Has anyone fabricated new endcaps?

[soldiermedic]

So it turns out I may be doing more of a full monty since the frame and floor were in pretty bad shape. I am curious if there are patterns available for creating a new endcap. My 68 is made of fiberglass (and is broken at that), but I would like to know if there are templates for wood or aluminum.

Anybody?

[InsideOut]

The endcaps you would be looking to make for a '68 are compound curves, meaning specialized equipment would be involved to make them. The flat sheet construction of Airstream end caps went by the wayside with the 13 panel construction of the mid-50's. With each reduction in the number of panels that make up an end cap, the shape & "pattern" would change - each becoming more dependant on compound curves. The more panels the simpler it would be to make using cardboard or heavy kraft paper as templates. There are a couple of forum members that have added wood to their interiors, you may want to perform a search to see what you can glean from their projects.

Your best bet for a plastic replacement end cap is to either mend your existing ones or use them as molds to make new fiberglass ones. The last option would be to find a salvage yard with the same model you have and hope those end caps are in better shape than your own.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do ~

Shari

[A-Merry-Can]

are yours so destroyed that you can't patch them with fiberglass? if you want to go the wood route, i think carlos has patterns, but it's a lot more work than just patching the old, of that's an option.

jp

[empresley]

Medic,
Since we purchased the '84 I keep eyeballing those end pieces and I know something will happen, like you I am not sure what. I took some time late one evening and explored almost all the members photos and made mental notes of those interiors from the 50s and 60s and any that had been modified. It was not a complete waste of time. The older models had a much simpler cabinet style transistion before the use of molded material.
If done carefully and with attention to detail, I don't know why a cabinet style replacement would not work.
This will be hard to describe but I am leaning toward, and will work on some sketches, a combination of curved vertical pieces (matching the ceiling curve) and transistions with horizontal panels or soffits. All wood, stained to match the existing window valance. It will have to be in "steps" to maintain head room. I think we would enjoy the warmth of wood and like looking up at stained veneer with recessed lighting more than the existing plastic.
This is long range but I thought you might like to know someone else is considering a change. If something definite comes off the drawing board I will post the idea.
In the meantime, if you need a template, I would suggest buying a sheet of thin luaun plywd. and with the help of cardboard, make templates to match your ceiling.

[soldiermedic]

Do you have any drawings or pictures of what you plan to do?

[empresley]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Do you have any drawings or pictures of what you plan to do?

I will let you know when I have something put together.

[soldiermedic]

Thanks alot...I look forward to seeing it.

[A-Merry-Can]

you should tow it down to florida with us the first week in january. i live just south of you near alpharetta!

jp