A Small Hopper--(the SunHopper)

[rmclarke]

I am still working at it......sporadically.
I'm doing a final fit of the doors and hatch. Still have to figure out how the hatch will latch and decide how to hold it open. Lots of sanding and fairing soon to come...blechh!


Going for a sort of 'rustic-cabin-on-wheels' feel inside

[aggie79]

Looking really good Richard! Very nice design and execution. Your foot well and table are really ingenious.

[rmclarke]

Well,
it's time for my 6 month check in ...Teardrop Time is realllllly
slow in this part of Jefferson State... ...
I got my front window put together and I epoxied it into place, but I
made it so I can replace the plexi in the future if needed (and with
plexi, it probably will). I siliconed it inside and out.







I moved the SunHopper outside under a canopy last month so I could sand
and primer and make all the dust I wanted without jeopardizing my
marriage. This is just before I put it back in the garage:





I just set the finished fenders in place to snap a pic or two:





The fenders are painted with the final color the top of the trailer will
be.



I think I finally settled on the final color scheme. The colors shown
here from SketchUp are not the exact shades obviously, but you get the
idea.

The top color is called 'Chowder' and the bottom color will be a
grayish-brown, i think it was call 'weathered oak' ...I used Lowes
Valspar oil-base primer 2 coats (over the two coats of marine epoxy).
the primer adhered to the epoxy very well (after lots of sanding)...the
top coats will be Lowes Valspar Deck and Floor paint. It'll probably be
a '5-foot finish'..which, after as long as I've been at this, will be
good enough for me.





Still at it,
Richard

[vtx1029]

[myoung]

Nice build with careful attention to detail. I'll look forward to watching your progress.

[rmclarke]

Hey....I got stripes! What do you think?





Inside almost done.....



Front headboard with curtains Elaine made.....the cushions are also done (with a solid green fabric) but not installed and the doors will have the same fabric design as the front window



I'm getting purty excited....this thing is almost campable!!

Richard

[S. Heisley]

It's looking terrific, Richard. Did you paint the accent stripe on or is it a decal?

[bdosborn]

Shiny!



Bruce

[parnold]

Your paint and stripe design is so appropriate! Looks great!

[rmclarke]

Thanks all

I'm glad the painting is done...it feels like its all downhill from here

Sharon, I painted the stripe using Rustoleum oil gloss paint, two coats......I taped the edges with Frog tape; that stuff is great, it leaves an almost perfect edge with no bleed under when you remove it.

I was going to buy some decal lettering for the logo plaque I'm making, but I think I might have a hard time matching up the red letters with my painted stripe....so, I might have to hand paint the darn thing..

.....I seem to keep making work for myself.

Richard

[Miriam C.]

Wow! I really like the stripe! Beautiful all over!

[rmclarke]

I installed all of the remaining doors today.. (I still have to install the screens inside the doors) and I've got most of the trim done. I don't have my tongue box done yet, but I guess I can camp without it for awhile. (Oh yeah, no logo yet either)
The last of the important stuff is hooking up my front marker lights, installing my hatch latches and my fenders!!

Soooooo close now

[bdosborn]

Boy that turned out nice, I especially like your fenders.


Bruce

[aggie79]

Boy that turned out nice, I especially like your fenders.


Bruce

Richard,

I agree whole heartedly with Bruce. That is one beautiful teardrop. I love the shape, color scheme, and execution. Magnificent!

Take care,
Tom

[rmclarke]

Bruce, Tom and Auntie M. thanks so much for the kudos. It's been a long build, but lots of fun, too! Just getting real pumped up about camping in it

We fit the cushions today (and tried them out, of course)... sorry about the grainy pics...was late and was having camera problems


Still no door curtains yet, but we're gettin' there!

Cushions around footwell from starboard side


View forward through galley pass through


Another view from portside door....of course,the backrest cushions fill in the mattress when the table is down....(I think she likes it )
There's tons of headroom in this thing...I think maybe I made it a bit too tall... .....oh well I can live with it



Future happy campers!!