Skin Wanted

[Igor68]

Looking for nice skin section for the front of 1968 Globetrotter. The first curve on the right side. ( the one with the marker light on it)

Thanks,

[JohnG]

It would be a rare instance when someone buys a used piece of a shell and uses it on another Airstream, but I suppose it has been done at one time or another. Anyway what most people do is buy the raw material and then remove the bad section that exist on their trailer and replace it with the new. You have to cut the new piece so it will fit like the old one did.

You can buy aluminum from these 3 for sure, www.airpartsinc.com or www.aircraft-spruce.com or www.wicksaircraft.com and I am sure that you can find it at a few other places too. You will need to identify the type of aluminum on your airstream and buy they same type to match the aluminum color and to match it’s strength also.



You can also read through this thread to gain some knowledge on replacing your skin; http://www.airforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9362

[74Argosy24MH]

Originally Posted by JohnG

It would be a rare instance when someone buys a used piece of a shell and uses it on another Airstream, but I suppose it has been done at one time or another. Anyway what most people do is buy the raw material and then remove the bad section that exist on their trailer and replace it with the new.

It is a compound curve, unless he has the ability to duplicate the crown the only choices are used or from Airstream.

John

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by 74Argosy24MH

It is a compound curve, unless he has the ability to duplicate the crown the only choices are used or from Airstream.

John

It's easy to duplicate the curve.
1. Take the old section off. Pound out any dents, then use bondo to smooth the surface,
2. Place the old section face down on a smooth surface. Fill the back with quik-set concrete.
3. Turn it over. Lay the new sheet over the old sheet and attach with loosely with bungee cords and duck tape. The new sheet should be at least 3" larger than the old sheet to allow for trim.
4. Place the assembly face up in the lake, or a swimming pool at least 6 feet deep.
5. Suspend 1/4 stick of PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate) about 3 ft above the assembly. Detonate from a safe distance.
6. Remove assembly from the lake. Trim the edges to fit. Retain the form in case you need to repeat with a larger charge.

This method will work with up to 1/4" T6 aluminum. The explosive charge may need to be increased for thicker material.

As always, your results may vary.
6.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by markdoane

...5. Suspend 1/4 stick of PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate) about 3 ft above the assembly...

Don,

Does InlandRV sell PETN?

That was great! I'm still digging the hook out of my mouth!

Tom

[Ken J]

Gotta get up off the floor LOL, anyway you left out one big step, wear safety glasses.

Igor - welcome to the forums, we really do try to help, but we like to have fun too.

Seriously, that piece is not a compound curve - its a flat sheet. Should not use a used sheet as the holes will not line up. Just get a new sheet

Ken

[markdoane]

In an extension of the above application, you could use a jigsaw to cut out your WBCCI numbers and attach them to the form before detonation. The result would be permanently embossed numbers, which you could highlight with a paint roller.

You could also use this method to form an entire endcap, if you have access to a large enough sheet of aluminum. You could either grind off the rivet heads before forming, or leave them in to form 'faux' rivets in the finished sheet. It would never leak.

[Inland RV Center, In]

tcwilliams.

We don't sell PETN.

But we do use it in our shop, on occasion, when we are in a hurry, to change out a pair of axles.

We remove the shocks, disconnect the brake wires and remove the mounting bolts.

We then carefully place 4 small containers of PETN strategically located below the frame, 4 feet rearward of the rear axle and 4 feet forward of the front axle.

We then ignite the PETN to lift the trailer about 7 feet in the air (we have a tall technician).

At that moment the old axles fall out, and we expeditiously push them out of the way, and put the new axles in place, exactly lined up so that when the trailer comes back down, it's a perfect fit.

Then of course, we install the new grade 17.85 hardware, and mount the shocks upside down. We fill the shock covers with water, so that the center of gravity of the trailer is lowered, and finally wire the brakes in series so that the magnets won't wear too fast.

The only real problem with this method, is if it's break time. Then, we really have to hurry.

Some owners are glad they have a large water tank, as you must stop and refill the upsidedown shock covers every 18, 247.62 feet.



Andy

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

...We don't sell PETN...But we do use it in our shop, on occasion, when we are in a hurry, to change out a pair of axles...

Wow! You know all the tricks!

Tom

[Inland RV Center, In]

tcwilliams

Tom.

You have to know all the tricks when your shop is in southern California.

We must always be in a hurry, because when the traffic backs up on the infamous 91 freeway, they take short cuts through the shop, jeopardizing the safety of the trailers.

The employees don't have a problem, because they can quickly jump out of the way, since they all wear spring loaded shoes.

That's also why they have to wear hard hats that have a built in rotating beacon and a fall down alarm, so they don't hurt their heads when they bounce off the 74 foot ceiling, which turns the beacon and alarm on, and activates their drag chute.

Talk about employee fringe benefits? We spare no cost!!!



Andy

[markdoane]

Well, that's proves the old adage. The FIRST liar doesn't stand a chance!

[markdoane]

Igor,
Here is an instruction sheet if you want to make your own: http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/ex...e-forming.html

[JohnG]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Igor,
Here is an instruction sheet if you want to make your own: http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/ex...e-forming.html

Wow I would love to try that one time, but where do you get the PETN. Guess I need to go to the getto in Chicago. I've heard you can get anything there.................

[RivetED]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

tcwilliams

The employees don't have a problem, because they can quickly jump out of the way, since they all wear spring loaded shoes.

That's also why they have to wear hard hats that have a built in rotating beacon and a fall down alarm, so they don't hurt their heads when they bounce off the 74 foot ceiling, which turns the beacon and alarm on, and activates their drag chute.

Talk about employee fringe benefits? We spare no cost!!!



Andy

Andy,

Do you process on-line job applications???

[Ken J]

Perhaps the better question is how do you process job applications

[Inland RV Center, In]

Ed & Debbie

Ken J

Regardless of how we receive a written job application, our Corporate PP manual (policy and procedure) spells out the following procedure.

1. Hermetically seal it in a surrounding of at least 1/2 inch Lexan, on all sides.
(germs and viruses)
2. Apply a coating of at least 1/4 thick Vulkem sealer, to all sides.
(preservative)
3. Allow the Vulkem to cure out for at least 77 hours at an elevated
temperature of exactly 157.35 degrees F. (longevity)
4. Submerge the package in pure water, at a depth of 11.84 feet, for exactly
17.15 days. (test for truthfullness by the applicant)
5. Remove from the water, and "instantly" submerge the package in liquid
nitrogen for 29.76 minutes. (tests the ability to stay cool)
6. After removal from the liquid nitrogen bath, carefully place it the Airstream
security rooflocker in the employees sleeping lounge. (for security)
7. On the 37th (thirty-seventh) day of each month, at our Corporate Board
of Directors meeting, chaired by Corky, we carefully and with vigor open
the sealed "job application," having first made sure that there are no open
microphones or camera's present. (All job applicant information is
confidential)
8. The chairperson reads aloud the applicants application, examining it very
closely for details. (Accuracy)
9. We must verify the applicants shoe size, since we only have size 26 spring
loaded shoes left. (Proper equipment)
10. We must also verify that their head size must not be greater than 10.5
inches. (No room for a big head)
11.They must have at least 33 years sheetmetal experience on sound
breaking type aircraft. (Insures their ability to reconstruct an Airstream
product, without limitation of speed)
12.They must have at least 6 1/2 shocking experiences with electricity. (Both
120 volts AC and 12 volts DC)
13.They must have adequate plumbing experience, such as sitting on the
john time of at least 13.33 months. (Must have had an intimate
relationship with plumbing so that they have more then a working
knowledge of the "study hall" and the "fur lined seats")
14.They must be willing to work for our minimum wage of $19.37 per minute.
(Prevailing California minimum wage)
15.The final test is a personal interview. If they remembered how to get
here, then we will have no doubts as to their ability to show up on
payday. (Must be present to get your pay check)
16. Welcome Aboard!!!

Andy

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

2. Apply a coating of at least 1/4 thick Vulkem sealer, to all sides...

But I thought the factory was now using Sikaflex

[Ken J]

Andy

Wow thats easy - I was thinking part of the process would be the PETN test, you know, THE PETN test!

I think you are way too easy on your employee screening

Ken

[Igor68]

Thanks,

If it is not a compound cruve I'll just make a new one. It was in "perfect" 1968 shape un till the "baseball incident".

Igor

[Ken J]

ahh, the old baseball incident......

No its not a compound curve, just get a flat sheet and duplicate with the old sheet

Ken