More sunshine

Day 2
Found I have acquired  a six-pack of bruises from extreme leaning over the ladder. 2 on my hip bones, 2 on my upper thighs and 2 just above the knees - no picture of that sorry sight!

A sunny start, first I go to the hardware store to get some replacement screws and a new screwdriver!

Next I loosen all the screws down the centre rail, then one by one replace them with new ones. Pick up the Sikaflex 221 and bulk out the mastic to ensure it seals. I work down the length af few times, doing a bit on each run before the penny drops; this sealant is not right, it is starting to set. I had googled it and found it was 'flexible', but this is not enough, it needs to be non-setting.
At least the sun is shining, but I go about undoing my work and picking out the duff sealant before it dries. Quick call to the caravan dealer, 'Whitford's', confirms my suspicion, so I break for lunch and head over there to get the right stuff.
Catch the weather forecast over lunch and they promise showers in the next few hours, just when I wanted some luck...
Anyway, I get the rights stuff, jam it in, tighten the screws just enough before the heavens open. The excess sealant is squeezed out, just as it should be.

Do a quick dash down each side wiping the sealant close but am out of time.

Hunker down out of the rain. Later it stops, and  I find evidence of a small leak, the rain is gone at least an hour before I venture back onto the roof to mop up and add a bit more sealant. I take the interruption to rip out the fridge and sink, they can go up to the dump - an early decision vindicated  when I see the state of them (below).

The big push

Finally some time off work, and good weather!
Plan this week is to get the roof completely sealed and the front panel replaced with the aluminium composite I ordered at about Christmas.
First morning, I take the centre rail off entirelly and clean up all the old mastic with white spirit, then meths..

The paint I have ordered for the job has arrived, and I toy with idea of painting before reattaching the rail. Decide against. I don't have all the panels ready, and it'll rain again for sure!
I use a roll of standard width mastic, and realise too late how sticky it is/ how tricky it is to get the rail in the right place first time! End up wasting some....

With the awkward angles leaning from the side, I find it hard to generate enough force to tighten the screws enough. But the mastic is non-setting, I'll buy some more  screws and try again tomorrow.

More rain

Disappointed with the weather, constant rain is making it really hard to get the roof watertight. I make limited progress with the wood, cutting another key piece of ply but slow going.

I take the opportunity to remove the old electrics box at the front, and this allows the wood around the base of the front wall to be fixed.

All this time without a secure roof has made the roof sag a bit where the wood is missing at the front. 

Above is a makeshift fix to return it to level. Can't secure the aluminium until all the wood is in place and I can get outside in the dry to fix it...

Rainy weekend

This is how I left it last time, all the wood is attached to the ceiling except around the front.

First task is to attach a wooden batten straight across, then I will cut a piece of marine plywood to meet the roof.

I spend most of the morning figuring out how to get a piece of 8' x 4' plywood here. After cutting it in half at the builders yard myself, I load it into Alan's car, and get up here. Then 'aww' damaged his leather upholstery in pulling the wood out of the car 😤.

The first cut of plywood (described above) is quite easy, but it is raining.

The next one, to replace the rotton curvy piece down the front of the van is harder. I use wallpaper to make a template, and cut this at home where I can get out of the rain and brace the wood more easily.

The only other tasks I attempt given the weather are trying to secure the door closer better as it still lets in water (this is temporary, I will have to buy a better lock). And getting the remaining old ceiling plywood out from the connection between the roof and wall on the left side, this is painstaking and still not complete.