Contemporizing 1976 Argosy D - opinions please

[SmokelessJoe]

Phil, with it since day one of the ‘contemporization’, sent me this email from Aylmer at 6.30 am this morning:



Sergei the black is on the argosy it looks great, pat did a good job three coats black three coats clear , the pepper white will go on Monday . The new tires look good with the painted rims. Everything looks great you will love it . We had to do more body work then we thought but you find more spots once you get started. You will see in the pictures . I carefully watched over each step its good to see the paint on after all this time. Well lots to tell you when I see you I have to go to work see you soon phil.



I’ll go out to Wiltsie’s to see the finished job next week and will post Phil’s photos.

Sergei

[utee94]

Fantastic news, I can't even imagine how thrilled you are to be so close now.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures. And even better, looking forward to seeing the real thing when you take it on tour!

-Marcus

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Marcus:
I don’t think I want to take a chance on the Ikea doors staying closed in travel. I’ll invent some type of closure before I hit the road. For now I am using a simple bungee cord set up. Maybe that is as much invention as it needs.

Sergei

One of the coolest and most reliable cabinet catches is made using a 3/8" round rare earth magnet and a steel plate. The magnet is glued into a 3/8" diameter hole in the face frame (use a Forschner bit) so that it is flush with or slightly below the surface. You can glue a thin felt or plastic disc over it to soften the closure. The plate goes on the inside of the cabinet door. These things are STRONG and do not lose the magnetism. Very simple and elegant - like your trailer.

BTW, the trailer is amazing - you made the choices that I think I would make on such a project, so you must be a genius!

Mike

[bhayden]

Old fashion baby latches. The kind you use to keep the two year old from opening the cabinet under the kitchen sink and eating dishwasher soap. Cheap and quick to install and easily removed if you decide to do something different later.

[yukionna]

Your trailer is looking good! Is that a photo of your tow vehicle above?

[SmokelessJoe]

The trailer painting was finished on Monday. Phil took photos of the process.



The Argosy rolled into one of the Wiltsie paint tunnels on new YOKOHAMA 700x15 R LT tires. The wheels have already been painted in Pepper White. (Baby Moon caps are to come).



Pat Luscomb, the same Wiltsie employee that painted CIRCUS TIVOLI for me 26 years ago, gets ready to spray ROCK GUARD over the banana wraps and undercarriage.

The trailer has been taped. The BLACK below the beltline down over the Rock Guard on the wraps will go on first.



After three coats of black base, Pat layered on three more coats of clear coat.



Next, the trailer was taped ready to receive the PEPPER WHITE coat.



Again, three coats Base and three coats Clear.



The trailer sits outside the plant now, ready for the ARGOSY emblems, belt line trim, rub rail and the bumper to go back on.

Next week, after the hitch has been modified, I’ll move the trailer to RED OAK and do that work while there.

I need a new camera. The trailer looks nicer than in the photos.





Sergei

[cosmotini]

Wow Sergei, that really looks great!

Is Rock Guard a special type of paint? Like a bed liner perhaps?

[utee94]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

The trailer painting was finished on Monday. Phil took photos of the process.

Attachment 60074

The Argosy rolled into one of the Wiltsie paint tunnels on new YOKOHAMA 700x15 R LT tires. The wheels have already been painted in Pepper White. (Baby Moon caps are to come).

Attachment 60075

Pat Luscomb, the same Wiltsie employee that painted CIRCUS TIVOLI for me 26 years ago, gets ready to spray ROCK GUARD over the banana wraps and undercarriage.

The trailer has been taped. The BLACK below the beltline down over the Rock Guard on the wraps will go on first.

Attachment 60076

After three coats of black base, Pat layered on three more coats of clear coat.

Attachment 60077

Next, the trailer was taped ready to receive the PEPPER WHITE coat.

Attachment 60078

Again, three coats Base and three coats Clear.

Attachment 60079

The trailer sits outside the plant now, ready for the ARGOSY emblems, belt line trim, rub rail and the bumper to go back on.

Next week, after the hitch has been modified, I’ll move the trailer to RED OAK and do that work while there.

I need a new camera. The trailer looks nicer than in the photos.





Sergei

FAN - FREAKING - TASTIC!

It looks even better than I had imagined. I can't wait to see pictures of the Argosy and the Mini side-by-side.

I'm just thrilled for you, Sergei.

-Marcus

[Homesick]

I'd love to see a pic of the Sprinter, Mini, and Argosy together.
I'm finally picking up my argosy this weekend(a few snow storms, and travel interuptions). I'm actually looking forward to gutting it.

[Homesick]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Attachment 60079
I need a new camera. The trailer looks nicer than in the photos.
Sergei

Really? Don't be so modest. Looks beautiful to me.

[bhayden]

Nah, don't like it. Start over

[slowmover]

Just read through all these posts and threads tonight, Sergei. The design, the craftsmanship and dedication are more than impressive. I've daydreamed about my trailer projects, but never expect to be able to do as you have. Thanks for the details, the names and photos, and the stories. Very well done.

[Happycampers]

Sergei, That looks very nice, Will be good to see it in person this summer when you start your travels.

Marvin

[mistral blue]

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Congratulations Sergei and thank you for this thread.

[biggoofball]

The trailer is gorgeous Sergei. I like it very much. I've been casually following this thread and I really appreciate your taking the time to post progress.


I too would like to know about this "Rock Guard" product. And I wonder (sorry if I miissed it in a post) what is in the front above the Hitch trangle in the last photo?

Thanks again.

[SmokelessJoe]

Thanks to all of you for your compliments on the trailer and your interest in the thread. I also appreciate the tongue in your cheek, Bernie.

Dennis, I think the product Pat used is 3M Ultra Guard. The principal is similar to sprayed-on bed liner I suppose. It’s thinner and the rubbery “bumps” are finer, like orange peel.

You sometimes see this on the rocker panels of cars. The paint is applied right over it and is more resistant to chipping than it would be on a hard surface.

Skip, the stuff you see on the tongue, were the LP tanks usually sit, are the compressor for the LG Art Cool split air system and the components for the diesel heating system.

The aluminum box mounted on the side of the compressor is the coolant overflow bottle and the slightly larger box on the tongue contains the small WEBASTO diesel furnace.

You can see how the Split Air unit was installed starting around post #175. At post #227 you’ll find a close-up picture of the completed work.

The air intake grill for the compressor has a piece of cardboard stuck in it to protect the fan on the way to the paint shop. I’ll make a proper aluminum travel cover later.

This is probably the World’s First Diesel-Powered Airstream. You can see how that happened in this thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f287...ler-23048.html



Sergei

[mrmossyone]

That's one sweet ass Argy Sergei. Your setup will be dripping character all over the roads. Great job!

[3Ms75Argosy]

MORE PICS Sergei! It looks great as is! Increadible work. The paint looks flawless!
Marc

[safari62]

Looking good Sergei.....
So where are the BIG RED NUMBERS? With all of your high tech skills I expect if you join the wbcci you will invent a laser beam that projects the numbers on the front of the trailer. Red looks good with black and white!
Waiting for more photos.

[SmokelessJoe]

Skip,

This is a picture of the equipment at the front, on the tongue, taken before the rest of the lower section of the trailer was painted black.




Sergei