Date:         Wed, 20 Mar 1996 15:40:47 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         walshp@ippdsgi3.nawc-ad-indy.navy.mil (Pat Walsh)
Subject:      Re:  Wood Westie Interiors (T2)

Clay_Perry@we.xerox.com (Perry,Clay) writes:
>Now that I have a camper that moves under its own power I am going to 
> begin cleaning up the interior. This 78 has the plastic laminate trim 
> in a real oppressive dark color and the front kick panels and 
> headliner are vinyl. I prefer the plywood panels and trim in my old 71 
> and am going to reproduce some panels using Baltic Birch or whatever 
> light vernier plywood I can scrounge.  I think I will whip up some 
> maple cabinets for the van when I am making the cabinets for my new 
> house so that I can sneak them past the watchful eye of my 
> wife/foreman ("your not going out to work on the VW again? Don't you 
> know we have a house to build?"). 
>
>My Question/offer- It wouldn't be much more work to make a template for 
> cutting out the kick panels, headliner and trim versus making a one 
> off set, does any one else wish to install plywood instead of laminate 
> and vinyl? If I can get enough interest I would gladly reproduce these 
> for the masses for a minimum of labor cost and price of wood. If not 
> then I will make one for me and never bring the subject up again.
>
>Also- since I am chief designer of the cabinets I am looking for 
> suggestions on the ultimate layout and configuration. I would gladly 
> listen to any advice about what you would add / subtract from your 
> current setup. 
>
>Thanks 
>Clay
Since my camper ('71) has pretty decent paneling, I haven't really looked
into this, but one issue is that the headliner panel is slightly wider than
4', perhaps some German standard (?).  I know the hardware stores just carry
4'x8' or smaller; don't know about the speciality lumber stores.  Yeah, you
could just have the grain run the other direction but I guess I'm kind of a
stickler for OEM look so if it came to that I'd rather just keep what I have.
I'd be interested in knowing if you find paneling in larger than 4'x8' sheets,
though.

Pat Walsh, '71 Westy, walshp@ippdsgi3.nawc-ad-indy.navy.mil