A '63 Overlander Followed us Home

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Steve Bryant

Vernon, ...What are you going to do for insulation in the walls?

Steve

The shell walls have a double layer of Prodex. No insulation in the interior divider walls.

Originally Posted by Overlander & Sea

Sorry to hear about your wife's medical problems, I hope Mrs. HiHo is doing better.

Well, she had a bit of a setback this week and now has to have another surgery...we are sure everything is going to work out but it's still just one day at a time.

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Oh man...I LOVE shiny aluminum walls. I really do. Your walls look amazing.

We went ahead and decided to do zolatone due to cost consideration in our 63 Overlander.

Steve

I have a pretty good local supplier for aluminum sheet, and no-local supplier of Zolatone so in my particular case, it was actually cheaper to buy new aluminum!

I did get some work done yesterday and today. The closet is sealed and installed. I have to make a run to the lumber store to get materials for the door.

The headboard and bed are ready for a few coats of poly and they will get the final install.

The bath cabinet top is cut and fitted. I suspect the laminate will come as one of the last steps.

[Overlander & Sea]

Vernon, are you going to open an Airstream restoration/renovation shop when this project is finished? I've got a couple headed your way if you do!!! This is the best work ever!!

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Overlander & Sea

Vernon, are you going to open an Airstream restoration/renovation shop when this project is finished? I've got a couple headed your way if you do!!! This is the best work ever!!

Thanks Rick but...I suspect any potential clients may not care for a 2 + year turn around...

I figured I'd update a few fronts.

Mrs. HiHo is on the sidelines for 3 more weeks, the Doc's need her to heal up before they can what\when\how the next surgery happens. She's the main focus at our house...but I can tell she's getting restless.

The weather has also been a show stopper. It's not really that hot, mid 90's, but combined with high humidity its felt like 110 for the last few days. Simply standing in the shade will soak clothes with sweat in a matter of minutes. Local power usage has spiked and my marginal power service under the shed will no longer run a window unit during the hot part of the day so there is no relief inside Dolly for even some of the little projects.

I do have the bed and headboard back in the trailer.

The curb side closet is almost ready for install, I hope to get that done this weekend. If the rain will hold off I can move Dolly to the driveway and run the AC...

[Steve Bryant]

Vernon, thanks for the update. I hope that Sarah has some peace of mind and spirit while she's waiting for the next step....you too, for that matter!

I wish that you could send some of that moisture up to Kansas and surrounding states. We haven't had a significant amount of rain for at least two months!

All my best,

Steve

[HiHoAgRV]

It cooled off today, it only feels like 103...

The tub is trimmed, done.

Got the curb closet complete and installed. The head board and bed are bolted down.

I like the angled walk into the bath.

I guess I'll keep working my way up the street side.

[Aage]

Very cool look there Vernon!

VERY cool.

[HiHoAgRV]

Well, I started on the kitchen cabinet...and got bored...so...

Lets clean up a vintage FAN!

[Overlander & Sea]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

Thanks Rick but...I suspect any potential clients may not care for a 2 + year turn around...

..

No problem, I have to wait longer for good wine and Jack Daniels to age.

[HiHoAgRV]

I started making progress on the kitchen cabinet. The ply is not stained and there is no poly on it yet, so the color and lusture are not there yet.

Bowl sink and the curved opening below it were inspired by the newer Airstream models.

I decided to skip bending the plywood and go for a strip built curve. By gluing together all of those little planks to wrap around the curve, I'll end up with a curved cherry door. It takes a lot of wood to saw and plane all thoses little thin strips but the final result will look pretty good.

[HiHoAgRV]

ya take a big piece of wood, saw it into small pieces of wood, then glue them back together to make a big piece of wood...

Perhaps I should post this one over on the 'Streams and Kayaks thread?

[Lance M]

Looks marvelous Vernon!

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by Top

Looks marvelous Vernon!

Ditto!

[reinergirl]

I love the idea of the strips!. Your trailer is looking awesome. Have you decided what you are going to do with gap in the aluminum skins at the top?

[Steve Bryant]

Vernon,
I like your technique here!



Are you ripping or jointing the edges at a slight angle so that you get some glue contact area as the strips go around the bend?

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Steve Bryant

Vernon,
...Are you ripping or jointing the edges at a slight angle so that you get some glue contact area as the strips go around the bend?

I started to cove and bead each strip (I've done a couple of strip built kayaks) but it's only 30 pieces so I'm simply belt sanding a bevel on the edges. So far, so good. once sanded smooth, I may epoxy coat with glass imbedded. The epoxy I'm using has the same optical properties as fiberglass cloth, thus making the cloth completely dissappear.

Originally Posted by reinergirl

I love the idea of the strips!. Your trailer is looking awesome. Have you decided what you are going to do with gap in the aluminum skins at the top?

Ahhh...yes. The long open strip...I'm leaving that 'unresolved' and keeping an open mind for new ideas. Most likely it will be a floating panel with indirect lighting. At this point I'm conflicted on the width. A long piece of aluminum floating a small distance from the ceiling? probably too 'modern'...Wood strip? That could easly be to 'rustic'... Wood/Aluminum/Cloth...hummm...

[Steve Bryant]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

I started to cove and bead each strip (I've done a couple of strip built kayaks) but it's only 30 pieces so I'm simply belt sanding a bevel on the edges. So far, so good. once sanded smooth, I may epoxy coat with glass imbedded. The epoxy I'm using has the same optical properties as fiberglass cloth, thus making the cloth completely dissappear.

Vernon, the epoxy should work wlll since it's gap-filling and does not depend much on surface contact within reason.

Once again...lookin' good in the neighborhood!

Steve

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

Ahhh...yes. The long open strip...I'm leaving that 'unresolved' and keeping an open mind for new ideas. Most likely it will be a floating panel with indirect lighting. At this point I'm conflicted on the width. A long piece of aluminum floating a small distance from the ceiling? probably too 'modern'...Wood strip? That could easly be to 'rustic'... Wood/Aluminum/Cloth...hummm...

How about a translucent panel . . . or perforated metal panel . . . or . . .

Great job by the way, and am really enjoying watching the progress, thanks for the thread.
MarkR

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by MarkR

How about a translucent panel . . . Great job by the way, and am really enjoying watching the progress, thanks for the thread.
MarkR

Humm, that did cross my mind...translucent panel, delicate wood trim edges, perhaps an aluminum strip down the middle?

Not a bad option!

Oh, the '63 Tappan brown oven, it 'Bee' working great...(that photo is for Scott...)

[HiHoAgRV]

I've come to the conclusion that had I simply re-created Dolly the way she was when built, she would be done by now. I must have 20 hours in the silly curved under-sink door. Aw heck, who cares?

I will have 2 shelves in the door. More details to come...


Today I started on the dinette. It's all glued up except...guess what? The two remaining curved pieces... They shouldn't take more than a week or so!

I cleaned up the Tappan. Any suggestions on what to do with the top? My best solution is silver powder coat. Once again, that is not something I have in my skill set...

[Becky B.]

I love your curved door & sweet sink! Original would have been far too easy for you!