Kind of like a Grumman

[Dusty Mark]

Your metal-framed foamy build is awesome. The attention to detail is top flight. It looks like you're on track for your WI trip!

[KCStudly]

Yeah, and I like the way you roll formed the hatch struts, too. Very elegant and I bet they fit nicely when closed, too.

[ELM]

Your metal-framed foamy build is awesome. The attention to detail is top flight. It looks like you're on track for your WI trip!

Thanks
Wisconsin trip is 10 weeks from now but That ten weeks is going to fly by. I'll just keep plugging away at it.

[ELM]

Yeah, and I like the way you roll formed the hatch struts, too. Very elegant and I bet they fit nicely when closed, too.

Thanks KC
I was going to use gas struts. But after reading about all the problems guys were have figuring out the right weight of strut to get and the fact that I'm use a plastic hinge. I didn't know if the gas strut would put pressure on the hinge when closing the hatch so I decided to keep it simple and go with prop rods. Aluminum siding is next and I'm still deciding weather to glue it on or float it.

[ELM]

Here's the under side of the galley with the birch glued on and a few coats of poly.

I'm getting closer.

[ELM]

Here's an update. I got the hatch back on and it still fit good but I needed to in large the holes where my latch rods go into the side of the frame. I need to take a picture of the hatch installed.
I found some knobs I like for the most part.


I decided to jazz up the knobs a little. First I machined a dash in them.

And then I epoxied some glass we found at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg CA about a year ago.


Next I finally found a place to put my towel hanger that found about six years ago and thought it would be nice for a Tear Drop trailer that thought I would like to build some day.

And the towel hanger opened up.

And then closed up. I think the Galley is very close to being done. I think the only things left to do is install the Galley lights and a handle for the ice chest tray.

I picked up the Aluminum yesterday 103" x 25' x .040 and I started cutting it today. Man that's a big piece of Aluminum to deal with.

[KCStudly]

That is one of the nicest looking galleys around. Way to go, your hard work and planning has really paid off.

[ELM]

That is one of the nicest looking galleys around. Way to go, your hard work and planning has really paid off.

Thanks KC
There's been a little planning, But mostly figuring it out as I go. Thanks again.

[ELM]

All of the aluminum skin is on the tear drop. .
I've got the hatch hinge on and the hatch on the trailer for good this time.



I've started putting on the aluminum corner moldings.

[ELM]

I have all of the aluminum trim on except for the hatch trim. It should be here next week.

Hatch lights installed and working. I used three led license plate lights.

I'm working on the running lights and brake wiring now.
Also I plan on painting it a color yet to be determined. I'm also looking in to vinyl wrap.

[KCStudly]

I was considering a vinyl wrap, too, but a comment by Zach/absolutsnwbrdr (and others) discouraged me from going that way. Basically the life expectancy is relatively low (IIRC 5 yrs at best, lower grade/less $$ material has a shorter life expectancy), and despite the fact that one of the big marketing points is that they are supposed to be easily removable, apparently doing so is only relatively easy for the first year or so; apparently once they have been on a while they become much more difficult to remove cleanly.

[ELM]

I was considering a vinyl wrap, too, but a comment by Zach/absolutsnwbrdr (and others) discouraged me from going that way. Basically the life expectancy is relatively low (IIRC 5 yrs at best, lower grade/less $$ material has a shorter life expectancy), and despite the fact that one of the big marketing points is that they are supposed to be easily removable, apparently doing so is only relatively easy for the first year or so; apparently once they have been on a while they become much more difficult to remove cleanly.

Thanks for the good info on vinyl wrap KC. Sounds like paint is the safest way to go for me. Now I just need to decide on a color

[retep]

Just an incredible build. You are a craftsman in all you do. Thanks for sharing your build, its so inspiring.

Peter

[ELM]

Just an incredible build. You are a craftsman in all you do. Thanks for sharing your build, its so inspiring.

Peter

Thanks Peter

[ELM]

I've been busy working on the aluminum trim and a lot of little things that needed finished up.
Here's a picture of the galley all finished up. ( I think )

In this picture I have the left fender on but I still need to do something with the outer lower edge.

The right side fender is on and the door that took me a day and a half to shrink down from a full size door and screen door.
I built a new center core with aluminum on the outside and Baltic Burch on the inside. It turned out very good but a lot of work. But I work cheap.