conscious construction & doing things yourself
tech
the equipment I use to capture imagery and film whilst on the road
Film & Photography Gear
The Van
Ford Transit
I went for a 2014 Ford Transit panel van, with a medium wheelbase and high roof.
I chose Ford for their reliability and accessible labour & parts.
The medium wheelbase will provide me plenty of space to live & work,
whilst still fitting comfortably into UK parking spaces.
The high roof allows me to stand inside the van when cooking and working,
plus the ample headroom is great for upper storage.
The Ford also has straighter walls which makes a great shape for building
and the wider van allows me to sleep width ways.
The Design
Colour Story
Moodboard
for the tone of the van I shall be going for a neutral earthy palette
brightening up the space with light sand coloured walls & counter top
then a complementary ash toned wood for the lower cabinets and flooring
adding rich earthy shades with a copper sink & lots of leafy greens
then pulling in darker tones with a matt black faucet & exposed metal features
I shall also using lots of natural textures & fibres like linen, wood & ceramics
The Body
For ventilation and as an extractor fan when cooking, I installed the 40x40cm maxxair deluxe roof vent fan in clear tint. It not only has 10 speed settings, which can be controlled from a remote control, which can switched it between intake and expel. It can also be used in the rain and when driving, which is very convenient when travelling in England as you can never rely on the weather. Plus it has a bug screen already fitted to stop bugs entering your home.
I knew from the start I wanted a skylight in my van, being able to watch the stars at night from the warm and comfort of my bed, it was a no brainer. So when I found the maxxair roof-light which wasn't only reasonably priced, but also came in a 50x70cm model I couldn't resist. It comes with a preinstalled bug screen and blind, plus ventilation even when closed to keep airflow in your van at all times.
For panoramic views in bed, I went for two vent windows with privacy glass and build in bug screens. I chose the larger model which is 101.6x38.1cm, so I could see more when lounging. I wanted lots of windows to allow a tonnes of natural light into the van and also allow me to be surrounded by nature, even when it's raining.
To dull the rattle of the van and the exterior sounds of rain or rowdy neighbours, I chose to sound deaden my van, also since I have two dogs who bark at everything. For the first layer I went for 'Dodo Mat Deaden Hex Roll' which is placed over 50% of each panel to stop the vibration. Then on top as a second layer I went for "Dodo Super Liner 6mm" which is a thermal and acoustic liner which not only dulls the sound but also keeps the van cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I decided to add this layers to make sure all the exterior panels were covered with something to prevent condensation.
Well this was a rollercoaster, so many options, yet there seemed not to be a perfect one. I would have preferred a more natural route, but unfortunately couldn't find any definitive information on the longevity in all season. So instead I went for recycled plastic bottle fleece, as it doesn't retain moisture or go mouldy and due to it being recycled it is kinder on our planet than raw materials. It's also nontoxic and can simply be torn apart by your hands.
Well this was a rollercoaster, so many options, yet there seemed not to be a perfect one. I would have preferred a more natural route, but unfortunately couldn't find any definitive information on the longevity in all season. So instead I went for recycled plastic bottle fleece, as it doesn't retain moisture or go mouldy and due to it being recycled it is kinder on our planet than raw materials. It's also nontoxic and can simply be torn apart by your hands.
Rust Protection Paint
When buying a secondhand vehicle, it will no doubtably come with a little or a lot of rust. This is very bad for your van, rust is a disease and will spread, deteriorating the metal of your van. So this must be the first thing you deal with. To remove it, simply sand or grind down any areas till there is no more rust, just shiny metal. If it is penetrated the surface and formed a hole, remove all the infection and seal it up. To treat the area and prevent future rust, clean the surface of debris and grease with vinegar. First apply some rust convertor to stabilise the surface, then for interior use apply some direct-to-rust paint. For the exterior apply some galvanised zinc paint then a matching exterior paint.