projectmidge

Restoration of our vintage trailers. 1967 Airstream (Midge), 1957 Silver Streak, and 1961 Holiday House.

Maiden Voyage is Scheduled!

We have a date for Midge’s maiden voyage!

We booked a few nights at The Starlite Classic Campground near Canon City, CO.  They had several cancellations due to the forest fires, and we figured it would be the PERFECT campground for our 1st trip.  July 5-7!!  I am really excited to see the vintage trailers.

I better get to work!  There are still several little things that need to be done before we ROLL.

I tackled the awning!!!!  No small feat,  let me tell ya.  I am not a seamstress.  Sunbrella awning fabric is HEAVY.  The finished product is 10′ X 7′.  It fit in the awning rail perfectly!  I don’t have a picture of it in service yet.  I still need to purchase some poles for it.  I will get some pics after our maiden voyage.  Here is a picture of the sewing in progress:

Awning in progress

Awning in progress

I need to thank my 16 year old son for assisting me with this.  I could not have gotten it done without his assistance in maneuvering and manhandling the bulky fabric.  I also would like to give props to my old Kenmore Sewing Machine!  The machine is a rock star.  I bought it on Craigslist a few months ago….and it is awesome!

I found do-it-yourself awning instructions online.  I will try to post a link to the site.  It was quite easy to understand.

I will confess now:  You know the side panels of the awning?  The short little sides that hang down and make the awning kind of cute?   WELL…I sewed one side on backwards.  I did not realize this until I was finished.  I am hoping that it is not noticeable when the awning is up.  The fabric is almost identical on the front and back, so I am just going with it as is.  I AM NOT RIPPING OUT THAT SIDE AND DOING IT AGAIN.  NO HOW.  NO WAY.

Now I need to get packing!

We will let you know how the maiden voyage shakes out….hopefully, fun and frolic and zero drama.  I am so excited to see Midge in the rear view mirror!

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We are still here!!!!

Exterior with window covers.

Exterior with window covers.

Well, I am back.  Finally!  Project Midge has been keeping us very busy this Spring!

We did not give up on her….although there were times we wanted to!

Here is a list of the things we’ve gotten accomplished over Winter 2012 and Spring 2013:

*GUTTED entire trailer.  The gaucho couches were not salvageable.  They looked ok, but did not function properly and the wood had some water damage from the windows leaking.  We saved the bathroom pieces and the overhead cabinets.

A mess of electrical wires

A mess of electrical wires

Old Water Heater

Old Water Heater

G U T T E D

G U T T E D

*Repaired a small portion of rotten floor in rear bath.

*Installed new subfloor over the old one.

*Installed yellow VCT tiles.  We got a great deal on them at Bud’s Warehouse in Denver.  It is an awesome place if you need small quantities of something.

*Cleaned and painted interior walls.

*Re-plumbed with PEX and ran new electrical with new main panel.

*Installed new water heater.

*New window seals and vent gaskets.

*Re-built walls, closets, and kitchen cabinets.  We stained all the wood black.  Some of the original pieces we kept had water stains, so we opted to go with a dark color.

New Closet

New Closet

Walls

Walls

Walls and Upper Cabinet

Walls and Upper Cabinet

*Replaced black tank.

*Original bath sink and tub were re-painted with Epoxy paint.

Reinstalling Tub

Reinstalling Tub

Bath.

Bath.

Bath Vanity

Bath Vanity

 

*New toilet installed.

*Installed new curtain track and hardware.

New curtain track.

New curtain track.

*I covered the overhead cabinet doors with fabric.

Upper curb side cabinet.  Doors covered in fabric.

Upper curb side cabinet. Doors covered in fabric.

*I made the curtains and the little window covers/awnings.  I need to finish the main awning.  We found Yellow/Gray Sunbrella fabric on Ebay for a great price.

Curtains & Portable AC

Curtains & Portable AC

Window Covers

Window Covers

*Made countertop.  We ordered some charcoal boomerang Formica.  We used it as a backsplash in the kitchen and also on the shower wall.  It worked out really well.  We thought about tiling the backsplash and shower wall, but were concerned the tiles would pop off while bouncing down the road.

Kitchen counter and backsplash.

Kitchen counter and backsplash.

Leaks are pretty much under control.  I will not say we got them all, because I have a feeling it will be an ongoing battle.

So, it turns out the original refrigerator was the cause of the electrical short that was making the trailer hot.  We junked it and have replaced it with a dorm type refrigerator.  We will dry camp with this trailer very little, if at all.  We also pulled out the original stove/oven and have replaced it with a small 2 burner gas cooktop.  We rarely use the oven, and I would rather have the storage space.

The fridge didn’t quite fit in the original spot so we moved it to the street side across from the galley.  I really like it there.  We now have a proper “work triangle” in the kitchen : )

Fridge and closet.

Fridge and closet.

Fridge.

Fridge.

We originally thought we could get by without an air conditioner.  After working in the glaring sun, we decided that we absolutely NEED AC.  We debated purchasing a roof mount, but we really don’t like how they look on the small vintage Airstreams.  We opted for a rolling portable AC.  We vented it out the floor.  It works pretty well!

Curtains & Portable AC

Curtains & Portable AC

I was originally going to sew the couch or dinette cushions, but we opted to buy a small Ikea L shaped sofa sleeper.  The color matches and it fits perfectly in the Globe Trotter!  It turns in to a bed very easily and has a huge storage compartment under the chaise.

Ikea L Shaped Sofa Bed.

Ikea L Shaped Sofa Bed.

Sofa made in to bed.  The weenies love it!

Sofa made in to bed. The weenies love it!

Here are some additional pics:

Black stain, charcoal boomerang Formica, and fabric.

Black stain, charcoal boomerang Formica, and fabric.

DSCN3507

Winter 2012/2013

Winter 2012/2013

Weenies

Weenies

We are almost finished!  We need to check/replace the gas lines, complete some finish work and trim, install new kitchen window (the current one is plexiglass), re-screen the windows, and get the new axle on.  Once finished with those items we can head to the hills and CAMP!

We had high hopes of getting the exterior polished and cleaned up, but that will have to wait for another year.  I’ve decided the 1967 patina isn’t so bad.

Stay tuned for more ProjectMidge!  Hopefully, from the road!

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