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Air Cruiser · 07-21-2013, 08:38 PM

Our Bubble has curved seams on the exterior end caps. I was told the curved seams should never leak due to the fact that they are interlocking with the next seam.

If this is so, do I still use sealant on them?

By the way, the other skins have the lapped seams.

Thanks.

Deb

reinergirl · 07-21-2013, 08:49 PM

What? Heck yes they leak, at least mine do! I sealed inside and will do outside as well?

reinergirl · 07-21-2013, 08:50 PM

What do you mean by " interlocking"?

Belegedhel · 07-21-2013, 08:52 PM

I'm curious what you mean by "interlocking." There are fairly complex sheet metal seams that lock the metal together with a complicated bend-and-fold (such as a Pittsburgh seam). Airstream seams are typically just two sheets with an overlap that is riveted together. They absolutely leak, which is why AS goops them up on the inside, and runs a bead of sealant along the edge from the outside.

My understanding is that aircraft panels are epoxied along the seams as ell as riveted. Many folks of questioned why AS seams don't have a glue/sealant in the seam itself.

Air Cruiser · 07-21-2013, 08:57 PM

Hi Shelly! Wow, you're quick, thanks!

Our exterior end caps, on the bottom of each seam, are rounded and I was told the top of the next seam down has been rounded in the opposite direction, and they slide together.

Do you have Hehr windows? Our Hehr windows sort of do this to fit together as a hinge at the top. Hope I'm making sense.

Does your Overlander have flat, overlapped end caps, or are they rounded out and curve in at the bottom? I have no idea what models and/or years they did this on.

It's only on the exterior end caps that are made this way, all of the rest of the skin seams are flat and overlap.

Deb

Air Cruiser · 07-21-2013, 09:01 PM

Hi Belegedhel!

I'm not familiar with a "Pittsburgh seam", but it sounds as though it might be that. Are you familiar with how the '50's Hehr windows fit together at the top for a hinge? I picture that it must be that way on these seams too.

If they do have the "Pittsburgh seam", would they leak, do you think?

Thanks.

Deb

reinergirl · 07-21-2013, 09:08 PM

My endcaps are the basic overlap, no rounded edge..... Interesting I didn't know they did a " hinge type" seam. Can you show us a picture? Theoretically I don't see why that makes them leak proof, horizontal seams like hehr windows I can see it but with a vertical seam water would just run down the seam to the bottom ..... Hmmmmm... Awaiting pictures

Becky B. · 07-21-2013, 09:19 PM

seal the seams, seal the seams, seal the seams......

Air Cruiser · 07-21-2013, 09:37 PM

I have been trying to download a pic from our memory card to our computer so I could then download it here, but I can't seem to figure it out -- this is a new all-in-one, it didn't come with a booklet, so I went to the web and it doesn't say how to do this, just says how to print a picture for a paper copy.

Becky, you're right, just seal the seams.

I'll try to get the pic downloaded tomorrow so you can see what they look like.

Deb

pbearsailor · 07-21-2013, 10:06 PM

I have the rolled edge on my 13 panel '57, but that is all it is, just a rolled edge. The panels overlap and leak like everyone says.

-steve

Belegedhel · 07-22-2013, 08:16 AM

I doubt if it is a Pittsburgh seam, as that is a very convoluted seam--was just throwing it out as an example. A picture would help, but nonetheless, I would recommend sealing the seam, interlocking or not.

ROBERT CROSS · 07-22-2013, 11:35 AM

......prefer the Pittsburgh Salad.

Bob

Air Cruiser · 07-22-2013, 07:19 PM

Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge and ideas.

I am going to try to download two pics of our endcaps; one hopefully will have part of a flat seam as well as the curved seam for comparison. I tried to download these a couple of hours ago, but its cloudy today, and our Verizon Jetpack doesn't seem to be getting through.

Thanks again.

Deb

Well, I was able to get one of them this time, but not the one with the comparison, however, you can see that the seams are curved.

Air Cruiser · 07-22-2013, 07:22 PM

Trying the other pic, I think it is a little more of a closeup too.

Deb

(Must have been a break in the clouds. Yes, this one definitely gives a closer look.)

Air Cruiser · 07-22-2013, 07:29 PM

Say Bob, the Pittsburgh Salad looks a little different, as salads go!

The sketch isn't as I had imagined it to be, and not the way the windows slide together to make the hinge on top.

Anyway, I'm going to seal all seams inside and out.

Deb

Belegedhel · 07-22-2013, 07:51 PM

Do you have the interior skins out? I'd like to see a pic of the interior side of one of those interlocking seams if so.

ROBERT CROSS · 07-22-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Cruiser

Say Bob, the Pittsburgh Salad looks a little different, as salads go!

The sketch isn't as I had imagined it to be, and not the way the windows slide together to make the hinge on top.

Anyway, I'm going to seal all seams inside and out.

Deb

It's an acquired taste, very seemly, just like Stream'n....

Good Luck!!

Bob

reinergirl · 07-22-2013, 08:07 PM

Those aren't interlocking, that's called a bead rolled edge. Some info here

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f381...s-83945-2.html

Air Cruiser · 07-22-2013, 08:48 PM

Shelly,

Thank you for that link, it was very informative and interesting; so now we know what we have (and don't have).

Hopefully, we won't ever have a need to have some made up, but if we do, we can use that info in talking with a sheet metal shop.

Belegedhel, no, we don't have the interior skins totally out yet (some are out), and none of the interior end caps. We have to finish polishing, then seal the seams so we can get to the interior. When we do, I'll take some pics and post them for you to see. However, please note that Shelly posted the link saying they are not interlocking, but rather a bead rolled edge.

Deb