And so it begins!

[2old2tent]

I have memorized all of Steve's ideas on the Puffin and will now steal them for my own use.
I'm building on an old Starcraft pop-up frame 6'-3"x9'-10" so slightly different dims than Steve, but the same general profile.
I have stripped off the old deck and added a new dropped floor at the entry.


I had the idea to check out a recycling place in Lawrence the other day and came across an old TT with cool windows in it. I was able to get four good windows and an extra for parts. They sold by wieght, 44 pounds at 10 cents a pound. Now I can finish designing the frame work for the sides and get going on this thing.


Thanks for the great thread on the Puffin Steve.

Jack

[Miriam C.]

Wow! Great find on the windows! Maybe I need to visit my kids. Looks like you have a great foundation for a comfey camper..

[2old2tent]

Aunti M, there were a couple of other old campers there with windows still in them but none with the five panels. All but one of the screens were good also. Half an hour of sweat and $4.40 later I was real happy.
They had a sign up that the lot would be off limits after November 1st, better just send the kids over to strip them all out!

Jack

[steve wolverton]

I have memorized all of Steve's ideas on the Puffin and will now steal them for my own use.

Hehe! Way cool!

[2old2tent]

The walls are up.

Ana one.

Ana two!

Maybe outer skin this weekend.

[Miriam C.]

Way to go Jack. You need to get that thing done before winter so we can all find a campground. Too hot right now.

[2old2tent]

Who is this "all" you speak of Aunti M?
Where in the Southwest are you?
There are a few places between here and there that I can think of.

We are hoping to get it usable by the 2nd weekend in September. Water resistant and a bed platform at least. And lights of course.

[2old2tent]

And then there were spars.

[steve wolverton]

Looking good. What size spars are you using?

[2old2tent]

Those are 2" x 2" 's Steve. I went with 1/4" ply outside, 1" x 2" framing and I will use 1/4" for the roof. The pop-up has a 4" deep perimeter frame and I have 3/4" ply for my dropped floor. That will give me a finished inside height of 5'-11 1/2". I'm 5'-10" so I will be able to just clear the ceiling.

I really appreciate how thoroughly you documented the Puffin build.

I will come up with my own name. Can't steal everything from you, can I?

[steve wolverton]

That will give me a finished inside height of 5'-11 1/2". I'm 5'-10" so I will be able to just clear the ceiling.

I really appreciate how thoroughly you documented the Puffin build.

I will come up with my own name. Can't steal everything from you, can I?

Nice.

I only have about 1" of clearance when standing in my dropped floor, and it's plenty. I think you'll really appreciate the ability to change clothes while standing up inside your camper.

The documentation of the Puffin is a bit scattered at the moment. I was supposed to start cleaning it up last week, but never got around to it. I'm enjoying camping too much at the moment.

I'm enjoying watching your camper come together. I remember how exciting it was to get it into 3D. I'm guessing you're going to install the roofing next? Keep us posted!

[2old2tent]

I'm enjoying watching your camper come together. I remember how exciting it was to get it into 3D. I'm guessing you're going to install the roofing next? Keep us posted!

I hope to get the roof done this weekend.
Some minor deviations from the Puffin will be the bed, no dinette for now. She who will be obeyed has made that decision. Also I'm running the front cabinet all the way across, no bathroom/closet for now. I am going to build the cabinet in two sections so I can easily add the bathroom later. Same thing for the bed/dinette.

Next stop, Home Depot for more ply and a flush cut bit for the router. I'll have to be nice to the wife and get her to run the router for me (it's her router anyway). That's one tool that I'm not real comfortable using with one hand.

[Wolffarmer]

Hello

I am using a 7 pain window from a 1955 Shasta I ripped apart over 25 years ago. I knew it might come in handy some day. It looks a like yours. I came across this sight for window parts that might be usefull. http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/ I haven't ordered anything from them yet.

And more about that 55 Shasta. I took the cabin down to the floor and used that as a utility trailer around the farm for a few years. Then when I quit farming I took the floor off and built a motorcycle hauling trailer of a rather unique design. The bike rides only about 9 inches above the road. Makes it very easy for one person to load/unload it. I still have it and I also built a cargo hauling box to go on it. It is 4'x4'8'. A square teardrop. Man that is hard to pull into a wind.

[2old2tent]

Great link Wolffarmer.
My windows have the torpedo cranks on them. I got all the good ones. Which was only one extra.

There wasn't any name on the old TTT that I got the windows out of, I should of gotten a picture of it and Gage or someone probably could have ID'd it.

I used that old pop-up trailer as a flatbed for awhile then I ran across this site and it's fate was sealed.

[2old2tent]

Got the roof on this morning.


I thought the safest place to store the windows would be the wall. Plus I wanted to see how they looked. What do you think?


Next will be building a bed frame and a door. So far so good.