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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
With the weather being far from ideal I spent Saturday sanding the gelcoat on the roof and then polishing it. Overall it's turned out alright but there is one section that hasn't adhered properly so we will have to revisit that in the future.

But come Sunday afternoon the rain cleared and since my better half had the weekend off (she's a nurse so unusual to have the same days free) we thought we might as well take the plunge so this..



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Turned to this..



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And finally this!



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Very relieved to say it fits and is pretty much as planned so we now have a pair of gas struts on order to lift it and we're ready for the next stage of fitting the canvas and taking the windows out of the side (the aluminium from the roof being due to fill the holes. We've bought tickets for the overland show in June so have a definite point to aim for now.
Post #942501 14th Feb 2022 7:36pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7866

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Great progress! Thumbs Up James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #942535 15th Feb 2022 6:55am
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Terryt



Member Since: 28 Jun 2012
Location: Lerryn. Cornwall.
Posts: 750

United Kingdom 
That’s coming along mate
Post #942543 15th Feb 2022 7:33am
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Thanks both, huge relief when it sat where it should and opened up without any issues, I knew it worked in theory but there's always the nagging feeling that something will go awry.
Post #942548 15th Feb 2022 9:02am
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Terryt



Member Since: 28 Jun 2012
Location: Lerryn. Cornwall.
Posts: 750

United Kingdom 
Yes we went through that stage when you start cutting holes in things that once done can not be undone .. looking forward to the progress on this mate .
Post #942550 15th Feb 2022 9:04am
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10420

England 
Good progress there and good it fits as you'd hoped Very Happy 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up. Keeper.


Clayton.
Post #942759 16th Feb 2022 9:24pm
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Thanks. Glad to report it remained in place as the gale went through, 85mph gusts here so probably the highest windspeed it will ever encounter. Wouldn't have fancied it's chances open mind!
Post #942973 18th Feb 2022 3:36pm
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Bit more progress, we bought a pair of gas struts to lift the roof, they came from struts depot who were pretty economical and good service (no link other than buying from them). We went for the adjustable ones so after they were in place it was a case of undoing a grub screw for a second at a time to let gas out until they were at the right force. Both that and the location was a bit haphazard but it's worked out really well. Slight push initially to lift the roof and from a foot up it goes up of its own accord. Not much force required to close either. My better half can now stand up for the entire length, I'm not able to at the back but it's good for more than half the floor area. Headroom will drop once the bed is in but should be ample.



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We also picked up a spare wheel from eBay, genuine LR takeoff wolf wheel with a crosscontact tyre. Luckily the bonnet has the kit for the spare wheel as there's nowhere else it can go although I have had to buy the retainer.



Click image to enlarge
Post #943839 25th Feb 2022 8:30pm
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Iguana



Member Since: 05 Jun 2016
Location: WSM
Posts: 107

United Kingdom 1992 Defender 130 200 Tdi HCPU Chawton White
Cracking thread, loving the home made pop top Thumbs Up Iggy/Ieuan
‐------------------------
Vehicles:
- 1992 Ex-Mountain Rescue Ambulance 130/200tdi
- 2005 Discovery 3 S
- 2001 BMW 535i V8
Post #943870 26th Feb 2022 9:54am
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Cheers, pretty chuffed so far although there's a lot more to do.
Post #943907 26th Feb 2022 1:32pm
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Busy weekend but we now have a canvas fitted to the pop top. Started off by making the retaining bars for the bottom, this has a plastic piping that gets trapped under a rail, drilling clearance holes every inch in aluminium angle was pretty boring but got there in the end. The canvas was then temporarily stapled around the base.


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That then allowed us to mark the canvas for where it needed to be fitted to the roof as this is variable. Once marked the bottom was released and the top fitted under a nylon tack strip with a lot of staples. The canvas is trapped by the strip and then pulls down over it so the strain is vertical on the edge of the strip rather than pulling on the staples.



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With that done the base was secured, with a lot of stainless self tappers and there we have it, one roof complete with canvas.



Click image to enlarge


The roof on a VW is curved so there is a bit of slack at the corners on the high face but Sarah thinks these can be sorted with a bit of sewing.
Post #944831 6th Mar 2022 5:43pm
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90 Dreamer



Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2045

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Brilliant
Post #944845 6th Mar 2022 7:12pm
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Thank you!
Post #944848 6th Mar 2022 7:25pm
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10420

England 
Great outcome, looks the part Bow down 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up. Keeper.


Clayton.
Post #944976 7th Mar 2022 8:45pm
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Ratty43



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 
Cheers, really pleased with it so far.
Post #944981 7th Mar 2022 9:20pm
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