Bambi 19' rear window screen

[yukionna]

The 2002 Bambi 19' has a fixed rear emergency window which doesn't allow for cross ventilation from the front-to-rear of the Airstream. I want to share the solution I recently crafted which allows bug-free ventilation and still retains the "emergency window" functionality.

MATERIALS NEEDED
1) Illustration board or mat board in the color of your choice. I chose white to match my existing color scheme.
2) Exacto knife or other cutting tool.
3) Metal ruler with cork backing
4) Screening material
5) Household or office stapler with staples
6) 1/2" craft tape in the same color as the illustration/mat board
7) 1/2" roll of velcro in the same color as the illustration/mat board. Use the velcro which has sticky tape on the back.
8) Scissors
9) Tin snips to cut the screening material (if using metal screening)

INSTRUCTIONS
1) From inside the A/S, remove screws which hold the metal frame around the window in place.
2) Use the metal frame to trace the outline and inside of the frame onto stiff cardboard (i.e., illustration board or mat board).
3) Re-fasten the metal frame back into its original location.
4) Using a knife and metal ruler, carefully cutout the new cardboard frame.
5) Cut a piece of screening material, using the frame as an outline, leaving 1 inch extra around the outer edge of the frame.
6) Fold the raw edges of the screen over once so that the outer edge of the screen is now concealed behind the frame. You may need to trim and snip areas to totally conceal the screen -- especially on the corners.
7) Create a "sandwich" of materials in the following order:
a) Screen with folded edges on the top
b) Cardboard frame, right-side up
8) Staple evenly around the frame to hold the screen and frame together. Be sure to keep the staples in a single row in the center of the frame.
9) Using needle-nose pliers and a scrap piece of cardboard (to protect the front of the frame), gently squeeze any protruding staple ends so they point down into the screen on the back of the frame.
10) Using a roll of colored craft tape, cover the top of the frame to hide the staples.
11) Adhere a long strip of the looped side of the velcro on the screen on the back of the frame on the horizontal top and bottom. Be sure to start the velcro about 2" in from the side of the frame that tucks in behind the shower wall because the frame will be held in place by the wall.
12) Adhere a long strip of the looped side of the velcro on the vertical side opposite the shower wall. You won't need velcro on the shower wall side. Additionally, you won't need velcro on any of the corners because you need an area to slip your finger in to release the velcro.
13) Attach the other side of the velcro onto the looped side of the velcro along the three sides.
14) Without removing any of the protective backing from the velcro, slide the frame into place in the shower wall.
15) Once you have the frame lined up (the wall should somewhat hold the frame in place to assist you at this point), remove the protective backing from the velcro along only the top edge of the frame. Carefully press the top edge of the frame in place. This is the most important step as it sets the stage for insuring the other two sides line up correctly. Try to do this the first time around as the stickiness of the velcro backing will be compromised if you peel it off and try again.
16) Starting in the bottom left, start to peel the other two protective backing strips by about 1/4".
17) Hold the cardboard frame out from the window by a couple of inches at the bottom. This will give you enough room to completely remove the two remaining protective backings at the same time.
18) Carefully press the remaining two sides in place. Try to line it up evenly the first time around.
19) Press firmly around the three edges and leave it alone for 1/2 hour so the adhesive has time to set-up.
20) To remove the frame to open the window, insert your finger under the cardboard frame on the lower left-hand side. Gently release the velcro so the frame lifts out along the left side and partially along the top and the bottom. You don't need to remove it entirely as there is room to reach in and release the latches and prop the window open.

The only thing I haven't figured out a solution for yet is what to use to prop the window so it stays open. The window is hinged at the top so it swings out but something is needed to hold it open. I will post my "propping" solution here once I figure something out. If any one has any ideas or suggestions, please post them here.

Here is a photo of the completed screen-frame in my Bambi.