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uwe · 08-19-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANSD

A pinhole in the rivet area should get most of the bump out.

How about drilling out the rivets and then putting in new ones over the new material. It will really give it a finished and professional look. Rivets are cheap enough, even for parents on a College budget.

ALANSD · 08-19-2006, 01:42 PM

UWE I like your idea...I have to try some in an out of the way spot to see how it drills, or maybe a scrap over another spot. If that works it will look even better.
This stuff is used to make appliances and kitchen backsplashes look like they are metal. They sell mostly stainless steel and nickel look, but I found those a but too dark. The only aluminum style I could get was the kind with a small raised diamond pattern on it, but that helps the smaller cover wall defects also. I did some sanding and filled old holes with pre- mix bondo type filler.
It took about an hour to lay up the bottom of the front cabin area.This while I was waiting for the removall to strip two panels on the outside.
The web site for this stuff is http://www.ezfauxdecor.com/Stainless...MetalFilm.html
The manufacturer has a web site in germany.

ALANSD · 08-19-2006, 01:51 PM

here is a close up of a pattern similiar to what I used..

ALANSD · 08-28-2006, 05:32 PM

I followed Uwe's advice, and drilled out the old wall rivets, putting new ones thru the aluminum skin. I had to poke carefully to find the dead center of the old one, but once I did that it was easy.
It definitely makes it look more like real metal now. Still a little tightening up and smoothing before I move on to the next area.

swebster · 08-28-2006, 06:48 PM

Stef - thanks! Still a work in progress I'm afraid.

Alan - great materials. Keep this thread alive! I hope to get back to mine when the weather (and work schedule) cool off this fall.

ALANSD · 08-29-2006, 05:20 AM

I am about 90% happy with my choice. their price was good and the material looks very nice, and should hold up well....just being a bit of a perfectionist I want to get all the little spots down tight and smooth.The rivets helped. Getting there!

swebster · 08-29-2006, 06:55 PM

Alan,
I blame you for this.

After reading through your additions to this post I started over a year ago I've come to the realization that I needed to be working on my 345 interior again. So this evening I tore into the bedroom rennovation project. I still have a lot left to do in the main salon, but the bedroom project is a relatively simple one using materials I've been stocking up on for a while. Besides, this year we're flying to Vegas for the September tradeshow instead of taking the Airstream so I can lay her up without a bedroom for a little while.

Phase one; demo the bed...completed. I'll be relocating the water tank aft and fabricating a U Lounge which will function as another travelling area during trips (complete with table), a social area in the evenings, and will convert into a full width bed for sleeping at night. It'll also accomodate a "double bed" config for those "guys mountain biking excursions" my Airstream us becoming known for by my buddies.

I can't tell you how good it felt to do some work in there again. I'm pretty excited to get out there again.
Pics to follow shortly.

ALANSD · 08-30-2006, 10:52 AM

sorry......NOT!!!!
Glad you are out there. I have been doing this steadily since June when I got the trailer.
still fun although hot, hot, hotter. Coming to the big ATL anytime soon???

ALANSD · 09-10-2006, 04:15 PM

got the softmetal installed, still have a few air bubbles to contend with. It looks so much cleaner in there now... I put the gaucho back in today, and left off the side arms, maybe for now, maybe permanently. Not sure. All thats left inside is touching up some paint, and getting the bedroom curtains done.