve committees, meetings, AGM's, and usually end up with internal squabbling. Hence, the portafold.co.uk forum is a democratically run organisation that's run solely and completely by me, and what I say goes...
RayH wrote:What's the best thing to wash the outside with ? Sugar soap ? Bath cleaner ?
If it's the original gellcoat finish then a good quality car shampoo will do as good a job as anything. Followed by T-Cut, car polish and car wax.
RayH wrote:I need to wash the foam (presumably in a bath) as the inside smells musty - should I use washing powder ? Soda crystals ?
When you say foam, do you mean the cushions? If so, if you can take the covers off and replace the foam with new then that would be the best option. A careful dry cleaning of the covers should ensure they stay in one piece. Although there's a very good chance that holes will appear in the material.
RayH wrote:Half of the window winding locks are different from the other half - are the original ones still available ?
I've found these window catches:
http://portafold.co.uk/parts_and_spares ... catch.html
I haven't been able to find any others so if yours don't match I'm afraid I can't help you, yet...
RayH wrote:The edges of the top section have inevitable scuffs and minor damage - should I use car body filler or try and overlay fibreglass ?
Without seeing the exact damage it's hard to say but gellcoat filler can be used for most small repairs to the gellcoat. I'd speak to a boat repairer if you're after qualified advice. They deal with GRP day in day out.
RayH wrote:I'm planning to paint the outside as it is a mixture of creams and whites due to age. I saw that some have used Toplac - do you have to spray it on to get a good finish or is it possible to get good results with a brush or roller ?
Can't help you as I've not painted mine I'm afraid.
RayH wrote:The top section has been painted (gloss I think) in the past. There are minor splits and crazing. Is it best to clean off with GRP paint stripper or paint over ? Should I apply fibreglass to the crazing etc or just skim with body filler ?
Again, without seeing it I can't really comment but what I would say is, if it's still the gellcoat I'd try and keep it unpainted if possible. Crazing is the visible part of a more under-lying problem underneath with the glassfibre. To do it properly it involves digging it all out right back to the webbing and rebuilding it. Far more work than it's worth just to get rid of a few cracks. You can just fill them, but to be honest, every Portafold has starring and cracks, and they don't cause any problems or allow any water in. Unless you're going for a concours finish I'd leave them alone. It's all part of the patina of an old caravan.
RayH wrote:There is no leisure battery but I want to install one in one of the storage sections at the front (there are already loose battery terminals there). What's the best way to secure the leisure battery or should I transport it in the tow car ? - Similar question about the gas bottle - where do you store it ?
What I've done is keep the heavy battery over the axle, so I've got mine next to the o/s wheel arch.
My gas bottle is in my locker as well, but on the n/s, just in front of the axle as it's the deepest locker and takes the smallest size propane bottle standing upright.
RayH wrote:The padding above the seats is long gone. Is Veltrim a good replacement or should I just repaint it ?
Various quilting has been used but the most popular seem to be the padded table protector material that comes on big rolls in stores like The Range. It's available in cream, white, brown and other colours.
Veltrim was mentioned by Paul and Debbie and theirs looks very good. Well worth looking at.
RayH wrote:The inside of the roof is painted - will this cause condensation ? Should I use Veltrim ?
Painted ceilings can cause condensation build-up and dripping. My ceiling is flocked from original so I'm quite lucky. I'm in the process of getting a quote from a flocking company to see if we can come up with something to get ceilings done the way the factory wanted them.
RayH wrote:There are gaps between the front and rear side sections and the roof, especially the corners - should there be seals to fill these ?
They're the air gaps to provide fresh air and ventilation to cut down on condensation. Also good for getting rid of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide if you're cooking.
RayH wrote:The top is secured on one side with an old cut down belt and the other side had cable ties - Were there originally leather belt fasteners ? If so, are they available ?
The best option I've found so far is cut down leather dog collars. A couple of nice inch wide brown leather dog collar, trimmed to the right length is usually bang on.
The main thing I'd say is don't rush into doing loads of work. I get lots of people saying that they wish they'd looked at other peoples Portafolds and spoken to other owners before jumping in and doing too much work to theirs. If yours is usable as it is then I'd use it, find out how things suit you, come to the National Gathering and look and chat. You'll leave the Retrofestival buzzing with ideas and tips and tricks. And at least you won't be saying 'I wish I'd done it that way'.