We've got floors! We spent a few hours yesterday afternoon getting the new cork flooring put in. Looks and feels great! I'm having a new Reese Dual Cam hitch installed right now too. So happy that things are happening now!
Next up, finish the recessed lights on the ceiling, and then install the new brushed aluminum skin on the ceiling. And paint the ABS plastic in the bathroom.
what are you using for the aluminum (sheet stock, or ordered from Airstream, etc)? How will you mount it. I'm assuming you'll pop rivet it - will you use new holes drilled by holding the sheet in place, or are you making a template with the old one (skylight holes, rivet holes, and everything)?
Lastly - will you be reusing the plastic channels that trim out the orginal on the sides? My Argosy has long plastic "runners" (from front cap to back cap) that cap the sides of this panel. OR are you just going to leave the panel on top of the other side panels like in the modern CCD's?
The plan for the ceiling panel will be to replace the existing vinyl covered panels with .025 aluminum. I have already wired up the recessed lights, 3 in the living room area, and 2 in the middle bedroom. With their own switches up by the front door. The middle bedroom also has a switch (3-way switches for these lights) so that the bedroom lights can be turned on from the front door or from the bedroom.
I'm using the existing tracks that are still in place to hold the edges of the aluminum. However, I'm pretty sure that these are aluminum, not plastic. I'll use the old skin as temples but I'll drill new holes for the rivets when the new skin is in place so that they are in the exact right place. I'm really looking forward to putting this in. I think it's going to look great! The aluminum skin that I'll be installing is from Aircraft Spruce. Stock aluminum. I'll have more updates soon!
Ron
Well, over the weekend we finished the recessed lights, and installed our new aluminum ceiling skin. It looks awesome! It was very easy to work with, but sharp as heck as you'll see below. I made the mistake of not wearing closed toe shoes, and wham! I got a cut pretty bad by one of the sharp edges. I must have lost a cup or more of blood! All for the love of our Airstream! Things are coming together now. The new furnace is being put in today, as well as all new screens. We are headed off to Yosemite this weekend for a trial run, or our Maiden Voyage. She won't be finished, but it will be better than a tent!
We will re-install the old wall panels just for the trip to give the baby some quiet time of his own. I might put together a make-shift kitchen cabinet so we can use the sink & stove. Fridge works, furnace will work, plumming and electrical will be working too. We'll be sleeping on our queen size futon that is very comfortable. We just won't have all the cherry cabinetry and cherry wall panels up yet.
Looks great! I like that aluminum up there! Did you cut the openings for the skylights with tin snips and the lights with a drill? You did a great job. Did Aircraft Spruce cut the panel to width for you too?
Enjoy your trip! I'm sure you'll know this, but I forgot to screw down my oven while making a short trip with the trailer in the middle of a kitchen project.... only to find it on the floor afte the trip - oops. Just anchor it down for the trip!
Tell us more as you do it, looking great!
Marc
Yes, Aircraft Spruce cut the sheets to 24" width for me, then I cut them to length with power shears from Harbor Freight. Straight lines cut well, but the curves were challenging. I ended up using snips for the curves. I'll fabricate some type of trim that will hold the screens around the vent openings. This will hide the snip marks too. As for the light holes. Just a 2" Home Depot hole saw did the trick. Cut really clean too.
Amazingly, it was quite easy to install. Much easier than taking out the skin that was already there. The orginal skin was about 24 1/4", and very snug. Since the sheets are in 48" widths, my two pieces were actually about 23 7/8" wide. Which gave it a little more room to fit. Worked out great!
Ron
Marc, we don't have the orginal screens for the vents. I'm not even sure what they may have looked like to tell you the truth. It should be pretty easy to make them.
Thanks for the compliment about the aluminum ceiling. We thought it might be cool, and different. I'm sure the "purists" out there won't care for it, but that's ok. I'm sure they'll appreciate the cherry!
are held in by a slightly thick piece of aluminum (with the aluminum track for ribbing material in it on the back) that is soft radiused on the corners and rolled under on the edges. I'm sorry I don't have a pic right now to show you, but yes, it's a simple design. All those pics of "squished" Airstreams make me think of people that may have spare parts that others can use.... oh well.
Please post pics of your cabinets during construction.... I'm learning alot from others work.
I wouldn't worry about others' opinions... each trailer is unique and wonderful in some way.
Marc
That aluminum ceiling strip is a beautiful touch. It strongly breaks up the vinyl interior, lights up the trailer, and puts the "a" back into your Airstream. I'd call it your CCD ceiling strip.
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Fred Coldwell, WBCCI #1510, AIR #2675
Denver, Colorado - WBCCI Unit 24
Charter Associate Member FCU
Vintage Airstream Club Historian
Airstream Life "Old Aluminum Adventures"
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