The Astroliner

[Atomic77]

OP I agree... Setting up a Homestead isn't easy but we're getting there! Too many projects! And Hoosier... Phil's son is carrying on the family name, in a new store out west of town. In a shopping plaza. But it's far from the place that you and I know and love. I went there twice, didn't like it either time and started buying my stuff online. Sad, really.

Have to say, you have done great work on your trailer. Can't wait to see it get finished but I understand the remodel. I'm in the middle of adding a bathroom to our house. Just a note, Phils on Clinton is still open. I buy all my cyanoacrylate (super glue) from them to use as a finish on the pens I make. My father in law used to work there.

Yes I've been there when necessary. Still makes me sad because the Lakeside area store was always my store. And I worked there part time as well to buy boat parts at a discount!

[tawright915]

Today we decided to go ahead and trim the Filon on the wall before we move on to the next one. So we shaped the edges and cut out the window and hatches with the router.

Okay I gotta ask some questions here. You see I'm ready to build the walls for my camper, and I still have not ordered my skin, which according to Frank at Vintage Tech can make a difference when determining the width of my wall and the proper trim ring.
So I decided to go with Filon, and have been watching your build very close.
1. Now that your trailer has sat for a while is the filon still holding up?
2. Did you have to paint it or could you have left it as the white color you got it.
3. In your build journal, did you mention how you were going to attach your wall to the floor? If so can you post that link? And as follow up to that, when you trimmed out the filon, did you leave some extra along the bottom to cover the floor edge, or did you make your floor so that the wall would rest on the frame of the trailer?

Sorry for so many questions

Tom

[Atomic77]

Tom...
Sorry for the delay, hope I can answer your questions. Here are a few pictures of the walls going up. The wall sides are extended
6" below the floor, to (a) cover the floor and exposed frame and (b) to give the illusion that the coach is sitting lower than she really is. I saw a lot of coaches that sat so high or you could see the frame. I don't like either. To secure the walls to the floor, I bolted and glued (Hysol) 2x2 cleats to the walls, then raised the walls and
let them set on the cleats. I again used Hysol to glue and bolt the cleats to the floor and through the frame. For me, Filon is the way to go if you do it right. I would use the red contact cement process just to simplify your life. Vacuum bagging and epoxy is a more advanced and complicated process and I'm not convinced the extra labor and expense is any better. If anything, I think it only opens doors to other problems. The white gelcoat finish is beautiful if you use mouldings. In my case I moulded all the seams with carbon fiber so painting was inevitable. Hope this helps, let me know if you need more details to help with your process.

[OP827]

Michael, what is Hysol?

[Atomic77]

OP...
Hysol is a two-part thixotropic paste adhesive made by Loctite. We use in the building stages of a hydroplane. The failure rate, product related or in a crash is nill.

Michael

[OP827]

Looks like a specialty epoxy compound, is it this one - https://tds.us.henkel.com/NA/UT/HNAUTTDS.nsf/web/B799DFAF003E5CFC882571870000DAFB/$File/LOC%20PE%203141-3160-EN.pdf ?

[Atomic77]

Sorry, the link doesn't work for me

Michael

[OP827]

The product number is Hysol® Product 3141/3160 from the product datasheet from the link.

[Atomic77]

Yes that's it. Pretty amazing stuff. Perfect for bonding dissimilar materials. Fiberglass/wood or aluminum/fiberglass, etc.

Michael

[Atomic77]

Today I took a break from working on the house and I made the trip down to work on the Astroliner. My brother and I finished the wiring that needed to be tucked neatly into the walls. After that we spent several hours on the custom porthole windows. I have looked forever for vented port hole windows but the best I could do was 10 inch. So I came up with the idea to custom make 16 inch Windows but I wasn't quite sure how to install them. My brother's idea was to use weatherstrip like the type that secures windshield glass in a street rod. I wasn't convinced it would work but after some trial and error and a steep learning curve we got those babies in. Once installed, I framed the windows with three-quarter inch plywood, some staples and epoxy. Next came the walls, which definitely have a custom look. When you look at the pictures, keep in mind that most of the walls are going to be covered either by seating, upholstery, Cabinetry, countertops etc. The black panels will not be seen at all, as they are all behind seating, behind cabinets or under the bed. The contrasting colors in the back will be separated by tiny walls and Cabinetry. So don't get too caught up in the drastic contrast right now. Once everything is installed there will be a distinct definition between the front of the cabin and the rear of the cabin where the bedroom is. That's all for now. Hopefully in a few weeks I can get back down and do a little more. Thanks for following!










Michael

[OP827]

Lots of progress made for just one trip and great looking round windows!

[Atomic77]

Thanks!

Michael

[KCStudly]

It is going to be epic!

[Atomic77]

Thanks KC. Slowly but surely

Michael

[Atomic77]

Something I forgot to mention... There was much debate about how to install and secure the wall panels. I just couldn't bring myself to drill a bunch of holes in them and use fasteners of some sort. So the final decision was made to use 3M VHB tape. It's am amazing bond that's invisible with no holes! Good stuff.

Michael