TwilightLane Cubbie Build

[TwilightLane]

So here is how it looks going into Christmas:

[pete42]

Keep going it looks like it will be well insulated.
I have seen someone use a 12 volt car radiator fan that looked neat.
I believe yours is the first I've seen with the muffin fans have you thought about using a reostate to controll the speed?
looking good
pete

[droid_ca]

I just found this build and can't wait to see more

[TwilightLane]

Well it has been a while since I've been able to do anything. Believe it or not my wife and I were in Tokyo Japan in February visiting my sister. We got back two weeks BEFORE the earthquake. Sister and family made it to the states a few days after the quake. All are fine. Family is busy, work has been busy. Whew.

Finally. FINALLY! Yesterday I got some time to paint the CPES on the exterior walls of my trailer. I'm pleased with the results.

I used blue painters tape to cover the metal trailer frame etc. I took off the wheels and used jack stands.

I bought the 2 quart unit. I hoped it would cover the entire trailer. I quickly realized that it wouldnt come close. I wound up doing three coats on each side wall - literally coming to end of wall and going back to other end and starting over. It soaked in that fast. Paying extra attention to the edges and threshold of the door. I'll need another 2 quart package to do the roof and hatch skin.

I also was able to put a solid coat on the frame of my hatch.

Some thoughts:

1. It stinks. But not too bad. Ventilation is probably a good idea.
2. Don't wear your nice eyeglasses, the stuff spatters.
3. The wood really soaks it in. I would get to the end of the wall and it would almost be dry a few feet behind me.
4. Wear gloves & old clothes.
5. Throw your brush away.

This morning I checked it out as I was leaving for work and the wall was noticible harder and stiffer. The look is slightly darker, not that it matters as I plan to paint. No pics as it looks more or less the same. I'm pleased with the results.

[TwilightLane]

Whew I've got a lot of work done on the camper. But I haven't been able to update this thread. Well here goes!!

Reaching back to January, I was finishing up some work in the cabin. I cut a hole on the interior roof to accomodate the vent. You can also see the short side walls a made to cover the depth of the roof.



I also ran some wire to power two PC fans. I built a little compartment to conceal the plugs. That is a little sliding door to the compartment:



The fans:

[TwilightLane]

I also built out the media shelf. I plan either side to hold books. I routed slots to accept a knob that screws up through the gap into a bracket. So it'll slide back and forth.

Before:


Some handy rigid insulation to hold shelf in place:


After:


Screwed through the outside wall:

[TwilightLane]

As you may have noticed I have my rood vent off to one side. I wanted to have some space either for a periscope (long story), lexan dome (again, long story) or maybe a canoe. I wanted to get a close up of the layout in case I want to get back in there:

[TwilightLane]

Time to start on the hatch. First I wanted to get a good template of the actual curve of the trailer:



I transfered the curve to cardboard:



And cut it out:

[TwilightLane]

I transferred the curve to a piece of plywood:


Sizeing it up:


Next I used that template to trace out the curved edge of some spars...

(Note in that last picture you can see the pieces I cut out of the tops of the side doors).

[TwilightLane]

I can also finish filling in the foam insulation...

[TwilightLane]

Back to the hatch, using my template to trace out spar blanks and cutting them out:



I don't have a good picture but I cut 10 spars out of 3/8 inch plywood. Only because that is all I had. I sandwiched them together in two pairs of three, and two pairs of two. Glued them up w TBII and some screws.



Placing them:

[TwilightLane]

I used some spacers of 1/2 inch ply to build the hatch in place.





Quarter inch spacers at the top to accomodate the hurricane hinge:

[TwilightLane]

Planning the spacing for the bracing for the taillights and handle:

[TwilightLane]

I notched out the spars to accept the bracing. I also added some bracing for a third taillight. I also added a notch on the underside of the hatch to accept a cross piece/handle.





The triangular notch to make room for the countertop in the galley. Tight fit!

One assembly tip. I glued and screwed the whole thing together, but only loosely. Then I put it back in place on the trailer and tightened everything down. It was pretty loosey goosey at first. But pulling it together in place really helped it come into proper shape.

[TwilightLane]

Let's put a roof on this sucker. I started with another sheet of 5mm ply. Not treated or painted or anything yet.