I Love Lucy

[Lebthree]

Originally Posted by DDickey

I'm not sure where the screen came from, the roll came with the trailer. My guess would be VTS, though, because the PO had several other purchases from VTS in a box

Dickey, I can confirm that I did buy the screening from VTS. I have been checking on your work and each time I do, two things come to mind. First, I am really glad you were the person to buy the trailer. Your work on it has been fantastic. It took me a long time to find the trailer and had to travel to New Mexico to bring it home. I originally bought the trailer with the intent to fix it up and return it to its former glory or better. However, it soon became apparent that with my work schedule I really did not have the time to do the complete restoration that it required. Therefore, I bought a more current model and put your Lucy up for sale. I really didn't want it to go to someone who would cut it up and turn it into a concession stand. It makes me feel good every time I see all the love and care you have put into her.

The second thing that comes to mind and makes me feel good when I read your posts is that I am so glad it isn’t me doing all the hard work. This was especially true when I read your July and August posts showing all the work you were doing in our Texas heat.

Kindest Regards, Lloyd

[DDickey]

I wasn't sure if you were still watching. Thank you for finding Lucy and bringing her to Texas, and to us! I knew I was in for a lot of work when I bought her, but I don't think I really understood just how much. I figured 800 hours spread over a two year period, but I think it's going to work out to more like 1600 hours (I'm still trying to hit my two year mark). My wife alternates between despair because I've let so many things go at the house, to joy, because she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and she likes the trailer. I get a little obsessed working on Lucy sometimes.

Thanks for noticing the quality of the work, I've tried to build everything to marine standards with excellent finishes. When I get her done I'll drag her by your place for an inspection!

[DDickey]

When I was in first grade I made a mistake on an art project, and I told the teacher I wanted to trash it and start over. My teacher said, 'why don't you just make it part of your picture?' Boom - that's a lesson I've used my entire life.

A couple weeks ago it occurred to me that I forgot to incorporate a voltmeter into my main electrical panel, so I hopped onto the computer and began searching for one. Everything I could find was either too big, too cheap looking, or just wouldn't work somehow. Then I ran across this amazing 12v vintage voltmeter from 1901 in pristine working condition. Bought it. I'm not exactly sure where it's going to reside, but it's going to be way cooler than if I had installed a modern voltmeter the first time. Mistakes are opportunities.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by DDickey

When I was in first grade I made a mistake on an art project, and I told the teacher I wanted to trash it and start over. My teacher said, 'why don't you just make it part of your picture?' Boom - that's a lesson I've used my entire life.



A couple weeks ago it occurred to me that I forgot to incorporate a voltmeter into my main electrical panel, so I hopped onto the computer and began searching for one. Everything I could find was either too big, too cheap looking, or just wouldn't work somehow. Then I ran across this amazing 12v vintage voltmeter from 1901 in pristine working condition. Bought it. I'm not exactly sure where it's going to reside, but it's going to be way cooler than if I had installed a modern voltmeter the first time. Mistakes are opportunities.

Great story! Reminds me of a David Wilcox tune, "Leave It Like It Is."

https://youtu.be/FBW8kwqEqqQ

[DDickey]

The bathroom partition assembly is a little tricky. The fore and the aft partitions are a sandwich of 24 ga stainless steel and 1/4" birch. The stainless has to fit inside the wall track and the shower pan, and the 1/4" has to fit in the wall track and on the outside of the shower pan. The assembly gets glued together with contact cement that bonds instantly so it has to be kept apart until it's in exactly the right position. I got the fore partition installed, but the back one is going to be a littler trickier. The hallway partition uses biscuit joinery and pocket hole fasteners to attach to the fore and aft partitions, so I have to put the rest of the assembly together all at the same time. Lots of moving parts that have to line up perfectly while keeping the contact cement apart until just the right time

I was planning on using the aluminum tiles (pictured) to clad the bath side of the hallway partition, which is 3/4" birch. That would make the entire interior of the bath either aluminum or stainless, though, and that seems really cold. I'm considering using teak shiplap instead, which would give the bathroom an upscale look as well as some warmth.

The two vertical brackets riveted to the stainless on the interior of the bathroom will hold Lucy's original, refinished medicine cabinet.

[DDickey]

The fore partition for the bath is installed, the hallway partition is in place, but not secure, and the kitchen cabinet riveted up. I had a heck of a time finding a good looking 3' 3000 kelvin light strip for under the kitchen cabinet, but finally did. One of my pet peeves is mismatched lighting color temperature, so I made sure that all of the LED fixtures on the trailer are 3000 Kelvin, which is the color temperature I prefer.

[DDickey]

I'm using soft close drawer slides on the cabinet drawers, are these enough to keep the drawers closed on the road, or do the drawers need locks?

[DDickey]

I finished the bathroom partitions and the chest of drawers is 90% complete. The first pic is the bath, second pic is the medicine cabinet in the bath, third pic is one of Lucy's old cabinets hanging over the bed, fourth pic is the chest of drawers, fifth pic is the chest of drawers installed (still needs fronts), and the sixth pic is a pic of Lucy that we're going to hang in the trailer

[islandtrader]

Don't you just love pocket hole jointer technology ....

[islandtrader]

Originally Posted by DDickey

I'm using soft close drawer slides on the cabinet drawers, are these enough to keep the drawers closed on the road, or do the drawers need locks?

I am guessing that you will need locks...that being said I would do a trial test...Meaning fill up your drawers with some weight and try and simulate some rock and roll by hand and see if the drawers pop open. Just a thought.

[DDickey]

Originally Posted by islandtrader

Don't you just love pocket hole jointer technology ....

I lovvvvvvve my pocket hole kit from Lowes! I was going to dovetail the drawers, but I'm missing a part for my jig so I decided to do pocket holes instead. I've never built drawers this way, but since they're glued and screwed I can't imagine that they'll ever fall apart.

RE: soft close sliders - Lucy is road worthy so I'm going to take your advice, load the drawers up, take her for a spin and see if they stay shut. They close pretty firmly, so I'm betting they won't need locks.

[mane3215]

Looks amazing! Is the bathroom partition at the hallway 3/4" ply? How do you connect your corners on your walls?

[DDickey]

Here's the bathroom wall detail. One detail not shown is that I used biscuits to keep everything lined up

[mane3215]

Originally Posted by DDickey

Here's the bathroom wall detail. One detail not shown is that I used biscuits to keep everything lined up

Thanks for the details! Its really turning out great. Great eye for detail. It excites me to get to work on my 73.

[Jhiner1978]

Originally Posted by DDickey

Here's the bathroom wall detail. One detail not shown is that I used biscuits to keep everything lined up

How come you joined the two 3/4 pieces. Why not just one piece of plywood?

[DDickey]

A couple reasons: most importantly because it’s 52” wide. The second reason is I wouldn’t have been able to get a clean, rounded corner with plywood

[Jhiner1978]

Originally Posted by DDickey

A couple reasons: most importantly because it’s 52” wide. The second reason is I wouldn’t have been able to get a clean, rounded corner with plywood

Makes sense. Hard to find 52” plywood

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by DDickey

I'm using soft close drawer slides on the cabinet drawers, are these enough to keep the drawers closed on the road, or do the drawers need locks?

We put those same slides in a friends trailer, none of them opened during a 2 hr ride to his house.

[DDickey]

Thanks HiHo, I took her for a spin last night and they all stayed closed!

[DDickey]

So I went to the local fine lumber outlet prepared to buy just enough teak to clad the hallway wall of the bathroom with it. Seven. Hundred. Dollars, are you kidding me? And I thought the marine plywood subfloor was expensive. The guy laughed at me and said, 'why don't you use IPE?' Great idea, because it's half the price, looks great and performs just as well. The downside is it's heavy. $325 later I throw twelve 1x4x8's in the pickup and head home. Did I mention this stuff is heavy? And dense. But beautiful and bulletproof. To save weight I decided to plane it down to 1/2" and here's a picture of my planer literally smoking. I didn't totally burn it up - it was still (barely) running when I finished - but I'm definitely going to have to change the brushes.

Lucy better appreciate this.