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hotstuff · 05-29-2011, 05:04 PM

I acquired an 27 ft 1969 Sovereign in March, and have been pouring mostly blood, sweat, and tears into it for the last few months. And, as my boyfriend watches me drive head first into this project, he suggested that i document it, just like some many of you veterans have. It will probably be a source of many laughs, but i hope that some of yall like (Aerowood, Zepplienum, Uwe, etc) will keep a watchful eye on me, and become some sort of cyber mentor. So, here it goes. The back story....i own a commercial constuction company in Austin Texas. We build restaurants, bars, offices, yoga studios, etc. In 2008, I approached my boyfriend's mother about the Airstream she had parked out in the woods. I had some cash that was burning in my pocket, and the mystic and nostalga of AS has always intruiged me. She was not interested, so it continued to sit, in a sad state. Then, in Feb of this year, i had a revelation, (so of my friends call it a meltdown). i was sitting a home getting fat, and staring at this 52" Plasma TV. And, i the boyfriend's mother had talks about a big screen TV everytime i am around her. She was watching a 20 yr old tube. So, in a stroke of genius, i offer an "even steven" trade (I bought the Panasonic TV, speaker system, and blueray player in '08 during the demise of Curcit City for $1900, out the door). And, after about 12 hours of consideration, she accepted. The rig is a basket case. And i am super pumped to work on it. There are visions of grandure dancing thru my head. i have not officially named it yet...but, the theme has been decided. We are going for a Moulin Rouge vibe, with all modern "Las Vegas" sytle eminities, and technology. I will post pictures monday.

Lance M · 05-29-2011, 07:23 PM

Welcome to the forums and congratulations on your acquisition! Sounds like a great trade to me. There is a lot of help here on the forums. There is virtually nothing that hasn't been done before and well documented here. Good luck with the project!

woodja · 05-29-2011, 07:49 PM

Good for you hotstuff. And we will expect the pics Monday------

hotstuff · 05-30-2011, 12:50 PM

This is a current picture of me after today's work. I will fill yall in later. Right now I am still sitting in the rig, and it feels like a beer can on the beach. Come on central Texas, cut me some slack.

hotstuff · 05-30-2011, 09:04 PM

Still learning how to use the forum....it took me 10 minutes to find my own thread. Here are the pictures I took in Feb of this year, when it was still sitting in the woods next to the PO's house. This is when we fell in love

. And yes, that is roofing tar above all the windows, door, roof seams, and roof rivets. He was missing 6 pieces of glass, and one frame. The rear large window was missing the frame and the glass. The large front window is cracked plexi, and the two front streetside windows are plexi. The two front wing windows are also cracked plexi. There is a small amount of damage to the street side fender well. It looks like a tire blow out dinged it up pretty good. Other than these issues, the exterior is straight and strong. I was not concerned at all with the interior, because I knew that i was gutting it from the very start. Sorry for changing tenses in my description, this is all past tense. i am just trying to catch yall up to speed. So don't be fooled by the speed of my first posts, I am not working with a 10 man crew. It is just little me, and my iphone blaring Pandora.

hotstuff · 06-01-2011, 10:47 AM

Not sure why the pictures did not make it with my last post. But, here they are.

ALANSD · 06-01-2011, 11:10 AM

The tar will be H** to get off, but it looks like you have a good unit to start on. Before you gut the inside consider what in there you can use, as it will save you a lot of hassle with replacing usable items. The bathroom though looks like it has to go.

Check the quick links button in the top of the pages here for quick access to threads you posted in

hotstuff · 06-01-2011, 11:42 AM

Darkspeed · 06-01-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotstuff

It will all come off when you polish it

submariner · 06-01-2011, 07:24 PM

Hi Hotstuff,

looks like a great deal. At least better than the overlander we started.. i had to start from scratch. At least you have a straight body ( on the AS i mean

).

Once you gutt the interior, you can decide on a new layout if desired. we are changing to center bath and queen bed in the back.

Im sure the Forum will have a lot of good tips for you. it is helping me for sure.

good luck and keep us updated.(with pictures of course)

hotstuff · 06-01-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner

Hi Hotstuff,

looks like a great deal. At least better than the overlander we started.. i had to start from scratch. At least you have a straight body ( on the AS i mean

).

Once you gutt the interior, you can decide on a new layout if desired. we are changing to center bath and queen bed in the back.

Im sure the Forum will have a lot of good tips for you. it is helping me for sure.

good luck and keep us updated.(with pictures of course)

I thought about changing to a rear queen, but the windows dont work. i have some pretty "pimp" ideas about the interior. But, i am still at least 6 months out.

hotstuff · 06-01-2011, 09:17 PM

It took me about 12 hours over a saturday and sunday to tear out all the millwork, walls, and appliances. I found 4 "nests" while doing this phase of the demo. I just kept telling myself that they are bird's nests, since the windows were missing for so long. I also killed about 15 red wasps. There should be a little smile character with sweat running down it's face. I would add it to this post

Dumpster · 06-10-2011, 07:21 PM

One of the pictures in post #6 shows 2 port side front windows. Doesn't this suggest Sov or Bass? I guess I have just never seen a Lander with 2. Then again, I learn how little I know every day.

hotstuff · 06-11-2011, 04:51 PM

Dumpster-

You may be right. I put a tape measure on it, and it measures 27'. But the serial # shows 31. Sooo..... I don't understand it either. I will look at the tag on the rig again. ?????

reinergirl · 06-11-2011, 08:29 PM

Post the whole serial number by the door. That will "tell all" . Did you include the hitch when you measured it?

tinman54 · 06-11-2011, 10:38 PM

Looks like you are in for some fun, I had a lot of tar on my Cruiser also, it felt really good to finally get it off. A heat gun and a plastic putty knife took most of it off and then wd40 or mineral spirits and rag wiped off what was left. It looks so much better with the black stuff gone.
Good luck

hotstuff · 06-11-2011, 11:20 PM

The 27' is inside to inside. I will post some updated pictures in the morning. We have been in Galveston on vacation. And, now are knee deep in the R.O.T Rally here in Austin. And yes, "Jesus is just all right with me!". Thanks Dobie Brothers! You still got it!

Darkspeed · 06-12-2011, 08:57 AM

It's a 31'

Mine is 31' total length with hitch - I think

utee94 · 06-12-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotstuff

The 27' is inside to inside. I will post some updated pictures in the morning. We have been in Galveston on vacation. And, now are knee deep in the R.O.T Rally here in Austin. And yes, "Jesus is just all right with me!". Thanks Dobie Brothers! You still got it!

Hey hotstuff, welcome to the Forums, there are quite a few Airstreamers doing renos here in the Austin/Central Texas area.

Airstream measures their units from "bumper to ball" so yours is indeed a 31' Sovereign. Those double windows in the salon give it away.

Good luck with your renovation, you've definitely found the right place to come with all of your questions. It looks like you're about to embark on a "Major Renovation" so to people in your shoes, I always suggest reading through all of the Major Renovations threads found found in the link below:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ons-35399.html

Many of them are quite lengthy, but they're interesting and entertaining and reading through them will probably answer 90% of questions you might come up with.

If you read just one, then read this one, it's probably the most famous reno thread on all of Airforums and it's full of fantastic ideas:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ler-11687.html

Good luck!
-Marcus

hotstuff · 06-13-2011, 11:50 AM

I was so focused on the tar, I did not retain what the tag on the rig read. And yes, your investigation skills are perfect. It is a sov.... So now all I have to do is figure out how to change the title. Thank you, Colombo, Jessica Fletcher, mattlock, and all the CSI characters!

my hair is blonde!