| Fabric Walls
OK, I decided to formalize my sketch a bit by quickly drawing it in AutoCAD. Hopefully the attached PDF file is clear enough but if not please let me know. The general idea is based on a few main principles and/or material types as follows:
1.) The molding shown attached to the inner Airstream walls is a flexible plastic molding of a type that I have found at Home Depot. It comes in white or a couple of wood grain finishes. The important characteristics are that it is flexible enough to follow the curve of the wall and it holds staples. Its overall dimensions are something like 3/8" x 3/4" or so. I envision attaching it to the wall with pop rivets every so often. If it were to be a permanent installation I would probably use some type of adhesive.
2.) The aluminum screen frame material is pretty interesting stuff. Again I found it at Home Depot in the window screen department. It is also about 3/8" x 3/4" in dimensions. The neat thing is that it is available in several colors and mill finish aluminum in lengths up to 7'. That is long enough to go from floor to ceiling in an Airstream. I don't see any reason why fabric couldn't be used instead of sceen in the slotted edge of the frame. If the fabric is too thick you would at least have to consider a smaller diameter rubber gasket bead.
3.) I though it should be possible to find some appropriate type of hinge. It occurred to me that what might work nicely is the plastic strip hinge if it could be found with a leg dimension of 3/4".
4.) I have not zeroed in on a type of latch for a door opening but there should be several types of things that would work including perhaps magnetic cabinet latches.
5.) The screen frames also have nice corner brackets and optional cross members for tall screens that would give extra stiffness if that is needed.
For the walls on either side of a door the general idea is to attach the fabric to the aluminum screen frames first and secure the vertical frame members. Then with just one strip of plastic trim on the wall and floor (maybe aluminum frame on floor too?) I would carefully stretch and staple the fabric to the trim. Once that was done I would add the second piece of trim to cover the staples and give a more finished. look.
I am not sure what the best thing to use for attaching the aluminum trim to the ceiling and floor would be. Perhaps just a simple small L shaped bracket would be fine.
Anyway I hope this launches some creative thinking on the use of fabric for walls - whether temporary or permanent.
I think that I might also post this in a new thread for discussion specifically about fabric walls.
Malcolm
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