All the better to see you with

Now, on to the windows!  Like everything else on the Airstream, the windows are covered in 40 years of dirt which needs to be cleaned.  Dan pulled off all the ones that open and the matching screens.  Each window had a ring of old rubber weather stripping glued around the edge that was in various stages on dry rot in need of removal.  

We started using a painter's tool to scrape, push, and coax the old rubber and glue off, but quickly realized a razor blade and goo-gone was the way to go.  Then, we rubbed all the old oxidation from the aluminum frame with steel wool to shine it up again.  

The screens were caked in tobacco tar, turning an originally white screen to a dull brown.  So gross.  Once those were gone, Dan cleaned up the frames and then painted them a nice bright white.  We'll put the new screens back in once we reinstall the windows. 

So shiny and clean! 

Cleaning the Roof

It's been a busy two months with weddings, trips, and a final move before we get to call our Airstream home.  While the frame is at the welding shop, Dan is working on cleaning up the outside of the shell.  

Here is Dan pulling out the old vents and other things from the top to remove the silicone sealant someone decided to use.  Once that's done, he'll clean up the worn clear coat from the roof, and the rest of the shell so we can polish the aluminum in the future.  

And now, for my next trick...

And then there were two

I'll pull the frame out right from under this Airstream! After a LOT of work and some help from my dad and brother, we got the frame out from under the shell.  

it's the hoverstream.

It's a hoverstream!  

 

Here's the frame after Dan took off the plywood floor, with the shredded mouse insulation, water tanks, pipes, and belly pan on the very bottom. 

An airstream basement.

Because we need to take the frame into the welding shop for some repairs, everything else had to go.  Like cleaning out the cabin, the frame yielded some interesting artifacts from the last 40 years, most perplexing of which is this: 

umm...

Dan found this men's XL orange jumpsuit shoved down a hole in the floor.  It seems our home has an interesting past... or owners with questionable fashion and floor repair choices. 

 

Lots more airstream parts are on their way, including new outriggers, aluminum sheeting for the belly pan, and more rivets.  We also ordered our little woodstove, which should be arriving sometime in late October.  

 

Next stop: welding repair! 

Removing the Frame

The next step in the remodel is to get the top shell separate from the frame (the metal base attached the wheels).   Standing in the way are hundreds of rivets and a little thing called gravity.   

Dan built this gantry so fast, I just got this picture after it was all done! This wood frame will support the weight of the shell and allow us to raise it a few inches so we can pull the frame out from underneath.  

Dan used a angle grinder to slowly pry the frame off the shell and get it ready for lifting. That insulation sticking out is from under the floor in the belly pan along with the water tanks.  

Luna is suspicious and wonders where we put the mice. 

Here the frame is almost free, the shell is lifted just a few inches.  So close!