Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[KCStudly]

One of the reasons I chose to use thin ply interior skins was to avoid the issues with trying to balance canvas shrinkage (cupping and warping) between inside and out, as well as the issue of trying to apply skin after the box is up. I'm just starting to prep for applying my inner skins "in the flat" on the work bench. Stay tuned to TPCE.

[GPW]

There ya’ go !!! No Rules eh !!! Build what you Think is right for you .... if you’re in doubt , do some “testing” on scraps ... It’s the "foamling” way ...
Thing is to Read what Everybody else has done and learn from their builds what method applies to your particular needs/skills/tools... We’ve All learned a whole lot about Foamies over the past couple years ... learned by doing ... why not benefit from that vast collective experience... most everything works , just choose what method you want to build ... Simple !!!

[Wobbly Wheels]

I read a boatbuilder's forum as well and there was some talk on there a while ago about using ripstop as a finishing layer for fiberglass. I would expect that the fabric is available untreated and ought to be cheaper to buy that way.

Here's a pic of Big Mike's sidewall bowed from canvassing only one side. I don't recall if it pulled out when the other side was done, or if he made it that far.


He said the warp was more pronounced in person. I wouldn't expect nylon to shrink at all and would be lighter than canvas. Being so much thinner, it ought to cover more complex curves as well, though I would think you'd need to make relief cuts and darts (like with glass cloth) because it wouldn't shrink and stretch like canvas.

I haven't used either so I can't say for sure - just kickin the can around.

[GPW]

Just sayin’ ... that bow doesn’t look so bad to me and might have relaxed a bit under the summer Sun/heat ...

[couponjnp]

Hi GPW,

I agree with you and I am planning to use canvas for my future build unless I come up with thriftier method. The rip-stop nylon I bought last time was a foot by whatever width (4'?? / 5'??) they sell and I paid 12.60 CAD (in Vancouver, BC). So, it isn't thrifty at all for me (agreed that I didn't shop around and tried to find cheaper deal).

JNP

[GPW]

If you ever think what we do with foam is crazy ... look what the Foamie plane guys are doing.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Mf6UKjk4_E

[Wobbly Wheels]

While we're on the topic of odd R/C aircraft, have you seen the Orville Copter ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kslv7l75jQ
This one's a classic.
Hmmm...maybe cover the FS with fur ?

[GPW]

I dunno’ ... being an animal lover , that seems pretty “sick” The Dutch ...? artists??? What tha' (your word here ) ? There seem to be limits to good taste eh ???

[Wobbly Wheels]

Meh, it's just a cat - they deserve whatever they get.


KIDDING !!

It's odd for sure but I don't find it particularly offensive or malicious, personally. People get their pets stuffed all the time.
Given that this was his cat and it was hit by a car, this project might have helped him get over it.

[GPW]

Back to canvas .... we’ll be ready for that soon .... I haven’t bought any yet ... hoping to find a “deal” ... but nothing worthwhile has turned up yet ... may have to resort to ordering over the net ... Trying to go with the heaviest canvas I can find ... better to hide the imperfections in the beaded foam , and stronger too ... Guess I’ll be purchasing the normal widths (thriftier) and just applying it in layers ... much as I did with the first Foamie ... to prevent fraying of the edges , will use that thinned glue trick on the cut lines ...The seams don’t bother me at all , but loose threads drive me Crazy ...

Is there a consensus on who has the best canvas deals ???

[tac422]

GPW,
I've been folllowing your thread with interest as I am getting ready to canvas a foamie ...
How will you be applying the paint (are you using Gripper ?) and canvas ?
I thought I read whwere you were going to use unsized canvas and utilize the shrinking to hold everything together under tension ?
Most of the ways I've seen so far, apply a coat of paint, then apply the canvas, let dry, and then another coat ...
wouldn't this mean the canvas would shrink on top of the foam with no tension ?
I was thinking about using unsized canvas, and securing it in place (wrapped around a board held in place under the trailer), applying paint, letting it dry, and then removing the boards. That should put the canvas under tension from the sizing, and hold it in place. But I'm concerned about full penetration of the paint under the canvas....

[GPW]

Tac, the regular method works Fine ... there is such a thing as too much shrinkage ... Just a little bit is Nice !!! I paint the glue/paint/primer on , then stretch the slightly dampened canvas over that carefully pulling out any wrinkles ... trim the edges and glue those down too .... then let it dry ... The glue will shrink slightly as it loses it’s water content , and the canvas will follow ... and once you paint on top of that too , the paint does the same thing , so you get a little more shrinkage , providing a nice tight skin ... but not too tight ... ...

[Mary C]

Tac, What no pictures ??? We like to see the methods and the work. you can explain all day how to do something but one of us learns by Seeing, Welcome to the forum. Do you have you a build thread? Don't worry I have to read the answers too. it won't be long till I am at that stage. applying canvas.


Mary C.

[GPW]

Just sayin' , on page 22 of my album ... it shows how I applied my canvas ... FWIW!!!

[kudzu]

Just sayin' , on page 22 of my album ... it shows how I applied my canvas ... FWIW!!!

Why yes, you do. Look at that. OK, I am still only 1/3 of the way through the this thread, starting from the beginning. I read a bit more each evening. Clearly tonight I will have to peruse through your entire album more. Already on page 6, I think, I found exactly the idea I think I need for the first foamie I want to build on BIL's little landsacpe trailer. Do you mind if I steal this idea? Had envisioned different ways to accomplish extending the camper out over the side rails. Your design looks like a much lighter & likely sturdier way to accomplish that.

http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image_page.php?album_id=1860&image_id=87961