Long Aluminum Source

[Aviator]

I have been searching all over for a 17 foot long section of 2024 T3 Alclad for the exterior of my Overlander project. The search has taken months. This week I FOUND IT!!!!!!

Airparts, Inc has several different alloys in rolls from the mill and will sell it in any length. I bought an 4'X18' section from them. If you want a long piece either for a belly pan, interior, or exterior sections this is the only place I could find.

Their website is Aircraft supplies aluminum sheet 2024T3 4130 steel tubing Airparts inc - Aircraft construction supplies

Airparts, inc
2400 Merriam Lane
Kansas City, KS 66106
913-831-1780

[Skatiero]

Hooray! So glad you found it, Craig! And this is a great resource, thank you.

[Tonianne]

I just recently spoke to these folks about replacement panels for my 63 airstream. When installing on corners and on the belly pan , how do you get these pieces to curve? This is a new venture for me so trying to get a s much info as I can. Thanks

[J. Morgan]

Simple curves are not much of a problem, compound curves, that's different.

There are perhaps several dozen people in the country who have the tools and expertise to form a new corner section.

I think for all practical purposes, if you need a corner piece that Airstream does not make, used is what you need.

[Tonianne]

Which pieces are considered compound curves?

[wkerfoot]

On a 1963 Globetrotter, I think that only the tip 5 endcap panels on each end are compound curves. I think the rest of the panels are flat.

Bill

Originally Posted by Tonianne

Which pieces are considered compound curves?

[J. Morgan]

If just the tips of the panels are compound curves then there are lots of people who can replicate these shallow curves.

When I posted my answer I was thinking of the corner pieces on my 72.

A simple curve is like bending a piece of paper without wrinkling it, a compound curve is like a bowl.

A compound curve requires stretching the metal, a simple curve can be accomplished just by bending on a single plain.

[putback]

Originally Posted by Tonianne

Which pieces are considered compound curves?

As above the only true compound curves are the end cap segments, to make them from sheet stock takes an English wheel and artistic talent. If by the corners you mean alum sheets above floor level they can be wrapped around by hand relatively easily. I expect if you look close at the belly pan area in question you will find small slits in the sheets to form the required curves and angles.

[truckasaurus]

Yup, I've bought 32' lengths from them before and they still fit it in a UPSable box. However I've yet to find a source of .040" in that same alloy and temper in any length over 12' which is a shame as it yields a better result for the exterior skins, door etc

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Tonianne

Which pieces are considered compound curves?

The compound curves (panel segments that curve in more than one direction) are the end cap segments, window height & above. There are seven (7) on each end of a '63 trailer.

The "banana wraps" at the bottom corners (below the floor - where it turns under to the belly pan) are also compound curves.

Shari

[Tonianne]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Simple curves are not much of a problem, compound curves, that's different.

There are perhaps several dozen people in the country who have the tools and expertise to form a new corner section.

I think for all practical purposes, if you need a corner piece that Airstream does not make, used is what you need.

I lucked out because i found a local guy who happens to own an english wheel which makes the compound curves i need .
Super stoked on that.

[Tonianne]

Originally Posted by putback

As above the only true compound curves are the end cap segments, to make them from sheet stock takes an English wheel and artistic talent. If by the corners you mean alum sheets above floor level they can be wrapped around by hand relatively easily. I expect if you look close at the belly pan area in question you will find small slits in the sheets to form the required curves and angles.

Thanks so much for the heads up on the english wheel. I started calling a bunch of sheet metal companies here in town and i found someone who has an english wheel Super excited about that !

[Tonianne]

Originally Posted by truckasaurus

Yup, I've bought 32' lengths from them before and they still fit it in a UPSable box. However I've yet to find a source of .040" in that same alloy and temper in any length over 12' which is a shame as it yields a better result for the exterior skins, door etc

I was told you can use a .032 aluminum for the exterior shell. The alloy should be either 5052H32 or 2024P3. Is that what you know?

[truckasaurus]

Hey Tonianne, I just posted much the same question on your over thread but to answer you correctly the exterior is T3 2024 .032" Alclad. T3 is the heat treatment, 2024 the alloy, 032" the thickness and Alclad is the exterior faces being clad in a thin layer of aluminum. The 5052 is not what you want at all for the shell exterior but is OK for belly pan, it's cheap, T3 2024 is not.