*61 Globetrotter, Hettie"

[Hittenstiehl]

So our hobby is growing by one. We have been casually watching for a small 61and realized that Bambi's were likely out if the budget.

So recently a seemingly original 1961 19 ft Globetrotter was presented here for sale. After an inspection and lots of correspondence we struck an agreement and added Hettie to our Aluminum addiction.

We don't physically have her yet so I was hesitant to post but there's enough money there to secure the deal.

We are super excited, and looking to pick her up over the holiday.

Not a lot of Globies out there so this should be fun.

[Hittenstiehl]

So in 10 days we're off on our adventure to pick up Hettie from outside of St Louis MO.

Getting a bit excited but still holding back a bit. I'll be bouncing out of my seat by the time we actually get there.

Been doing some more research and there don't seem to be many surviving 61 Globetrotters out there. (That are documented or online) Seems 1964 was a popular year with slightly different floorplans.

A few more pics till then.

[Hittenstiehl]

Four days till we go east to pick up Hettie. Hard to concentrate but it will pass quickly. Hope she looks as good in person as she does in pictures.

[Dingo Girl]

Can't blame you for being anxious, Hettie is a delight!

[Hittenstiehl]

Thx Dingo Girl

[streaminwild]

I think you hit gold . Congrats. Keep us posted on your progress. It's missing a Airforum sticker in the rear window.

[Hittenstiehl]

We have a new gal in our hobby family. Say hello to Hettie. She is headed to Arizona with us.

[Hittenstiehl]

Hettie is home. She did fine on her way home but glad to get here. She is quite intact but needs some cleaning, and tlc. We are very thrilled and blessed to have her. She was very easy to park and fit in nicely into two parking spots.

Drove on a ball only 😨 without all the other safety features we're used to. She tracked, followed and stopped fine but fine is not what we're aiming for we'll be glad to get back to very good.

Had to use the ever reliable duct tape for some window corners as the interior levers would not stay closed. Taped up the door in door as the gaskets are all gone and air kept rattling the small door open. And taped up the twist up handles on the front astrodome as it kept rattling open. And of course all extetior hatches, don't want to loose them.

Will get some more photos posted in coming weeks. It is still very hot here to be in a toaster oven.

She is tucked in next to her siblings.

[Hittenstiehl]

Despite the fact that today is Christmas we have had 3 wonderful days of celebration. Rather than give today back as a vacation day we stayed home and are puttering around a little bit with Hettie. She is the cutest trailer. She will not be heading out on a trip for a while still. Her first point of business will be safety and road worthiness. Brakes, axles, new 7way plug etc. That needs to wait a little while to fit in the budget.

Took a couple more pictures and it looks like we're still under lifetime warranty.

[Hittenstiehl]

Did our first fix on Hettie. Yes we've had her for four years, where has the time gone.

Love the door orientation on her. If (when) it fly's open it's not as likely to do damage.

However it also means that when the door is open it hits the front marker light and a traditional door catch does not work because of the curve of the trailer. So we put on this very large but good working latch.

Ugly but very functional.

[PA BAMBI II]

We just added to our collection, too, but we actually went bigger. We have a cousin for our '64 Bambi II. About three weeks ago, we went up above Syracuse, NY to bring home a 1961 24' TradeWind.

We are keeping them both. I feel like the Bambi was a great trailer to "cut my teeth" on. With everything on a small scale, it almost seemed like practice getting us ready for the big guy.

Great job on getting started on your Globe Trotter. They are cool little trailers!

We love anything under 20'...and the ability to park in two parking spaces anywhere is awesome. With the 24', we stick out just a little.

[Hittenstiehl]

So a couple of fixes before we took her camping for first time.

Some window work, actually lots. I remember reading about 8 hours a window (on Birdie) and it was almost that long and arduous.

[Hittenstiehl]

De silicone, cleaning, dremel, brushing (do it all again). Install glass, window seal, bulb seal and that annoying set screw hiding under the eyebrow.

[redthies]

Are you re-using the original glass, or going new? Looks like a nice relaxing job.

[Hittenstiehl]

New tempered glass. Because it's flat it's easy to source and inexpensive.

Yes very "relaxing". On a rolling stool at a table, hunched over, chemicals of every variety and every skinny pokey tool I'm allowed to use. Hard bits of silicone flying in all directions. Gooey bit stretching and gumming up my dremel tool. Really more like a spa day.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Yes very "relaxing". On a rolling stool at a table, hunched over, chemicals of every variety and every skinny pokey tool I'm allowed to use. Hard bits of silicone flying in all directions. Gooey bit stretching and gumming up my dremel tool. Really more like a spa day.

Been there, done that...feel your pain! Re-building windows is a PITA!


Shari

[redthies]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Really more like a spa day.

I’ve replaced/rebuilt a lot of them. I meant relaxing as in you get to work indoors on a nice level surface, at a slower pace, and have a beautiful finished product at the end. Compared to say, insulating a belly pan from underneath, while laying on your back outside on a rainy day... now doesn’t the window job sound zen?

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by redthies

I meant relaxing as in you get to work indoors on a nice level surface, at a slower pace, and have a beautiful finished product at the end.

True...

Shari

[PA BAMBI II]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

...and that annoying set screw hiding under the eyebrow. Attachment 386423

How do you deal with the set screw? On my '64, I did not have to get around the eyebrow...rather a smaller version of that which allowed "kinda" easy access to the set screw. On my '61 TW, I have a window with a broken frame, so I need to remove it to get the corner welded and rebuild it from there.

I am guessing I need to completely remove the eyebrow to get the set screws out and reattach after rebuilding?

[Hittenstiehl]

PA Bambi,

Regarding the set screw.
DH has a very small 90 degree screwdriver that barely fit in there. The eyebrow (ours) are slightly pliable and could be pushed up a little bit in the center. So he was essentially working blind with fingertips. To get the window to slide out we also had to gently bend up the corners of the eyebrow.

Of course at the factory windows go in first then eyebrows on. They're not thinking 60 years down the ownership road to who had to repair the window.

If the eyebrows were a half inch higher they wouldn't get so buggered up by us.