It's a girl!!!

[mcrickc]

i am sure she will love her new home.Congrats

[65GT]

Congrats! Welcome to the infamous 13 panel club...

Some adoption -- looks more like a kidnapping to me. Who would let that baby out of their sight?

__

[InsideOut]

Okay, so we have started digging into things, identified our "To Do List" and started our wish list. Most were not surprises...we aren't that far into it yet...I'm sure we will have surprises, just don't know what yet.

• New Toilet - came with avocado green porta-potty (no extra charge for the contents that were included)
• New Water Heater - electric only when new, it was removed
• Re-plumb with Pex - hot water piping removed completely / cold done (poorly) with Pex
• New 20 or 30lb (undecided) aluminum propane tanks - out dated 20lb steel included
• New tongue jack - not sure about manual or electric
• Need 2 Fantastic Fans
• Need 120/12v systems re-vamped - no inverter/converter present - park-model
• Add black tank - park-model, drop to daylight - not sure if over or under floor yet
• Need door handle bezel - handle is okay, but bezel is broken
• Fix loose step @ entry
• Check Stove - this weekend
• Check Fridge - this weekend
• Check Heater - this weekend
• Strip floor tiles - at least two layers
• Strip the cabinets / refinish wood
• Strip the walls - most likely re-Zolatone
• New Foam - it's yucky & crunchy
• New Draperies - don't like the flowers
• New Linoleum - like it in Maxwell so we're going to use again
• New Upholstery - don't like the flowers
• New sliding door panels @ upper cabinets - they were just masonite, now painted & wallpapered
• New marker lights - teardrops were replaced with ovals at some point
• Paint Airstream plaques
• POR-15 Tongue & bumper
• Replace Door gasket
• Replace window gaskets
• Repair one damaged screen
• Replace one broken window mechanism
• Polish

I started stripping the cabinet drawers/doors last night - they look like they will come out great, but it's gonna take a bunch of stripper. I'm using CitraStrip. We hope to remove all the interior cabinets this weekend to make this easier and to assess the floor which looks very solid.

Like I said earlier...it needs some work and we aren't planning on take her out much this year...good thing we have Maxwell!

Shari

[balrgn]

That's quite a list! Wishin you the best of luck!

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by balrgn

That's quite a list! Wishin you the best of luck!

Like I said...we knew she needed some work, no unforseen surprises yet. I guess there's not much left!

We're actually looking forward to it - guess that means we have a serious case of aluminitis, huh!?! I just love the unusual floor plan of this model, which is why we even decided to take this on. Perfect for a second project...we would have been overwhelmed had it been our first - but we aren't in a hurry or needing to use it during the restoration this time.

Shari

[azflycaster]

It is a long list, but it's one at a time. Finish one and move to the next. I suggest you move any item with the word flowers to the top of the list

[balrgn]

I can't stop staring at the 13 panels

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

I suggest you move any item with the word flowers to the top of the list

Agreed...if I was done documenting the "as found/BEFORE" pictures...they'd already be gone! They will be by Sunday ~

Sidenote: I find it kinda funny that I have signed my posts with 'flowers' for a couple of years now...guess that upholstery is my pay back!

Shari

[Ken J]

Shari

Couple of thoughts

You will have your Airstream stars really lined up if you do not find floor rot - and if you do find there is no floor rot - you will have to make a contribution/sacrafice to the Airstream gods - (like ceremonial burning of the flowered upholstery

Be careful when you remove interior cabinets - they can be VERY flimsey if they are anything like mine were.

You may want to consider replacing the axles/springs/brakes etc - then everything is brand new and modern

You may also want to consider replacing the coupler on the hitch - again its modern and new....

Anyway, just a couple of things I did to give me comfort - in essense you will have a brand new trailer with brand new running gear.

Where did you find this trailer - its sounds great!

Ken J

[Ken J]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

It is a long list, but it's one at a time. Finish one and move to the next. I suggest you move any item with the word flowers to the top of the list

Looks like a short list to me.....

[InsideOut]

Thanks Ken...

We will have the ceremonial burning of the flowers this weekend. We have looked just about everywhere and there is no floor rot...

The trailer "lived" in Montrose until 2004, then came to Denver...a "little birdie" named Fred told us about it. It was listed as '1957 Airstreem' on Craig's List...no description, no pictures. We just showed up...the rest is history.

Shari

[airstreamers]

what a little beauty! i love the layout and especially the retro fridge, etc. i'll be anxious to read about what you can save and what you will have to replace. too bad she wasn't twins, i know a lot of us would love one just like her. welcome "birdie!"

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by airstreamers

too bad she wasn't twins, i know a lot of us would love one just like her. welcome "birdie!"

Actually, the way it's put together, it would be VERY easy to convert to twins. I think they were built using components with that flexibilty in mind 'back in the day'.

There is a cabinet on the curbside next to the closets, that would easily come out and fit between twins under the back window as a nightstand and make the foot space for the curbside twin. The streetside has a seat (in pic) that would become part of the street side twin. If you look at the 4 different '56 Safaris on RJ Dial's Archive site, you'll see what I mean, it's a kit of parts.

We haven't quite decided if we will leave it a full or go to twins...the jury is still out. The only thing is with the bunk overhead with the twins you would be prone to bumping your head unless you get out of bed towards the foot of the beds. With the full you don't have that issue. When we do the floorcovering, we will be going wall-to-wall so we have flexibility for changing over to the twin layout....either now or in the future.

The fresh water tank which is now under the bed crossways now will be rotated 90-degrees to fit under the twin layout. Also the water heater will be located so it will work either way, whether we have full or twins, now or later. Heck, we may even take out the bunk...it's only big enugh for a child, Miss Lily or storage which I don't think we need.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Shari

[flyfshr]

Congratulation!

She is a real gem. Maxwell and Birdie, sounds like a great, fun-loving couple. Now you need another tow vehicle so you and Rob can each camp in one. How does Maxwell like his older sister?

Brad
FF