My first teardrop - the Kampster, Final Posting

[bbarry]

Hey when Grandma and Grandpa get done building your TD can you send them over to my house???

Its looking good!!!!!

Thanks! Sorry, they're not for loan...we have too many projects going on around here!

Brad

[bbarry]

I haven't posted an update in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been working. Really!

Sometimes my teardrop shop turns into a quick lube, a barbershop, or yesterday, a mower repair shop:



1/2" foam insulation installed between spars and foil-backed bubble wrap stapled over the top.




Grandpa looking through the "windshield" as he calls the front shelf:



Outer skin attached on front and roof. Before door modification...



...and after.


Grandpa and I putting the finishing touches on the hatch framing:



Today, I epoxied the edges. I'll wait til that cures and sand down the filler in some of my screw holes before coating the entire thing in as much epoxy as I have left. If I don't have enough to do all the surfaces, I'll varnish over the top of the whole thing before installing the aluminum skin.

This was an expensive week! $300+ for trim, windows, misc from Grant, $350 for sheet aluminum and random flat stock from Metals USA, $70 to McMaster-Carr, $45 for stainless steel screws, and $35 to Harbor Freight. In for a penny, in for a pound I guess. I can't stop now...

The race is on to ITG3...I'm sure I won't have cabinets or a galley, but hopefully the exterior will be more or less complete. Hope to see some of you there (and pick up ideas for the galley!).

Brad

[Miriam C.]

Wood and aluminum expensive---time building with Grandpa----priceless memory to pass to your children.

Looks like you might make it to ITG........

[hiker chick]

Looking terrific!

I've often wished I'd known about teardrops when my Papa was still alive. He was a great woodworker and we would have had a blast doing such a project together.

I never would have sold it, that's for sure.

[2bits]

Hey Brad, I guess I have been out of the loop because I had not seen your build until today I just read al 10 pages and you have really ramped up very nicely! It looks great!

[bbarry]

Aunti M - you're right, I could never put a pricetag on this!

Hikerchick - I have to make it how I like it now, 'cause I can't ever sell it...

Thomas - Thanks! I've read most all of your build and poked around the Woodyard. My favorite part is your logo...that's the coolest!

Brad

[Duane King]

Brad,
I just read all 10 pages of your build record. Looks like you are doing a fine job. You are very lucky to have your grandpa helping out. Making lots of great memories. . .

Good luck on the rest!

[bbarry]

Duane - Thanks!

The weather turned today and we had a beautiful 85 degrees with sunny skies. Drove into Wichita to pick up the aluminum from Metals, USA. QUICK PLUG: These guys were great to work with. They are an industrial supplier, but never once did they make me feel like I was wasting their time. For my little order of 1 5x12, 1 5x10, 2 4x10 sheets of aluminum, they built a skid, wrapped each piece in corrogated paper, protected each edge with heavy cardboard, and bound it all to the skid. Then when I showed up with just my pickup truck, they happily donated two extra pallets to build up the floor so we could set the 5' wide skid over my wheel wells. All this plus several 12' pieces of flat stock for other areas on the trailer for $340 including tax. I'm a self-described cheapskate, but this was a real value.




It was also a Christmas day. A McMaster-Carr delivery arrived with my plastic hinge and a number of small electrical items. Also, stainless steel screws arrived. I ordered #6 round head screws with a square drive. My hope is that they will look like rivets when installed.



Other progress for the day included a second coat of epoxy on the seams and a first coat over the roof. It's amazing how much further the epoxy spreads when squeegeed on rather than brushed. I didn't think I'd have enough to cover the entire trailer, but now it looks like I'll have plenty.

The hatch is now skinned and epoxied. I'll get pictures tomorrow.

It's all coming together...I'm getting excited!

Brad

[Miriam C.]

Three cheers to the aluminum supplier. You are moving wonderfully along!

[Duane King]

I had a similarly positive experience when I drove down to LA and bought the aluminum for my tear. I actually slept in my van in the parking lot of the supplier so that I could pick my stuff up first thing in the morning and then drive 6 hours to get back home. They packaged things up equally well and treated my nicely. Must be something about the aluminum business that makes folks especially nice.

I like the pan head screws with the square drive. Should work real slick. I'll keep watchin' . . .

[2bits]

I love to hear about good people taking care of business right! I love the square drive screws too and those are sweet! Merry Christmas!

[bbarry]

Duane - wow, sleeping in your van...that's dedication! I lived in SoCal for 8 years and made that drive up to the Bay area many times. Take your pick: slow on the 101 or boring on the 5!

The hatch got skinned and test fit yesterday



It seems as if it will work fine and got two coats of epoxy. I'll be traveling for work each week for the next six months, so build time is steadily decreasing. I should be able to get a little work done next Thursday...

Brad

[SIXTOTWO]

YAY!!! With every step there's a new excitement, isn't there!! One more step closer to camping.
Can't wait till we're this far!!

[bbarry]

YAY!!! With every step there's a new excitement, isn't there!! One more step closer to camping.
Can't wait till we're this far!!

Well, in some ways, you're further! You have cabinets, and some electrical. I'm focusing solely on geting the outside done so I can make it to ITG3. If I do make it to Minden, it'll be without any galley, interior cabinets, or electrical. BTW, your build is looking great!

Brad

[SIXTOTWO]

Was the hatch hard? My husband is fearing the hatch build.

Do you have progress pictures on your hatch? It looks real good!