TERRA6, Van cab and chassis 7*14, 4" Polystyrene

[Terra6]

Gypsy Sunshine is going to be another totally solo build, low budget mostly and built with only a few hand tools.

[Terra6]

Link to Gypsy Sunshine Build Journal FYI

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=73585

[Terra6]

Well hello all my fine foamie friends.
Long time no post. Hope everyone is having a great summer burning in hell. It's hot out there.
Even too hot to camp out in Terra6. Heats up to 85 the other night inside and only cooled down to 82 in the morning even with exterior dips to 50s. Insulation only slows down heat transfer. And that works in both directions. Fyi. Camping out in the tent and is much cooler and comfortable.

So I've picked up a new discovery at Lowe's the other day.
Valspar paint which comes in a high gloss for that shiny OEM look at $32. Going to try it out. While my first time PMF shows many imperfections, going to try gloss to hopefully wash and clean better. Road grime has been sticky and tough to remove. Even at the car wash with foam scrub and power wand.
When it cools down a bit.
If it ever does.

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[Terra6]

Finally got around to painting with the gloss.
1 gallon gave me 2 coats almost.
So far I like it. Had a couple drips that were not super easily removed, the next day with a razor blade. After 24 hrs, paint had adhered well, covered well and was durable. Gives a nice gloss finish for a more pro look and should be much easier to keep clean and wash off road grime. So far, I'd recommend it and the price isn't ridiculous either. Must be up to my 13 or 14 coat on the pmf. Can't see any weave at all now.
It's now an acrylic composite membrane.

Having said that, was backing up hill on muddy terrain and gouged a hole from a cypress tree branch about the size of a golf ball. The acrylic composite membrane flexes but the cotton base is very brittle, stiff and rigid, cracked easily on my EPS.
XPS have more flex and strength of course.
But for all who are wondering, it has surface flex but brittle at the primary cotton layer and I used TB3 on only one side. Past experiment making a pmf cot with cloth and TB2 resulted in stiff and easily ripped glued canvas. Added some strength but was easily torn by hand in one direction. 1x2 weave HF, FYI.
No complaints considering cost and ease of fabrication. But it's not fiberglass.

[Terra6]

And forgot to mention that my 3 yr build anniversary coming up in Nov. Currently 34 months. Due to Covid19, little travel but still continuously outdoors exposed to that brutal SW sun 24/7. Holding up well so far and no complaints. Fresh paint job and looks new again.
Not easy keeping white clean on the road but the new gloss should help allot. Getting my money's worth.

[popper]

Happy anniversary. Longer than many marriages..

Just found this thread, wow. Straight into my short list of favorites.

[ghcoe]

I use semi gloss on my builds. Dull enough to hide imperfections, glossy enough to easily keep clean and look good.

[IrrationalExhuberous]

No pictures of the gloss after application?

[Terra6]

So George, what paint have you been using, cost and qty to complete a teardrop?

Thx for liking my thread and hope you find it helpful.?
Tried to take pics of the gloss but not able to show it with clarity. Here's the latest pic with new design scheme. Retro atomic which is classic and simple in a Thunderbirds are go kind of way. Might add to it tho.

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