Having finished the inside work, it was time to strip the outside aluminum and start the exterior. These things look pretty minimalistic with the metal gone. Then came the wiring . This is fun work! It goes pretty quickly and is easy to do on these old trailers. Next week the plumbing and gas lines should go in.
I'm taking notes as you guys keep plugging away on this camper,,this will help with the restoration on my '56 Shasta. HRP
Chaz, No, it's easy, just lube the track and the welt up with silicone and they slide right in. You're doing a great job with this trailer! Looks like it's gonna be a nice rig. I spent some time this afternoon finishing up the inter trim in my Del-Ray truck camper. It's looking pretty good for an old dog, next up, get the roof sealed, 'cause I had to get it out of the shop when the roof caved in a month ago! I don't know what we're gonna do with it, other than maybe go to the local cruise night. It may be big, but it sure is ugly Brian QUOTE=Chaz;9599369]Hey, Flynbrian48! We were discussing how hard it must be to thread the awning through that extruded piece of aluminum on the trailer. Yours is the first I've seen that actually accomplished it. Is it a real PITA?[/QUOTE]
I don't update this thread very often as it doesn't generate much interest. Work does continue on the 59 Shasta Airflite however. Here's some progress shots. These early shastas must have been built without a 12 volt system. Just propane and 110 volt for when a campsite was located I guess. We have 110 volt, 12 volt, and propane now. Here's a picture of the mechanical/electrical area. There's an electric pump for the water, a watertank of course, and a converter to convert from 110 to 12 volt. The refrigerator can run on propane, 12 volt, or 110 volt. The interior lights are 12 volt, and the microwave is 110 volt only. It could drain a 12 volt battery very quickly. Our buddy Howie Adams did the upholstery in an appropriate 1959 pattern, with blue naugahyde trim. The table laminate is retro 50's boomerang turquoise. It's perfect! We've been busy insulating the walls with 3/4 inch foamboard. Within the next week or so we'll be applying the new exterior aluminum, and then it'll be a wrap.
I'm very interested in the thread. Thanks for posting it. Would you mind telling us where you got the aluminum siding, what thickness it is, does it have a name or a number? I am building a small camper (large teardrop) and could really use the information. Thanks.
I have the 'aqua boomerang' formica also that I put in my '67 Serro Scotty - looks quite a bit like this little trailer actually I love to see the progress pics, have been subscribed since the beginning!
Here is the supplier that is generally used- and a cool video as well. If you have a VERY well equipped local sheetmetal shop they can produce virtually the same thing with a brake. The hard part is the overlapping seam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWgLTJJ-RGU
OK, Here's my first picture post on the updated version of the HAMB. hope it works. We've been busy putting the siding on the Shasta. Here's a photo of the right side. The windows are cut out with a router after the aluminum is applied. The windows were totally disassembled, cleaned, polished, re-screened and re-installed. The rear sofa bed was re-done by our buddy Howie in a nice 50's retro scheme. The "Shasta emblem was polished , re-painted, and put back in place.I love the style of this emblem... Finally here's a photo of the refrigerator and microwave. A couple concessions to the modern age. We are nearing completion. I'll post again when we're close to the finish line!
First, thanks for documenting the build (I think alot of us are watching). I would like to find one eventually and this will help question, where do you find the new exterior aluminum and how does it attach to the wood (around the perimeter only??)
The top metal bends at 90 degrees, and laps over the side metal a distance of about 3/4 of an inch. caulk tape is then applied over the seam and a separate aluminum drip rail is screwed over that.
Chaz, can you show a close up of how the top and sides meet? Or maybe a quick diagram? Love the Shasta and the work you have done! Now (as if I didn't before) I want one!
Today was fathers day, and we were short one guy. So Steve and I decided that instead of the Ranchwagon project we'd put in some extra time on the Shasta. We promised the owner we'd have it finished this month! Wednesday evening we painted the signature "Shasta Lightning Bolt" on the side, Here's some photos of that, as well as all the clearance and taillights we wired today. We also made and installed those Shasta Wings! This is starting to look just right! We also took time today to rebuild the Princess stove and install the newly re-porcelained exterior. The color is a cool green that goes great with the upholstery. So far this has been an exciting and fun project, but it'll be nice to get my shop space back.
The Jalopy Journal
