Transition Pieces
-Next up on the list was to tackle the transition piece from ceiling panel to wall panel. This was a part that I have been somewhat dreading as I had been struggling with how to make it look clean and intentional. After lots of tests I think I landed on a good option that maximizes the van interior while giving a good clean transition.
-Starting with the driver side I used a piece of ½ Baltic Birch (BB) strip with a 30ish° bevel cut that will be tucked between the ceiling panel. Then I used a strip of Ό BB to create the drop piece. Once that was mocked up it became apparent how much the van body is curving in every direction. This prompted me to feel like I needed to create some more symmetry. So I marked out a level line from the floor to create my bottom edge. I then took a small section of Ό BB and used it to fill the void between the trim board and van body. This again was obviously scribed to the van body. To give me a solid attachment point for this bottom plate I attached some blocks of ½ BB with glue and pin nails. This gave me a good chunk for some screws to bite into. Hopefully this all makes sense in what I am describing as I didn't take pictures of every step. This is probably one of the most complicated ways to do this, but I hope in the end it is worth the extra effort.
-After getting the driver side pretty much done, beside some finish touches, I jumped over to the passenger side to start the same process. This side was a little trickery as I am trying to allow enough room for electrical components such as the Victron BMV, the inverter switch, and the heater controller. In addition to these components I also need the create a flat surface for a strip light recess I am putting in over the 60/40 doors.
-I started with the same ½ BB with a 30ish° bevel cut and the same Ό BB strip of the drop piece. I repeated the process for trying to create a flat symmetrical line to the floor.
-I used some cardboard to start planning what I wanted to do for the electrical section of the trim piece. I am planning on having it be a 3 square bump out that can then die back into the angled section. You can see this was a very rough idea I was trying to work through.
-So after mocking up the transition piece and trying to avoid it since I knew it would be a pain I finally started on building it. The cardboard mock up was a great starting point, but only really got me so far, so it ended up taking me much longer than I would like to admit to get figured out and get done. This will be a separate piece that will be attached using threaded inserts to make it easier to open up and access everything if needed. That is still to come, but at least now it is somewhat together still needs the end cap, threaded insert attachments and final assembly before upholstery.
-After That I went to the rear door ceiling transition and created a little shelf that is squared up off the floor. Again this is using Ό BB with nutserts for attachment. This will house two puck lights that will be on a separate switch from the rest for our bed lights.
-List of things to do before upholstery is getting shorter, and I really can't wait for that! I still need to check fitment of the front stock headliner, build front overhead shelf, finish out transitions, make transition pieces to stock headliner, build door boxes and panels, disassemble and do final assembly on transition pieces, cut out all openings for lights/electrical, create wire pass ways, run main wire runs behind walls, and add insulation. The list seemed much simpler in my head before I started writing it all out.
Next up I am moving to the front to work on my overhead console.