Raven's Nest update 12/28/2021

[Staryder61]

Hatch finished skinned yesterday, dried over night and trimmed this morning...



refitted the hatch to check shape... still square with cabin..



really pleased with the recessed lights and license plate area

and the gap for the rubber hatch seal turned out great also, same distance all the way down the edge of the hatch both sides..



Which will make it easy to seal the galley area..

Finally moving along more and more on this drop..

While hatch was off cabin, I worked on installing a wire plug set, to be able to connect and disconnect the lights from the hatch, enabling the removal the hatch and reinstalling it, without difficulty... plug set I used was a 4 pin light wire set used for connecting trailers to vehicles.. worked great being all wires were already color coated

[clamlamp]

[quote="Staryder61"]Hey there Sharon and Paul,, Thank you both.. great to see you both around on here...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll have that one with you Paul.. oh, and BTW,, I'm not late.. I'm fashionably delayed..
I have been watching from the background, just a little.. while not being able to work on ours..
Can always use new ideas that arise on here.. How's that PMF holding up, Paul?

PMF is holding up good! I keep it outside and it gets bird poop on it all the time. The color had changed a little because of residual dirt but I just need to wash it before it starts to look okay. I am going to add brakes to my TD so I'll try to document the process and post it on my build journal.

[Staryder61]

PMF is holding up good! I keep it outside and it gets bird poop on it all the time. The color had changed a little because of residual dirt but I just need to wash it before it starts to look okay. I am going to add brakes to my TD so I'll try to document the process and post it on my build journal.

Glad it is doing good for you and you are enjoying it..
You mentioned adding the brakes,, Are you finding the need for the extra braking power?
Or just want the added security in stopping?
Heat index been between 102 - 107, here lately but working on it during the cooler times of day..
Keep plugging away at it, get it done sooner or later,,

[aggie79]

David,
Fantastic job on the hatch!!! I really like the recessed tail lights. Your teardrop is really coming together nicely.
Take care,
Tom


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Mr. Lahey]

Don't know how I missed your update post. Glad I found it.

Really dig the sunk lights and plate. Gives it a very kool kustom kind of vibe.

[tony.latham]

Hatch finished skinned yesterday, dried over night and trimmed this morning...

Nice job. What's it weigh?

T

[Staryder61]

Thank you, Tom, Mr. Lahey and Tony for still following..
I always liked the Frenching of the lights with the cleanness it added to vehicles.. so figured why not on this too..?

Not sure of the weight of the hatch Tony..
I can raise it comfortably by myself, with out struggling to much.. gas struts will be added later date.. I'm sure

[clamlamp]

PMF is holding up good! I keep it outside and it gets bird poop on it all the time. The color had changed a little because of residual dirt but I just need to wash it before it starts to look okay. I am going to add brakes to my TD so I'll try to document the process and post it on my build journal.

Glad it is doing good for you and you are enjoying it..
You mentioned adding the brakes,, Are you finding the need for the extra braking power?
Or just want the added security in stopping?
Heat index been between 102 - 107, here lately but working on it during the cooler times of day..
Keep plugging away at it, get it done sooner or later,,

I don't think I neeeed the braking power but I want to be able to add stuff later on and not have to worry about brakes. Plus I think I'm over 1500lbs when loaded. Also it's more safe while traveling with my family so better safe than sorry. My wife and I are expecting another girl in Dec so looks like I might have to add a Roof Top Tent in the future.

[Staryder61]

" Clamlamp wrote:

My wife and I are expecting another girl in Dec so looks like I might have to add a Roof Top Tent in the future.


I understand adding the brakes for the extra stopping power, and as you say " Better safe than sorry"
Congratulations on the new little one.. hope everything goes great for your wife, the new baby
and of course you and that precious little one you already have..

[Staryder61]

Wow, we've passed the 2 year mark on this build... and here, I thought I could do it in 5 months....
Well life can do a flip... just never know what to expect... It is what it is......
Health and weather has given us a break here for awhile now... so have had some very needed tear time...
It relaxes me to work on it when I can... so I never give up on it... to much fun to work on it..

I've started working on the outside trim, here it is with some scrap pine fence planks being used to work out all the angles..
figured I'd spare ruining the good wood for this part..
Don't pay any attention to the dates on the pics,, (( haven't been working on this that long )) camera wouldn't reset the date for me..



Tool box on the front of tear and a scrap piece of solid surface counter makes a great work bench...
That tool box also houses the 2 - 6 volt Trojan batteries and smart charger for the camper.. at this time.. and they work great..



Now to start working with the pine for the trim..



All the frame pieces cut for the miters and fitted.

It's amazing how much the little Kreg jig helps on a project like this... I've always used dowels, or biscuits to do joints in cabinets face frames and doors..
Then bought the Kreg kit for this project and amazed with the speed, progress and strength of the joints.. you can create with the jig..






Time to start working out some of the scrolling cuts.. give it some of it's own character..






Well, had a good run while we could working on it.. weather is going to take a change here for awhile.. rain and storms for a few days..
So back in the pole barn she goes for a short time hopefully..

Thanks for checking in...

Happy Thanksgiving, to all that celebrate it..

[S. Heisley]

She's looking good! Stay warm and dry.
The snow is just starting to come down here for a rare, white Thanksgiving in No. California.

[Staryder61]

Thanks Sharon..
It's still coming together.. little here and little there.. it works..
Saw the blue and pink on the radar for that part of Cali..
You stay warm and safe there..
Ours has changed to only 10 % chance of rain for Wednesday.. Then storms later..

[clamlamp]

Glad to see an update! Happy Holidays!

[Staryder61]

Glad to see an update! Happy Holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS..

Thank you,, glad to see you're still around.. Hey, have to get this tear done sometime.. Right??
How else we gonna use it?? How did yours do for this year? Still holding up good? I hope..
Hope you're having a good start to the holidays, my friend.. and that the family is all doing well..

[clamlamp]

Glad to see an update! Happy Holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS..

Thank you,, glad to see you're still around.. Hey, have to get this tear done sometime.. Right??
How else we gonna use it?? How did yours do for this year? Still holding up good? I hope..
Hope you're having a good start to the holidays, my friend.. and that the family is all doing well..

Mine is still good. I added another 100 watt solar panel and permanently mounted them to the roof rack. I finally added the c cabin cabinet fronts. Also I'm adding electric brakes and flipping my axle. I should really do an update. Haha I camped five times this past summer but I just had another daughter so camping has been on hiatus.