Tuesday, March 12, 2013

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Well how do you do, my friends? It's your old friend Mercy! I sure am not feeling old though. Everyday, little by little I am starting to feel young again. Come on, you know the feeling. Like when you get a new outfit, or a totally different hair do, or you just wake up and feel ALIVE! Well, that's me in a trailer shell! 

Tonight I think I will tell you about some of my updates. Let's start with my front dining/sleeping area, shall we? As you know it was a bit of a wreck when I arrived. Pictures say it best so here you go....

My front area had all the typical signs of that dreaded trailer disease, leakatosis. The front lower area under the window was not too bad, but bad enough.


This is my curbside window. You can see the moisture damage also at the top area of the front window.

Same situation on the streetside.
 The nice part is that I have no damage along my upper edges...so no leaks there!


You can also see that there is no moisture damage inside the cubbys either. 


The damage at my sides was enough for 99 to remove those lower panels. Surprisingly, the braces were in good condition and the moisture was mostly on the surface of the birch. The top beams that go across the underside of the windows did have to be replaced. The braces in this photo were sanded down. They had some water damage, but the wood was still solid. At the left another vertical brace was added for extra support for the new wall that would be fitted here. The beams going across for the bed were also removed for access. 

 This is the new top brace on the curbside. Sometimes it is hard to work with only two hands and lord knows I don't have any to off my assistance. All I hand out is moral support. Good thing my pal 99 knows how to improvise. She put a board across the width of the trailer to hold the brace in place. 

The center vertical brace fit into a notch of the horizontal brace. This was gorilla glued and screwed. Never get gorilla glue on your hands. It's a real nightmare...or at least that's what I had to listen to for the next two days! Two supports were put in place at each each side attaching to the existing structure. No real weight goes on this brace but the structure is important. Insulation was put in place across the whole opening. The other side was done pretty much the same way, only an extra brace was added.

 99 was able to peak behind the front to check out the braces there. They were also in good condition and the moisture damage was to the surface. It was necessary to repair this from the inside without removing the skin due to the weather here in NY. This is a much harder way of doing things, but it has been done by lots of people without the luxury of heated garages and sunshine year round!
The damaged sides were cut out. The braces were solid and the remaining front panel was sanded down. Extra vertical braces, not show in the photo, were put in place to support the new birch.


Once all the new pieces were put in place lots of sanding and shellacking was done. Trim strips were cut and added. New wood was put above the window as well. A brace was put up along the back at the seat level for added support. 



The ledge under the window was sanded and shellacked.

The tables were removed and sanded and shellacked.


The lower base was sanded and shellacked. Then the bed beams were put back in.




The Shasta magazine rack was removed and given the royal treatment as well!


The tables were put back up.


Curtains were made and cushions were recovered and I went from this.....


To this...



And finally.....to this!





So.......how do you like me now? I like me! I feel like I just went through a whole session of some plastic surgery only with wood. There are still things that need to be done. I need some new glass and more touch ups, but boy oh boy....I am feeling camping season coming on!! Whoo hoo!
Oh yeah, this New Yorker is ready to rumble on down the road. Well, maybe not quite, but I am getting there!

This is Mercy signing off now with a big merci beaucoup to all of you kind enough to join me on this adventure of a lifetime. Before I go...I leave you with this:

“But he who dares not grasp the thorn 
Should never crave the rose.” 
― Anne Brontë

Sometimes you have to grab that thorn. You might get hurt. You might get dirty and frustrated too. But if you don't do the hard work, face your fears, take on challenges and overcome your obstacles....well, you might never know how lovely is the rose! I mean, look at me. You can't tell from the photos, but I am even starting to smell as delightful as a rose! That's saying a lot compared to what I was!


3 comments:

  1. So glad i seen your post!! My hand r killing me from stripping walls on my 50 Spartan...Had to quit for a few...but gonna get back with it!!!Love your trailer!!!



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  2. I'm about to start on mine and I wanted to know what order you are doing with yours? Mine is a 1961 Shastsa 16sc and this is my first project so I'm following your progression :)

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  3. I wondered if you wouldn't mind sharing your measurements of the windows in your Shasta? Mine is the same model and year and does not have a lot of her windows, all are boarded up with plexiglass, except the very front windows (but does have crack toward the streetside)and my kitchenette window. But all the other windows need replacing. thanks!

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