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MarkR · 10-01-2015, 10:13 AM

I fell in love w/my Airstream through an on-line "dating service" (eBay) . . . I was pretty excited about our first meeting, hoping it was going to be the beginning of a long, committed and mutually beneficial relationship . . .

First there was this smell that I just couldn't ignore, I tried to pretend it wasn’t there but it just was not possible . . . then I started looking closer . . . “Oh, what’s this; Rats’ living quarters in the all of the concealed interior places/spaces - under cabinets, under the refrigerator . . . and rotted / mushy plywood all the way around the front, back and curb side; and old dangerous appliances (ok, just the furnace was apparently dangerous) and then there was the segregated "Mice Community", including burial grounds, roads, houses and their failed sewage system - which all existed between the walls - "ooh that smell, can't you smell that smell . . . "

My heart was nearly broken . . . so far our relationship has not been "mutually beneficial" . . . "for better or for worse" comes to mind. Anyway, years and years later, I am, I believe, about to "round the corner" where there's hope for our future together.

It's been a long, long road - partly because I really didn't have the necessary time (not to mention the "resources" (cash) "she" devoured) AND because I didn't see the "big picture" (denial). I kept focusing on solving a single problem, hoping it would be my last. I'm convinced that if I had "gone for it" at or near the beginning it would have been faster and cheaper. "Live and Learn" right? I am now hoping to do a little more "Living" and a little less "Learning".

On a positive note, I have re-learned (as in I forgot) that I really like taking things apart and putting them back together. My life had gotten so “busy” w/ work and family and community and church and . . . that I stopped doing things like this project, which are actually "therapeutic".

Lastly, this website (and everyone on it) has been the most valuable resource I have been able to find - thanks!

I will upload random photos of the journey. Here the trailer is just about to be "re-zolatoned".

KJRitchie · 10-01-2015, 10:18 AM

Looks like its coming along.

I'm impressed with owners like you who have the will, fortitude, motivation and skills to take on such a project. You are preserving some history.

Kelvin

cwf · 10-01-2015, 11:07 AM

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.... Even if blind....

Each little "victory" is to be celebrated!!! Congrats!

TouringDan · 10-02-2015, 08:56 AM

Mark

You have a great outlook. Your Tradewind is looking great.

I admire your ability to write with such an entertaining style.

You have overcome many hurdles. Each one brings satisfaction.
I am fortunate. My Tradewind is far from completed, but I camp in it every chance I can. My current project is quite simple but important for boondocking. I am adding 6 12v receptacles.

Remember that the journey is more important than the destination.

Dan

MarkR · 10-06-2015, 04:00 PM

On the Road Again . . . first time she's been on "public property" in many, many years. I enlisted "professional help" to spray the Zolatone and so yesterday I took the trailer to the Paint Shop. Everything went smoothly on the 15 mile drive.

We chose "Apollo Grey", which is a little bit of a "shot in the dark" as "paint chips" are not "readily" available ("not" available is more accurate), and so we trusted in the little square images we found on line, which when you print, are useless. Anyway, I'll post photos of the result when I get it back (it's very strange to look out our back window and not see the Tradewind).

Eventually I'll post photos of some of the work/process it took to get to this point. To be frank, I wasn't very good at stopping to take photos along the way.

Thanks for the kind words / responses.

MarkR · 12-09-2015, 10:23 AM

I tend to be a "I did it My Way" kind of person. And I've long since realized (intellectually) that it's not always the most productive "way" to think/act . . . but (reality) I can't seem to "kick the habit".

So "my way" of converting the original Ceiling Light Fixture to LED isn't quite working out. I had to "dremel" off/out a small (very small) amount of the LED Base to allow for the #6 machine screws to pass thru the gap between the LED's. Apparently the bases have a metallic layer and although all the rings work fine individually, when I attach them and tighten down the nuts they no longer work - they're grounding-out "so to speak" (which means I don't know the correct term).

I really didn't want to just "hot glue" them on to a base (only to fall apart when the trailer is 120 degrees inside - while not in use of course . . . and maybe "hot glue" will hold up(?)).

Any opinions / ideas out there?

Thanks, MarkR
(oh and I haven't figured out a way (yet) to mount the 3 LED "Disks)

Thalweg · 12-09-2015, 11:18 AM

Hi Mark,

If they are grounding out, how about some insulating washers on the stove bolts. I don't know how much heat the led's create, but maybe you could make washers out of some of that hi-temp silicone stuff they make pot holders out of.

55AS · 12-09-2015, 11:26 AM

LED's make almost zero heat.

robwok · 12-09-2015, 11:28 AM

hot glue probably won't hold up. I used silicone, and another clear acrylic type thing, but you could try using aluminum flashing from Lowes, and cutting circles out that would just cover the outer edge of the LED hocky pucks, while leaving a flange to rivet onto.

MarkR · 12-19-2015, 11:21 PM

Dining Room Light is ready to be installed. I spent some time scratching my head AND then going thru all the drawers at the Lowes Hardware Aisle just to see if something "jumped out at me". One of the last drawers had Nylon screws, washers and nuts - bingo! For the rings it was pretty simple - just replace the S.S. Screws w/ Nylon ones. However I didn't find anything to mount the "chips" . . . a lot more head scratching . . . I never came up with an "elegant" solution, but they're mounted, and functioning.

MarkR · 02-23-2016, 06:51 PM

I've had this reproduction "Nomad" emblem in my drawer for years waiting for the right time to install . . .

MarkR · 03-04-2016, 02:34 PM

More Little Details.
At some point I'll post some "historic" photos but this one is from the current state of affairs. I tried to cut a tight/clean opening in my cabinet wall to install the Trimetric Battery Monitor. It just wasn't "right" - the way it looked. I thought about trimming it out w/ wood or a surface mounted aluminum/metal frame . . . didn't really like how that was going to work, so I "over cut" the opening and installed the face of the Monitor on a back mounted aluminum plate (and I'm not done w/ the "finishing" of that aluminum) . . .

MarkR · 04-14-2016, 03:35 AM

Still "Creeping Along"

More Details . . .

A couple of 120v outlets and a 12v Accessory Outlet

And then a Reading Lamp I really like

OTRA15 · 04-14-2016, 03:42 AM

Lookin' good, you alumanutskull

!

Peter

MarkR · 04-30-2016, 02:21 AM

And Some More Progress (Details) . . .

MarkR · 07-06-2016, 11:27 PM

Satisfaction . . . I can't tell you how much so. I probably took this sink out 8 Years ago! It feels SO good to sit and stare at it. Still need to add the countertop edge band, but otherwise the Kitchen Plumbing is fully functional - now onto to the Bath Room . . .

amazingwoody · 10-05-2016, 04:25 PM

Mark, that is a very handsome install. Woody

MarkR · 02-28-2017, 04:24 PM

Still haven't sat down and organized my "before" photos, but wanted to get evidence of our first trips loaded.

1st one was during summer (2016) at Lake Siskyou near Mount Shasta, 2nd one was Thanksgiving on the Coast (northern california) and 3rd one is on the Delta on Presidents Day - where it rained most of the weekend - except for about an hour, when I took this photo.