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Old 11-21-2007, 05:54 PM   #1
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Wally Byam roof hatch

I did a search... really I did a search and it got me no where in answering my question. Has anyone out there ever done this with their astrodome? In the Capetown to Cairo movie, Wally does a staged thing with spear toting natives in which he is surrendering. He is standing in his Wally Hatch... does anyone know of this and how to make it function? Does anyone have any photos that detail the mechanism?
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Old 11-21-2007, 07:36 PM   #2
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62,

You can see a discussion about the original Wally Byam hatch and the very similar but contemporary German made version from SEITZ that I installed in my 1976 ARGOSY here:


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f227...tml#post316938


Sergei
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Old 11-21-2007, 08:43 PM   #3
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Wally Hatch

I retrofitted my replacement Astrodome with a clamshell frame. Lets see if the photos appear.
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Old 11-21-2007, 08:45 PM   #4
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Wally Hatch

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Old 11-22-2007, 04:28 AM   #5
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Thats exactly what I am talking about. I can only imagine what that German skylight must cost...
Safari62, did you fabricate that frame yourself? That is what I was hoping to do with the new astrodome that came from Vintage Trailer Supply yesterday. I presently have this:
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The great thing about this skylight is that the morning sun cannot wake you. They need to come up with galvanized metal that you see through.
Where did you find the hardware? Is it all aluminum or did you use stainless? The way the cover mounts to the frame utilizes the reenforcement plates in the dome. Very cool !! Any more pictures would be great, Thank you. Frank
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Old 11-22-2007, 04:32 AM   #6
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Safari62, Great choice in years... 58- 63 are my favorite years...
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Old 11-22-2007, 07:08 AM   #7
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Fabricated Replacement astrodome

Mine was shot and so I fabricated one out aluminum and corregated Lexan Polycarbonate sheet from the hardware store. The hinged hatch would be easier than trying to find those hard to get elevator jacks (if you did not have them) The corregated Lexan has better insulating qualities and is almost bullet proof. It gives a nice dispersed light.
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Old 11-26-2007, 08:48 PM   #8
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Astrodome Hatch

Hello 62 Overlander,
Sorry for the slow reply, Holidays and all.
I did make up an aluminum frame with angle stock on the lower (trailer side) and flat on the astrodome part each connected by the long side aluminum hinge. This was TIG welded together at the corners and then stainless steel bolted to the trailer and the hatch.
Latches were stainless steel spring type and are adjustable for tension. I had to fabricate mountings so the latches could match where the hooks connect with the top lid.
Between the trailer box I used vulem and between the opening surfaces used bubble weatherstripping.
Lock open device is same used on the tops of roll around tool boxes. (Snap-On)
Thirty thousand miles and it is still there. I will look for some more photos. The newer photos will not upload because they are too big. .will try to figure that out.
Thanks...Gary
You are right. Early 60's are the best.
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Old 11-26-2007, 09:09 PM   #9
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Sorry - disagree

Hate to say it, but late 50s are the best. Our latest show on Welcome to the Frontpage - The Vintage Airstream Podcast is all about the 60s decade of Airstreams - give it a listen. Wait until you see this at a Rally:
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Old 11-26-2007, 10:25 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
I did a search... really I did a search and it got me no where in answering my question. Has anyone out there ever done this with their astrodome? In the Capetown to Cairo movie, Wally does a staged thing with spear toting natives in which he is surrendering. He is standing in his Wally Hatch... does anyone know of this and how to make it function? Does anyone have any photos that detail the mechanism?
I am familar with the trailer. I traveled in Africa with Wally and later on in the early 70's owned the gold trailer.

It was on rocker arms and latched in the insides. That's all I remember.
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Old 11-27-2007, 06:14 AM   #11
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First: Rob, I said 58 -63... does that not include your beloved Sovereign of the road? The trailers of that period have a look that is just classic. This is my opinion, I know others will disagree, but so what...
Second: Safari62, I had a lot of photo problems too. Do you use Mac? If so it is easy. Click on your I photo, click on the picture, go to the file bar at the top, export photo, custom size to 600 x 480, save to desktop, then you can upload to the forum as an attachment. If you have PC... well maybe Mr. Gates will explain it.
Third: PeeWee, your photo did not come though, could you do it again. I am very interested.
Fourth: what do you all think of this? Got your tongue wagging Rob? Still won't tell you where it is... until it is in Catonsville.
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Old 11-27-2007, 06:32 AM   #12
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Love it Frank!

Next time through, I'm bringing my aluminum sniffing truck - she won't let me down since you gave me a 6 mile radius of where that trailer is currently setting.... mistake - big mistake.... Just kidding.

So, what do you think of my light?
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Old 11-27-2007, 09:14 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
Fourth: what do you all think of this? Got your tongue wagging Rob? Still won't tell you where it is... until it is in Catonsville.
Attachment 50025 Attachment 50026
Frank,

I'm beginning to see you are quite a "sly dog"

Are you telling us folks that aren't "in the know" that you now have a trailer for both sides of that mulch pile?
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Old 11-27-2007, 09:18 AM   #14
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A tease!

No - he's teasing me - he knows where this one is sitting and he's a trying to ACQUIRE.... very nice..... I too know of one that is very much like this... up here in NY that I'm after as well.
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Old 11-27-2007, 03:49 PM   #15
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I make many promises to my wife that I have to keep. One is that I will not get anymore vintage toys until the current one is done. With my multi phase renovation, that could be awhile. Steve, That is my friend Jerry's 1949 something. She is the sexiest trailer I have ever seen. I happen to be hoping to be first in line if he parts with it.

So back to this thread... I was looking at Airstream Life Summer 2006. There is an article about Wallys gold trailer and it shows the side brackets that hold the hatch open. The amount of air and light that the astrodome will let in this way compared to just the lifters makes it a very good asset. I am going to pursue installing my astrodome this way.
Safari62 Thank you for the photos, I will be learning to weld aluminum.
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Old 11-27-2007, 05:14 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
Steve, That is my friend Jerry's 1949 something. She is the sexiest trailer I have ever seen. I happen to be hoping to be first in line if he parts with it.
Ahh! those "friends" that taunt us with their cute little trailers... In my case it's my friend Lee and his '61 Globetrotter.

Regarding that Wally B hatch... I like how you think. All that history and functionality too.

I hope you're not planning on re-inacting that "Wally through the hatch scene" ... I think you wear you're hair a little longer than he did. LOL!

Super Cool idea!
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Old 11-27-2007, 07:17 PM   #17
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Steve, I wear my hair longer, but I put my pants on the same. I'm actually proud of how I put on my pants.
The hatch is going to be so cool and work so well. I just have to figure out how to make it work, and how to work well. Wally needs to be proud of what I change/improve. I might be putting this phase off until the bathroom is done. I have the new astrodome on hand, but the priority is to fix the rear rot this winter and get back on the road before the Cherry Blossom Rally in April. I can always do the Wally Hatch between rallies. We have a rally a month planned this coming year. You are coming out for the Cherry Blossom Rally, right? This is one of the best rallies in the entire country. It is held just a few minutes away from the Washington DC metro, and all the major sites can be seen. You get your shell put together by then and I will share my kitchen and bath with you... We'll have a blast. You come to the CBR and I'll come out to one of your units rallies. You can stop at the mother ship on the way and spend the night. Easy drive that way, or eat a bunch of legal speed and blast through non stop. I'm so glad you decided to come....
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Old 11-29-2007, 08:10 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
You are coming out for the Cherry Blossom Rally, right? This is one of the best rallies in the entire country. It is held just a few minutes away from the Washington DC metro, and all the major sites can be seen. You get your shell put together by then and I will share my kitchen and bath with you... We'll have a blast. You come to the CBR and I'll come out to one of your units rallies. You can stop at the mother ship on the way and spend the night. Easy drive that way, or eat a bunch of legal speed and blast through non stop. I'm so glad you decided to come....
Rob is right, you are a tease. My list of "must attend" rallies is growing longer than my list of A/S projects. LOL!

I'll put the CBR on the top of my list of all time favorite rallies that I need to attend. My project has a mind (and a budget) of it's own right now... I just take it a day at a time. I guess you'll need to ask the trailer when it is going to be done ;-)

Seriously, the whole reason I am doing this project is for the purpose of traveling with my wife and kids to see great folks like yourself. I have lots of family just to the north of you in NJ, so the east coast is a definite early trek. I make sure to put Catonsville on my list of stops... and you can teach me how to put my pants on like Wally.

BTW, the 2009 International Rally is to be held 60 miles from my house... and 860 miles from yours You and Rob can do a Caravan... I'll even arrange for a group of "spear toting natives" for you to surrender to.
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Old 01-29-2008, 10:03 PM   #19
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more detail

Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
Thats exactly what I am talking about. I can only imagine what that German skylight must cost...
Safari62, did you fabricate that frame yourself? That is what I was hoping to do with the new astrodome that came from Vintage Trailer Supply yesterday. I presently have this:
Attachment 49714
The great thing about this skylight is that the morning sun cannot wake you. They need to come up with galvanized metal that you see through.
Where did you find the hardware? Is it all aluminum or did you use stainless? The way the cover mounts to the frame utilizes the reenforcement plates in the dome. Very cool !! Any more pictures would be great, Thank you. Frank
Hi Frank
I'm sure you are focused on the throw-Down challenge right now but with Chuck's help I was able to resize some photos for you.

Some more detail pix on the Wally retrofit. As I mentioned before, I made an aluminum frame that has a hinge welded into it.

I cannot find the name of the latches as of yet, but they are two part, stainless and adjustable. I do remember buying them at a marine store.The lower large part is mounted on a built up base so it can line up to the frame of the dome.
The top catches are notched out and the hardware is riveted to the frame.

This took way too long to do, but like so many thinks we do to our trailers, it was really worth it. If I was paid to do it, the German model would be less expensive. (except for that cutting the big hole in the roof part)
Some detail photos
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Old 01-30-2008, 04:40 AM   #20
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Gary, You are the man. This is one of the projects I plan on taking on as soon as the throwdown is thrown to the ground.
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