Bambi II Saved from Recycler!

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

METAL ENDCAPS? WOW....I didn't know that was an option. Mine are huge chunks of fiberglass...

That's one thing that I hate about my '86 is the plastic endcaps. I just assumed all the early 60's had metal. Bummer for you!

[PA BAMBI II]

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

The windows all needed to be redone, so I had all the parts & pieces waiting in the wings (my basement has become the staging area for all my stuff!). I polished all the frames before reglassing them & then cleaned out the frames on the shell before putting in the new gaskets. The gaskets were a breeze! I've finished 3 windows & have 2 plus the door jalousy to go. Three of the major thoroughfares of the raccoon highway are officially CLOSED!

Hi Becky- Where did you get the gaskets for the side windows? VTS used to have the seal (I think), but I cannot find it now. I have one street side window to re-do. Because of budget, the rest will most likely be left well-enough alone. Let me know- I guess I need the tape for behind the glass, and the strips to seal the glass in. I als need to have the Hehr aluminum frame repaired- but I can get that done.

Did you order from VTS? If so, what part numbers?

Thanks! Ben

[Becky B.]

Hey Ben,

If you need to replace the window, you'll need this:

Butyl Glazing Tape

If you only need to replace the gasket that runs in the frame of the window that part of the trailer (as opposed to the window itself) you'll need this:

Hehr Window Bulb Seal

And finally, if you need to replace the grey plastic glazing that's part of the window, you'll need this:

Hallmark 12 Glazing Strip

The bulb seal is super easy to do. You just put it in the back side of the groove & then use a small screwdriver to run the front of it into the groove. It's nice & soft, so it doesn't fight you at all!

I'm working on my water heater door right now. I'm doing it like this:

http://vintageairstream.com/Images/h...terinstall.jpg

It has been so hot that I'm trying to do what I can inside my basement where it's cool!

[Becky B.]

I've been working on the water heater door & the fantastic fan/hehr vent hybrid indoors lately. I also rebuilt the door by putting in Prodex insulation, new gaskets, got the lock keyed at the locksmith, and finished the jalousies. I've been reading about the "alumibrite" on the forums recently too. While polishing the original hehr vent cover, I decided the Bambi II needed an acid wash before I seal things up. I plan on polishing when I'm finished with the interior, but I'm kind of keeping it in mind when I put things back on. I'm rough polishing around lights, vents, etc. before I actually put them on so I won't have to get so close to them when I actually do polish. So, I road my Aprilia Scarabeo 500ie scooter off to NAPA today to get some acid wash. Finally a day that wasn't beastly! Gladly, I did it now & not later. It didn't get along with butyl tape or parbond. I had butyl tape around the water heater & it turned into black streaks. Same with the parbond that I had around the doorknobs. It cleaned up with some more acid on a rag.

[Becky B.]

This week was fairly productive. I installed the false door on the water heater (what a pain that "little" project was). I also installed the hybrid fantastic fan, the "Jack" tv antenna (not my favorite look, but I like to watch a bit of TV--sorry purists), two vent stack covers, and a vent in the rear of the trailer for the air conditioner. I plan on putting an a/c inside the cabinet in the rear of the trailer & cutting vents in the floor for fresh air circulation, along with a drain out the bottom. That'll come a bit later, though. I still need to install the radio antenna, a new refrigerator vent, and figure out what to do with the original battery door. I don't plan on using that space for a battery (I'll be using an AGM battery), so I either have to make a false door, a real hatch door, or a patch (don't really want a patch). Hummmmm.....

[HiHoAgRV]

Cool Progress!
I ran across one hickup in my plan - I need to add another 110V feed to the location where my converter will be located...

I WAS gonna run it on the GFI circuit that is right near the battery location...I discovered today that converters and GFI circuits don't play together very well.

[Becky B.]

I'll have to tell my DH that. He's putting on his electrician hat (along with his plumber's hat) when the project gets there. Those two things are totally Chinese to me. Installing fixtures--yes, I can--but wiring/running plumbing lines--uh, no!

[Becky B.]

I worked on the battery compartment today. I've decided to use the area for my 30 amp plug and the cable hook-up. I had to build framing because the battery box was plastic & it's now in the trash. So.....since I've never really done anything like this, it was a bit of a challenge for me. Thankfully, I've done a lot of woodworking & have plenty of tools. My bandsaw comes in handy for little cuts here & there! I'm going to put a plate of aluminum on the framing & mount a Marinco outlet & the cable thing directly to that. (yeah, that's my handy, dandy farmer seat on wheels outside. Pretty easy on the old buns!) Next step is to figure out how to make a door. Any good suggestions of tutorials?

[65CV]

Becky,

What a great thread and a great read! I can't believe I just found it.

Thanks for sharing your story. I look forward to following it.

I have an access door and frame from a '65 Caravel removed from the shell. Want some pics? Not sure it will match your frame design, but it might give you some ideas.

John

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by 65CV

Becky,

What a great thread and a great read! I can't believe I just found it.

Thanks for sharing your story. I look forward to following it.

I have an access door and frame from a '65 Caravel removed from the shell. Want some pics? Not sure it will match your frame design, but it might give you some ideas.

John

I'd love a picture of your door if it's the kind that has a hinge. Mine are the hinge-free kind that come out when you unlock them. I want to make a door with a hinge & no lock because, first off, I hate those doors cause you always need a key to open them and I've read about tons of people losing them on the road, and secondly, there won't be access to the inside of the trailer, so it won't need to be locked. I think I might have to take the sheet of aluminum to a friend who has a break to have it bent to the right size.
Thanks for the offer, John!

[65CV]

Becky,

Sorry, but it is the kind of panel you don't like -- removable panel with key.

If you ever need one, Harbor Freight has a relatively cheap 30" metal brake. I used it a bunch.

John

[Becky B.]

Thanks anyhow, John. I did get my panel put in today. I'll think about the door while I do some other stuff. At least the water won't get in now.

I got called off work today, so I had a bunch of time to putz today. There were two large holes from the awning right next to the door. I put in a scare light instead of having big rivets or a patch there.

I also installed the rear lights & license plate holder. I need a buddy to help me with the running lights on the sides for buck riveting. My family is avoiding me now.....

The weld in the aluminum frame of my rear wind broke today when I opened the window. Bummer! I think my son does aluminum welding, so I can beg him to fix it for me!

My next project will be to patch the corrosion holes on the streetside. I actually bought another "Bambi" emblem on ebay the other day to put over the patch. Should look pretty good IMHO (and in my mind right now!)

[Becky B.]

I finally got around to making the patch for the corrosion on the street side. First I bucked the patch & then I polished it so it wouldn't be such a pain with the emblem in place. The emblem has posts that go through the skin & have to be held in place with little metal things that slide on (I know, technical word slips the mind). I will Tempro the inside so it will never leak! Boy, does new aluminum ever shine up easily. This old girl (the trailer, not me) will be quite a beast to polish. She has lots of scratches & pits. I guess that'll have to add to her character! The emblem says simply "Bambi" and not "Bambi II". The original emblem on the curbside also says "Bambi". I'm sure it was a leftover from the '63 model since mine is only #3 of the Ohio 1964 Bambi II. So, I just went with it on the streetside. Pretty lucky find on the old ebay, I think!

[goransons]

Lookin good! We had just about every window on our 63 with cracked upper corners. The flaw seems to be that they only welded on the back, which let the entire weight of the window pry on that weld. I found a REALLY good aluminum welder and he welded it all the way around then ground the weld down carefully to match the existing outside profile. Much stronger now.

[Becky B.]

Got a few more things on the outside finished in the last couple of weeks. Painted the tags & reinstalled them (yes, that's me with the old buck rivet gun--now that I'm finished with it, I'm pretty good with it!). I'm finally finished begging my family members to help me buck rivet!

Put up new running lights on the endcaps. The front endcap had them, but the rear didn't. I had to follow the front pattern for the rear. I would have liked them farther apart, but had a tuff enough time with the gazillions of holes the PO left under the ones in the front, so they are what they are!

Got a new refrigerator vent & cut it down to size & polished it--the old one was really brittle & I like the fact that the aluminum polishes up nicely.

Put in a Marineco outdoor outlet in the original strange place next to the kitchen window.

Fabricated the pieces for the sides of the wheels. I practiced first with cardboard & then cut it out of the aluminum. The colors will match up when I polish.

I sealed all the interior seams & rivets with Vulkem. I sat in her last night in the rain & looked for leaks. Found a couple, so I'm going to do all the windows tomorrow.

[HiHoAgRV]

I love progress! Gotta ask about the wheel trim...I have some from VTS but havent even opened the package yet. Is yours the same and how did you bend it? I've been thinking notches on the back but I also heard its better to heat it.

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

I love progress! Gotta ask about the wheel trim...I have some from VTS but havent even opened the package yet. Is yours the same and how did you bend it? I've been thinking notches on the back but I also heard its better to heat it.

I thought I had all of VTS memorized by now! I can't say that I've seen the wheel trim they have. I was actually short on both sides of my wheel trim when I cut the banana wrap. It probably will be a good thing if I ever have a blow out, though! I used the same aluminum that I used on the banana wrap. I tried a few times with a cardboard pattern until I made it look right. I buck riveted the top & sides first & then bent it & held it with my knee (contortion artist that I am) while I drilled the first hole into the outrigger. Clecoed it & then drilled the rest & riveted with 5/32 regular rivets.....hoping that'll hold for 30 years....probably will be dead by then!

[65CV]

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

I sat in her last night in the rain & looked for leaks. Found a couple, so I'm going to do all the windows tomorrow.

Becky-

Good progress!

Chasing leaks in the rain was one of the most frustrating things I did. I fixed 17 of the #@$% things. After two years, I still haven't seen a single drop inside -- well worth the effort.

John

[bolerama]

Nice work!
Lisa

[PA BAMBI II]

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

Painted the tags & reinstalled them (yes, that's me with the old buck rivet gun--now that I'm finished with it, I'm pretty good with it!). I'm finally finished begging my family members to help me buck rivet!


Put up new running lights on the endcaps. The front endcap had them, but the rear didn't.

Becky- how did you repaint your Airstream and data plate tags? They look great! Mine are very faded...but I am not sure how to refinish them. Help!

Also- would you like to rent your rivet gun to me when I get going??

Mine had running lights on both end caps...attached with steel sheet metal screws with standard slots. All spacing looks pretty standard/even.

Your old Bambi is looking GREAT!!! Ben