camping for birds

Step 1: Transfer the outline of the photocopied enlargement of the caravan template onto the dressed timber using a pencil and carbon paper. Repeat to make a second copy.

Carefully cut out both caravan templates with the jigsaw and cut a 100mm x 100mm square out of the back of one of them. Cut another square of timber to fit this hole (this will be a hinged access door on the back wall of the caravan). Cut a triangular ‘towing bracket’ from an off-cut of timber and smooth any rough sawn edges with sandpaper. Glue a small piece of dowel at one end to form the tow bar and allow to dry.

Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry primer to the caravan cut-outs, 100mm x 100mm square, and ‘towing bracket’.

Step 2: Transfer the caravan enlargement onto the aluminium, with carbon paper and pencil, this time marking the circular windows and wheel. Cut out the circles with the hole-cutting drill bit and then cut around the outline with tin snips. File any rough edges and fix to the front caravan wall with PVA glue and bullet head nails, as shown.

Step 3: Cut a strip of aluminium measuring approx 150mm x 900mm. Determine the position of the front window (access hole for birds) and drill with hole-cutting drill bit. File any rough edges. Fix the aluminium strip into position around the front caravan wall using bullet head nails, gluing and curving as you go. Cut aluminium to fit around wheels, as shown. Prime both sides of the aluminium walls with one coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer.

Step 4: Paint the inside of the caravan (including the inside of the back wall and access door) with two coats of Resene Alabaster then fix the ‘towing bracket’ to the caravan with glue and a 40mm screw. Paint the outer body of the caravan (including back access door) with two coats of Resene Onepoto.

Step 5: Paint two coats on the door, wheel and window trims with Resene Pursuit, the tyre and windows with Resene Black, the side stripe with Resene Alabaster, the towing bracket with Resene Silver Chalice, and curtains with Resene Turbo. Apply two coats of Resene So Cool to the towing bracket followed by two coats of Resene Multishield+ satin. Fix the back access door into position with the hinge and attach the latch hook, as shown.