L'Escargot

[Steven.Cox]

Hi Steven,

For some reason I was strangely drawn to this thread. Looking forward to more photos and details of your build.

Yes, I think it was a Steve thing!!!

I love the way you did your profile, There is nothing wrong with calculating things out and doing measurements, and graphs and stuff if you are into geometry and you enjoy that sort of thing, but I am going to do something similar, I want a pointy rear with enough space to put my AC in the wall halfway back, those two criteria will determine the profile, and will be accomplish in similar fashion, i.e. of my own creation

Keep it up and we'll be watching the progress!!!

When I was bending the wood, it created curves that were more natural and consistent than when I tried drawing different ellipses that fit correctly. I was looking for something that was asymmetrical and had a curve that constantly changed. And I kind of wanted it to look like a snail.

[Steven.Cox]

You can do all the calculations you want to; but, if it doesn't look good, you won't be happy. It looks like you figured out a nice profile.

Abby has a nice smile. She must have been enjoying that beer with you and your neighbor. Just one beer between the three of you?

I am happy with the profile now. I had to get my mind around the idea that these teardrops are as individual and unique as a fingerprint, and that there are no real right or wrong ways to do this... just different ways. It is sort of liberating.

[Martinup]

Then . . . GO ESCAR ESCAR GO !

I Love Escargo. . . You'll have to consider finding some good pictures online or some one might suggest a stencil maker who can make up a spray on exterior . . . the whole idea of passing a TD with a giant snail on the side of it will make people look twice at your rig. . . . Maybe some decal maufactureres.


I cant resist what about some funkey wire anteny ( spelling?) ? . . . the skys the limit on who to deck this one out on the final look. Does anyone have a picture of, " Ladybug's " TD.

I like the kiss . . . too much planning takes away from the build time.

Welcome,



Martin

[Steve_Cox]

Then . . . GO ESCAR ESCAR GO !

I Love Escargo. . . You'll have to consider finding some good pictures online or some one might suggest a stencil maker who can make up a spray on exterior . . . the whole idea of passing a TD with a giant snail on the side of it will make people look twice at your rig. . . . Maybe some decal maufactureres.


I cant resist what about some funkey wire anteny ( spelling?) ? . . . the skys the limit on who to deck this one out on the final look. Does anyone have a picture of, " Ladybug's " TD.

I like the kiss . . . too much planning takes away from the build time.

Welcome,



Martin

Did you hear the story about the snail that won the NY Lottery? First thing he did with the money was buy a big stretch limousine and had a big gold "S" put on each side, so when he rode down the street people would say, " Look at that S-Car-Go." groan. just had to get that out of my system.

[campmaster-k]

With the foam core walls - - how are you going to attach the spars to the walls? Is the top going to use the same foam core structure?

[campmaster-k]

I have been experimenting with the new DAP 3.0 door and window sealant. Its DAP s replacement for poly-u in Green California. It is really good stuff and I recommend it highly . Its flexible but firm and sets up fast. Its paintable in 30 mins.

Its oil based and its a huge mess. But it works.

[Steven.Cox]

With the foam core walls - - how are you going to attach the spars to the walls? Is the top going to use the same foam core structure?

I am putting a wood frame around the foam core that I will attach all of the spars to. So it will be foam only in the spots where nothing needs to be attached.

[campmaster-k]

Wise move grasshopper.

[campmaster-k]

Did you go get that trailer yet , Steve? Hmmmm. One day left for the sale price.

[Forrest747]

The foam core cookie cutter method of construction is one i am learning to admire. Wish I had gone that route. 1/8th inch sides on teh next one.

The frame inspector was brutal but it was the mattrress inspector that had issues, even started tearing into it. that side is now at the floor side. who knew that dachs like to dig into things. door are now closed at all times.

Just curious what are your plans for the door.

[Steven.Cox]

The foam core cookie cutter method of construction is one i am learning to admire. Wish I had gone that route. 1/8th inch sides on teh next one.

The frame inspector was brutal but it was the mattrress inspector that had issues, even started tearing into it. that side is now at the floor side. who knew that dachs like to dig into things. door are now closed at all times.

Just curious what are your plans for the door.

Doors? I forgot I needed doors!

Really I am not sure yet. I am going to build them and will have two. I am still trying to figure out the exact detail I am going to use on the lip of the door. The doors will be the same type of foam core construction though. I have to get both sides framed out and then sit in the garage and stare at them until the shape and size of the doors comes to me.

[Forrest747]

I have seen doors as tall as 36 inches and as small as 24. Good advice I got was sit down measure the hips and add 3 to 4 inches. And then measure the torso height and there you go. I did a foor frame on 1/4 inch face and then 1/8 interior with foam as insulation. Avoid the white foam insulation its a mess. I perfer the blue easy to fit it into plave press hard and it leaves an imprint on where to cut. I love it. White bad; colored solid good Have more pics in my albulm. Good luck and we love pictures

[Steven.Cox]

I have seen doors as tall as 36 inches and as small as 24. Good advice I got was sit down measure the hips and add 3 to 4 inches. And then measure the torso height and there you go. I did a foor frame on 1/4 inch face and then 1/8 interior with foam as insulation. Avoid the white foam insulation its a mess. I perfer the blue easy to fit it into plave press hard and it leaves an imprint on where to cut. I love it. White bad; colored solid good Have more pics in my albulm. Good luck and we love pictures

I will check out your album for ideas- great advice on sizing the door. As for the white compressed bead polystyrene foam, I have used it for things in the past and it always ends up looking like a beanbag chair exploded in the garage. That stuff is a nightmare. I found some close-cell foam that seems like it will work. Now the challenge is that I am using baltic birch ply to trim out the edges and it is a tiny bit thinner than the foam. Also, the 1/2" foam is inconstant in thickness. It should really be called "about 1/2 inch thick foam." I figured out I can run it through my surfacer and it fixes it though.

[Steven.Cox]

Then . . . GO ESCAR ESCAR GO !

I Love Escargo. . . You'll have to consider finding some good pictures online or some one might suggest a stencil maker who can make up a spray on exterior . . . the whole idea of passing a TD with a giant snail on the side of it will make people look twice at your rig. . . . Maybe some decal maufactureres.


I cant resist what about some funkey wire anteny ( spelling?) ? . . . the skys the limit on who to deck this one out on the final look. Does anyone have a picture of, " Ladybug's " TD.

I like the kiss . . . too much planning takes away from the build time.

Welcome,



Martin

I do keep thinking about doing something like Gary off of Sponge Bob!

[Steven.Cox]

Time for a wall update...

After I used my new profile template to draw an outline of the profile on a 1/8" ply side, I began piecing together 1/2" Baltic birch plywood (no voids) to form an edge around what will become the profile.

Unglued raw plywood edge.

2012-07-28 16.18.44-small.jpg (65.13 KiB) Viewed 3743 times

My lovely assistant Alana (youngest daughter) cut biscuits in all of the contact points where 1/2" ply touched 1/2" ply. This greatly improved the strength of the sides and made them much easier to move around after the glue dried.

Alana cutting biscuits

2012-07-28 16.36.51-small.jpg (61.47 KiB) Viewed 3743 times

But sometimes mistakes are made...

Oops...

2012-07-28 16.58.38-small.jpg (34.9 KiB) Viewed 3743 times

On to gluing things together.