The Astroliner

[dales133]

Starting to look prey finished! I like the look of the belly pan

[Atomic77]

Thanks Dale... I know it doesn't look like much but it's what's underneath that is the impressive part! lol! I do like the fact that it's just clean and simple. I looked at the design of the T@B's and I just didn't like it. It incorporated a plastic/fiberglass rear bumper panel and the underside actually looks unfinished. This way it's just plain, clean and simple...

[Ned B]

man, until that pic of you sanding that seam, I didn't have the scale of your trailer. It is looking fantastic!

[Atomic77]

man, until that pic of you sanding that seam, I didn't have the scale of your trailer. It is looking fantastic!

Thanks Ned... See, that's what happens when you get a woman involved in your project. It has grown in size substantially since the original inception. The Galley came inside, the Washroom and Head as well, the Dinette is separate from the Bed...I can walk around without ducking and put on my pants standing up. And now on a rainy day I can sit at the table and drink coffee while she takes a nap. It's a lot bigger than I originally imagined... but now I can't imagine it any different. The size just feels right...

[OP827]

Most important is the right size, I agree and she looks gorgeous. Could you share a phot how you did the stabilizing jacks, or maybe refer me to your post on that?
Thanks, great job!

[Atomic77]

Most important is the right size, I agree and she looks gorgeous. Could you share a phot how you did the stabilizing jacks, or maybe refer me to your post on that?
Thanks, great job!

I really didn't have a post on the jacks...and there really wasn't much to it. I just decided where I wanted them, and I welded a piece of C-channel in the corner of the frame. I originally thought I would just weld them on, but I decided if, God forbid, I drive off and forget to put them up, or damage them in some other way, I needed to be able to remove and replace easily. So I just drilled holes in the C-channel, and bolted them in place. Very simple really...

[OP827]

Most important is the right size, I agree and she looks gorgeous. Could you share a phot how you did the stabilizing jacks, or maybe refer me to your post on that?
Thanks, great job!

I really didn't have a post on the jacks...and there really wasn't much to it. I just decided where I wanted them, and I welded a piece of C-channel in the corner of the frame. I originally thought I would just weld them on, but I decided if, God forbid, I drive off and forget to put them up, or damage them in some other way, I needed to be able to remove and replace easily. So I just drilled holes in the C-channel, and bolted them in place. Very simple really...

Bolting the jacks is a good call. Thanks for details.

[Atomic77]

It was bodywork weekend at the shop. Carrie and I worked on getting the body ready for the Filon that will go on the roof in the next couple weeks. We spent a lot of time just working out little kinks and smoothing things out. Carrie spent the day on Saturday fitting all the interior panels inside. Four sheets of Luan make up the interior walls on each side. Most of the wiring is done that goes inside the walls, so once the exterior is wrapped up the interior panels will be ready to finish and paint. I kept tossing around ideas for the license plate holder/bracket... and I finally decided that frenching was the only way to go. So I cut the hole and built a box. I used epoxy to glue everything in place, then some filler to finish it all out. Because the final piece of Luan at the rear was so narrow, it didn't make the bend as well as I would have liked for it to. So I had to do some body work there as well to finish out the curve. We're so close now to gluing Filon on the roof.

[daveesl77]

You are building a true work of art and a really usable trailer! You and KC are putting the level of quality so high that none of us stand a chance any more.

dave

[OP827]

It looks like a car finish before paint, wow! Maybe I missed it, but what kind of filler are you using?

[Atomic77]

Thanks guys. The filler I use (and its all I use) is 3M Platinum Filler. There will be guys that say you cannot use filler over wood. Well I am here to tell you that you absolutely can. I actually have projects that I used this filler on, that I primed and painted with automotive paint and you would never know that it is wood underneath. Looks like a fiberglass piece. We use it at the boat shop to build plugs for molds. And it has held up great over the years. I definitely would not use regular old bondo or any kind of cheap filler over wood without expecting some kind of irregular failure. But if you use high end, 3M Platinum you will never have a problem. Also, it is wonderful for radiuses, small curves, tiny nooks and crannies that you have to get in tight to sand. It sands absolutely like butter. It is very high quality and rather pricy. Honestly I could cover the entire body with this filler, sand and prime it, then paint it with no worries. But covering it with Filon is a lot less work!

[dales133]

Looking great Micheal I'm loving this thing!

[Atomic77]

Thanks Dale!

[OP827]

Thanks guys. The filler I use (and its all I use) is 3M Premium Filler. ...

Thanks for the info Michael. Is it this stuff - http://www.westmarine.com/buy/3m--marine-premium-filler--P004_120_005_002?

[KCStudly]

Nice to have eager and skilled help. Keep digging, she's looking good.