Trailer Floor Radius plans/diagram?

[mkafilm]

Have a 1990 Custom Airstream 28ft. Rear floor is rotted and now replacing it and looking to cut some of the floor with a lasercutter to save time on the radius. Does anyone have plans for this radius at the rear? I assume the 1980's-2000 versions would be pretty much the same. *BTW I don't think there is a factory 28ft option for 1990 but my VIN is a custom SN# and it was a trailer ordered by NASA. I assume they probably just used a 28ft pattern from another earlier year.

[Peter417]

I think we need some pictures of this trailer. Sounds cool.

[Wazbro]

In 1993 they started to make a couple models wide bodies, more in 1994 until all 25' and longer. The wide body would be a very different pattern.

[Aironius]

I put vinyl plank flooring in our Bambi and was faced with a similar dilemma. I had the front dinette out so had access to those corners. I cut a cardboard template of the radius, and by flipping it over was able to lay out all four corners. They were all the same or mirror image. I suspect you will find the same pattern in your AS. So if you can get access to one corner, you will have a template for all 4 corners.

[mkafilm]

Yes I can make a template but trying to precut it all and for that need an actual CAD drawing.

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by mkafilm

Yes I can make a template but trying to precut it all and for that need an actual CAD drawing.

Make the template and then duplicate it as a CAD drawing. If you are unable to do that yourself, have a service do it (you can probably find somebody by Googling CAD drawing services).

The curved cuts you will need in the replacement pieces might not be perfect arcs of a circle that you can define with a radius. Not everything in an Airstream is so precise!

Tim

[CBWELL]

The major body change took place in 1994. The 1995 models were offered in both original and wide body. The only difference in the two widths is the overall width, with the corners being the same radius. The previous change was in 1983, I have been told, with the same body up to and including 1993. Possible there are a very few crossovers in the 1993-4 model change. The one difference is models destined for Europe, they are narrower bodies. I have replaced several floors and only used a cardboard template , making sure it is square with the centreline of the trailer. You do not need to be within thousands of an inch, as you will see that the interior aluminum is not perfect at the base of the wall. Don't overthink the job!!

[Ron Glow]

Originally Posted by mkafilm

Yes I can make a template but trying to precut it all and for that need an actual CAD drawing.

You have a very cool trailer. I am curious why NASA would have a Sputnik on the side. Seems odd. I wish you luck in your project.

Ron

[ALUMINUMINUM]

There are various ways to copy the corner curves. Creeping/sneaking up on the curve with scissor. cardboard scribe, and tape works as well as it needs.


I use Cardboard Aided Design frequently. My shower curtain rod bent perfectly to my CAD template. Same with my rear corner curves.


I doubt that any two Airstreams have laser precision similarities.

Agree, Airstream curves are not to be over-thought.

[Ron Glow]

Originally Posted by mkafilm

Have a 1990 Custom Airstream 28ft. Rear floor is rotted and now replacing it and looking to cut some of the floor with a lasercutter to save time on the radius. Does anyone have plans for this radius at the rear? I assume the 1980's-2000 versions would be pretty much the same. *BTW I don't think there is a factory 28ft option for 1990 but my VIN is a custom SN# and it was a trailer ordered by NASA. I assume they probably just used a 28ft pattern from another earlier year.

You could get a 3D scanner to generate the CAD data, but I’m sure you have considered that. They may have some inexpensive units available.

[richard5933]

I can do a cardboard template and then cut all four corners from plywood in less time than it would take to get the materials loaded up and taken to the LASER cutting machine, unless you have your own machine.

This is not a difficult task and as mentioned there's no need (or benefit) of making it overly complicated. If you were going to make 20 or 30 trailers then I'd be looking for a way to automate, but you only need to make one corner manually and then use a tracing bit on a router to copy it after rough cutting with a jig saw.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by Ron Glow

You could get a 3D scanner to generate the CAD data, but I’m sure you have considered that. They may have some inexpensive units available.

Some Pro model iPhones have a LIDAR scanner and there are apps that can draw floor plans from the measurements. I am researching this now for a project but have just started.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polyca...0/id1532482376

[ALUMINUMINUM]

Today, there’s more than one modern variation of the 100+ year old Starett contour tool that I have. Simply transfer measurement to cardboard minus .032” skin allowance…

I’ve used this tool all over my ‘68GT. It was especially handy when analyzing the compound curve of the ‘66-’68 window glass.

[mkafilm]

@Ron Glow - Sputnik was probably more "cool" to NASA Johnson back in 2000 when they stuck it on vs the Hot War we are now in.


- Love that cool measuring tool that is interesting never saw one.


- I replaced the floor in the rear with 3/4 Ply (which was what was in there) and removed about 10 pieces of 2" ABS pipe in the floor for unknown NASA reasons. Floor had lots of rot in the rear due to water leak from the hatch. The airlock skin I think was from unused ISS parts.


- I will post photos as it comes together better. NASA refurbished it at some point converting it from its original support vehicle use after the space shuttle was retired into a conference room. I am converting it back. I will be posting a bunch of video shortly on my instagram acct @theotherjonathan



- BTW I own the other NASA airstream as well the NASA 025 command vehicle

[Peter417]

Originally Posted by mkafilm

@Ron Glow - Sputnik was probably more "cool" to NASA Johnson back in 2000 when they stuck it on vs the Hot War we are now in.


- Love that cool measuring tool that is interesting never saw one.


- I replaced the floor in the rear with 3/4 Ply (which was what was in there) and removed about 10 pieces of 2" ABS pipe in the floor for unknown NASA reasons. Floor had lots of rot in the rear due to water leak from the hatch. The airlock skin I think was from unused ISS parts.


- I will post photos as it comes together better. NASA refurbished it at some point converting it from its original support vehicle use after the space shuttle was retired into a conference room. I am converting it back. I will be posting a bunch of video shortly on my instagram acct @theotherjonathan



- BTW I own the other NASA airstream as well the NASA 025 command vehicle

You should start a thread here. You will get a lot of low interest views on IG, but I promise we will engage you more and really enjoy and appreciate your posts. Some of us don't agree with the privacy policy of IG/fb and we can't see anything posted there.

[ALUMINUMINUM]

Hi There,

Thanks so much for assuming "stewardship" of these rare Airstreams.

The PVC tubing is indeed mysterious, maybe they held or spaced the insulation somehow?

Before you get too far, If you want a correct and roadworthy trailer, I can be mistaken, but the picture of your flooring looks to me that the floor meets the wall but doesn't go under the wall?? The plywood floor goes about 2" under the walls nearly all around the trailer. In order to secure the plywood to the outriggers, you need to remove the lower wall skins to gain access to the bolts.

Also, as illustrated, seaming plywood over the frame-rails puts more stress on the outriggers than seaming in the field with cleats.

And yes, I think you'll get best input if you have a restoration thread here that Airforum members can follow and contribute to.


.

[mkafilm]

Hello everyone. The Airstream is currently parked in Malibu and the projected firepath edge (at least at the moment of writing) is going to pass just 75ft away. Who knows it might be a pile of molten aluminum in the AM. So is life. It is but a trailer and given the severity of the fire there are far more important issues at stake. I suppose the radius might not matter much soon!

[staggerlee]

Well what happened!?