Woody or retro paint still, opinions please

[Graniterich]

While I continue to look for work, (Nobody seems to want a 59 year old programmer!), I am building another teardrop to pay the bills. I have built one woody, two with retro paint, and five all aluminum. The aluminum drives costs way up do to materials, and after market doors, and takes longer if I build doors. I live in southern California, weather is really not a problem. My wife doesn't care for my own woody, likes the painted one. So which do you prefer? Want to hear from the gals as well, so if you all would chime in, I would appreciate it.

Rich

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[TheOtherSean]

Sorry about the job thing. My employer's been laying off programmers of all ages. I'm lucky (I think) I still have job. I've had to say goodbye to people I've worked with for years.

[minstrel]

My preference of the two is the retro paint.

[PKCSPT]

I think they are both beautiful. The woody would hide better in the woods which would be my tie breaker.

[JaggedEdges]

Sounds like you won't have a lot of wiggle room on an aluminum one, pricing wise, on the other hand Cali does like it's shiny airstreams.

If you're calling it "work" though, you don't wanna be building one, more like 3 at once, so while glue drying on one, your hands are busy.

Just a thought though, you are putting all your OLD stuff on the resumes right? My wife got hired the other year from the grep of the resumes finding MS-DOS on there, because their systems were still command line based and they wanted someone not afraid of it.

[Graniterich]

I am putting all old stuff on resume. No more aluminium, unless a firm buyer request it. Building one at a time, because of searching for work is very time consuming, and also brushing up/learning more Web based programming. Thank you all for feed back. Seems like retro colored is more popular, but keep opinions coming! Maybe red bottom color in the mix

[Brushy_Bill]

If I had a woodie, it would have to have a darker stain on it. But still
kind of have a problem with them.

The problem I have with the wood ones is, a lot of them look like a sheet
of plywood. ( good reason for that, I know)
I think they should have trim installed of a different color stain,
like on a Slumbercoach, to help break it up.
That will add a considerable amount of labor and materials.
Or, even better, siding from thin tongue and groove hardwood like used
in floors. Covering that sheet of plywood. Again, not cheap.

I have always liked the "retro" paint designs. Especially with some art deco stripes/designs.
That green and white looks good to me. Even though it is straight up Shasta.

Can't understand why folks don't hide those piano hinges on the doors though.
I am sure it can't be easy to router out the clearances needed for them.
I know I would be scrapping several pieces trying to get one right before
I cut the actual door and wall. Or, go with a pair of offset hinges.


Hate to go off subject, are those two shown four foot wide?
It looks like I will be using a four foot wide design for my first build.
Mainly due to budget. The design I have has more room than the backpacking
tents I have used the last 30 years or so.
Mostly solo trips, when my friend goes with me on occasions, she is about 4'11" we have not
had much of a problem in my tents.
It will be painted.

Sorry to ramble, I did like seeing your post, thanks.

[Graniterich]

Sounds like you won't have a lot of wiggle room on an aluminum one, pricing wise, on the other hand Cali does like it's shiny airstreams.

If you're calling it "work" though, you don't wanna be building one, more like 3 at once, so while glue drying on one, your hands are busy.

Just a thought though, you are putting all your OLD stuff on the resumes right? My wife got hired the other year from the grep of the resumes finding MS-DOS on there, because their systems were still command line based and they wanted someone not afraid of it.

You have really made me think about building more than one at a time, I know in my heart I could do them much faster. You pushed me over the edge, scary is it is I am going for it! Screw the big business that doesn't want experience vs younger folks. Thank you very much, I think

[Brushy_Bill]

You have really made me think about building more than one at a time,

if you have the room to work on more than one, why not? I can't imagine them not selling.

[GPW]

We let the customer decide on the paint job .... CUSTOM !!! It’s a major enticement to buy ....

[PaulaB]

I prefer the retro over the wood because the wood grain looks like plywood. I would like the wood better if using different wood grains and mixing a light stain with dark stained trim. Oh and by the way, I think a red and white retro would be a quick sell. They are really sharp looking and sell very well here in the east. We see plenty of red little guy/silver shadow, Riverside retro and the reproduced scotty out this way.

We have a white silver shadow and I have used red and white as the theme colors along with a red tent and it gets all kinds of looks when we are out.

[PaulaB]

I just loaded a pic as my avatar. We tow this TD with a red vehicle. The curtain on the tent window(which can't be seen in this pic) is more of the red and white stripe fabric and the galley is decked out with red too. I want to add vintage decals in red or red white and blue to finish off the exterior decor of the TD. Thinking about a patriotic theme. We are still working on the add ons and I haven't gone by the shop here in town to see what they have to choose from for the exterior. Anyway, the point is that we have people come by our campsite to comment on the red and white. It catches their eye and they like it. Hope that helps!