The Astroliner

[Atomic77]

great build Micheal, my mother just sent me a book of restored retro caravans from new zealand and your design would fit right in.
my design will be quite different but id love to make a retro standy one day.
keep up the good work.

Merry Christmas to Me! I told Carrie about your book recommendation and we went online to research it. Unfortunately it was only available from New Zealand and they would only ship within the island. Bummer. But several months later she was notified of the new international shipping and today I found it under the Christmas Tree! What a great book! I've already skimmed through and looked at the great pictures and now I'll go back and read all the details. Excellent recommendation! We both love it! Merry Christmas to my Kiwi Friends!
Michael

[dales133]

Wtg! Merry xmas

[Atomic77]

Well... Racing season is now over and after a trip to Doha Qatar and winning the World Championship we're finally working on the Astroliner once again! We spent the day working out the wheel openings, cutting the framework and gluing everything into place. We coated it with epoxy and are allowing it to set overnight. Tomorrow it's on to the other wall and then we're ready to get the Filon!

[dales133]

Nice work and Congrads on the win

[Atomic77]

Thank you!

[dales133]

So what page interior works for you so far

[Atomic77]

So what page interior works for you so far

In the book?

[Atomic77]

Today I am getting the wheel tubs dry fitted while Carrie fine tunes the area where the spars will sit so we can have a perfect fit!

[dales133]

Yea in the book

[Atomic77]

I can't say I have a favorite yet. I've been reading it as I have time. I'm finally back working on the build, so not much time to read! But I'll let you know for sure! Thanks again for the recommendation!

[91kuhndog]

Really Nice Michael! Keep the progress rolling! You noted some days you don't feel like anything was accomplished.... their will be days when you see a lot of progress... my build took right at a year due to weather and military life... You have help and a great plan... Nice job!

[Atomic77]

Really Nice Michael! Keep the progress rolling! You noted some days you don't feel like anything was accomplished.... their will be days when you see a lot of progress... my build took right at a year due to weather and military life... You have help and a great plan... Nice job!

Much appreciated! Carrie and I also thank you for your military service as well... I just finished your build journal. Great job! Very nice looking project.

[Atomic77]

I'm really excited because I finally have my Porthole Windows made! After tireless searching on the internet and elsewhere and not finding large enough ones to suit me...I ended up making my own. Coming up with the right locking rubber seal was a pain, but we finally figured it out! We went with 1/4" Tempered Glass tinted in Charcoal. It's 16" in diameter. There will be one on each side and I can't wait to sit at the dinette with Carrie, sipping our morning coffee and watching the snow fall!

[Atomic77]

I feel like we've got some much needed things accomplished the past few days. Now that racing season has come to a close, the work around the race shop has slowed a bit and I can actually come home and tinker with the Astroliner. The wheel tubs now have a nice place to live and the wheel openings in the walls are reinforced. The wheel opening mouldings/fender flares, fender skirts(?) (what the heck do you call those things anyway?) seem to fit really nice and I love the look on the flat wall. I finally got the seams all taped and epoxied...even getting them sanded down and a coat of filler applied. It won't be long... Filon will be here soon and I can't wait to start that process! Once the Filon is vacuum bonded to the walls it will be time to dry fit them to the trailer! After all this time that's pretty exciting for us around here! The next step will be to build a jig for the router so I can cut out my porthole windows...



I decided the "skirt" at the bottom of the wall needed some reinforcement and some extra protection from the elements. The skirt hangs below the flooring and basically extends the wall to cover the frame. I used some heavy fiberglass mat and more of that good 'ol epoxy. I swear this thing will be more waterproof than the average boat!

[KCStudly]

Have you allowed for the thickness of the mat between the frame and wall skirting?

When you said that you were going to put the Filon on before fitting the wall to the floor/chassis it gave me pause for concern. What if you need to make an adjustment? How will you fasten the wall and not have fasteners running thru the Filon?

I realize that you had the wall(s) up once before, and that they are larger than typical (meaning heavy and awkward), so fitting is a chore for you, but...

Maybe I am being overly concerned for your sake?

Maybe I need a chill pill?