Okay, so most of our major travels are complete for the summer, only a couple of quickie weekenders left...time to really get cranking on this restoration. We have set a goal to be complete for the International Rally in Bozeman June/July '08. I've invited my parents (what was I thinking!? ) to come along - we will have both Maxwell & Birdy there at the rally...some motivation, there is no way we would all survive in Maxwell alone ~
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Oh yeah...we had a slight change in plans. I bought an old vintage awning on ebay last month! Gotta love that scalloped edge & fringe! This one is the kind with poles & a frame, no ropes to trip over. Can't wait to set it up ~
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Neat project. Can't wait to see it all coming together. Keep us posted on your new baby girl.
Love the vintage look of the awning you bought. Can't wait to see it deployed. Those colors are great...very relaxing and cozy. Good job.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821 streamin across america
Okay...so we made a huge decision this this weekend...we have been peeling layers of the onion over here...
There is (was) "soft, crumbling wood (splinters!) at the first 12-18" in both the front and back. No biggie...so we removed 4' in back to get to a cross member and 3' in front in prep to put in new marine grade plywood patches. Then we noticed the step is loose (not sure of the fix yet - but certain it needs to be accessed) and the floor could use a little epoxy there and back by the service panel. We also want to straighten out a couple of the buggered banana wraps which means either removing the floor or the one piece belly pan/banana wraps which also means taking out all the rivets that hold the shell to the frame. Since we don't want to, or need to do a shell off floor replacement "just for the heck of it" - the frame is in GREAT SHAPE no rust or damage, we are going to replace the entire floor as a "shell on" and leave the belly in place!
On the plus side - I'll be able to strip the lower panels of the faux-finsh paint horizontally in my garage rather than vertically in place...and the VAT tiles which are a b***h to remove - they are stuck on really good - will be going to the dumpster with the plywood and I won't have to deal with them! Oh joy!
Still looking for more positives on this one...wish us luck.
I'll post pics later this evening ~
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Still looking for more positives on this one...wish us luck. Shari
It'll be a clean sweep and a solid new floor throughout which will last your lifetimes and perhaps beyond ... that's a positive! Oh, and the Fat Tires and Brats this weekend were certainly positive. If these don't work for you, try the large terminal on the battery.
__________________
Fred Coldwell, WBCCI #1510, AIR #2675
Denver, Colorado - WBCCI Unit 24
Charter Associate Member FCU
Airstream Life "Old Aluminum Adventures"
Good for you Shari. You guys can do it the way you are most comfortable and the end results will reflect your commitment to doing it right. Looking forward to pictures documenting what you are doing. My buddy may decide to go this route with his trailer in a few months when we get started on it so I'll be following along closely.
Barry
__________________ You never hear of people dieing in their Airstream, only at home and in hospitals. So, live long by getting out and enjoying your Airstream.
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
Of course...we didn't get as far as we hoped for today - so what's new! But we did get all the lower interior panels taken out. We had one small surprise...the support members for the table were both completely broken...so, discovering that was worth taking the panels off. We wondered why there were so many rivets in that area...now we know, the PO must have kept trying to stablize the table when it was in actuality only attached to the inner skin! Due to the number of holes in the skin, I think we are going to replace it...it's 3'x12', but it's the main panel you see under the windows - all the black spots are holes that had rivets in them. With the faux-finsih sponge paint, they were kinda hidden. Not now...
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
All the insulation is in GREAT shape for being 50+ years old...NO evidence of mice anywhere! The only place it is even dirty is where there was some sort of utility connection to the outside. Although, we are going to put in new insulation rather than store the old stuff for the duration...it'll get dirtier sitting in our garage for a couple of weeks! I'm also surprised at how shiney the inside of the panels are...
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Nice fluffy puffy, downy soft fiberglass insulation there. Looks like it would serve another 50 years ... and its original! But its your choice, courtesy of H2.
__________________
Fred Coldwell, WBCCI #1510, AIR #2675
Denver, Colorado - WBCCI Unit 24
Charter Associate Member FCU
Airstream Life "Old Aluminum Adventures"
We knew the rear end had been dragged - probably from going over deep or steep dirt roads. The rear banana wrap was worn through which was evident from the outside. The PO had also installed some drag wheels to the bumper to try & aleviate the problem. However, the damage was already done. While the frame is almost perfect - no rust, just some light surface discoloration...the last cross member will need to be replaced - it's pretty mangled & the banana wrap is cut through below the rear access panel. This was the source for the water getting in to rot the floor back there. Structurally, the frame is uneffected - but the cross member will be easier to replace than to bang into shape & reinforce. The wrap will be pieced in - we are leaving the belly pan intact as I mentioned earlier. The light in the inside picture is coming through the peeled back wrap.
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Nice fluffy puffy, downy soft fiberglass insulation there. Looks like it would serve another 50 years ... and its original! But its your choice, courtesy of H2.
Thanks H2...but I really don't want to store it and have to remember which piece goes where until it goes back in...we'll be getting new "fluffy puffy". Trash day is Tuesday if you want it, let me know before then ~
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
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) to come along - we will have both Maxwell & Birdy there at the rally...some motivation, there is no way we would all survive in Maxwell alone ~ 
Oh, and the Fat Tires and Brats this weekend were certainly positive. 
Looks like it would serve another 50 years ... and its original! 
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