Ouray,
Here is the page shellback referred to on my build thread.
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/12116-new-build-1981-grandby-to-become-a-hawk/page-12
Making your own sideliner (canvass) is time consuming and tedious, but can be done with an eye to detail, and a bit of practice. I purchased a used industrial sewing machine off of craigslist, and just spent a lot of time practicing on scrap material to get a feel for running a machine, and learning its characteristics, how to tension the thread and the presser foot, speed, and how to get a straight stitch and curved stitching, long before I attempted the side liner. That way I had a lot more confidence when attempting the real thing. I made a few mistakes and encountered some challenges as you'll read in the thread, but in the end it turned out pretty good, and is functioning fine with no leaks. So if you decide to try and tackle it, it is possible, and is similar to building with wood or metal, just a different material and different tolls. And speaking of tools, a walking foot sewing machine would be preferred. I used a regular foot machine, but doing it again I might spend a little more for a walking foot. I figure you can always re-sell it when your finished.
Poky