Silver Beatle - She's now with an old friend!

[2bits]

Thanks for the plug Tom! I am ready to get campin with ya!

[aggie79]

Thanks for the plug Tom! I am ready to get campin with ya!

Thomas, I'm ready to go camping too!

It's been about a month and a half ago since I last worked on the teardrop. Part of that time was spent fixing another frame bug-a-boo (long story - don't ask), but the teardrop is now back onto the frame. I have been putting off ordering wheels and tires until I could actually mock-up the fenders to the teardrop. The little cardboard widget shows two wheel/tire combinations (205 tire on a 6" wheel with a 3 1/2" backspace and a 225 tire on a 7" wheel with a 4 1/2" backspace).







There is about 1/2" clearance between the widest part of the tire and the fender lip. With the bigger wheel/tire combo, there is about 1 1/2" clearance to the sidewall, so that is what I'm going with.

Then it was time for some construction - skinning the hatch. I had been dreading this, but I couldn't put it off any longer.

My hatch is longer than five feet so I had to put the skin on in two sections. With the hatch framing in place, I glued the two sections.







It really was much easier than I thought.

Next project is to build the tongue box to house the PetCool. Once I have this done, I can finalize where the supply air duct will be. This will allow me to finish the last little bit of framing, so I can start the electrical.

Gig'em, Tom

[2bits]

It really was much easier than I thought.

Those are nice words eh! Just wait for OH CRAP! haha just kidding! Don't worry about the ups and downs on the work, because you can just remember that when you do work, you accomplish ALOT! I like that way you block mount screws to hold things together but keep the head of the screw off the actual surface! That is something you taught me!

You're doing great work there sir! !

[aggie79]

It really was much easier than I thought.

Those are nice words eh! Just wait for OH CRAP! haha just kidding! Don't worry about the ups and downs on the work, because you can just remember that when you do work, you accomplish ALOT!

You're doing great work there sir! !

Thanks Thomas,

Believe me, I've had several OH CRAP moments, especially when I try to use math to figure out something rather than fitting it or mocking it up (re: trailer frame.) I was going to try to calculate the wheel/tire size, but I realized this would be math, so I broke out the cardboard aided design method instead.

Tom

[Jiffypop207]

Got to love visual aids.

Adam

[aggie79]

Got to love visual aids.

Adam

In my build, when I've used cardboard mockups to verify dimensions and templates to cut parts to fit, I've so far been okay. The times I have tried to rely on math alone, I had several setbacks. I guess if I knew how to use CAD or Sketch-up, I could prototype with it, but I suspect it will be a very cold day before I have the time or patience to overcome the learning curve.

[bbarry]

Tom,

I've been away for a few months working on other things, it's good to come back and see your progress. As many others have said...you're doing great work. It's nice to see all the planning and attention to detail that's going into your build.

Brad

[2bits]

Time to stop slackin and start shelackin! That hatch just looks great! ! !

[2bits]

Well, it's been a month, the holidays are over, is it time to break out the space heater and start workin again?

Oh, and I haveta say it looks like you used MUSTARD instead of glue in this pic! HAHA

Hope all is well over there!

[S. Heisley]

2bits wrote:

Just wait for OH CRAP! haha just kidding!

Ha!Ha! I just realized that "CRAP" is literally a four letter word!

Yes, it is a new year and I know you'll want to get back on it. I suspect you'll want to have it done in time for Pamplin Grove IRG3 in July!

...Quality like yours takes time.

[Ageless]

It's when you get to 'Holy Crap!' That you really know that things are coming undone

Double 4-letter word score

[aggie79]

Well, it's been a month, the holidays are over, is it time to break out the space heater and start workin again? Hope all is well over there!

Hi Thomas,

Some progress has been made, but it's been just a bunch of miscellaneous, time-consuming details. Not much is picture worthy though.

I disassembled the case around the Petcool and replaced the seals around the return plenum so that it is more of a closed loop system. The Petcool will be located in a tongue box that I am building to look like an old wood chest. The supply side of the Petcool will be piped through the back of the chest into the teardrop, then split into two branches, and piped up to two vents mounted on the top of the headboard cabinet. I've mocked all of this up, but haven't done the final install yet. The return air will be from the galley bulkhead. I've built a housing for a 12" x 12" return air filter (overkill, but it is a standard size, and I wanted to minimize the pressure drop) and as soon as I finalize the location, I'll install it.

Lastly, I splurged on some wheels and whitewall tires, which emptied my bank account. As soon as the wheels arrive, I'll get the tires mounted and take a few pictures.

As you know, the temperature is supposed to be in the teens this weekend. I may have to break down and get some type of heater for the garage, because I am a cold weather wimp.

Oh, and I haveta say it looks like you used MUSTARD instead of glue in this pic! HAHA

That PL Premium does look a little like mustard, especially since my camera doesn't do a good job of adjusting the white balance for the flourescent lighting in my garage!

Hope to have something picture-worthy soon,
Tom

[aggie79]

I finally got over my cold weather wimpiness and have some progress to show. (Actually, I bought a small propane heater and now can work until I get dizzy-headed from the lack of oxygen in my enclosed garage!)

Last report, I had skinned the hatch. The hatch skin has now been routed to size, screw holes are filled, and the skin has received its first coat of epoxy.



My Petcool will be in a tongue box, but instead of the usual route, I decided to build a tongue box that looks like an old chest/trunk. (Of course, the "unusual route" has taken about 15 hours to build so far.) It is made from plywood framing with cedar tongue and groove wainscoating. It's not finished, but this is what it looks like so far.



With the Petcool housing finished, the last few spars could be installed. Thomas (2bits) stopped by to check out our teardrop, and gave some additional motivation to get the thing finished (or at least campable.)



I need to skin the interior of the framing and then I can move onto the electrical installation, then insulation, then skining the exterior....

Gig'em, Tom

[S. Heisley]

That Pet Cool tongue box is gonna be "cool"! ...Couldn't resist the pun; but, honestly, it really looks like it will be a nice touch. I can hardly wait to see it finished! You have a beautiful build going, Tom.

[aggie79]

That Pet Cool tongue box is gonna be "cool"! ...Couldn't resist the pun; but, honestly, it really looks like it will be a nice touch. I can hardly wait to see it finished! You have a beautiful build going, Tom.

Thanks for the nice comments, Sharon.

I hope this style of tongue box will look okay. It will be quite a contrast to the aluminum exterior of the teardrop.

Tom