by doug hodder » Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:50 pm
Bingo Danny! that is such a big +! Not sure just how I am going to approach this one. I believe the axle is shot, old rubber torsion with shocks...gonna take a torch to get it out...and then, not sure on how to replace the floor. I've got some leftover aluminum from the last build for the corner repair. Someone on the Tin Can Tourists site says that there are only about 20 of these known to exist any more. I'm sure there are more, but it is encouraging to think that maybe I finally found my "diamond in the rough". That's kinda one of those arm waving things that someone says around a campfire and fueled with beer, so who knows what is true.
While the existing cabinetry, that is original, is in fir, my intent is to not go overboard, but to certainly make it a "high end" camper, true to the vintage. this was built back in the day when there weren't a lot of really premium veneered ply's, and as long as I need to build it out, why not spend the dough on some nice woods? I see no purpose in surround sound, microwave, refer, a toilet, shower, as I don't have room to make them really usable, (in my opinion) like so many of the recent "media build" reality shows do, just basic camping in the correct vintage.
I've made up some outlines of the profile on vellum off the computer screen and will break out the colored pencils and start cooking up a paint scheme. While I will attempt to stick to some of the basic design, I think I will doctor it up with some more eye appealing curves on some of the exterior stripes. The original paint scheme is pretty, no, really uninspiring. I personally see no value in trying to do a total original "restore" on it as it has none of the original interior, and in this hobby, currently...it's do what'cha want. At least I'm saving a survivor, and potentially bringing a nice trailer back to life. I want a blonde interior with some nice deep red mahogany accents. It's gonna be killer with some artillery wheels, stainless caps, trim rings, with wide whites, and of course...it needs some fender skirts to kill that square well. The original trailers had them,most are lost now, however they were flat across the bottom...kinda kills the appearance of a nice wheel. Since it's just a piece of detachable metal...what's the problem with doing what I want? This trailer carcass is a clean pallet for me to play with. Doug