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Melody Ranch · 05-31-2009, 05:55 PM

I get the heebie jeebies when I see work like Coreys' 48 liner...and Jimmy at Twisted Silver...and many other of you perfectionists. I'm progressing but wonder if its in the right direction. My 47 project has its concessions to modernization but no major mods. If there is a scratched panel...more the better. I clean it, polish it and reinstall. Shall we call it Patina to make me feel better? Wish I could do a Winnick type job....but....

Her is where I ended today.

soldiermedic · 05-31-2009, 05:57 PM

Colonel,

That is beautiful! I was trying to imagine what it all looked like when we were talking on the phone. I love the polished cabinets, and think it needs to stay as original as you can.

Steve

Melody Ranch · 06-01-2009, 08:38 PM

work this week

soldiermedic · 06-01-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Colonel,

That is beautiful! I was trying to imagine what it all looked like when we were talking on the phone. I love the polished cabinets, and think it needs to stay as original as you can.

Steve

I'll just quote myself to show how awesome your work really is!

Steve

oldtrucksrul · 06-01-2009, 09:04 PM

It's looking real nice!

Herky Pig · 06-03-2009, 08:05 PM

Mr Ranch,

Beautifull work! Just picked up a 49 Clipper and am just getting started. Have been through a 57 22' Custom top to bottom, but the Curtiss looks to be a real challange. Have recently uncovered wood ribs between the skins, is this typical? Would love to chat trailers some time.

ST131 · 06-03-2009, 08:56 PM

Very clean looking! It's gonna be fantastic when it's done!

Melody Ranch · 06-03-2009, 10:36 PM

I am watching the progress on the Spartan...keep it up.

Herky Pig.....I see your at Camp Verde...by any chance did you have your Flying Cloud at the Texas Vintage Rally? I met some great folks from Camp Verde there...hope it was you....If so, you have to show the rest of the Forum folks pictures of that work you did on the Cloud....I mean, that was some NICE cabinetry.
On the Curtis, the only wood was around the front and rear windows to give support to the area. It was a mess because of the water leaks that all these Curtis' had. I will bet the late 40 Airstreams with the same windows had the same leaks too. NO other wood, except the wheel wells. Stay in touch.

**azflycaster** · 06-04-2009, 04:54 AM

Steve and Reg did attend the Texas Vintage Rally.

Melody Ranch · 06-04-2009, 08:03 AM

Lets press 'em to show it off. That is one nice job !!!

Melody Ranch · 06-23-2009, 05:36 PM

Well, as mentioned before....I am trying to use an all in one converter....a 4045. I think I have overcome the crappy instructions sheet that comes with the converter.......I have drawn out a simple diagram to figure it out myself....my application. Any input appreciated....and sought.

soldiermedic · 06-23-2009, 06:04 PM

I'm thinking we need to put this on the P.D. 4045 thread I started awhile back. You are the first to tackle the equipment from what I have seen. I hope the diagram you are presenting helps when I go to do mine.

Steve

Melody Ranch · 08-28-2009, 09:07 PM

Grandmas' curtains. Yep! That's what my wife called my original style upholstery.

A while back I asked around the Forums if anyone recognized the fabric from the original matresses and couch in the Curtis. Barkcloth I was told. Yes...I know it is WAY out of fashion but I am heading that direction. Search was on and I finally found an unused bolt of original 1940's Barkcloth in a warehouse out of Los Angeles. It matched pretty close so thats where I am at. Pictures of the finished upholstery to come. I know there will be may groans out there...ouch.

Also included here is a picture of the Curtis/Airstream sliding bed frame.....pretty cool. I will use it too.

reggiemon · 08-28-2009, 09:15 PM

Looks good to me. You can laugh at our upholstery when you see it at the next Texas Vintage rally.

oh2bcarefree · 08-30-2009, 11:02 AM

That's some fabric... I'd say Grandma's curtains are a great description!

MR- have you added any lights or markers to the outside of the trailer? We re-read your thread today but didn't see any in your photos. If you do have them, could you post a photo and advise where you picked them up at? We're looking, have some strange hole patterns, plus we need to decide what to put where the lights were from PO (the ugly boat anchors

) or if patches are in order. Right now it doesn't seem like it's going to need new panels.

THANKS!

Tina

oh2bcarefree · 08-30-2009, 06:58 PM

Hi MR, Mike and I were just reveiwing your thread AGAIN (we love learing by what you are doing! It helps us... you are doing an awesome job.)

Questions:
How did you get your windows so shiny? Were they sandblasted and painted prior to installing screens or just a bit of sandpaper and painting? Or....

Also, do you have any type of serial number or tag on your trailer and if so, where is it located? We found a number on the right top side rail of the tongue under several layers of paint - 3130. We also found up by the ball/hitch Marvel Industries, Detroit Mich.

THANKS! Keep up the awesome work.

Tina

Melody Ranch · 08-30-2009, 08:19 PM

My camera is out. I will send pictures of what I am using. I'm sure you will do something else....however, the search process will be the same. Look under parts in EBAY. Then vintage, then in vintage cars, boats and RV. Interesting lights always appear. Of particular interest to me are old boat lights to be used as interior 12v lights. The old Chris Craft Connies had great aluminum fixtures. Old cars had great fixtures too...ie., the McConaughey monster uses old cowl light standoffs for interior lighting as an example. I used 1929 Essex dome light switch plates as an example of multi use.

My windows were a job. The frames on the inside are aluminum. Strip 'em & then polish by hand. The steel operators were taken to a chrome shop. All hardware is stainless. The screens are bronze. Outside and for the major body frame....hand sand and POR.

fastrob · 09-03-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

Well, as mentioned before....I am trying to use an all in one converter....a 4045. I think I have overcome the crappy instructions sheet that comes with the converter.......I have drawn out a simple diagram to figure it out myself....my application. Any input appreciated....and sought.

Just wondering if you have had any help on this one.

Great bed frame.

R

Melody Ranch · 09-03-2009, 08:44 AM

I have been distracted by the interior and the hidden A/C installation. I need to find info on fusing the battery and the charge line on the umbilical. I have purchased terminal bars for both the grounds and 12v connects. Any he3lp or advice is sure sought. Thanks for asking.
RC

oh2bcarefree · 09-07-2009, 06:09 PM

Howdy!

Weather hampered work on the trailer this weekend until today, so we spent WAY too many hours searching ebay for parts... Didn't have tons of luck, but we're patient. It just seems for that much time spent, we should actually be getting something out of it other than tired eyes.

Today I drilled lots of rivets and pulled off insulation, some that PO put in and some original that Mike noted as being more brillo-pad like. So now the only inside skin left is above the windows and has all original rivets under 5 or so coats of paint with a few patches (we think from shotguns going off...

They used to sleep in it for duck hunting. When we found it it was housing hundreds of decoys and had a gun rack mounted on the wall!)

Regarding the center section between end caps and above the windows... Was yours one large piece riveted together and put up with screws? We're kind of thinking ours could be, which brings me to my next brilliant idea. If it is one piece, I think could we unscrew it, slide it down to the floor on one side, replace the old insulation with new, and then up and over to the other side with the skin and replace the remaining old insulation then screw it back up? And somehow wiring would need to be done at this stage too for our fantastic fan/vents that are arriving this week. We only have one row of rivets down the center top of the trailer and it's off center from the vents on the curbside. The other side is where PO ran his steel pipe for wiring and it had globs of paint there as you can see.

Thanks!!!! Hope you've had luck with your fuses, we aren't there there yet, not even close!