Sorry Bill....haven't put up many pics, it's been slow, which is kind of surprising since I've been working on it every weekend since I got it into the garage back in Nov. I have not missed a weekend and most start about 4:30 AM on at least Sat. I guess it kinda comes down to...I got a body that needed a bunch of work and some windows which also needed a bunch of work. I'd like to find something that didn't need all the work, but that's what you get when you find a 300$ trailer. Everything else is new and there is no plan other than what I've got cooked up in my head. I had a tough time trying to get 13 sheets of 1/8" birch as only about 9 had a decent match. It's all pre-wired, insulated and the interior skin is in. Lots of time was spent installing nailer strips to accept the cabinetry that I'm going to install. It had an aluminum interior skin originally so they just sunk a screw into it, wherever they wanted...most had torn loose so I decided that it needed something more substantial.
There are very few of these trailers around anymore, and I'm a firm believer that the reason why is that they weren't built really well. A poor frame design, and not weather proof to speak of at all. but hey...it was 1947. I'll go out on a limb here and state that I'm willing to bet that there isn't one that has been gone through like this one has. I've found a number of them , but many are patched up trailers.
The front and rear caps, (in cream) get cabinets, the mismatching interior skin panels get covered up with cabinets. I managed to get at least the 2 side cabinets fabbed up with the doors this weekend. I'm doing a rail and stile type end on them and on the doors as well. Rail and stile in a curve is a real hassle and I learned a lot on that portion. I used a Varathane finish on the interior skin so it's real durable, no stain on it.
My neighbor who just finished up his "57 Corvette trailer is an electronic hobbiest. He installed an alarm system in his and we picked up an old Viper unit from E-bay and modified it for mine. If it's moved, or glass broken it goes off. There seems to be more and more of the older trailers getting stolen, don't know if it will deter anything as if they want it they'll get it. I'd like to think that I at least had something to discourage theft. He also found a 1946 Majestic radio that we are restoring to put in it as well. It's really cool, has a bakelite walnut cabinet!
I did get the 2 fixed windows installed permanently, side door and rear. Should have the floor prepped and ready for the Marmoleum install in the next week or so. Did the final fit up on the door and got the jamb drilled out for the latch.
The plan is, since it's in the garage and it's too hard to tent, I'm going to set up my EZ up in the driveway and make a spray booth out of it. That way I can spray all the cabinetry. Bet the neighbors will enjoy that...at least it's not acrylic urethane.
Here's the interior skin, once all the cabinetry is installed, trim strips will finish it off:
Cabinet ends:
My cabinet look...not finished but mocked up.
Here's the look with the door installed, door assist handle was scrounged off a 1957 Mercury.
Thanks for reading!
by KCStudly » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:54 am 
Wonderful!
This could end up being a "keeper" for you, Doug.
