More Table Time

Photo below shows the table in the stowed position. Holding it up at the top is a brass window sash latch, which clamps down nicely and has a little leaf spring to keep it tight.

 

 The next photo shows the table folded down. The two pieces of cherry that are vertical in this position are structural members which will each have a length of angle iron which will butt up against the back of the bulkhead it folds from. I'm hoping that this will provide sufficient support, but in the event that is doesn't I can add a short amsteel tether on each arm to go to a pad-eye through bolted to the structural bulkhead behind. I'm hoping to get the bolts for the angle iron soon so I can find out if this will be necessary.

First Roof Panel

  

Enough spars are on now to mount the first roof panel. I would have liked to just lay on a full 4x8 sheet, but the curvature was too much to take parallel to the grain so I split it and am laying it down crossgrain in four foot sections. The photo above is actually from the dry fit, it got some paint and insulation before the final fit. The photo on the left is after letting the glue set for most of the day and routing out the access hatch and vent.

Last Bulkhead and More Spars

Alright, with presidents day off I've got a three day weekend to work and I'm hoping to make good progress. First thing is to get the last bulkhead in so I can get the second portion of the ceiling in. The photo above shows the front portion and framing in, which is being painted along with the rear portion before adding insulation and sealing it up.

While that is drying, more spars are going in on the front portions, with the conduit for the lights and ventilation fan wiring down the centerline. The opening in the front bottom is for the access hatch to the tongue box. The block with the three vertical slots is a passive intake vent. It is closeable from the inside and opens into the tongue box to minimize any stray water getting in.

Ceiling Part 1

 With the bulkheads progressing nicely in the rear, I've started to work on getting the first panel of the ceiling in. It is 3mm baltic birch and has no trouble conforming to the 32" curvature of the front of the trailer. No doubt the 1/4" ACX for the roof will be a different story, but I'll deal with that when I get there. The 5'x5' panel was spiled and fitted without to much trouble and lay down nicely with little coercing. I've also started on getting the spars fitted to provide the ceiling with stiffness and anchor the exterior ply for the roof. The first spar is at floor level and, together with the second, outline the hatch opening. The third spar has a channel down it from the centerline to the right wall, to route some of the electronics to the control panel. I'm trying to alternate working on the ceiling and on the bulkheads with the end goal of having both finished at the same time for the roof to go on.

Table Time

 The table is coming along pretty well. It is 22" x 24" and made of 1/4" birch with cherry veneer around the edge. There are two tapered pieces of cherry along each edge to provide some structural support which are epoxied to two columns. The table has to be incredibly strong due to the small leverage it has to support relatively heavy items such as books and elbows. I was hoping to avoid having cables to hold it up, but I would like to provide more support to the table somehow.

Countertop and Upper False Bulkhead

 With the lower rear bulkhead in and second wall up, we are now working on the countertop. The countertop is actually a counter in the galley, but also forms the underside of the footwell. The upper layer is 1/4" ACX and the frames are once again 1 1/2" pine. Only the front half is insulated as the rest is completely contained in the galley. Just like the floor, walls, and lower bulkhead, the interior is sealed with exterior paint and has the 1 1/2" insulated tightly fitted in. Next up is the upper false bulkhead. This is a non-insulated single layer bulkhead 8" in front of the insulated upper bulkhead. It provides a cabinet front and support for the shelves. The large cutout is for the fold-down table to fit into, which will probably the next post.

Fitting the false upper bulkhead. The counter is not fitted yet

The counter being sealed. The unpainted bit is the underside of the galley counter

Into the Garage and Starting on the Bulkheads

In the garage!

 February has started, and so has our allocated time in the garage. The pressure is on to get the bulkheads in and get the roof on, so progress has accelerated accordingly. The first thing to get fitted and in is the lower rear bulkhead. This forms the back of the cabin at foot level, and the front of the galley cabinets. There is a small cutout on the right side to allow access to the long compartment. The bulkheads have a similar construction to the walls: 1/4" ACX, 1 1/2" pine or insulation, 1/4" baltic birch. I've been debating whether to put the second wall up, which will make fitting the rest of the bulkheads more difficult to fit, or to wait until they are all in and try to make them all coplanar and square. I've decided that the wall will go up after the first bulkhead as it is quite difficult to maneuver around the garage with it laying on the floor.

Heidi sealing the inside of the lower rear bulkhead