Building The Atma Travelear Teardrop

[DMcCam]

Hi KC, Thank you so much, we are doing the best we can with the build. You are correct, we didn't need to kerf the foam insulation because it was easy to bend. We did have to take about 3/16" off the thickness for it to fit. It comes a little thicker than 3/4" and when you add the adhesive layers it's almost 1/4" too thick to fit into 1 1/2". It's amazing how much adhesive you use. The insulation in the roof took about a case and a half of the foam glue and we used over half a gallon of Tightbond II in covering the backside of the exterior walls.

All the best,

Dave

[DMcCam]

I forgot to show you the curtain fabric we found at our local fabric store. It's 50's style barkcloth, cool huh?



Cheers,

Dave

[nevadatear]

Now that is perfect fabric for your time warp mid century build! Where did you find it?

[DMcCam]

Hey Debbie, Found it at Mill End Fabrics. They get this stuff in a few times a year it seems. There was a lot more than we grabbed left on the bolt.

Cheers,

Dave

[nevadatear]

I know the place well. Was just there on sat getting more waterproof fabric for rig bags and a replacement snap for the rock guard. Great find

[DMcCam]

Yep, we missed all of you at the Dam gathering this weekend, but I had a good excuse...We built the hatch!






Here's Dan holding it in place for a happy snap!

Grant Whipp was way too kind and sent me a pattern for his beautiful fenders to see if they'll work.


The curve matched mine so close I was shocked!


The big question is whether there's enough clearance in the front of the fender and where the wheel centers. Thanks again Grant!

More to come!

Dave

[nevadatear]

Looking great Dave! The dam was fabulous, I even won "Cast Iron Chef!' there were 102 trailers and we have a great time. IRG will be here before you know it!

[CliffinGA]

Dave great job on the hatch !! I wish I could get mine even half as nice as that, I'm doing redo #4 this weekend . Keep it up bud!

Cliff

[DMcCam]

Hi Debbie, Yep, IRG is coming fast but I'm on a mission now!

Thanks for the kudo's Cliff! #4...ouch man. I hope it's perfect this time! I've got to add a couple of 1/8" aluminum strips to the outside ribs before I skin them. The ply feels too weak to not spring back to me.

Well today was a good building day. We managed to get the roof on! My Brother Dan did a awesome job belt sanding headliner blocking to match the wall profiles. Then we finish sanded the insulation down to match the curves too. Styrofoam everywhere!


Here's the first sheet of 1/8" birch ply all glued up and stapled.




These are a couple of high shots showing the last 8" ply strip in place.



Now we can put our attention on getting the tongue box lid and galley hatch done. It was so rewarding to have this milestone done today, Wahooooo!!!

Cheers,

Dave

[High Desert]

Congrats on the milestone day Dave! Enjoying watching your dream coming together.

[S. Heisley]

It just keeps getting better! Congratulations on your latest milestone.

[nevadatear]

Wahoo indeed! Something to be said for lousy camping weather. Makes it easier to work on the tear! Can't wait for the next installment on this work of art.

[DMcCam]

Thanks everyone! I just got word from Grant at Lil' Bear, my aluminum is in!!! Now I just have to get it here. Redding is full day round trip from here and I'll need a pretty good size rig, the aluminum package is 5.5' x 12.5' x 3" and the molding is even longer.

Cheers,

Dave

[DMcCam]

Howdy,

I finally got back to the build after 6 weeks of crunch work for Comic Con in San Diego. I'm now a Licensed Disney artist with ACME Archives in LA. Here are a few pics of what I've been up to, building the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a 3D model. This is for a Nautilus Spec Plate and for a series of oil paintings I'm starting preproduction on.


This is the lower forward section.


Above the Wheelhouse.


The tail and screw.


Outside the port Salon View Loge.

So, back to the real world; my Atma Travelear build.


I got the framing for the tongue box lid done. All ready to skin.

We got the tow package on the Element a few weeks ago and I wanted to see how things were matching up.


It looks like we're right on level. Might have to get a smaller tongue jack wheel, there's not much clearance there.






I drilled the electrical hole between the tongue box and the body and fit the two; to my amazement it lined up!


She's starting to look like a real Teardrop trailer now.

I'm picking up all the aluminum from Grant at Lil' Bear tomorrow...I can't wait!!!

Dave

[Oldragbaggers]

Now we understand why your teardrop looks like a work of art. Because you truly are an artist in every sense of the word. Your tear is just beautiful. And congratulations on getting the "roof over your head." That's a great feeling.