Easter 2017 arrived and the weather improved. It was time to start tackling the exterior. Thinking ahead, we realised that to paint it properly, we would have to take the windows out, leaving the Viking vulnerable to the British weather. We planned to paint with enamel coach paint using the roll and tip method. Enamel paint takes hours to dry, during which time there would be plenty of opportunities for the local flora and fauna to stick to it. A plan was hatched to erect a temporary shelter around the caravan, protecting it from the weather, flies, dust, and other airborne debris, plus it would allow us to continue work when it rained.
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| A plan was hatched. |
Easter weekend 2017 was spent building the shelter with a timber frame and 1000 gauge polythene sheet.
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| Assembling the sides. |
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| Caravan moved on to grass. |
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| Two sides ready. |
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| Taking shape. |
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| Gable ends added. |
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| Ready for the roof. |
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| Opening ends give access & ventilation |
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| Completed shelter. |
In another of our great miscalculations, we thought the caravan would all be done in three months, so no consideration was given to severe weather. Little did we know! By the time we had finished with it, the shelter had been in place for two years, and withstood two hurricanes, five tropical storms, sub-zero temperatures, torrential thunderstorms, over 40°c, sun, snow and everything in between! Over the course of two years, there were amendments to the shelter; mostly gaffer tape on the rips and extra battens to pin the polythene down and reduce the amount it flapped in the wind.
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| Additional wood on roof to keep polythene down. |
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| Duct tape repairs. |
The polythene did not cope so well. It was 250 microns thick, but it stretched in heat and eventually got brittle and tore. We patched it up with duct tape, the roof section was replaced and finally, the whole lot was replaced with reinforced polythene; the stuff builders put around scaffolding. I wish I had found this product first as it is much better than the ordinary polythene.
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| Too big to cut to size at home |
In addition to its own weight, the shelter was also fixed down with eight heavy duty marquee ground stakes, each one a foot long. Inside the shelter, there was sufficient room along each side of the Viking to fit a small step ladder. Larger step ladders could be placed at each end. The end panels of the shelter were hinged at the top. When supported open, they provided additional shelter from rain, allowing work to progress during inclement weather.
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