Tools!!

I’ve got a pretty good set of basic tools, but when it comes to making cabinets I really come up short.  My buddy Dusty (he of the Airstream cutouts for the overhead sliders) looked at what I was doing and loaned me a router, a laminate trimmer, a biscuit joiner, a brad gun, and a staple gun.  All these in addition to his table saw, chop saw, and belt sanders I’d already been using.  It’s really a luxury having access to the right tools.

The front curved portion is, like most of the cabinet, 1/8” Baltic birch and is bent around the plywood formers and attached with thickened epoxy.  It was done in one uncut piece and I used duct tape to mark the edges and to keep the epoxy from sticking beyond those points.

Then I just used a razor knife to cut out the opening for the two Elfa bins.  I used the round welt from VTS for the edges.

The bottom bin will attach to the front face, giving access to both bins.

The sides are now on and I’ve got the hardwood pieces cut for the armrest opening and the mount for the little radio.

The Forward Cabinet Takes Shape

The two recliners came with a center console, but it’s too wide and very heavy.  It does have a nice leather center armrest and that will be resized to fit the smaller cabinet I’m making.

The back half of the “T” shaped box houses the batteries, converter, and circuit breaker panels.  Might even be some storage room left over if I’m lucky.  In the back of the trailer the original bed has a great curve of birch made into it and I want to tie that into the front cabinet.  I’ve started with curves cut into 3/4” ply and notched to fit the 1x2” framing, fastened with epoxy and cloth (thanks, Marcus).



I got the rest of the framing put together today using a pocket screw jig.  Really like the pocket screws:  strong, and really quick.



Air19 has a great thread at airforums showing his cabinet work on a ‘53 Flying Cloud.  He is really skilled and I am not, but he makes use of Elfa bins for his storage and I’m using them in this cabinet as well.



I’ve just got it clamped and wired in place to check the fit for now.  The Elfa bins just slide on grooves cut into the 1x2’s.  It’ll all be covered in Baltic birch and a laminate yet to be decided upon.



-steve

Island Girl Rolls

We’re not camping yet, but Island Girl left the storage lot and headed to Lynden Fairgrounds for the TCT rally this weekend.  Couldn’t camp in her empty shell with Pam and the weather was Pacific Northwest awful today, but it was great to hook her up to her new Reese hitch and actually roll down the road.  Got to meet some online friends from Airforums in person.  A bunch of mighty impressive trailers there too.

It’s a little step forward, but feels pretty good after a year and a half of work on the trailer.  I am a really slow worker, but I’ve really got the bug to get out camping in my trailer now.

-steve

Plated Brass Barrel Bolts?

I’ve been looking at these ugly things for a year and a half.  Can’t believe Airstream used brass plated steel barrel bolts to latch the inner door.

Still need to finish off some rivets—the inside of the door has many, but just about finished with the door.  Inside is stripped and polished, but lots of etching.  I might have to consider replacing the top inside door panel, but we’ll see how much more the compounder can do.

The rusty barrel bolts have been replaced with stainless.  I also added and inside door handle to use as a pull to save wear and tear on the old Bargman lock.

Pam is hanging out with her two bears in the reflection.  She’s just about over a bout with the flu that’s made us boat bound and miserable for the last few days.  Good to get back to the trailer for a couple hours yesterday.

-steve