Little Girl Refurb 1972

[dbj216]

We would enjoy meeting you folks some day. My wife loves to sew and quilt, similar to your folks. She says she is going to make new curtains for my Trade Wind, and the material is here. But alas, the sewing machine is quiet.

David

[r00ter4600]

where can I buy a complete replacement handle like that now?

[Minno]

Originally Posted by r00ter4600

where can I buy a complete replacement handle like that now?

Which handle are you asking about?

Chris

[Minno]

This is the year we hope to get the punch list mostly completed. Got a fairly good start on it already, checking off 3 items this past weekend.



Kay installed aluminum angle as a baseboard in the front living area. We decided not to deal with the sharp curve at the very front, and only ran the baseboard up far enough to get the forward end behind the recliners. Call it cheating if you will, but it works for us.




Close up of the baseboard. Simple 1/2" x 3/8" angle aluminum. Nicely trims out the floor, covering the raw edge.




I built and installed a roll out shelf for under the galley sink. This should keep the toaster and pots from getting lost in the back of the cabinet.




I also built and installed two magazine racks, one on each side of the living area. They are an easy reach from the recliners. These eliminate the basket we had floating around the floor and getting under foot to hold magazines and other assorted items.




Close up of one of the magazine racks. Both are made from red alder to match the rest of the wood.

Chris

[dbj216]

What a great idea to use aluminum angle as a "quarter round". It looks very clean and has an Airstream accent.

And the magazine racks are also vintage Airstream. Both my 66 and the wife's 86 have them. Here is the one in the Trade Wind supplied from the factory. I suppose you built one for the bathroom too.

David

[Minno]

Although not a part of Little Girl, we did build her a shelter this year. Made it 30' long and 12' wide inside (post to post dimension).




Poured concert pads for the tires to sit on, and moved the jack pad we've been using since 1991 since it has handprints of us and the kids as well as a dog paw print in it. This is the fourth time we've moved the jack pad over the years to accommodate different sized trailers. Hopefully, this will be the last time.



We used a 22 1/2 foot glulam beam for this side so we can open the awning without moving the airstream out of the trailer. Came in handy after our last camping trip since we rolled up the awning wet, and then ran through rain coming home. Getting the beam in place was fun! Two come-alongs, one on each end, worked well though.



Pictures of the awnings out.



The window awning has enough room inside the shelter to be rolled out too.

We may move water and electric to inside the shelter in the Spring. Right now, water and electric are at the back corner of the garage, so not far away. I kinda want to move them so I can use our short 10' shore power cord, plus protect it better. Right now, the shore power cord is running across a path between the garage and the pine trees.

Chris

[dbj216]

Nothing better for a leaky Airstream than a shingled roof over it's head. I was saving up for an outbuilding for our Minnesota place before we decided to move. I was lucky here in Colorado to find a place with a big outbuilding for the trailers. So I didn't have to build one. Luckily the wife liked the house well enough. It has a nice sewing room.

You're moisture worries are now much reduced.

David

[perryg114]

Nice trailer shed. I am in the process of buying a 44 acre farm in TN and it has a pretty good sized shop with larger concrete pads on both sides. I think I can put some shed roofs on both sides and have room for two trailers or one plus other junk. I will think about the pole spacing to allow the main awning to deploy. My awning is rotting because it stays wet all the time. Zipdee did not design the aluminum cover to be water proof. I know Airstreamers are Zipdee fans but I am not in that club. Hard to deploy hard to stow and it gets soaked and stays that way.

Perry

[cole3444]

Minno, Kay:
Great looking cover to protect your baby, like the idea of the clear span to allow your awning to be extended for drying and using in the yard. No more snow build up to worry about. Thanks for all your help. Good luck

[TouringDan]

Nice looking cover for your Airstream. It looks like it has held up well over the years.

Dan

[Minno]

Mid 60's today, so we were finally able to get a couple of things done on our punch list.



When we bought Little Girl, she had a regular household exterior knob on the door. We replaced that with an original style door latch, but we were left with holes on the interior of the door. We had been thinking we would reskin the interior of the door.



Sometime last fall or winter, we bought a MN plate at an Arts and Crafts sale. We had this brilliant idea to use the MN plate as a patch for the door yesterday. Today I installed the patch over all the holes around the door latch. We think it looks cool. Certainly better than the extra holes.



We have also wanted to continue the wainscoting in the bathroom around the rest of the wall. That section of interior skin had several defects that were mostly hidden by our bath towels, but now they are completely covered up by the wainscoting.

Getting down there on the punch list. Only a couple more things to finish up.

[Hittenstiehl]

That wainscoting looks great guys. Like the wood / metal look.

[dbj216]

Mid sixties in Minnesota? That will melt some ice off the lakes.

The Minnesota state plaque does look neat. Unfortunately Colorado is just a square state. A square Colorado state plaque looks just like a patch. Nothing special at all.

When you finish your punch list, you will have to start another project trailer. Maybe "Big Girl" or something like that.

David

[Minno]

David,
Yeah, I don't think we'll do another reno like this one. We toyed with the idea of having a second trailer for short trips or weekends, but we've decided we like this one way too much to give her competition!
You could always do a Colorado plaque in relief with the mountains and all.
Hittenstiehl,
Thanks. We started with one metal on wood thing, and it just blossomed from there. Hides a number of small goofs!

Kay

[Minno]

Got another punch list item done. Wood inserts to fill in between the fan trim ring and the ceiling for both roof vents.


Rear roof vent.


Front roof vent.

[Minno]

We went to the International Rally (First Timers!) and entered the VAC (Vintage Airstream Club) competition. Won Best of 70's. Quite pleased!

[TouringDan]

My congratulations to you both. I would love to see photos of all the vintage winning Airstreams.

Dan

[Hittenstiehl]

Chris and Kay congratulations. Well deserved. Yours is still one of favorites. We often talk about your build as we discuss what kind of bed we're going to get.

(Met you at Vintage Academy)

[Minno]

We remember you, Hittenstiehl! Saw several people at International that we met at the Vintage Academy. It was fun, and we paraded in with the vintage group, and camped with all Vintage.

Kay

[dbj216]

Well by golly jimbob, you folks are WINNERS! Congratulations, yea! clap, clap, clap!

You just added a whole bunch of dollars to the value of your trailer in my view. That credential certainly gives your trailer credence.

Well done...

David