Let there be light !

Exciting times...  The trailer is finally self lit,  over the past few weeks the various fittings and wiring have been finding their way into the trailer. This has culminated in a final push to get it lit.. The lighting is all low voltage smd led bulbs in some really nice cast aluminum aurora light fittings switched with old school toggle switches fitted to custom aluminum backing plates.

     At the same time as this has been happening I have also been putting the finishing touches to the kitchen carcasses,  these are now in and substantially strengthen the body of the trailer,  there is a really strong link between the inside and outside of this beast. I don't think the shell would really work without the stiffening effects of the interior.

    

 The switch backing plates in the machining process, they are 3mm ali plate,  cut, drilled and countersunk then brush finished.

                                        with the switches in place, the twisty knobs are for dimmers.

                                          a few different views of the interior lit up from within.....

                                         showing a fair idea of the proportions of the final layout...

Afew here of the seating frames, showing the slightly complicated set of angles joining the side seats to the back.              

 And finally a couple from outside to get an idea of how its going to appear at night...

 

Enjoy.  Dan.

a year in the life..

sadly having tried to upload without the glitches twice this is as good as i gets..
    but hey. it gives a pretty good taste of the process..  enjoy.

more! more!...

Well,  I blog again, with a few choice movements forwards,  since the last post I have fallen in love with mothing... I don't think I can think of anything as exciting as the feeling of total mayhem that comes from time on the water on the little beast,  roll on warm spring winds...
    I have also been cracking on with the trailer build, with the breakthrough of electrics bringing  another layer of complication the the job,  thankfully I have the help of another with this and I think we are getting somewhere... we are currently close to having a lighting system. woo hoo!  if feels good to finally see some systems going in..
   also I have been working to close in the interior,  finally covering up the insulation for good...   its funny how the sense of space alters as these changes occur,  having put plywood onto the walls the trailer felt a lot narrower, but having painted then it now feels wider than ever, really spacious....   it really feels like a great place to live.
    pics...

 finishing the seating frames,    a lot of funny angles to get the ergomomics right,  slightly more upright at the sides of the trailer then at the back, which feels much more like a sofa.

 all in...  ready for upholstered panels., however, the lot still needs to be removable for the instalation of electrics and wall panelling.

 framing for the front bulkhead,  this will stop any flex in the front of the trailer and provide the frame for the sliding doors into the bedroom.

 with the panels in place.

 electrics first fix, batteries, inverter, consumer unit, 12v distro blocks, all ready to go.

 the beginnings  of the kitchen,.

 the draws will all run on greenheart runners, this is a super hard tropical timber that used to be used as bearings for ship propellor shafts, it is self lubricating and an absolute bitch to work, however. best for the task at hand.... 

 i don't know what i'd do without those clamps..

   so....  getting there.   not so long now.

moth mayhem..

So. having sold my fast car, which was an enjoyable toy and a great build project, I have used a bit of the funds to buy a different toy,
        a moth dinghy!.

I have been wanting to have a go at taming one of these since I was a kid, and now finally am able to fulfill  the fantasy..
   for those who aren't aware of these they are just about the most extreme boats out there, they are a development class with very few rules,  basically 11ft long up to 7ft wide and with 8 sq metres of sail,  this has resulted in the current boats having hulls of around a ft wide, with wings on the sides to help stay upright, and the development of hydrofoils  enabling the boats to fly at incredible speeds..

  The one I have brought is about 15 ys old, so in terms of the class it is obselete, however it still has the potential to be fantastically quick,
    I now have to learn to sail it.
    my first sail was as close to carnage as I can imagine,   the boat is the most tippy unstable thing that you can imagine sitting on, every single move results in it either falling over on top of you or, as you try to balance it falling over the other way,  i capsized  at least 5 times in approx 40 mins,  but lordy it was fun.
  
   hopefully over this chilly winter i will master this beast.. i will keep you posted on the progress.....

inside/ outside!

Well.. i have been busy,  sadly a little too busy to post, 
     but i do now have an inside, and an outside,    the process has been a long one, as i'm discovering the best way of doing things as i go along,  i do wish there was a manual for this sort of thing... but hey.
   Now i have an inner skin the electrics can start to go in,  then i will close in the shell, 
    While the electrics are happening i'm gonna crack on with various interior parts,  I have made the bed frame, and have just finished the rear bulkhead, which is a frame that also  ties into the seating area and overhead lockers, 

 anyway. pics...

 framing the roof...

 and the rear end...

 panelling...

 details of the joinery..

 roof in.. all panelled

 bed frame, during glue up..

 bulkhead frame, coming together..

 all in,   now with the outer parts of the seating tied into the frame ,

 thats it!   i'm getting there, it is a real pleasure to be finally building interior parts.