Visit our Popular Forums

A-Merry-Can · 04-02-2007, 03:20 PM

thanks! the Silver Porthole should be ready to set sail this year! (i hope).

jp

A-Merry-Can · 04-24-2007, 05:52 AM

I started sealing the interior panels (birch), but before i start putting wood in the pickle, i thought it best to take care of the endcaps (leak wise). I'm working my way up, one panel at a time, polishing, and sealing... polishing, and sealing... polishing, and sealing...

also, i found a great way to clean up the vulkem that dried on the skin from last year. caulk remover from Ace. put it on, rub it in, let it sit for an hour, and pressure wash it off. works great!

jp

A-Merry-Can · 04-24-2007, 01:25 PM

2 1/2 more panels polished... 2 seams sealed....

A-Merry-Can · 04-29-2007, 04:46 PM

My A.D.D. must be kicking in again... either that, or it's too blasted hot to finish polishing the exterior... so... time to start talking BIRCH! First, i test fit the pieces, and clecoed them in place, trying to get all the ends to line up just right. I kinda lucked out with the 18 footer. the flat walls are exactly 8 feet. So i cut the birch panels 5' X 4' (down from 5'X5'... Baltic birch comes in funny sizes).

After test fitting both wall pieces, i marked the window from the outside, removed removed both panels, cut the window opening and switch/outlet holes, then finally put down a final coat or 2 of satin poly and let them dry for a couple of hours.

A-Merry-Can · 04-29-2007, 04:49 PM

I am doing something kinda cool for the joints. instead of lapping the wood, I'm butting it together, with a thin aluminum strip behind both sheets. this does 2 things, 1, it will prevent any future water from getting in between teh wood, where it's most vulnerable, and second, it allows me to rivet both sheets of birch to it, making a smooth surface for cabinets, etc. when it's all together, i plan on covering it up with a 1" piece of cherry.

jp

A-Merry-Can · 04-29-2007, 04:51 PM

here's the final side... for today anyway. i may try to do the other side tomorrow if i have time. i love it with the polished end caps! v. cool!

jp

Sugarfoot · 04-29-2007, 09:03 PM

JP, that's nice! The birch gives the interior such a warm feel.

A-Merry-Can · 04-30-2007, 04:27 AM

the pics don't do it justice. I'm going to try to get a few more panels at least test fitted in today. stay tuned! I'd love to be able to take the little guy camping this fall!

jp

A-Merry-Can · 04-30-2007, 01:15 PM

i took an "Airstream Day" today. boss said it was alright. ha!

I'm about 85% through the curb side now. All that's left is finishing up the bottom of the panel that spans the door opening. It feels like about 100 degrees in that trailer right now, so I'm saving the finer strokes for when the sun goes down.

Safari Tim · 04-30-2007, 01:26 PM

Looks awesome!

A-Merry-Can · 04-30-2007, 07:36 PM

Cheers, Ambassador!

jp

jcferguson · 05-03-2007, 07:10 PM

Yeah! This looks very familiar, I like the butted look - even without the cherry strips.

c

A-Merry-Can · 05-04-2007, 07:46 AM

the curb side didn't butt up as nicely. after i cut the door out, and stretched the wood to reach the frame, it caused a gap of about 1/8". the strips will cover all teh madness, though!

I think once all the wood's in there, i'm going to put a final coat of poly on the interior, in place. I've manged to get fingerprints all over everything.

jp

A-Merry-Can · 05-25-2007, 06:27 AM

When, o when will i finally get around to finishing your wooden interior???

Jim & Susan · 05-25-2007, 10:18 AM

Well, Heck. The campgrounds will be full this weekend anyway, why not over the long Memorial Day weekend?

Jim

A-Merry-Can · 05-25-2007, 10:42 AM

I just might do that!

jp

A-Merry-Can · 06-24-2007, 06:31 PM

You know what the worst part is about posting a project on teh forums? you know exactly how LONG its been since you've worked on it! Well, I got a full day today to tackle the wooden interior again. Everything's going in pretty smooth. It's wishful thinking to assume the wooden panels will butt up perfectly. I'd say maybe half of my joints do. It's no matter, though. The farthest off joint still only has a gap of 1/8", and the wooden interior ribs will cover that up nicely!

Anyway, on to the progress... I have now worked the entire street-side, front (under the cap), and gotten the panels cut for the curb-side. The wood looks REALLY nice next to the polished end caps. The interior is really light and airy feeling, especially next to the darker cabinets in our trade wind.

Next on the agenda is to attach the lower curb-side, and start on the rear. I have a feeling the rear will be a little trickier, since the panel slopes out on the back (meaning there won't be a 90 degree corner on the piece anywhere!) I have also come to the conclusion that I will need an external hatch for cables, water lines, etc. I foolishly thought i could store all of that in a plastic box for the trips, but the convenience of opening a door and having it right there really can't be beat.

I know, I know.. scroll back a dozen or so pages when i was replacing all of the skins, and I said i wanted it clean and hatch-free! I've learned my lesson on teh trade wind! I think I'm going to not only make a hatch there, but also have a slide-out drawer just inside that's really long and deep, with compartments for the different necessities (jacks, hoses, chocks, wires). I've already kinda started mentally planning it... Thicker guage, all aluminum, made on a brake and shear, so it won't matter if it gets wet! (and it will be lighter as well). More on that later...

In the IMMEDIATE future, once the interior skins are all in, I'm going to do the wooden cover-up ribs, then clean everything really well, and shoot one more coat of sealer, before putting the floor down (engineered oak... thin, light, REAL WOOD, and beautiful to boot!) and FINALLY starting on some cabinets! I am DETERMINED to have this little guy ready for the October rally in Hiawassee, Ga!

Enough of my rambling, here's some pics...

A-Merry-Can · 06-24-2007, 06:33 PM

here's a pic that actually shows the street-side. Not much room in this little guy to get pictures!

urbanfood · 06-24-2007, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Merry-Can

You know what the worst part is about posting a project on teh forums? you know exactly how LONG its been since you've worked on it!

yes, i know that all too well.... great work!

A-Merry-Can · 07-02-2007, 05:01 PM

I had a productive weekend on the trailer, and managed to get all but 1 of the interior wooden skins in place. Everything is looking really good, with each new piece. The remaining piece is the tail panel, which i can't do until i gut in the trunk access panel, which i can't cut in until i fabricate a door to replace the battered one (this is a familiar story, no?)...

So in the meantime, I'm moving on ahead with the interior skins. Next up is the cover strips that will mask all the seams where the panels butt up together. The strips are 1 1/2" wide by 3/16 thick. My plan is to secure them about every 12 inches, so the number of rivets is kept to a minimum. The first coat is on the strips. If the weather's nice, I'll shoot the next 2 coats tomorrow, then try to Cleco them in place.

As for fabricating the trunk, I think that might have to be a job for next weekend. I know how I tend to underestimate time when it comes to fabricating panels!

jp