construction continues on the Menehune Swoop!

[cappy208]

Miguel what an EXCELLENT build you have going!

Your steamer is not going to bend kiln dried wood. It only works on green, naturally cured wood.

Instead of cutting the strips in three, try four smaller ones.

The comment about a block on top, and on bottom is correct. And, your bottom block should be the entire width of the item being clamped. Just using the clamps with one block lets the wood get deformed, like you see on the end clamp. That is what is happening to the whole lamination.

You could probably just use individual blocks on one side, but the upper (as seen in your photos) should be wide enough to be under the whole width of the lamination.

You need to start clamping from one end, and progress to the other end clamp by clamp. You can't put a clamp on each end and work towards the middle.

Good... No... GREAT job.

John

[green_eyed_diablito]

thank you, john. i didn't know it wouldn't work with kiln-dried wood. lesson learned.

and again, thank you all for sharing your ideas and tips.

[green_eyed_diablito]

Plan C worked. I cut the trim to a thickness of 3/16" and it bent nicely without a need for steam. I won't build the trim up any thicker as I think it looks nice this way...and it cuts my work by two-thirds!



I also plugged all the screw holes on the side trim.

[2bits]

Yay! That one layer probably looks great all by itself yah. That just looks scary with all the plugs sitting on that laptop haha

[green_eyed_diablito]

that does look scary (the plugs on the laptop). i stained them while sitting on the floor, and just put them up there to dry. that's my company's laptop and i can't afford to destroy ANOTHER one. i destroyed one last year in a motorcycle accident.

[boujei]

Wonderful job!! I'm in the beginning stages of planning. Tore down an old Red Dale tandem axle trailer and will be using that as my base...17' long not including the hitch.

Love the simplicity of your galley!!

Steve

[green_eyed_diablito]

Hello, all. I've been working on the tear here and there this last month and just got around to posting pics. I haven't lost interest - I still have a love for this little trailer, but since my brother's death last month I've been busy with closing his affairs.

the hatch is insulated with 3/4" EPS. this shows part of the sandwich (before the interior skin was attached). off to the left you can see the exterior frame with a rabbet that the sandwich was put inside of.


here you can see that i goofed and ordered the hinge just a little too short. i ordered a 48" hinge, forgetting that the outside width of the tear is 49.5" - i will seal the gap with rubber weatherstripping.


i also finished the interior trim around the windows. the door skin is lighter than the walls because i have yet to seal it.


these shots show the belt-line trim and the roof trim.

[boujei]

So sorry to hear of your brother's passing.
I still can't get started on mine yet...been doing some measuring though and to use the axle I want..I'll have to narrow my existing frame by a foot or so. Don't think that will be too bad since I'll be removing some uneccessary bracing and can reduce the overall weight a bit more. One thing I did think about..perhaps it's been discussed and I just missed it...but your little curl on the back end should help in keeping road wash from clinging to the back hatch...I was contemplating a small wing...like you see on school buses but yours would do the trick as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Steve

[tspivey]

Man, how did I miss this thread.

I love the profile you used. Very original.

You are doing simply an awsome job.

[Oasis Maker]

Miguel, I hope a large measure of healing has occurred from the loss of your brother... and I also hope for a progress report on your build. How's it going my friend?

Scott G.

[S. Heisley]

Glad to see you back at it.

[teardrop_focus]

How's it going my friend?

Good question, Scott... I was thinking about Miguel and this thread earlier this week and wondering the same thing. Thanks for bumping it. Mebbe I'll give him a call tomorrow...

He hasn't posted since December?

[green_eyed_diablito]

you guys are awesome! thanks for checking up on me...we've never met in person, but you guys care about how i've been. in the truest sense of the word, that is awesome.

chris gave me a call and let me know you guys were wondering about me.

i'm sad to say that i haven't worked on the TD since mid December. it seems that my time is consumed with (still) closing my brother's affairs, working with his life insurance to get his kids the most we can, arranging survivor benefits for the baby, and the list goes on. and about two weeks ago i hired an attorney to go after my brother's killer in civil court. i want this man to pay with his freedom as well as his wallet for what he did. he owes my brother's kids at least that.

thankfully i have the love of a good woman and the support of a good circle of friends to keep me sane. i can honestly say that although this hasn't been easy, it's something i can deal with.

another reason i haven't worked on the TD is because i was working on it when i got the call about my brother. it may sound silly, but i'm having a hard time getting back to it because of that. but i will!!! we've had bad rain storms in SoCAl (bad by SoCal standards), but the TD is safe under a water-repellent car cover, a blue tarp, and the deployed awning of my travel trailer. :-)

again, thank you for caring.

-miguel

[teardrop_focus]

Weeks later, it's almost time for the Menehune Swoop to come out of hibernation.





Actually, since you've come this far we're going to goad you to a strong finish!



Hope you're well, Miguel.

[green_eyed_diablito]

hello everyone,
i'm back! :-) i've been working on the teardrop here and there during the last month or two, but this weekend i finally devoted some time to it. it feels good to be back...it feels good to (almost) have life look normal again.

although the TD was covered (with a car cover and a blue tarp) for the last six months, the 1/8" thick trim on the roof managed to warp. the trim on the curved sections is fine (i attribute that to it being under constant tension on the curve).



i took off the warped trim and replaced it with 3/4" thick trim. i rabbeted each end of the new trim so that it overlapped the ends of the curved 1/8" trim - this gives me some assurance that it won't warp. although functional, i was not pleased with the look. the thicker trim looked like it was an afterthought, installed to cover a mistake. i decided to make a luggage rack so that the new thick pieces look like they belong.



i have also figured out a simple way to support the hatch.



i made brackets to support the tops of the struts - the bottoms rest on the galley floor. i will varnish the brackets and struts to match the hatch.



again, it's good to be back. there are so many new builds...i'll be catching up on my reading tonight!

-miguel