Airstream flipper

I've posted this short video on flipping Airstreams in Europe. It's on the #1 Wally Bubble Facebook page. You'll need to sign up to view.

I will be posting details of the Assay on the #1 Airstream chassis very shortly, so get signed up -

Just put Wally Byam Bubble into facebook and request to join.

this old trailer - belly pan replacement

The first rule I have is the eighty twenty rule, 80% planning and 20% doing. With lots of cuts, curves and panel configuration to consider, planning is by far the most important part of this process

Start with an old chassis -

Flip it over in a confined space (video to follow on next posting)

Add some marine ply, elevator / norway blots. Then baste with some special caravan black sticky gupe and leave to soak overnight 

Stir in insulation and add a pinch of tacs and polyurethane 

Apply sheets of aluminium carefully paying attention to detail, we used a slight thicker main section and thinner on the front and rear to help with curve forming -

Mark out and buck solid rivets into the required seams to ensure original lines are retained -

Curl edges as required and cut around the edges just above channel -

Be careful not to add any extra creases -

And hay presso, you have the makings of a belly pan -

1955 Safari hip replacement

This lady needed new hips and jumped the queue (with a little helping hand) and got the operation done privately. But with plenty of life left in her it was definitely the right move -

Above, chassis area rusted out with previous repairs starting to separate from chassis.

Above,  with the section cut out, it reveals the extent of the failure.

Below, other repairs in line with what had been expected due to floor rot - 

Above,  re-tensioned springs, new bushes, linkage, shocks and a nice new EU axle with crank

With a little due care and attention I'm pleased to report that the operation was a success and the lady is recovering well.

This 1955 safari has just started a very interesting chapter of her life


Fairway was my local supermarket when I lived on 42nd Street NYC, it's an institution for New Yorkers, well worth a visit. Below is my old shopping bag being used to keep the hoist chains of the precious vintage aluminium -

In December we had our first airstream export to Japan, for  Lush cosmetics  -

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for final bits of the jigsaw

Show and tell, all expenses paid

The penultimate Glam Van makeover in 2010.
Overnight accommodation happened to be the worlds first nature reserve Walton Hall

Above, Autumn 2010, arrival at Walton Hall  / Walton Park Hotel

Above, Walton Hall, a good few years earlier.

 Kids had broken up from school so we decided to take advantage of a great 'show and tell' opportunity -

Very excited when I told them our hotel was surrounded by it's own lake, but a little nervous when I mentioned it was once filled with hippos.

Then early morning outside broadcast with my little helpers -

 Final farewell before hitting the road to catch a plane to Ireland -
 

What a great way to earn a days pay......

best in show

With an ever changing herd of Airstreams I needed to find a sizable indoor work and indoor storage area to call home. To be honest, this is easier said than done in my neck of the woods around the North Cotswold's.

So when this 12,000 square foot dairy building came up I knew it was just the ticket for what I needed.

It has been empty for over ten years. Below is a picture taken in the mid nineties with a very well looked after herd of Overbury Guernseys -

Taken today, below is the same area which houses some of our airstreams for sale and others due to have work started on them -

Newest arrival is the little 54 Globetrotter which arrived late last night for rehab -

I'm still learning about the history behind the Overbury herd and over the next few months hope to find out more about what drove their success -

I'm determined to lift the lid on the Byam Bubble in this building before the New Year.

that was the week that was....

Prescott Hill Climb Autumn Classic 2010

Below, Wall of Death Hell Rider taking a shine to one of our little airstreams...

We had been invited to attend and had the pleasure of feeding the race marshals from a couple of our airstreams.

Earlier in the week the Airstream Glam Van was back on the road with ITV

This time it was Warwickshire.

I was having a bad satnav moment when as if by magic the editor of the Camping and Caravaning Club magazine Candy Evans walked by and asked if i needed help! She quickly offered to personally escort us to the filming location, luck of the 'Irish' i say ........

Thanks to Candy I arrived a little early