4.22.13 Paint

4.22.13
Paint, paint, paint. I have polled friends, family and the majority was to keep it shiny. However, I really like the painted look too…..so I compromised. I had to buy new tin for the back that came primed already so I decided to paint the back in the accent colors with rattle cans. I am still deciding if I will continue color down the sides or not, but for now the goal is to get her rolling! I can do all that later. 

 

 

 

I also love the names that are painted on these trailers.  Since I am doing this on a budget I found a website that you can custom order stencils at madstencilist.com.  You can order any custom lettering you’d like and its very affordable, and comes with detailed instructions.  I decided that I would put her name on the front in the accent colors as well.  I cut a template out of full sheet labels for the computer, primed the area, sprayed the accent color, let it dry, added the stencil and sprayed that in the other color, removed it all and done!  I also did all of this with rattle cans too. 

 

In between coats of paint drying I attached the diamond plateing I had purchased.  There was a pretty good hole in the original tin and several rock marks, etc.  I liked the look and the function of this too!

4.15.13 Doors, Eyebrows, Awning

4.15.13

The eyebrows were an easy install, once they were all cleaned up, lightly sanded and buffed. 

 

 

 

 

 

The door…however another story.  At this point, when you are now putting everything back together in the reverse order you took it apart, it gets a little harder to remember everything.  This is where being able to drag my laptop out to my work area came in handy to recall it all.  Once I got the door installed I attached the screen door as well.  I took the door handle and the storage hatch to the local locksmith.  He was able to key the hatch, however the door handle was so rusted AND the inner mechanism did not function as a lock at all.  The locksmith was able to dig around in some “old boxes” and he found a great replacement. 

 

 

I went online and emailed a couple people who custom make vintage awnings and asked for some quotes.  I ended up choosing Vintage Trailer Awnings by Kristi (you can find her on facebook).  The price was right, she was quick, communicated the process to me every step of the way, and the craftsmanship was great!  The awning rail was a little tricky…. I originally ordered an awing rail from Vintagetrailer.com, however the rail is rigid and straight as a board – duh.  The fact that the trailer is rounded and curved I had to do some research and order a flexible awning rail.  I found one at sailrite.com  When it arrived I made sure it fit the awning, spray painted it silver and attached it per the video tutorial on their website.  This was super easy to install!