Building a miniature Airstream

[59tradewind]

Let me start by saying i didnt know where to post this, so i just picked here. I am looking for ideas, suggestions, comments or any other input.

Basically i want to build (or have built) a miniature airstream trailer. and when i say miniature, im talking the size of a radio flyer wagon!!!!

Reason behind this is i found a 1959 cadillac go cart.
it is a small go cart with the body of a 59 cadi. well i own a 59 cadi and tow a 59 tradewind with it. so what better to go behind my mini cadi then a mini airstream.

i go to a lot of car shows, and some rallys and think this would be an awesome thing to have there.
my plan would be to build or have someone build an airstream using a wagon frame as a start. that way i can tow it behind the go cart. i was even thinking about having the roof lift off and have it be a cooler inside.

any ideas, thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Ever heard of anything similar? know where i can have one built? any ideas on an easier way of doing this? again, any input would be appreciated.

(the photo is a mock up of the cart. still need to paint it and build a seat for above the engine)

[ibgl6]

Sounds like a really cool idea. I know nuthin about this stuff but I have seen similar at car shows I seen a guy had a cooler pull behind that looked like an old Coca Cola drink cooler....SAM

[DEITZ645]

59tradewind,
We have exactly what you are looking for at Penn Wood Airstream park where we park our '87. It is a mini Airstream built on a lawn tractor trailer. It is used ocassionally in parades. We are heading there this weekend and I will take some pictures of it for you and post them. I might be able to do it this weekend while I am there. It is quite cute.

There were some small girls staying at the campground one time and they went up to the mini Airstream and knocked on the door and wanted to know when the little people were going to come out.

[Royce]

That is a great idea for a beer cooler. I think you will want to start with something other than a child's wagon. Axles all wrong, but there is plenty of other small cart type things that would work just fine.

[Foiled Again]

Tried the Search feature briefly...but without success. I remember two threads about an Airstream birdhouse being sold on e-bay, and about an Airstream doghouse. Maybe someone more adept can pull them up?

I also saw the one at Penn Woods. It's way bigger than what you want, but a good model even so.

Note, they were all made out of one piece of aluminum.

Oh, and there's one at Holiday Trav-L Park in Virginia Being used as camp art... in both the sense of campy and camping. Single sheet of Aluminum with wedges cut out at both ends, which are then folded over to look like the curved segments. If I remember correctly this one looks like a wide body five panel 31' Airstream. If the light is decent I'll try to snap a picture of it. You'd probably want 7 or 13 to match your truck.

Paula Ford

[vswingfield]

I really like the idea and look forward to seeing this done! (Those don’t look like ’59 fins to me, though.) Keep us posted.

[Foiled Again]

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...use-25056.html

[Mikethefixit]

I saw some pic's of a dog show from somewhere that had a dog sitting in an electic car I think like a Barbie PowerWheels and and Dog in mini-Airstream but for the life of me I cant find it.

[doorgunner]

I've been toying with the idea of making a quarter scale trailer. It would be a fun project.Just how much money are you willing to part with? Does it need to be aluminum? the hot rod caddy isn't steel. And you want it to hold beverages! I'ld give some thought to gluing some blue foam together ,sanding the profile and glassing, then paint it silver, paint on some windows etc.You could leave the foam in place and have one great cooler, better than anything you could purchase. I'm fortunate to have worked with both materials and others here are also. I can think of at least a handful of forum members that could tackle this project. You could spend a lot of money if you really wanted!!Where's the cad man with the prints?

[overlander63]

You can start with a two wheel utility cart, or even a cart for a riding lawn mower, the axle is pretty much centered. You can then make the Airstream-looking part.

[lovingtahoe]

Here is an article I had archived on the birdhouse Traveling in Style News : Abilene Reporter-News I would love to have one... or learn how to make one would be even better!

[jayray5]

If you mount a good cooler in the yard cart you can make concentric ribs for the skeleton from plywood. Rivit some aluminum to the ribs and use the cooler top hinge as well. Neat project

[59tradewind]

wow, what a great response, and so quickly.

the upside to this project is that i work for a company that buys steel everyday, so i should be able to get material fairly cheap. the downside is i have next to no experience building anything even remotely similar to this.
there were a lot of good ideas thrown out, so i guess i will look into all of them and see which is the best fit for me.
as for the money and how much i want to put into it, i forsee this being a long process. i definitely do not have the extra funds for a project like this. between 3 classics, A WIFE, and all my other hobbies, money is slim.
so for now, im just toying with the idea.

i like the foam idea and then fiberglassing it, but i just have 000000 experience doing that!!!!
i know an awesome painter that could do all the details. i would just need to learn to lay the glass. is it that hard?
is it something someone could easily learn with a little practice???

thanks again for all the responses.

[doorgunner]

Here's a few pics of blue foam on my last project. You can see how nice it forms, Cut it with a serrated knife to rough size then rough sand 60 grit and work your way up to 180. Then lay on the glass, squeege out the excess. You will find this to be easy.After the curing you will probably want to roll on enough epoxy to fill the weave. recommended. There is a wicked nice new fabric on the market called Texalium, about 30 bucks a yard. I for sure would use this, it has Airsrtream written all over it! I'm guessing it would cost about $250 for materials (foam, epoxy,fabric). You live in the area where boats are made, snoop around a little. Good luck, if I can help in any way feel free to PM me. Tim

[Fyrzowt]

Here are a couple of links regarding the dog houses.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f239...use-26867.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f239...use-17657.html

[DEITZ645]

59tradewind,
Here are the pictures I promised you...

I put the Mrs. in one for scale. She is 5'2"

[Pensacola]

We have a small one at Mystic Springs modeled after Dr. Holman's 1935 Airstream. I tried to upload a photo but can't. It was made by one of the members to tow behind a small 1957 Chevy in the 4th of July parade at international.

[wheel interested]

Originally Posted by lovingtahoe

Here is an article I had archived on the birdhouse Traveling in Style News : Abilene Reporter-News I would love to have one... or learn how to make one would be even better!

Just saw this picture and thought it was really cool. Love the vintage birdhouse!

[flyfshr]

This is a great idea and one I've contemplated. One such idea was to make our mailbox an Airstream where the front opens up on hinges but to have one with a cooler inside is even better. Keep these ideas coming.

Brad
FF

[Blue Pearl]

I think there are a lot of brains going full speed on a Airstream Cooler. It will be the next must have at rallys, like fire in the can. Love the idea.