Aluminum body riveted construction

[ssutton]

Newbe here first post. I am wanting to build a ttt with a standard welded steel frame and a fully aluminum body. Currently I own a 1950 Spartan that will one day be a retirement restoration project, but in the mean time my wife and I want to build a smaller tt but construct it like the Spartan is built. The Spartan should serve me well in guiding me in the design and build as it is stripped down to the bare aluminum frame members on the inside. If anybody here has done/attempted/or thought about this I would really appreciate the feedback.

BTW this is a great forum, I have been reading through for the past few days and the information is very insightful. Looking forward to being a part of this great community.


Thank you,
Scott Sutton

[mary and bob]

Our 1946 Modernistic teardrop is all aluminum body put together with aircraft type rivets. Actually it's probably made from leftover war aluminum and built by former aircraft workers.

[alaska teardrop]

Welcome Scott,

As Mary & Bob suggest, Modernistic is an early example. Use the forum 'search'. You'll find many examples of Modernistic construction.

For more recent examples using modern materials, tools & methods:

Meelis in Estonia viewtopic.php?f=50&t=44096

Tom in Bavaria viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54344

My own example viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991

Be sure to start a build thread with pics

Fred

[GuitarPhotog]

My teardrop was built in that manner in 1948, by an unknown builder. I wouldn't do it that way myself because if the almost impossibility of modification once it's built, but that's me. The construction method produced a light, rigid body that has endured 65+ years of use, and mis-use. Some rivets are failing because of galvanic corrosion attacking the aluminum rivets in the steel frame. But other than that, it's as sound today as it was in 1948.

You can see photos of my trailer exterior and interior in my gallery.

<Chas>

[ssutton]

Our 1946 Modernistic teardrop is all aluminum body put together with aircraft type rivets.

Yes, this is the type of construction that our Spartan is made from. Aircraft rivets that are shot and bucked in. I worked at an aircraft manufacturer several years ago as a structural mechanic so I have shot thousands of rivets of this type. Our spartan is 64 years old and does not leak anywhere.

Thanks for the links to the other awesome aluminum builds, very unique construction methods. Lots to learn before I begin.

Scott

[RandyG]

Hey Scott, good to see another AC structures guy around! Just my frame was built using Al and rivets, if ya wanna take a look, link below.

[ssutton]

Hi Randy,
You have a nice build in progress. Looking forward to the completion pics. I worked at http://www.gulfstream.com/ in Savannah Ga. Three years ago I built a CNC router with a vacuum hold down table. The vac hold down allows me to cut all types of sheet stock of wood, plastics, and non-ferrous metals. I plan to use the CNC for the majority of the parts creation in my build. I have never designed and built an aluminum structure so between my spartan, past work experience, and the CNC machine I hope that I can pull it off. Good to know that you are here for any AC structure questions, its been a few years since I was worked in the AC industry and I am likely a little rusty.

Where did you source your rivets? Did you use AN470 mil spec grade for the frame?

Scott

[RandyG]

A cnc would help you a lot, you could cnc the walls, frame, and everything else; then put the pieces together.
My rivets are plain old AD aluminum solids. I borrowed a rivet gun from work and got my wife to shoot while I bucked, well for the ones I couldn't reach both sides.