Here’s a very interesting project for Area 63. A 49 Curtis Wright was brought in for major restoration. The trailer needs everything but the inner and outer skin. It even needs several new ribs fabricated, since the original construction was partially made from wood, and has rotted away beyond repair. The sub floor has also pretty much disappeared due to rot and is probably scattered somewhere between Arizona and Area 63’s back door. The owners Steve and Reg are looking to have this trailer updated with a new frame, axle, all septic and fresh water systems, new electrical, interior and convenience systems. Look at this little jewel of a trailer - it’s appropriately named Roswell, after the UFO town in New Mexico.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_UFO_Incident

So, here it is, the oldest trailer we have had so far at Area 63, and possibly the most challenging project yet....

It has these very intriguing lines all pointing to the center rib between the oval fixed windows. The shape is almost identical front and back.

The back windows ( or is it the front?) from the inside. The rivet pattern of the outer and inner skins is almost identical.

Rotten sub floor, and severely challenged wooden ribs. We theorized that the hardwood sections were used to reinforce the shell where the door hinges mount. Or perhaps to anchor the former refrigerator cabinet to. Or, maybe they ran out of material, and used wood to finish the project.

A better picture of the mystery wooden frame. Everywhere else i this trailer there’s regular aluminum channel used for he ribs.

We went ahead and removed all the old flooring, plus the 4 side windows. The windows are Hehr Standard windows with lever type openers.

Removing the floor sheets revealed this pipe frame.  A large diameter steel pipe with aluminum outriggers bracketed to it. The axle’s spring shackles rest on a smaller diameter steel section which is in turn riveted to the aluminum outriggers.

This would be the front end of the shell assembly. This was pretty much the first design of a self supporting shell.

Front to back, looks like fish bones, in a way. How about alien fish bones...

a detail of the axle support, and how it was riveted to the aluminum outriggers. The outriggers appear to have been fabricated from .060 or .050 thickness standard aluminum.

Our plan is to remove all of the lower skin panels, inside and out. Then we can lift off the remainder of the shell, basically an upside down tub. A new frame with floor will be waiting to receive the old shell, and the bottom panels will be re-attached. The new frame will already have holding tanks and plumbing/wiring installed, which should make for a quick, clean and efficient work flow.

Stay tuned for more on this project. It will be with us for a good while.

Today’s temps: mid 50’s

Today’s tunes: hard to tell..machines running all day long...