The rebuild of a 61 Astrodome into a '61 Airflyte IS DONE!

[flyingham]

dayammn! Tyler, you have someone on your level with Schweet's craftmanship. I should back mine into a campfire. That looks absolutely kick-ass!!

[schweetcruisers]

Flyingham-Mine aspires to be as nice as your chicken coop not to mention your Actual trailer. Tyler yours still has the bunk so mine by default is better ;D. I probably shouldn't say that until you make my wings!

[tylerbes]

Schweet, you really need to step up your game. I mean come on... where is the attention to detail in this! I give it a D minus! If you're into "impeccable vintage styling" I GUESS this looks good. But I will think about you guys after I take a nice hot shower IN my camper and go to sleeping in my big cozy bunk while you are struggling to convert your dinnette into a bed and smell like bug spray

As for the wings, I just might put a little less packing material in your set when they get shipped! You ever seen USPS guys loading a truck!

In all seriousness. It looks awesome my friend. I think maybe I showed some folks what can be done with a Retro-remodeled Astrodome and you are showing us some can be done with a Airflyte in a classic style. Both are top of the class... even if mine is way better. You have set the bar high for when I do my Airflyte.

Awesome job brother.... Almost time for you to get another one.

[tylerbes]

Scweet, Can you talk a little bit about the refinishing of your appliances. What type of paint on the stove? Hi temp? and How did you do the sink!, I love that look.

[Gone Kayaking]

tyler, schweet, VikX, Ross and flyingham y'all should put together your own version of Car Talk....call it Shasta Talk. Put it on google hangout on some kind of regular basis and we could all discuss our questions on things in real time. maybe once a month at a time that works for all time zones???

[kto17]

Tyler is right! I used to load trucks for UPS. Some of those guys would amaze you! The delivery videos you see are nothing!

[schweetcruisers]

Not much work has been going on with the trailer, but as of yesterday the new Skin has been ordered. I am going with 4" breaks, as the 6" breaks seem impossible to get in Denver in 13' panels.

But I thought I would share this, its my gas lamp just back from being plated and polished. I also had all my original boomerang handles polished,(Not Pictured)! Apparently it is possible to buff off the brass coating on the handles and they are nickle plated underneath!

[Hamlet]

Gorgeous!

[universalexports]

looks great, I am cutting my wavy cabinets today, not sure where you managed to find Birch without a bunch of knotholes, i went through 20 sheets at lows and got the best piece I could find, there will still be 1 knothole in my wavy cabinet, no way to avoid it,

you are aware you can order new handles from rejuvenation if all of yours arent up to snuff.

[Hamlet]

THe rejuvenation store isn't too far from us. I found the missing (and extra) handles for Hamlet there. I took one in, and the person at the door pointed me to a wall that was completely covered by an antique built-in case with about a hundred little drawers. He said, "You'll probably find it in the middle." He was right. I don't know where they get them, but they are originals. I was thrilled.

[schweetcruisers]

Yeap know all about Rejuvination, I figure any handle that is scratched would be used on a lower drawer or under the dinette! I was planning on just getting all of mine through Rejuvination but they're 8 bucks a piece. So I took mine to see how much it cost to plate them($12) but to buff off the brass was only $4!

[schweetcruisers]

Universal-the plywood at Lowes and H/D is junk, you need to buy it at a lumber yard that caters to professional cabinet/furniture makers. I payed less for my clear birch than h/d sells the stuff with knots for!

[flyingham]

ditto that on H/D or Lowes plywood. That stuff should be used as an oil catcher under your tow vehicle. Its porous enough. Crap. The fixtures look amazing btw.

[schweetcruisers]

Well I missed my goal of getting the skin on before it snows, as it's snowing right now...So close!

Ready for new skins, I sprayed Flexseal over the bottom of the walls and frame and around the light wiring.




The new skin, for those who wonder yes its on 4" breaks. I couldn't find anybody in Denver to make the 6" in 14' lengths. I found a bunch who could do it in 10" lengths but I didn't want a vertical seam. Total cost for both sides and the front and back panels was $777.84




I got the top sections on and had to wait for UPS to bring my Stainless Steel Nails so I could nail the Pittsburgh Seam. So while I waited I installed the handle and front marker Lights.

[universalexports]

Sweet, that thing is going to be awesome!

[schweetcruisers]

I guess when your thread is almost at the bottom of the page it tells you to update more often!

I got the rest of the skin and the roof on today!

The lower front and the little panels on each side of the front window




Here is my new one piece roof!! It came to me in a roll 8.5' wide by 16' long.




So how do you get a clean straight cut? Jig Saw!


I just unrolled it and its literally like working with a mirror, wear gloves and sunglasses!
This is one of my favorite pictures, I love the reflections on the roof!




Roof is finally done and the front is back in!

[universalexports]

Wow, very nice, and a 1 piece roof is a huge improvement, great job!

[vikx]

The reflections make your roof look GROOVY!

[tylerbes]

your bringing back memories Schweet!... You 100% made the right call with the roof. It looks great and no seams. As you know I did it the same way and I am glad I did. Well done.

[harrison429]

i love watching the talented people on here...schweet your trailer is looking awesome!! it's very inspiring.

[schweetcruisers]

Here is a nifty little trick, My baggage door was in decent shape even with some hail dings but the hinge was bent and ripped.





I thought I was going to have to replace the whole unit due to the hinge. I was cleaning up my garage and saw the old bathroom window, I thought what are the chances that hinges were the same? What luck they are!





So I drilled out the rivets using a 1/8" drill bit and removed the parts from both the window and the door. To reattach them I used aluminum rivets and a antique hand rivet press.





Once I got them all riveted together I put the unit back together and they work perfect. The holes for the rivets lined up with the old ones but I'll need the drill the screw holes in the mounting flange again.





I hope to strip the old paint off tomorrow!

[universalexports]

cool idea, glad it worked out for you, your camper is a work of art.

[shasta4six]

Inspirational....I have been reviewing your blog for a couple weeks now Schweet. And, although I have to agree with Tyler, your work is impeccable. I am partial to the dome as we took a 15 hour round trip to pick ours up in NY a week ago.

www.flickr.com/photos/shasta4six/

Between the two of you guys my head is spinning in anticipation of getting this project started. So many ideas...Anyway, thanks for the inspiration and for chronicling your stellar work.
-Nate

[schweetcruisers]

Nov 26, 2012 23:56:35 GMT -5 shasta4six said:

Inspirational....I have been reviewing your blog for a couple weeks now Schweet. And, although I have to agree with Tyler, your work is impeccable. I am partial to the dome as we took a 15 hour round trip to pick ours up in NY a week ago.

www.flickr.com/photos/shasta4six/

Between the two of you guys my head is spinning in anticipation of getting this project started. So many ideas...Anyway, thanks for the inspiration and for chronicling your stellar work.
-Nate

Nate, I looked through your pictures and it almost seems my original and yours were separated at birth. They shared a lot of of same damaged.

If we had kids we probably would have left it a dome but since we don't we didn't!

[WingedWonder]

Nov 26, 2012 23:56:35 GMT -5 shasta4six said:

Inspirational....I have been reviewing your blog for a couple weeks now Schweet. And, although I have to agree with Tyler, your work is impeccable. I am partial to the dome as we took a 15 hour round trip to pick ours up in NY a week ago.

www.flickr.com/photos/shasta4six/

Between the two of you guys my head is spinning in anticipation of getting this project started. So many ideas...Anyway, thanks for the inspiration and for chronicling your stellar work.
-Nate

Love your Dome! We camp with 2 kids and love the dome. Don't let these cutters warp ya!

[vikx]

I beg to differ:

We are not Warped!

Cutting is an art....

[schweetcruisers]

WooHoo! All the glass is finally installed! By the way I hate those front windows!





I also installed the fanstik-fan

[vikx]

Looks so good! I hate all those little screws at the dinette windows. grrr....

[Hamlet]

Gorgeouser and gorgeouser

[schweetcruisers]

How do make a Canned Ham Fly? Give it wings! ;D

Go to my blog for a tutorial on how I made these!