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Disco Stu · 12-01-2020, 07:26 PM

Much appreciated Jcondon!

I haven't wanted to post any pics lately because I've been feeling all " what the hell have I done??"
I thought putting the windows back in the other side would be pretty straightforward, but I decided that I'm not happy to see a vertical seam that shouldn't be there, and the door opening wasn't quite covered by the window's drip cap, I'm not happy to see a patch.
So, I bought some new clad. I'm glad I did so, as I've removed a lot of silicone and olympic rivets.
I've added an extra vertical rib that'll be much stronger than the factory ones, and the horizontals are all new.
The lower roof panel will be replaced too obviously, that'll tidy everything up real nice.

docflyboy · 12-02-2020, 05:55 AM

Stu-I think you made a splendid move. For most of us, perfect is the enemy of good, but in your case it doesn't seem that way. Your trailer is a gem and your effort will be appreciated by all who get to see your trailer. Jerry

Hittenstiehl · 12-02-2020, 08:45 AM

Stu that is a very good image of the parts and bits. Especially the door hinges. People often think their hinges were aftermarket because of those funky bends.

Disco Stu · 12-03-2020, 11:53 PM

Thanks peeps.
Another 6:00am start to get that other panel sorted, then a 80 mile return trip to book in for registration. They seem happy to do it now that the door has been flipped, fingers crossed......
I can now take my time to restore the windows before refitting them, we'll go camping in this thing as an aluminium tent.
I aim to get the door fitted tomorrow, hinges, door knob, everything but seals.

dbj216 · 12-04-2020, 06:50 PM

Exceptional ! I have trouble with attaching new belly skins underneath where no one sees them.

David

Disco Stu · 12-04-2020, 09:14 PM

Thanks David, I think I'll pack the horizontals out a bit to try to avoid that ripple around the vertical ribs that's going on....

As usual I didn't get as much done today as expected, but the door is finished apart from the catches for the inner door. VTS have them in development but not available yet. I'll try to find something similar.

I swiped the door knob from our house, I liked the shape more than what I've found in stores. I've seen Trailwinds with a cutout around the edge of the inner door to go around the edge of the doorknob but I found a 45mm backset latch rather than 60mm so that wasn't necessary.

Landshark · 12-04-2020, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disco Stu

....So, I bought some new clad. I'm glad I did so, as I've removed a lot of silicone and olympic rivets.

Will the new clad polish up to match the old/original?

Vivian

PS Stunningly excellent work Stu, I wish I could hire you to work on mine!

Disco Stu · 12-04-2020, 09:37 PM

Thanks Vivian, The new clad won't match the old unfortunately, but both side panels and outer door skins were recently replaced ( poorly IMO ) by the seller anyway so it makes no difference. I like the pitted 71 year old panels everywhere else and I don't mind the dents in the front and rear lower panels, there's no use replacing the whole thing.
I've kept all the old clad to reuse in the interior or anywhere else possible.
Stu

MrRivet · 12-05-2020, 08:26 AM

Outstanding work on the door Stu! I have the door rework in the future on our Liner so I’ll be using your posts for a great reference. Our hinges are the earlier style and the lower one has a crack. I will probably weld that as temporary until we can find a suitable replacements. We dropped by the new VTS showroom last year during our travels and spoke to them about replacement hinges and they told us they were still in development then. We are currently working on exterior panels as well. We are trying to keep as many original panels that we can but that count is getting less and less as we progress. Almost all of our lower panels have holes where the corrosion has worked its way through. I hate to see the originals go but to make it solid and proper it has to be done.
I’ve had those days of “what the hell have I done!” with our Liner and I just step back and take a deep breath and do a mental reset. It will be so worth the effort when it’s completed. And it will probably be the only “right hand drive” Trailwind on the planet.
Safe Travels!
Tim

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Disco Stu · 12-07-2020, 08:24 PM

Thanks Tim, I guess we could make those if we had the tools to fold up those cylindrical hinge parts? I don't know how I'd make that.

We are booked in for registration tomorrow, got the door on and finished the "Australian road side" panels today. We are now RHD!

Disco Stu · 12-09-2020, 08:29 PM

Yesterday we passed rego!!!
Now I can take my time a bit more. Next job, I need to replace the top centre sheet as it's badly corroded from water sitting between a large 4" overlap on both sides. Also those hideous temporary tail / indicator units need to go, and I need to get the screen door secured with something better than PVC tape.

I finished a lower priority job this morn, the brass emblem that I've been meaning to make. $30 to laser cut in 1/8 brass plate and two passes on the mill. It doesn't belong on my '49 but I don't care.

Landshark · 12-10-2020, 10:25 AM

Stu,

Congrats on passing whatever and getting registered. That is SO CUTE!

Vivian

dbj216 · 12-11-2020, 06:24 PM

Hey, the government made a leagle man out of you. If they only knew how much work was involved to reach compliance.

Your Airstream emblem will look great on your great looking trailer. They go together.

David

PLVMB · 12-12-2020, 09:26 AM

The hinges can be made by a hinge company problem s the quantity you have to have made. I've researched and found a couple companies

docflyboy · 12-13-2020, 01:44 PM

Stu great milled emblem. Any chance it’s available in a file that can be opened in Illustrator?-Jerry

Disco Stu · 12-13-2020, 05:24 PM

Thanks David,
Jerry, no problem, I can send it as a .ai file, send me an email address.
Stu

Disco Stu · 12-13-2020, 07:30 PM

More little jobs, some beehive lights from VTS, the red ones modified for two filament stop / tail globes, and some little mounting plates made up on the bead roller. That covered up all of the old tail light and rivet holes!

Disco Stu · 12-14-2020, 07:55 PM

I haven't been on the sewing machines for a while, the awning went together fairly well.
Aaaaand, I picked up the smoothie wheels from my friend's paint shop. It is not as pale a blue as it looks in photos. We'll use the same duck egg blue as our interior colour.

dbj216 · 12-15-2020, 06:16 PM

Those tail light housings look great on the back of the Trail Wind. Did the regulators inspect them for height and spacing? I'm sure they have a tail light expert.

David

Disco Stu · 12-16-2020, 07:56 PM

Thanks David, It's registered, now I just pay the $40 per year and don't have to deal with them again!

Just a couple of hours work this morn fitting the screen door catches. VTS have the original repros in development but I can't wait for them so I found something that'll do the job. I'll use the original style T handles for my cabinetry.