Exterior Emblem

[Air-Texas]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

I about to start restoring my Overlanders emblems. My trailer is a 63 International. The SN plate and the Airstream Logo plates were framed by another piece of aluminum trim. I believe this was only done on the International models.

Anyway I remember reading in this thread about how one AF member reported that his frame was gold colored. Well, guess what I discovered when I removed mine from the trailer? Yep, GOLD. Okay I know it's only anodized aluminum but I like it! I think it just was faded in the front, if I look closely I can see it on the edges of the frame bottom.

So the question is where do I go to get it re-anodized? Is it possible to do it myself?

I wonder if the Gold emblems "now red-pink" on my 2004 classic Limited could be re-anodized back to gold?

[StingrayL82]

Hi all, sorry I just now got around to looking at this.

Frank, the first pic you posted of the old emblem is what mine looked like, before I redid it. I didn't like the light blue, which I think looks like Ford Blue too, so I just kept everything in Chrysler Blue Pearl.

On the side emblems, I used Porsche Guards Red and Ford Oxford White.

For those of you who want to re-anodize your stuff, there is paint out there which will reproduce the look you want; I did this with my '68 Streamline and it turned out great.

[reinergirl]

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

For those of you who want to re-anodize your stuff, there is paint out there which will reproduce the look you want; I did this with my '68 Streamline and it turned out great.

Do you remember the brand you used? I remember seeing the paints online but they looked a little more yellow than gold....

[StingrayL82]

No I can't say that I do; I did the Streamline back in '03, when I lived in Monterey, CA.

It may have been Duplicolor, but I can't say 100% for sure.

[reinergirl]

Thanks! I was considering using the spray paint, I'll report back here when I'm done. The emblems are shining up nicely.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

I am also looking at restoring my SN plate. However, on my 1964 Overlander plate the "International Land Yacht" letters are not raised and are blue. The reproduction plates at VTS have these letters in silver. I'd like to restore mine and I'm not sure if the letters were a darker color blue? Or perhaps they are better preserved because they were covered with a gloss overcoat? Here's a picture. I checked the vintageairstream.com photo archives and the 1963's are all like mine,

You know VTS sells that new right? I know this because the original came from my trailer and she now sports a near perfect reproduction. I just stamped the serial number in and mounted it.

[reinergirl]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

You know VTS sells that new right? I know this because the original came from my trailer and she now sports a near perfect reproduction. I just stamped the serial number in and mounted it.

Hey Frank,

Yes I know but in my particular year it is not a match. The "International Land Yacht" was in blue lettering not silver. In addition, I have to say that my sister has the "Airstream" endcap emblems from VTS and a year later they look less than pristine. The clear coat (or whatever was used) is coming off and there are little rust spots everywhere.

In this case I just want it to look original. The gold frame was unique to the year too, I believe.

Mine looks like this:


while VTS sells this one

[Frank's Trailer Works]

is yours a Cali trailer? The one from mine is a virtual perfect match. The biggest difference I find in the originals and reproductions is the height of the raise on the lettering.
If your sister's plate looks so bad after a year she should have a talk with Steve @VTS. I know the guy on the West Coast makes them too. The raise of the letters is much lower than the VTS version however. I have been told of paint peeling issues too, but it might be just a single case. This is the very first negative I have heard about these plates at all. I have had the VTS name badges and identity plate on my trailer for four years now and honestly they look like the day they were put on.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Just rolled back in the thread a little.... You have a 63. You know 63 was the year that the two factories attempted to make the same trailer?

Something I have noticed about 1963 is the color of "airstream" changed to a dark blue as opposed to the royal blue used previously used. Is yours one of those with the dark blue lettering?

A little something to keep in mind that I learned about human nature, taking a course on aesthetics. The eye is trained to see inconstancy and opposition. If you line up 100 identical items with one being ever so slightly different, your eye will go directly to it. This is why in the real natural world symmetry, straight lines, and equality do not exist. Those are all man made, abstract notions. When you step away from those man made notions your eye really sees it. Where is this going? Well when you repaint your badge if your color is just a little off, or the masking lines are a little off, your eye is going to see it. You will not be able to help yourself, for this is, well, human nature.

and one final note... the trim. Sorry, in 1962 Ohio was doing it to their International models too. Not a 1963 only thing.

[reinergirl]

Nope, It's a Ohio Trailer but mine's a 63. All the other 63 International Overlanders I've seen in pictures have had the same blue letters and gold frame (although the anodizing has worn off in most cases so the gold color is gone).

Interesting about the VTS plates. I'll let my sister know, maybe hers was just a bad batch because both of the Airstream name plates are showing the same deterioration. I know she took a picture of it but I don't think she's contacted VTS yet.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

Nope, It's a Ohio Trailer but mine's a 63.

I am so relieved to learn this.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

[mistral blue]

Mama irritates rears