How long did it take you to finnish

[IraRat]

, and am doing a woody with a trick metal finish on the top skin.

Okay, Doug. Spill the beans:

I'm going woody too, but I'm considering a gold-tinted/brass-tinted alloy aluminum sheet for the roof--if I can find it in .032.

WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THAT CURTAIN OF YOURS!?

[Guest]

Psst... Hey Ira,
Go take a peek for yourself in Doug's Album. (Page Two)
Rotsa-Ruck on getting your roof they way you want it...
I abandoned my roof of choice (copper) because 3 x 8 is the biggest sheet size available here in the states and I didn't want all those seams, so I'm going Full Woody.

[Scooter]

I'm about 85% complete, looks like it'll be about 15 months of 10 hours a week working on it.

That's basically designing as I go, only using the Cubby plans for reference on acceptable build methods.

[shil]

I spent about three months, working evenings and weekends. Mine's not a 'work of art' by any stretch, it's a plywood box on wheels. I used solid 3/4 siding with a sandwich roof, installing the roof from the outside. I built the hatch in place and cut it free when finished. It's glued together with construction adhesive and painted with exterior latex, no high-tech anywhere. The entire production cost about $2000 CDN, including having the frame professionally built. I wouldn't call it cheaply made, just inexpensively.

I love the look of what others are building: beautifully finished galleys, fantastic floating panel cabinet doors, varnished solid wood throughout. I'm just at the other extreme. Works for me!

[TonyCooper]

I started in mid Sept 04 and worked on it on weekends and evenings until mid December 04. Holidays and then my division being sold to another company has almost completely stopped my efforts for now. Working 18 hour days and attending status calls at 3am everyday take a little of the wind out of your sails.

Once my work schedule settles down to 8-10 hours a day, I should be finished in a couple of months.

[IraRat]

Psst... Hey Ira,
Go take a peek for yourself in Doug's Album. (Page Two)
Rotsa-Ruck on getting your roof they way you want it...
I abandoned my roof of choice (copper) because 3 x 8 is the biggest sheet size available here in the states and I didn't want all those seams, so I'm going Full Woody.

I'm there, man! Thanks for the scoop!

[doug hodder]

Hey Ira.... I guess you have seen what I'm doing. I did it this way as having owned a tear 23 years ago, I found that it got pretty beat up on the skin, if I wasn't careful. I figured, why not mark it all up from the get go. I was in contact with the tech guys at Transtar. They are the manufacturers of the clear coat. There is a pre-coat that you can do that will allow you to shoot the clear directly over the aluminum. They tell me that they are doing it on fire trucks and it is holding up well. I think what I am doing isn't necessarily "trick", just different. Some may like it, some may not, it's my tear and I'm gonna do it the way I want, besides, I need all the attention I can get!!!! Also, check out Wrisco, they make the material that you are looking for in anodized sheets, I think that you may have to order it through someone though. I know that a sign company can get it for you. Just my thoughts.....Doug Hodder

[metoady]

iv got about 6 hours in to my build ,thatsjust the frame,
but im doing it at work so im geting payed to build it...lol

[IraRat]

Hey Ira.... I guess you have seen what I'm doing. I did it this way as having owned a tear 23 years ago, I found that it got pretty beat up on the skin, if I wasn't careful. I figured, why not mark it all up from the get go. I was in contact with the tech guys at Transtar. They are the manufacturers of the clear coat. There is a pre-coat that you can do that will allow you to shoot the clear directly over the aluminum. They tell me that they are doing it on fire trucks and it is holding up well. I think what I am doing isn't necessarily "trick", just different. Some may like it, some may not, it's my tear and I'm gonna do it the way I want, besides, I need all the attention I can get!!!! Also, check out Wrisco, they make the material that you are looking for in anodized sheets, I think that you may have to order it through someone though. I know that a sign company can get it for you. Just my thoughts.....Doug Hodder

Doug, you got a different shot that you can post here of it? I really didn't see the good shot of the roof. (I was/am at work and I'm exhausted, so maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.)

I saw what you're doing with your countertops, which is really cool. I'm not going to do your finish, but you definitely pointed me in the direction to use stainless or other metal as much as possible for galley surfaces. I expect there's gonna be a lot of cleanup necessary there, with grease, smoke, etc., and using an easy wipe material there makes sense.

And I just went to Wrisco.com. GREAT STUFF! Thanks for the tip. (Don't know prices yet--wating for a call-back.)

[bigmcgiv]

i got about 20 hours in and i have a bare pop-up frame and starting to extend the frame and relocate the axle. 15 hours to tear the pop-up off and to tear it apart so i could get rid of it.

[mikeschn]

How long does it take to build a teardrop? That depends on the model and the complexity.

Teardrop #1 took me roughly 200 hours.


Teardrop #2 took me roughly 260 hours


Teardrop #3 I expect will take a person about 60 hours due to the simplified construction and finishing.


I built the prototype for the Weekender last Saturday in about 1/2 a day...
Some more details here... http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=571

So depending on what you are planning on building, I would figure on allowing yourself 6 months if you work on weekends, and take a few weekends off!

Mike...

[larryl]

Bought the "Cubby" plans in Feb. Working evenings and some week-ends
I estimate 5-6 mos. My problem is I keep adding new features and changing the design as I progress.

LarryL

[roadtrippin]

Well, we are still in design stage and that was kind of bolluxed up when wife had to fly to Boston on business. I think we are doing everything ourselves, including building trailer *sigh*. In fact, the whole list thus far is on my blog. Her son has a TIG welder and a mechanical engineering degree. It is tough when the two of them are together. Their conversations are usually at least 20 feet over my head.

I don't work so I can devote quite a bit of time to this effort. As long as the wife does the hard parts...I can sand and finish and stuff.

[doug hodder]

Hey Ira, I only used stainless on the counter top because of the things that you mentioned. You can get a spray that will allow you to wipe stainless down and it'll look great. I only used aluminum with the same finish on areas that aren't going to be a clean up problem. Just about any cleanser will tarnish aluminum, and any abrasive material will screw up the finish. but the stainless will be ok. Windex, soap and water and a stainless spray coating will take care of any stains..my scuff finish aluminum will be coated out with automotive clear coat. I'm sure that there are some builders out there that think I'm nuts, but it's just what I wanted to do............ doug Hodder

[Coca Cola Teardrop]

It took us about 5 months to build the Coca Cola Teardrop.
Charles built the frame for tear #2 on April 15th and I think we will be finished by May 31st. Hoping so anyways, this will give us rest time before heading to Minden.
Linda
Coca Cola Teardrop