A couple pictures

Here are a few pictures taken with my TREO 600 (I know quality is terrible) - forgot the Kodak 740 digital. These are of Doug's 56 Caravanner with the floor out, a shot of his tongue cut off and the new rear frame section installed. Wow! And a shot of the Silverado above Albany at a Cracker Barrel stopping for breakfast with Steve's 56 Caravanner in tow!

Up and Back

Well, we made the trip up and back without incident. Dick and I departed this am around 5:15am, and it was a beautiful day out. We arrived at GSM Vehicles around 10:30am, and as we turned in, it was quite the scene seeing all the trailers parked in Colin's lot. Wow!! We were in a whirlwind until we departed around 1:30pm, where we went and got lunch and headed for home... arriving around 6pm. When we got there, we met Steve of www.vintagetrailersupply.com and we slowly unloaded the truck, un-hitched the trailer, and then started pocking around, Colin getting the keys out and going in and out of all the trailers there. Doug's 56 Caravanner was undergoing some major surgery to its skeleton while we were there, with the total front end cut off.... I think you'll be glad you are doing that Doug! I've added a link to Doug's blog on the left - check it out. A great day long, 520 mile trip up and back... whew - I'm tired. SYDTR!

Whew!

Well, I am finally home for more than a day. I got home at 1pm this afternoon. Now, I am home for a good week, before I have to go back on the road. A few weeks ago, over Columbus Day weekend, I picked up this 56 Caravanner for Steve of Vintage Trailer Supply. He has another one just like it, and this is well, his parts trailer. This is a shot of it with my TREO at night in the Flying J during a quick stop to re-fuel. Well, on Monday, myself and one of my trusty side-kicks, Dick Perkins, will drive it the rest of the way to Colin's at www.GSMVehicles.com - will we see Dicky Riegel this time on the Northway this time? I've got to also post this cool shot of a vintage Western Flyer bus - I'd love one of these, and man that would look sweet polished up! This is the second time I've run into this bus here at this Flying J. So, I'll post more pictures when I find the darn Kodak USB to camera cable... I want you all to see the 4 trailers and Buick lined up in the back lot. SYDTR!

Out here?

First, I apologize for not posting in some time! Since I have last posted, I spent two weeks in San Diego, CA, 2 weeks in Quantico, VA doing Reserves and now I am back out here in San Diego and fly home on Friday night (getting home around noon on Saturday) and then flying back out here to San Diego on Monday morning....at the end of that week, I get a few days home finally. The Buick-59 (www.buick-59.com) is in the yard and let me tell you, it is going to be a sweet ride. Last weekend I pulled a 1956 Caravanner belonging to Steve of Vintage Trailer Supply from Philly to my house where in two weeks I will tow it to GSM Vehicles up in Plattsburgh and touch the SOTR!!! I am looking forward to it. Busy, busy, busy.

Take care and I'll post some pictures in a few days - promise!

Rob

Remember the SOTR

Remember that Avion? Well, I'm working with Jeff Gascho, owner of Dovetail Designs in Toms River, New Jersey who is a high end custom cabinet maker on the Interior of the Sovereign of the Road. For that, he has the 63 Avion that he will be customizing in the future - kind of like a barter system - it works for both of us! . Right now, Jeff has the center twin bunks and the lower bed twin bed platforms with drawers. He has the originals and is using them to create all new - with a way better design / structure. Here are a few pictures. Here you have the road side twin lower bed support frame and then the new one. Next is the road side and then the rounded bunk with the veneering. Thanks Jeff! They look great!

Gilbert Lake State Park

Well, we had a great time. Took the Trade Wind over to Gilbert Lake State Park on Thursday night... it rained most of the night. Worked on Friday and headed back over to the park, about 30 miles after work on Friday. The sun came out and we had a great time. So much so at Hill Top camping area that we are planning on doing a AirstreamForums rally next year this time of year again! What a nice place to camp! We were parked next to fellow friends and WDCU WBCCI members - the Perkins in their mid 70s Rockwell (like a Burro) camper and us in the TW. It was fun!

Just wish we did not have to come home. Here are some pictures Zoe' took on the way home!

Enjoy!

Got Flags?

Well, sorry for not posting in quite a while. Just been extremely busy with work and Reserves lately. But, good news! We are taking the Trade Wind out to Gilbert Lake State Park with the Perkin's - fellow Airstreamers and friends that visit Gilbert Lake quite often. It is only ~28 miles from our house, so it works well with the Boys having local Birthday parties to attend on Saturday and with school in session now. We will depart Thursday night, come home on Friday, and then return to the park Friday night and stay through Sunday. Weather looks good Sat and Sun - beautiful cool fall weather! The leaves are starting to change here so it should be fun. We'll take the canoe and fishing poles with us. Here is a picture of what the 5 pole flag pole holder turned out as. I'll be flying my flags proudly this weekend. SYDTR!

On the road again!

Well, here I currently sit at the Philadelphia Airport with what was supposed to be a 2 hour layover that has turned into a 4.5 hour delay. I am headed to Charleston, SC for the week, supposedly to get home mid day on Friday - stay away Enersto! So, needless to say, not working on any Airstreams this week. Colin has been away from GSM for a week with his family at the Washington DC WBCCI unit rally in Cape Hatteras, NC. When he gets back, we'll be discussing getting back to work on the SOTR. What needs doing now. Well, right now, there is still no wiring or insulation - so that will be the first go around. Then the interior skin would be put back in, it will get Zolatoned and then the new marmoleum flooring will go in. From there, we will start with the Interior. I am trading that 1960 Trade Wind with the bunks for some AWESOME cabinet work so stay tuned on that. We're excited again about getting going on this Sweet Sovereign project once more. Hopefully, we'll be debuting it next spring if all goes well. Take care.... and yes, I'll be Airstream hunting down in Charleston.

Oh yeah, on Friday with all the trailers lined up in the yard, a new friend stopped in. He came walking across and said we had quite the line up. He goes, "I have a 1958 Airstream. An Overlander. " I said, we too have a 1958 Airstream, a SOTR! I told him we have bunks. He said he had bunks. I asked rounded? He said yes. So, yesterday, I drove the 15 miles to his house (yes, 15 miles) and there was the 58 Overlander sitting hooked to a 1950 Ford pickup. In today's post you will see a few pictures.. it is what is yet to come on the SOTR. His trailer is unbelieveably orginal - and in great shape! SYDTR!

Out in the Yard

Well, I've been working on getting the 59 Electra from Iowa (where it is at this moment) to NY here. It'll take about a week. Very exciting. So, here I wanted to post the line-up out in the yard.. too bad the SOTR couldn't be in the photo..... but you're going to hopefully see more updates on that project in the near future. We are hoping to have it ready for next spring to the Cherry Blossum rally in April timeframe... we'll see! Enjoy my yard! I do.

A new toy

Here is a picture of what will one day become our tow vehicle. This is a '59 Electra flattop in Tawny Rose that's been sitting inside since the 1960'. How many '59's will we find with the combination of Autronic Eye, Triple Turbine, and the Automatic Heater Control Option? This one's also got power seat and tissue dispenser. It needs a good deal of work, of course, but what a cool '59 this will be. If you recall, this is what my Grandfather towed his Airstream with back in the 60s from the old photos I've posted here. It'll be a head turner for sure! Enjoy.

New 63 Avion for us!

We pick this up on Sunday.... anyone want it, let me know - for the right price! 1963 24' front dinette, center twins, rear bath. All original in nice shape. I wonder if this will polish?

A wee bit of polish

Here are a few pictures of the Trade Wind. It's needing alot of work.... but don't they all that are 46, almost 47 years old. I hit the trailer with about 15 minutes of polishing tonight... and of course it polished up pretty nice. What should I do, Keep or Part out.... it needs a complete new floor. I head to Virginia tomorrow for 2 days, so thus again, work slows on the Airstreams.

Trade Wind in the Drive!

Well, the trip out to Niagara Falls was a good one. I made it out, with the tires and wheels off of the Trade Wind we've been owrking on. The tires on the new Trade Wind were ok, and decent enough looking, but to be on the safe side, I put the new Good Years on it. It towed like a dream. It is rough, needs a complete new floor (don't they all!) and a fridge. It is really cool with the bunks on one side, and half cabinet on the other. I'll get some pictures and post here in a day or two.

Back home in central NY

Well, we are all back home safe and sound. The Trade Wind we took to Virginia to stay in is as well. It sure was hot down there, but we pulled out the rear window screen and I put in a temporary house AC to survive and it worked great! Now it is cool (somewhat chilly this am) here in central NY. I depart Friday for Niagara Falls, NY to get the other 1960 Trade Wind. I will tow home early on Saturday morning. I am looking forward to it and can't wait to see it. Don't ask what that light string is there, I will find out when I get there.... just hoping that it is not a bunch of screw holes keeping it in place...if so, more RIVETS. Here are a couple more photos of it. I also have some 5 pole flag pole holders now. Let me know if you are interested in one. Cost is $83.10 for the 3 pole holder and $88.10 for the 5 pole holder. I'll get some pictures of the 5 pole holder up in a little bit.

In CA - need a fix, another one?

Been busy out here in Southern California at work and play. At play, we've hit LegoLand, San Diego's Seaport Village, saw Cars - the Movie, Sequoia National Park, Disneyland, Oceanside Beach, toured Camp Pendleton, went and saw Bill Kerfoot's 54 Double Door Liner, and Jim Randalls 34 Bowlus (sp) and 56 Caravanner (Vintage Best of show and tow at this years International). Of course we've hit Rubio's too! Here are some pictures... Look at what we bought tonight - Zoe' says Happy Birthday Rob (today's my 37th) Enjoy!

New fridge

Here are a couple pictures of the 1960 Trade Wind trailer, from the outside and inside. I've done a little more polishing last night (using another polish that is working great that I found at a truck stop) and have a few pictures of the new fridge and flooring we've been working on. The fridge is a Dometic RM3862 that I found on Ebay. It came out of a 2003 Airstream that had been rolled and salvaged. It is huge, and works on propane (has to have 12v to do that) and 110. It mathes our woodwork quite well too. The trailer is really coming together. Having an operational step really makes the trailer too! Now to work on the water system to get running water, and then to fit in a house AC in the rear cargo area. We are headed to San Diego for 3 weeks on Saturday, so not much will be happening on the blog... it's a work / vacation as I am taking the family with me this trip! Enjoy.

Slow

Not too much going on but some polishing. The Trade Wind is looking nice! We are putting in a new 27' above ground pool so I've been busy getting that all in. I do have the new floor in on the Trade Wind under where the fridge sets, and the new Dometic fridge is in, so I'll have to go out and get some pictures of it. And the new step is all there too. I've been making those flag pole holders too, and have shipped out 4 of them so far. Feedback is that they are happy with them - so that's good too! It is a large fridge and it makes it really nice out there boon docking, running on the propane. Here are a few photos that I took last night after re-arranging some in the yard. Disregard the dates on the pictures, as I forgot to adjust the cameras dates after changing some batteries. SYDTR!

Flag Pole holder anyone?

I am having a few of these made. These are nice, all aluminum, and will last forever! Email me if you want one, for details.

Trade Wind work!

Well, we are supposed to be going camping in a few days to the Adirondacks...and I've been working floor issues with the Trade Wind. I have new floor all the way around up front, and now I have a 45" x 58" section cut out on the door side to attend to. I took the trailer to my local welder and he created a new step. I got the trailer back last night, and it's wonderful, like new! Here are a few pictures. I've also been doing a little more polishing too. Enjoy!