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tinman54 · 09-06-2009, 06:00 PM

Thanks Tim,

My son and I took a day off to go kayaking up north, it was a perfect day for that too. I just got back to work a couple hours ago, I have got about 5 sheets of steel left to finish the roof, hope to be done this weekend. It will be nice to keep the inside of the barn a little dryer, it took two weeks for it to dry out from the last rain.I did get the roof on the coupala done on Saturday morning, I finally did put on the safety harness to finish that, the top of that was getting a little past my comfort zone

A-Merry-Can · 09-06-2009, 07:10 PM

just found this thread. I've got a 54 Liner I'm planning on starting on next year, after I finish up the other Airstreams (yes, I've got the disease, too).

Quick question, how did you make the curved C Channel? I've done a shell off on a 59 and the C channel is completely different. It seems all the pics of the 54s I've seen had little 2 inch segments, not a continuous piece like my 59 did.

Looking forward to more pics! Good work!

Jordan

tinman54 · 09-06-2009, 07:35 PM

Hi Jordan,
Nice to see you here, I have been watching your projects over the last year also, you do nice work and yes you do have the sickness bad:-) As far as the c channel I bent up 2 L shaped pieces 11/2" x 11/2" and then notched the bottom part, bending one for the outside and one for the inside,I thought it worked pretty well, better than the separate pieces.
Doug

tinman54 · 09-07-2009, 04:29 PM

Finished up the roof metal today, very nice to be done that. Now I can move on to the sides. Pretty soon the cruiser will be safe and dry.

tinman54 · 12-26-2009, 07:51 PM

It has been a while since I have been on here, it's been a busy fall. We did manage to get the barn pretty well enclosed, except for the doors on the north end. A friend of mine has a saw mill and is cutting some wide pine planks for the doors. At least the airstream is under cover after 55 yrs outside. The barn is still cold but at least it is dry.

After the first of the year I plan to start taking the windows out and replacing the gaskets, cranks and screens.That is the one of the things I have not been looking forward too, so I thought I should just get to it.

With all the commitments in life we did not think we would have the cruiser on the road this summer so we picked up a temporary camper to camp in, it also needs some work, the previous owner hit something and broke up the cabinets inside pretty well but not to bad of fix. It is probably a sin to have a picture of it on here but it does have a aluminum frame:-) We can't miss another summer of camping. As much as we would like to be in The cruiser this summer, that project is just going to take a while, a lot longer than a person thinks but still a lot of fun and quite a conversation piece.

safari57 · 12-26-2009, 09:32 PM

Now that looks good. Nice to have it tucked away out of the weather so you can actually work on it regardless of what is happeing outside.

Barry

A-Merry-Can · 12-27-2009, 07:48 AM

Looks awesome! I tell ya, after building my barn, I don't know how I worked on my trailers through the winter outside. Good luck with the cruiser! I can't wait to dig into my Liner and see what horribleness lies beneath the soft floorboards... :-S

JP

tinman54 · 06-02-2010, 09:57 PM

Been gone to long

After lots of spring projects and watching everyone else work on their trailers, it's time to dive back in for a while. I started removing this tar from the top over a year ago and am really tired of looking at it running down the side. Between a heat gun, a putty knife and some solvent I am finally making some progress. One more night and I should be done.
Next on the list is the front and back roof vents, they are really ugly. There should be an ugly vent contest?
Nice to be touching aluminum again!!

ts8501 · 06-03-2010, 05:42 AM

Doug!!!!

Glad to see you back in the saddle again! Your '54 will look much better without the black muck.

-Tim

tinman54 · 06-06-2010, 04:47 PM

Finished removing the roofing tar at 5am this morning. At least the previous owner didn't make a lot of holes in the top when he attached his extra roof to the side. The cruiser looks so much better without those black tears running down her side. It took about 12 hours with a heat gun, putty knife and lots of rags. Now on to the roof vents and new fantastic fans, i have had the fans for almost a year now, they will be out of warranty before we use them! The old vents have so many layers of caulking and tar! The cruiser will probably come up some when I get the extra weight off :-)

Silverfoxrae · 06-06-2010, 04:56 PM

Love the barn... what are the approximate dimensions? Sorry if you said it earlier, I've been jumping around a lot of threads today!

Rae

ts8501 · 06-06-2010, 08:24 PM

No black tar, much better. Good job Doug.

tinman54 · 06-07-2010, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverfoxrae

Love the barn... what are the approximate dimensions? Sorry if you said it earlier, I've been jumping around a lot of threads today!

Rae

Thanks Rae, The barn is 24'x40' with a 15' ceiling in the main floor and room on both sides for 12'x40'additions. Like everyone says it is never big enough!!

tinman54 · 06-07-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts8501

No black tar, much better. Good job Doug.

Hey Tim, Thanks, I was hoping to get started on the ugly vent removal early this morning but I was awakened by a racoon that we have been trying to catch, he's been having chicken dinners for over a week. He set off the live trap at 4 AM, no more free dinners for him! So hopefully tomorrow on the vents. How are things with May?

ts8501 · 06-07-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman54

Hey Tim, Thanks, I was hoping to get started on the ugly vent removal early this morning but I was awakened by a racoon that we have been trying to catch, he's been having chicken dinners for over a week. He set off the live trap at 4 AM, no more free dinners for him! So hopefully tomorrow on the vents. How are things with May?

May has gotten no love the past month, so I moved her home to my driveway. The weekend only access became Sunday only; and I don't like to work on Sunday's. So I am hopeful that my evening hours will allow for more work on May, at my house.

I got a chuckle out of your raccoon situation. He may be but one raccoon that tastes like chicken!

Frank's Trailer Works · 06-07-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman54

[ Now on to the roof vents and new fantastic fans, i have had the fans for almost a year now, they will be out of warranty before we use them! :-)

But you know what, they will always take care of you. Of all the people I deal with, Fantastic has the best customer service. They go way beyond to make you happy.

FC7039 · 06-07-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman54

Thanks Rae, The barn is 24'x40' with a 15' ceiling in the main floor and room on both sides for 12'x40'additions. Like everyone says it is never big enough!!

Those with barns say that. The rest say "man, I wish I had a barn".

tinman54 · 06-07-2010, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC7039

Those with barns say that. The rest say "man, I wish I had a barn".

Very true- I do feel very fortunate and thankful to have the Cruiser inside, along with a few other things. I am a compulsive collector of good stuff I will use someday.

Frank, I do remember you writing of your experience with Fantastic Fans and that is some of why I went with them.
Thanks Doug

51cruisette · 06-24-2010, 08:50 AM

Has anyone every changed a trailer from a single axle to a double or is it necessary on a 55 Cruiser?
Erica

cruiser54 · 06-24-2010, 10:47 AM

I wanted to build in in my Cruiser a double axis. Airstream4u in Hamburg has advised me! More difficultly to maneuver, more weight, Silouette of the Cruiser not more so harmoniously.... etc.
Greetings from Switzerland
Werner