Thinking About Updating the Blog

 Thinking.  Maybe I should update the blog.

Poor Me. POR me.

With the rust gone and the reinforcement securely welded, the original propane tank holder was painted with POR15 to stop any future rust.  The four lines of rivets securing the hold-down plate will keep the frame attached to the shell for years to come!  I'm so ready to travel in improved 1955 style!  We opted to keep the original style hitch crank.

End Cap Panels - Dent Be Gone!

When we first looked at buying an Airstream, we were offered a small discount on a new trailer with a basketball sized dent in the rear drivers-side end cap panels.  The dealer had backed into a tree branch when parking at the RV show at their fairgrounds.   Not knowing the work involved with end cap replacements we wisely passed on that opportunity.  Whew!  Good decision for us.

Two years later, we decided that our ideal vintage Airstream trailer was a 22 foot 1955 Flying Cloud.  One year after that we found our vintage Flying Cloud...perfect with a twin bed layout...and a basketball sized dent in the rear drivers-side end cap panel.  Guess that we were meant to buy a dented Airstream.

Now that has all changed.  Colin tried to remove the dent but the aluminum was stretched and could not be reformed.  As we were doing a full restoration with the interior skins removed, it was decided to replace the panels...One of those one time events in our lives, so "do it right" things.

With beads rolled at the bottom of our two new end panels, the panels were fitted with clecos before being buck riveted into place.

The final window frame was also buck riveted to the shell and end cap seam.

Colin's New Hobby - Beading

Colin added new equipment to his shop and just in time!  1955 Airstreams, actually "all" of the Airstreams until approximately 1959 were made with 13 panel end caps.  These thirteen end cap panels each has a rolled edge at the bottom of the aluminum which is made with a set of bead rollers.

Our 2008 CCD Airstream does not have this feature.  Don't run your fingers over these sharper seams!

Hehr Ventalation - Vintage Delight!

The rear Fantastic Fan is polished and installed.  In 1955, each Airstream was built to a customer's specifications.  And we are very fortunate to have on our 1955 Flying Cloud Airstream the "Very Rare Hehr Lid Skylight Panel" and Colin reconfigured it to work with the Fantastic Fan vent housing using a new gasket.  Someday I'd like to find the names of the original owners, and send them a huge thank you for their choices!

Beautiful Back End!

The new rear hatch door with a new 1950's reproduction Airstream name plate from Vintage Trailer Supply is installed.  I'm so glad for the custom hinges that Colin built for us.  More holes were cut into the shell, these are for the housings to hold the tail lights.

Colin has been busy working on our Airstream!!!
Now I will get busy updating this blog - there are lots of photos to study and share. 
Stay tuned!
May 2014 posts are being dated to time when work was done.

Heating Up!

While we want hot water and the water heater needs an exterior exhaust and access, I would not want to cut a hole into the shell aluminum.  Fortunately this scary job is now done.  So excited to be moving forward again!

Back to Work

Colin has been busy working on our Airstream!!!
Now I will get busy updating this blog - there are lots of photos to study and share. 
Stay tuned!
May 2014 posts are being dated to time when work was done.

Work is on Vacation - Awaiting More to Post

Colin is working on other customers' trailers.
We agreed when he started this project, that we would share his time with other customers - we do want him to stay in business!

I will share more when we have more to post - stay tuned!
Kathy

Fantastic! Fans Installed and the Hehr Vent is Ready Too

To keep fresh air moving in our Airstream, we've come to rely on our Fantastic Vent Fans.  Naming your company with a name like Fantastic Vent puts a lot of pressure to perform on your product.  These fans really are awesome to keep air moving and temperatures down in our trailer.  We use them whenever we can, preferring not to use our energy-hungry 30 amp air conditioning except on the hottest days and humid nights. Using very limited amounts of power, the Fantastic Fans keep us cool.  I'm even thinking about buying their portable fan for using in the Jeep.

The new Fantastic Fans are installed.

Our Airstream - the1955 Flying Cloud has three vent openings - that is one more than our 2008 Airstream International CCD.  We are keeping our original Hehr vent.  It will be installed back into the ceiling in the original position galley opening which is framed and ready for the reconditioned Hehr vent.

The plywood shown here is not part of the roof structure, but is used to distribute weight of the person sitting and working on the roof's ribs.  The plywood is backed with carpet for protection of the aluminum shell.

All Jacked Up - Restoration Starts

Our 1955 Airstream jack was not in good shape.  Ruined.  Toast.
So bad that Colin replaced it just to be able to move the trailer around.
















When we were on our way to the fabulous fun and also first ever Alumapalooza in Jackson Center OH in 2010, we stopped at VintageCampers.com in Peru In and bought an old but new-to-us jack.  It needed a lot of work.

On the frame, the jack plate was attached to the A-frame, but was rusted beyond repair.  A new jack plate was welded to the steel.

The handle is now sand blasted.

Protecting Jalousie Window

Our only jalousie window is at the front of the 1955 Flying Cloud.  Many other trailers have jalousie windows on the sides of their vintage trailers, but the original owners (who are you?) chose to have the window with glass louvers at the dining area.

Great idea but, what about the potential for crashing flying rocks?  Even tiny chips of gravel or sand flying at 60 mph could break glass.  We enjoy fly fishing, and many of the best "hidden" spots are along winding rivers on narrow gravel roads.  To drive to quiet spots and/or boondock, we again will need the smaller less maintained roads which are not paved in concrete and cement or asphalt.  So Colin's guys made us a custom built stone guard for our front window.  Made of wavy green fiberglass, and yes Colin did say fiberglass!  We will have light and save our windows too!

Shown propped open while our stone guard awaits the opening arms and tie down clips.

Looking at the details!

First Look - New Bumper Trunk Lid - Keeping Water Out!!!

Just a quick sneak peak at our new bumper trunk.  This is not original to our trailer, so Colin's guys fabricated the aluminum lid.
Key to keeping the plywood floor from rotting is to keep it dry.  Our 1955 Flying Cloud has the sloping rear end which helps move water away from the trailer.  Colin added the aluminum flashing between the exterior shell and the C-Channel.  This small but huge addition acts like flashing in other applications, moving rain water away from the entry point.
We will definitely use the extra outdoor storage, and I really appreciate the extra protection at the rear of the trailer.

Propane Tanks Support Updated Post

Rather than leave it alone, I've decided to update the March 1st 2014 post.  The photo of just this old rusty as found tank support was too short and not helpful.  The old 3/1 post photo.

We have new aluminum propane tanks to replace the PO (previous owners) old rusty steel tanks
While we purchased new propane tanks from Vintage Trailer Supply, or original propane tank support bracket survives and got some attention.

This is the original rod, and also the crank handle for the trailer jack.

Love seeing photos that Colin sends.  And it is a great to see the 55 FC written on all our parts.  Colin has organization as well as knowledge and creativity to solve problems.  Yeah!

With the rust rod removed and the bent base straightened, then it was cleaned up - sand blasted.

I wonder if Colin is still using the sand blasting cabinet that he bought in "Mary Tyler Moore" Minnesota VAP Episode 26 on a hot humid summer day...

A steel reinforcement was welded to the base of the propane tank mount before the rod was installed.

Improvement to Original Shell Structure - Wheel Well Support

Airstreams are built to last.  Part of the durability is how the shell is attached with rivets to C-Channels which are bolted to the floor and frame.

Back in 1955, two areas where the interior aluminum walls were not secured to the wall structure are the wheel wells.  Colin was careful to improve our trailer during restoration.  C-Channels were added to the wheel well - to secure this area of potential weakness.

Sorry for the fuzziness of this second photo.

Birthday!

Byam - this is her trailer - is distracting me from the blog today and for good reason!
Happy 5th Birthday Byam!
Love you!  We are so lucky to have you pick us!

Yummy treats from April's shop - a birthday cupcake and ice cream cone both made of biscuit dough.








Funny girl!  Byam did not allow me to focus and this is the only shot of her and her cone.

Windows - We've Got Windows! - Part 5 - Support

Support - another Colin Improvement for our 1955 Flying Cloud.

The vintage Airstream windows were not all well supported in the walls.  Colin adds aluminum to stabilize the windows for travel down the road.

Supports were also fabricated for the windows themselves.

I continue to be impressed with how Colin plans ahead to create a quality restoration - Thanks Colin!

I'm testing a new photo posting method - click on the photo for a slightly larger photo.  Do you like it?

No Leaks! - Making it Happen.

Now the replacement Alclad panels are attached and the rehabilitated windows are back in their openings, the interior seams area sealed.  Vulkem was used as the sealant.  To me, the bold lines of the end cap look artistic.

Longing for More Awning Memories

There is something special about sitting outside under an Airstream awning.

Maybe it is the friends that stop by to visit, sitting back in our comfy folding chairs and making plans for the day.  In the morning, I know I can sit outside under my awning enjoying gentle sunrises and the smell of bacon cooking over a camp stove.  Or during the mid-day heat, we can sit and breathe - and not be rushing around in the frenzy that is normal daily life.  Maybe the special feeling comes from a cooling breeze.  And at the darkest part of our evenings, I love to hear the guffaws and tinkling laughs of some of my favorite people.


And I am thinking about all these times now.

Our now-polished awning rail for our vintage Airstream awning rail is re- installed.
The aluminum was buffed after the awning rail was removed.

Cleco fasteners hold the polished awning rail in place.