Funflair's do Himmelfahrt in Bavaria

[sallylillian]

 

[funflair]

So 4 nights at Morelo but now moved to Bamberg which is supposed to be lovely but not been into town yet, on the stellplatz at €15 per night.

I have not updated much over the last couple of days, yesterday we did the Concorde factory tour but hey don’t allow photos, I don’t think they have anything to hide so not really sure why. One big difference between Concorde and the Morelo and N+B is that Concorde do their own chassis prep work removing the original dashboard, moving the steering further forward and fitting their own dashboard, they they add all the options to the chassis so VB air suspension, E&P jacks etc etc, the body panel and assembly work is very similar between Morelo and Concorde except that Concorde don’t use fibreglass for the floor and roof where Morelo do. Yesterday we did a tour of Morelo and the first impression is how modern the factory is and how they are still expanding and increasing sales numbers, this last year was about 340 vans and there must have been close to 400 of them parked up this weekend.

I could have done a foodie thing as we ate out every night in their festival hall, the food was very good and reasonably priced,

Pork in a black beer gravy with Sticky dumpling with asparagus and carrots €9.50


So what did we learn? The big thing is that the Palace is getting quite a facelift and will be first shown at Dusseldorf end of August but they will release some image teasers around 12th July, there is a new colour wood,

Which will be the option and the current darker wood option from the Empire will become standard, the internal cupboards are going to get a bit of shape to them so they must have been listening to us after all, the awning will be flushed into the bodywork and there is a new look to the front which according to a French dealer who has seen it in front of any others, says it has a smiley face and looks very lovely.

OK time to walk into Bamberg.

Martin

 

[CazPaul]

Good reports Martin, interested in the body panel and assembly work which you say is the same between Concorde and Morelo, which makes sense as Morelo started with former Concorde staff. 2 sheets of aluminium between insulation, are they then heat pressed together or something?
How does this differ to Hymer and Niesmann&Bischoff body panel construction?

 

[funflair]

Good reports Martin, interested in the body panel and assembly work which you say is the same between Concorde and Morelo, which makes sense as Morelo started with former Concorde staff. 2 sheets of aluminium between insulation, are they then heat pressed together or something?
How does this differ to Hymer and Niesmann&Bischoff body panel construction?

Hi Paul

Yes double sided aluminium onto Blue styrofoam with hard PU edges, pressed and heated Morelo have the largest press in European motorhome manufacturing and were making a 12 metre garage Empite liner for a Lamborghini. As I said Concorde don’t use fibreglass for roof or road floor surfaces they say it is too brittle, Morelo say they use it because they have seen corrosion between alloy floors and chassis rails.

Martin

 

[sallylillian]

Thanks Martin, good to hear that the dark wood will be standard as we had wanted this to contrast to our other interior selections, however the Oak colour you are showing needs to be seen in the flesh and in a whole van and may be tempting. The roof awning a la the Empire had already been revealed to us when I said I wanted one to compare with my Flair. However their implementation with front and rear cowels to hide it are great. All much better than stuck on the side like an agricultural branch trimming attachment. They only need to get rid of the submarine hatches and they have a smart exterior. ( I know why don't I just buy an Empire)
Interesting that they anticipate display at Dusseldorf as I had been told its first showing would be Stuttgart, so fingers crossed my delivery will be advanced?

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[CazPaul]

Hi Paul

Yes double sided aluminium onto Blue styrofoam with hard PU edges, pressed and heated Morelo have the largest press in European motorhome manufacturing and were making a 12 metre garage Empite liner for a Lamborghini. As I said Concorde don’t use fibreglass for roof or road floor surfaces they say it is too brittle, Morelo say they use it because they have seen corrosion between alloy floors and chassis rails.

Martin

How would you compare the body construction to Niesmann or Hymer Martin.
Our 2005 Concorde has an ally rear panel but they also changed to fibreglass a few years later and I read on the German Concorde forum that they had a bad batch of fibreglass panels around 2010 and a lot cracked.

 

[funflair]

Thanks Martin, good to hear that the dark wood will be standard as we had wanted this to contrast to our other interior selections, however the Oak colour you are showing needs to be seen in the flesh and in a whole van and may be tempting. The roof awning a la the Empire had already been revealed to us when I said I wanted one to compare with my Flair. However their implementation with front and rear cowels to hide it are great. All much better than stuck on the side like an agricultural branch trimming attachment. They only need to get rid of the submarine hatches and they have a smart exterior. ( I know why don't I just buy an Empire)
Interesting that they anticipate display at Dusseldorf as I had been told its first showing would be Stuttgart, so fingers crossed my delivery will be advanced?

Hi Michael

You are right about seeing that sample as a whole van, we would also be tempted by the dark as it goes nicely with the chrome handles and light kitchen work surface, I get the impression you don’t like the hatches

Martin

 

[funflair]

How would you compare the body construction to Niesmann or Hymer Martin.
Our 2005 Concorde has an ally rear panel but they also changed to fibreglass a few years later and I read on the German Concorde forum that they had a bad batch of fibreglass panels around 2010 and a lot cracked.

Hi Paul

I would put Niesmann up there with the other two mentioned here in terms of body construction but I will stick my neck out and say Hymer would not be in the same league as they build down to a weight and price and until recently they had no option of the full alloy construction, just my opinion though and don’t want to start another war.

I did notice at Morelo that all the roof fittings were going on with non setting mastic tape.

Martin

 

[funflair]

Back to tourist mode now,

In Bamberg so I have to have a Bamberger original Mahr’s Frau Pilsner someone else splashed out €6 on an Eis Cafe.

Martin

 

[Southdowners]

Hi @Southdowners

If you come to Morelo you will see one in a van and talk to the guy supplying them, it’s not the factory but a trader.
Martin

Hi Martin, I hope you got our message about leaving early and our apologies for not coming to Morelo. We decided that we would move on as we need to get back in a week's time. We had a great time at the Concorde do... it was very informative and reassuring that our vehicle is built to last! We also had a few snagging issues dealt with by the guys in the golf buggies!

We really enjoyed meeting folk there and will definitely go again next year. We're touring the Hartz mountains as the moment. Right now we're parked next to a trout stream (River Bode) in a picturesque part of the area. We'll probably stay here for two nights then move on. We need to buy rod licences tomorrow but we can get them from a place about 250 metres away... trout for dinner tomorrow perhaps!

I hope you're enjoying the rest of your stay.

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[sallylillian]

Hi Michael

You are right about seeing that sample as a whole van, we would also be tempted by the dark as it goes nicely with the chrome handles and light kitchen work surface, I get the impression you don’t like the hatches

Martin

Exactly, and they do a dark tan which picks out part of the grain in the dark wood, as a bi-colour with a cream inset (limited to avoid looking crap after 2 weeks) then white cupboards and you have a classy feel in my opinion. They do not seem to handle the slide concept well with the architrave around it in stark white, and the table not really configured to move with the slide.

 

[funflair]

Exactly, and they do a dark tan which picks out part of the grain in the dark wood, as a bi-colour with a cream inset (limited to avoid looking crap after 2 weeks) then white cupboards and you have a classy feel in my opinion. They do not seem to handle the slide concept well with the architrave around it in stark white, and the table not really configured to move with the slide.

Not sure we even went into a slide but thats not what we are looking for so possibly wouldn't have given it the critics eye. The bi-colour looked quite nice in one of the vans with cream in the centre and cafe outside.

 

[funflair]

So walking around Bamberg and Jen sees a wool shop "woosh" and she's gone,

NO I don't know what he is sat on,

Have you seen my "big end"

The dangly bits from the bridge are gates for slalom canoeing,

And this is the old town hall,

Martin

 

[funflair]

Well it’s been a long time since the last one but just been out for a ride on the tandem and boy we are not fit, 50k and now I need a beer,

Great cycle paths most of the way,

Nice to get out again.

Martin

 

[Southdowners]

Jen looks whacked!

50K... I'd be whacked too - that's a long way! You both must be pretty fit.

I see that you have a Charisma next to you. Is it someone from the Concorde get together?

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[funflair]

Jen looks whacked!

50K... I'd be whacked too - that's a long way! You both must be pretty fit.

I see that you have a Charisma next to you. Is it someone from the Concorde get together?

Hi

Fit we wish, not been out on it since some time last year, Charisma well spotter John and Matt.

Martin

 

[funflair]

And then another walk around Bamberg,

And the reward,

Martin

 

[funflair]

You will like this @Techno

Martin

 

[funflair]

And for Michael @sallylillian

Martin

 

[tacr2man]

They do henhouse equipment as well
https://jost-technik.de/mini-Washer---76.html

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[sallylillian]

And for Michael @sallylillian

View attachment 231479

Martin

Thank you Martin, If we accept the garage install it may be interesting, what size Morelo was the one you saw with it in the garage? Jost use a poorer picture than your one on their web site but you can see its the same van.

 

[funflair]

Thank you Martin, If we accept the garage install it may be interesting, what size Morelo was the one you saw with it in the garage? Jost use a poorer picture than your one on their web site but you can see its the same van.

Hi Michael

It was a Palace minimum, possibly liner? Don’t know if that makes garage bigger, not sure on layout.

Martin

 

[funflair]

Rothenburg on der Tauber on the Romantic road, medieval walled town,

Martin

 

[nicholsong]

Rothenburg is a nice Medieval City.

I had a girlfriend who lived there and we went to New Year Midnight Mass in the Cathedral.

We visited it with the MH a couple of years ago. Quite easy to park just outside the city walls and just a short walk into the city.

Keep the pics coming please Martin.

What is Jen knitting you for Christmas?

Geoff

 

[funflair]

Rothenburg is a nice Medieval City.

I had a girlfriend who lived there and we went to New Year Midnight Mass in the Cathedral.

We visited it with the MH a couple of years ago. Quite easy to park just outside the city walls and just a short walk into the city.

Keep the pics coming please Martin.

What is Jen knitting you for Christmas?

Geoff

We are on a campsite without data and slow WiFi but might try some more from Rothenburg later, I said she could knit me a “willy warmer” she said “that won’t take long”

Martin

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[funflair]

So a ride out on the Scooter yesterday, bit of shopping to do a curry for tea and then went to Rottingen again on the Romantic Road, there was a bit of a car showroom/museum at ASCARI a VW dealer,
The Bike is a Confederate P51, on of three originals used in the film "Transformers"

Any engineers or machinists on here will appreciate the work on this thing, the big round bit is the fuel tank and the glass window with the yellow is the fuel, the clear window at the top is looking into the air filter,

Side window looks directly into the dirty side of the air filter and the window in the top looks into the inside of the air filter and the throttle butterfly's,

Carbon front wheel and 4 disks,

Martin

 

[Mr Mousy]

Martin, I'm loving the photos from the museum, can we have some more?

 

[funflair]

Martin, I'm loving the photos from the museum, can we have some more?

Sorry that is all I had, ‘twas only a retail showroom really.

Martin

 

[funflair]

Right we have moved, we are at Heidelberg, on a campsite scooter out had a look at the town this afternoon and it could rain tomorrow so we might do the technical museum

Martin

 

[funflair]

Sinsheim technical museum, yes it was raining this morning but might have stopped now so we can do the outside stuff.

Nigel Mansell’s Indy car,

42 cylinder diesel,

And for the farm boy’s,

A Sheep,

Martin

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