Resuscitating our '51 Flying Cloud

[calais66]

Installed my new-to-me Atwood water heater. Painted the access hatch silver but it still didn't look right so I took a cue from Vintage Airstream and modified an old Bowen chimney instead. Ended up cutting out the back and mounted it right on the Atwood hatch. A little aluminum flashing, some angle and there you have it. Looks much more period appropriate.

[goshawks00]

Did this on our Safari but on the left side I hinged it and put super magnets or the right corners. The wind keeps it closed along with the magnets. The big advantage was it instantly opened when needed.

[Bubba L]

calais66, the meticulous details and resourcefulness gives purpose to a great project. I'm still researching insulation for the shell. In post #50 you noted using Reflectix and R-Tech solid foam. How is that working? In hindsight, would you have done anything differently? I'm just planning ahead. Your project is looking great. Thanks, Bubba

[calais66]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

calais66, the meticulous details and resourcefulness gives purpose to a great project. I'm still researching insulation for the shell. In post #50 you noted using Reflectix and R-Tech solid foam. How is that working? In hindsight, would you have done anything differently? I'm just planning ahead. Your project is looking great. Thanks, Bubba

So far so good. The tops of the end caps only have the Reflectix and there's a big difference (at least in the warm weather) from the rest of the trailer. The metal inner skins there get markedly warmer to the touch than the center ceiling panel which has the Reflectix/R-Tech combo. But even with the end caps not pulling their weight the trailer is decidedly cooler than the weather outside which is awesome. If I could do it again I'd put something else in the caps (probably go back to fiberglass) and do the rest the same (Reflectix/R-Tech). Thanks for following along and the good feedback!

[calais66]

Got the galley sink stripped and refinished with Le Tonkinois No.1 spar varnish (the same stuff that's on everything else). The hardware got the standard soak in simmering water and baking soda and I added the chrome vent. I scored a vintage Streamway faucet and mounting hardware at the Goodwill for $2--if only all the parts were that cheap! Now it's plumbed in, screwed down and we're one step closer to having the galley salted away. Next is stripping the overhead cabinets.

[Dingo Girl]

That looks really nice!
What does the baking soda - boiling water do?

[calais66]

Originally Posted by Dingo Girl

That looks really nice!
What does the baking soda - boiling water do?

Thanks! Everything had been painted over with latex house paint and giving the hardware a 'bath' takes it off. Super easy.

[Dingo Girl]

Thank you. I will no doubt try out the baking soda.
I've learned so many neat tricks on this forum.
So much talent here.

[calais66]

Overhead cabinets stripped and installed. And a mini-milestone--no more aluminum to strip! Hooray! Also repainted the range hood with a trim stripe to match the icebox and put in a new DC fan (repurposed dash board fan).

[calais66]

Geez, I've been really negligent about updating this thread, but work has continued on Western Flyer and we're pretty close to completion (insofar as these trailers are ever 'complete').

Since the last post I finished the galley, plumbed in the fresh water tank which sits under the forward bench of the dinette and built a new dinette using the original as a template. I also wired in the electrical center under the port dinette bench. This includes an inverter as well as the MPPT solar controller. Once set up, I realized how little juice the two 50w flexible panels on the roof generated so I integrated three-way battery switches on the positive and negative leads and ran wiring to an external plug so I can swap between the roof panels and two 100w solid panels once parked.

I also added a half partition and mounted a marine kerosene heater. It's small, but definitely heats the little trailer up nicely. I build a custom gaucho opposite the galley which includes a compartment for storing the solar panels. The base of the gaucho (which includes three small storage cubbies) was repurposed from my cousin's '58 Globetrotter's gaucho that he was parting out. Finishing up the living area I refinished and modified the original chest of drawers and they fit snugly between the closet and the head's wall.

Finally, I tiled the floor using 'Bikini Blue' VCT tile and trimmed it with 3/4" aluminum angle. Not the original color (the few surviving tiles looked to be a brownish/burgundy but they were so grody it's hard to tell) but the blue brightens the trailer up quite a bit.

I'm getting a new axle as well. It's been ordered and has arrived, just waiting on a window to open at the shop to get it on. Stuck with a solid axle and will keep the leaf springs. And yes, I've heard all the arguments for torsion so no need to remind me of them.

Like I said, we're getting close! Going to wire in the am/FM/Bluetooth radio hopefully this coming weekend, then mount the (original) table and then it's time for cushions and drapes. Lots of other small stuff too, but those are all cherries on top.

That's a lot of text and if you read it all you're a trooper. Pictures to follow.

[calais66]

[Bubba L]

Glad to see you back and updating. Back in 2017 I had asked you about insulation. Followed your recommendations and it’s working great. Not finished with the 55 yet, but a few months out. Looking great. I like light and bright colors.

[calais66]

Awesome! Glad to hear it worked for you and that you’re still at it too. It’s fun to look back through this thread and remember when I thought I could get her finished in a year, year and a half tops. So, so naive [emoji1]