Completed Squidget Model

[cracker39]

I finished my 1/12th scale model finally. I started on it Friday afternoon, worked on it a good part of the day Saturday and Sunday, then again, putting on finishing touches and detail. Today, I took the pictures. I didn't have the digital camera that I wanted to use (let at my Dad's house this weekend), but I think the other digital did a decent job.

I made the top removable, so it doesn't have a tight fit in the pics. the doors don't open, just outlines are present with details, and I am a stickler for details as you will see. The detail work was printed on either sheet label paper or plain paper and glued on. That includes the interior paneling, striping, windows, doors, lights, etc. Uh Oh...I forgot to put on my clearance lights. Hope I don't get a ticket.

Here is the yahoo album address http://tinyurl.com/dfwpd I hope you like it.

[vinoscooter]

I have a friend that builds model's...He's won many awards....Through the years..I think your even better than him...We call him crazy john,beacause he's a hi rise window washer by trade...What your doing in my opinion is truly...the craft of an artist.... Great trailer design also... vinoscooter

[madjack]

excellent work cracker, the logo is great and I really liked y'alls pics in the windows...an excellent touch
madjack

[mikeschn]

Dale,

I like the job you did on your model. I can't remember, was that 6' wide?

BTW, You might want to allow a little more room between the closet and the table so someone can squeeze in!

Mike...

P.S. I'll get that added to the HoF tonight!

Here is the yahoo album address http://tinyurl.com/dfwpd I hope you like it.

[cracker39]

I can't remember, was that 6' wide?

BTW, You might want to allow a little more room between the closet and the table so someone can squeeze in!

No Mike, it is about 61" inside and about 63" outside. After doing the model, I am thinking of eliminating the closet wall entirely, keeping the shelves ont he front wall adjacent to the galley counter (floor to ceiling. That's where the electrical will be places as well, panel, breakers, etc.) and putting in a low cabinet (same height, depth as the bed box) for the potti storage. That will make it appear more roomy and ease entry to the dinnette seats. If I have any hanging clothes, I can put a collapsible hanger on the wall over the low cabinet.

[Chip]

Cracker,, thats a mighty fine job,,, too bad ya cant put a big one together just as quick,, nice detail,,,

I like it,,

chipper

[mikeschn]

I tried doing a table in a 5' wide trailer once. It was tight, very tight!



Mike...

[Guest]

Dale,
That has got to be the nicest model of a trailer that I've ever seen.
I don't know what your travel plans are, but once built... If you're out this way, be sure to look me up.
Likewise, if I ever make it to the Daytona 500, or down to watch a shuttle launch... I'll look you up.

[cracker39]

Thanks for the kind words about all the work I put into the model. Now, I plan on trying to modify the galley. It's a tight fit working inside a model only 5" wide, but I'll try. Yes, the dinette will be a tight fit alright. The table is to be only 22" wide, to allow for 19 total inch width for the side boxes. That allows for about 14" seat depth with the 5" thick back in place. My dining room chairs are 15" deep, so that's not too much reduction. After all, we'll just be using it part time, not living in it.

[cracker39]

I completed my model mods for the galley. I removed the closet, rebuilt the gally counter/cabinet to extend wall to wall and added a shelf over the counter which may or may not get sliding doors. If not, it will get a srtip across the front to keep things from falling off the shelf. The bed box was extended forward. This allows a low cabinet for the portipotti and a 10"-12" wide compartment for the electric panels, fuses, converter, etc. next to the galley. The top of the extended cabinet can be the place to put the cooler. What I didn't show in the model is the new window, matching the placement and size of the one in the door opposite, which allows someone standing at the galley to see out either side.

View them at http://tinyurl.com/dfwpd

Mike, can you add these three to the others? thanks.

[mwatters]

Have you considered more of a 'couch' arrangement instead of a dinette with people sitting opposite each other at the table? A side couch (that dropped into a bed) would be roomier and allow a much larger table. Although there ARE applications - I wouldn't go too far out of my way to make a dinette that seats more people than the trailer sleeps.

Mike

[cracker39]

Mike, you've done it again...you put me to work. I hadn't even considered a couch design, so I looked at it. I came up with a simple arrangement to study.

In the first diagram, the green outline under the bed depicts the new storage areas, from side wall to side wall, in two compartments. I changed the bed platform to 4 pieces, two each 60"x16" and two each 60"x21". They alternate from front to back, 16", 21", 16", 21". As you can see, the two middle ones pull up, bringing the front one back. This forms seat and back. A simple locking mechanism can be implemented to keep them in place. A couple of short pieces of 1x1 fastened under the front edge of the seat can drop into the storage compartment below as a stop.

When the platform is in couch position, the standing room in the cabin is almost doubled, although the height in the table area won't be as high as by the galley. It will look and feel roomier. The overall weight will only be affected by the fact that I'll need a separate table top now. The two top views show the bed down, and then formed into the couch.

BTW, I got down to serious weight estimates, measuring all wood, ply and framing, and came up with a weight of 736 lbs for wood (with a generous allowance of 100 lbs for hardware, screws, paint, and misc. included in that). Adding chassis of 375 lbs, AC, wiring and electrical, and windows, I now estimate a total dry weight of 1285 lbs or less. But, now I have to add another 20 lbs for a table. Still, not to0 bad for a tiny(???) trailer of this size.

Here are my new bed design ideas:

[mwatters]

Not sure how it'd play into things for legroom - but if you turn the couch against the road-side wall you can have a REALLY long couch (80" assuming normal bed dimensions) facing the curbside wall. The curbside wall could then house a shelf for your entertainment system (aka a little TV).

I'll try to dig up some of the old drawings I did for various layouts. Not nearly as pretty as anybody's here - but they should get the point across.

I'm currently working on a floorplan to repurpose a dedicated motorcycle hauler I bought last week. I still want to be able to haul 2 bikes so darn near everything has to have the capacity of folding up against the wall. I'm thinking of trying to rig a futon-like bed against the roadside wall with a storage unit across the front - very similar to your design.

Mike

[cracker39]

A friend of my Dad (he must be well into his late 70s) has a 24 ft dual axle cargo trailer that he converted. He carries his motorcycles (yes, he still rides them) inside the back and has "bunks" that fold down from the walls. In the front, he has the galley with a fridge, stove, and cabinets. I looked at it a week ago, but didn't see much as he is using it for junk storage inside. This guy and his wife just came back from a trip on one of his bikes, a 1500cc V6 Goldwing with a really nice fiberglass sidecar that has a roll bar headrest and a full convertible top with plastic windows that buttons on.

I think I'll stick with the current couch layout if I use it. I like the back storage accessible from outside and the simplicity of the conversion to a couch. I don't have all the details worked out, but that shouldn't be a problem to do. I'd still like to see any designs you have though.

[cracker39]

I decided to go ahead and modify my model to include the forward facing couch/dinette. I like the added standing room, even if the ceiling starts to get lower in front of the couch. It is hard to work inside the 5"wide model and keep it neat. My pics show some damage to the "paneling" in the storage box, but not too bad.

I took out the side boxes/seats, installed a new side-to-side storage box to support the seat, and installed a side support rail on each side to support the bed platform sides when in bed position. Not shown is a drop-down support for the center of the front of the bed platform.

The platform is now four hinged sections that fold up and back to form the couch seat and back rest. My pics show all positions with and without the "mattress" pieces.











I think I have modified this trailer for the last time...at least for any "major" mods. But then, I think I said that before didn't I???