Dang screw nails; but, wonderful Dremel tool!

All the windows and almost all the trim, lights and receptacles are out of the Scotty, leaving only the side/top "L" molding on each side, and the two seams across the roof - as to ability to pull much of the aluminum siding and roof panels off -  to assess just how much hidden dryrot that I have to deal with.  In last week or so, in attempting to remove the "screw nails" that hold the molding down, and also hold the two roof seams together, using putty knives, screw drivers, small nail removal bars, it seemed I did a better job of bending that trim than removing the nails.

So, with insight from the two Scotty Facebook sites and NSSO web site, I broke down and bought the basic Dremel tool, and a set of metal cutting discs.  Pretty slick, a small, hand-held (that's it in the first picture) high speed cutting/ grinding/sanding/polishing device with many other uses.  Applied to the Scotty, with a 1 1/2 inch metal cutting disc, one can either "slot" the screw nails, or, entirely grind the heads off.  And, with a bit of practice, seldom gouge the remaining "L molding" (or, fairly seldom). 

Powerful little tool, that Dremel tool - use eye protection!  Some of the screw nails were stainless or galvanized steel and most of the original ones were aluminum.  The steel nails send a vast shower of hot sparks and steel shavings flying, and the aluminum nails create a blizzard of aluminum shavings/aluminum dust; so, eye protection is a must!  Here are a couple of pictures:

At top left, me and my trusty new Dremel tool attacking those nail heads; are top right, several nails that (with the new slot cut) could be backed out with a screwdriver.  Bottom left are nails with the "groove cut"; with some, a screw driver will back them out, with others, part of the nail head, or all of it breaks off.  With the aluminum nails, it's easy to just grind the entire head off!  Hopefully, this tedious grinding process will be finished by tomorrow, and, we'll be pulling those aluminum skins and roof panels to see what water damage, and fun, awaits!

Dry rot revealed; away we go!

My third Monday as a retiree; not bad with no job to report to!  Over the past 4-5 days, have pulled all the windows out of our Scotty, and yesterday, the door and door jam.  As feared, the further I go, the more dry rot reveals itself.  Below are two pictures, the first is the outside wall panel to right of the Scotty door; I knew it had dry rot near the roof line, but it extends all the way downward, to left side of window/beside the door.  The other picture, is from the inside, above the rear bed, showing extensive dry rot on the entire right rear exterior panel.  Sorry those photos are on their side..., but you will get an idea of the extent of water damage.  Ugggghhhh!

Tomorrow, friend and fellow trailer owner Gary is stopping by, to loan me his Dremel tool, so I can grind off the heads of the 200+ aluminum screw nails that hold the two exterior trim pieces on.  Then, in a day or two, will have the aluminum skins off and know just how extensive my dry rot challenges are, in addition to what I have found so far.  I am intrigued by what I see on the National Serro Scotty site, about owners who have replaced their "three part roofs" with one new sheet of aluminum  - no seams!  It's too bad so many of these trailers leaked at both seams, ruining these little trailers.  Of course without these challenges, I would have paid a lot more than the $900 this trailer fetched, and, would not have this fun winter project staring me down!   Fun, fun, fun...yes, I keep telling myself that!

In the past two weeks, I have acquired a functioning Bargman L 66 lockset to replace my broken-handled one, an almost new Humprey gas lamp (trailer had merely the gas line from the one that came with the Scotty), new running and roof lights, 3 rolls of butyl tape, a new exterior door/nite light, a replacement Hehr Jalousie window for the door, and a hinge for my Scotty dinette table (to replace the missing hinge assembly).  So, not much to need, once I get dry rot assessed and fixed.

Retired, ready to go, replacement parts acquired...!

Well; I am officially retired (as of Oct. 19), overslept this AM, missing the 5:10 AM gym departure with my still-working wife.  Awakening about 5:45, I briefly could not remember which day of the week it was!  All days are Saturdays, so it seems. 

Yesterday, my "trailer buddy", Gary Pierce, and I journeyed up to Sacramento to see RV Doctor George, a fine company specializing in retro and newer trailer parts (lots and lots of retro trailer parts!).  The Good News: Found a Jalousey replacement window for my Scotty door, and a 12 volt electric fan for installation in the interior.  The Bad News, that Jalousey window ($52), while complete and a good find, is about one inch narrower than the broken/pieces-missing window I took out of the trailer (yes, I should have taken the existing one with me, though, not sure they had one an inch wider).  Below, new window on top, old shell below, with the fan that I also bought):

So, the question - do I go with the new window, and cover the gap, outside and in, with trim, or keep looking for that "dead-on replacement"?  Guess I will have to sleep on that question, and, soon to visit my favorite window/glass shop, with a couple windows that need new glass, I can explore the idea of trimming it out.

In last two weeks, I have picked up all new "teardrop running lites" for sides and roof line, a replacement Bargman L66B lockset for the broken-handled one that came with Scotty ($100, Ebay, with key, solid though weather-pitted), an almost new Humphrey's gas lamp for the interior ($39, Ebay), along with the window and the fan.  Later today, I'll pull most of the windows out, then it's a matter of removing the side and top aluminum skins to determine just how much water damage/dry rot I have to deal with. Should get interesting, real quickly!

Inspiration and continued reconnoitering...!

Two weeks to retirement, and, readying for the serious "tear-down phase" of the Scotty project.  Yesterday, Susan I traveled to Petaluma, CA, to wander the trailers at the Tin Can Tourists vintage trailer rally; lots of great examples of fine 1950, 1960 and 1970s trailers, some near perfect, others in between, some pretty rough.  Found only one Scotty, an early 70s Hilander, a bit rough and musty, but owner quite proud of her.  I'll post some of the better examples on a following blog.

Today, with weather finally cooled, sitting in our little Scotty, finishing the inventory and "close inspection" of our trailer.  The dry rot in right rear, noted earlier, is extensive, and, likely similar at bottom of rear of trailer where light spills through (that shouldn't).  Also, lesser dry rot above door (under the other roof seam), and along some of the Scotty's outside, bottom edges.  It would appear I won't know extent of additional rot or structural needs until I pull off the aluminum skin, which will start in two weeks.  Here are pictures of the dry rot, both right rear (what's left of the 1/2" plywood pulls apart by hand, revealing the blue exterior aluminum skin, result of years of water leakage), and less-extensive rot above door:

I have also realized, touring those vintage trailers, that our Scotty is blessed with fairly decent original interior, including appliances, cabinets and fixtures.  Here's exterior and interior of the ice box (below), which I am kind of happy to have.  There may come a time when we want to replace it with a refrigerator, but for now we'll clean it up and see just how long a block of ice will work inside!  Looks to me like a bit of paint and a new gasket, and it's good to go!  I also am keeping my eyes open for a vintage interior gas lamp, a Humpries, that this trailer once had.

Now about to order three rolls of butyl tape, for the future seam repairs, and, discovered that Vintage Trailer Supply also sells the missing table hinge-apparatus, that allows the Scotty table to hinge down to make the front bed.  Will probably also purchase a new roof vent - with 12V fan - which several Tin Can Tourist rally owners told us yesterday is a huge asset (the fan).   Also need to soon plot out my interior lighting schematic, and purchase new LED lights (I just received 10 new teardrop exterior running lights, half in red, half in amber, for use on roof and sides of the Scotty).  Hence, hoping to have most of the immediate materials needed to get a good start on my first day of real retirement, Monday, Oct. 22!

Reconnoitering, and collecting my wits!

It's been about 95 degrees lately, and my garaged Scotty is all that at 4 PM when I get off work, so, not much work but trying to prep for my retirement (Oct. 19), order parts, and wait for cooler temps.  A post on the national Serro Scotty web site has confirmed that my Scotty's interior drawer pulls are "original", and, cute (see picture below), and I am trying to figure just "how original" I want to keep this cute little bugger.  I have a broken Bargman door lock, pictured, and have discovered that a variety of Bargman locks apparently are rather interchangable, and available on Ebay and Craig's List for $80 to about $225 - but, do I want to seek only the original Bargman L 66 B-1?  The other models, while similar, are not identical.  Decisions, decisions.

Then there is the decision as to how "original" to keep the overall exterior.  The lower front of my Scotty has two massive dents, and I just saw a Scotty that has added "diamond plate" to the front (see picture below) which could cover my "beauty marks"; the question is, do I want to change the appearance that much?  I do kind of like the look, and practical, but, not original.  Another question, the original jalousie window in the door is pretty much "toast", and can I find another, or replace with a more modern substitute?  Again, such a move would not be "original".

And, of course, I am a few weeks from having time to probe the extent of dry rot on the trailer.  Pictured below, the right rear interior above the bed - and, yes, that "yellow object" is a screw driver that easily pushed through the dry rotted side wall.  Wondering how extensive, beyond that area and the area under the back window, that the dry rot will extend.  Hence, busy trying to both predict the future, and line up parts and replacement items needed.  Fortunately, the Serro Scotty web site is a trove of good advice and rebuild information, and the two Scotty Facebook sites allow one to reach out to dozens of other Scotty owners.  Soon, retired and time to find all that out!  Yikes.

Let's hope a positive attitude and my sense of humor survive the next few months! And, the question lingers; how original a rebuild schematic do I want to adhere to?

Body work and interior colors...to come!

Body work:  I've owned our Scotty long enough to hear many owners say that dings and dents are "beauty marks", but I don't like that logic.  Our Scotty has a couple of nasty dents, on the left side, and two deep dents on the front.  So, am contemplating what to do.  If I pull the sheet aluminum off during the rebuild, I could press/hammer those dents out, to some extent, and then exercise my long-dormant "bondo skills", honed during a youth of patching old Fords in Ohio 40-some years ago.  Here is what those "beauty marks" look like, at present (and, yes, that is a hole in the front aluminum skin, above the dent - don't know how that happened):

Interior work: Hopefully, in a few months, I will have this trailer fairly well rebuilt, and the dents trimmed out, and am readying for a good paint job.  We will preserve the Scotty "white under teal" paint job on the exterior; hence, I must get Susan thinking of the interior decorating scheme.  One of the biggest expenses will be new cushion upholstery, both for the front dinette and rear Gaucho bed.  So, colors for upholstered cushions, for refinished cabinets, walls and other trim will soon be a choice we have to lock into.  Below are a couple photos of other Scottys, done nicely. These are my inspiration, and while I love the red/black/white one, we will likely stick with white/teal combo:

Selling the teardrop Kit camper...regrets

Farewell, teardrop: With the new Scotty as our latest project, decided it was time to sell our cute teardrop (which had been residing in our garage), a retro Kit camper that we bought five years ago.  Advertised in Craig's List, and promptly received calls from as far away as San Diego and Tacoma, WA!  Guess these little teardrops, built well, are hard to find.  A woman from the Petaluma, CA area, buying for a friend, called and I told her I would hold it until Labor Day for her; then a fellow called and offered me $500 over our asking price.  Had to turn him down.  On Labor Day, our little teardrop was hauled away, to a new owner in S. CA (same place that it was built, in 2004; sold for same price we paid for it five years ago).  One thing I know, I will have to add a bike carrier receiver, to the new Scotty, as we had done with the Kit!

Journey to Oceanside to purchase Serro Scotty

Summer, 2012: Entering June and a languid summer, I was 4.5 months from retirement (mid-October), and thinking of doing much more traveling when spouse Susan retires, summer of 2013.  We have greatly enjoyed short camping trips in our retro teardrop trailer, a Kit camper replica, but, those few times we've been caught in bad weather, it is too tiny and confining!  Lots of fun, but cannot see touring much of the US and Canada in it.  Below, the little back-end kitchen area, a good place to store camp gear and cooking implements, inside, a very cozy place to sleep - but during a cold rainstorm at Lake Shasta, not much fun!

So, I spent the summer scanning Serro Scotty and Cree trailer ads, finding lots of Serro Scottys in the midwest and east (they were made mostly in PA, in the late 50s to 80s), with the 1960-models being both collectible and cute, and they fit in a standard garage.  That was important to me, for both the trailer being handy for quick weekend trips, and, not having to pay $100/month for inside storage!

During summer (scanning Craig's List and Ebay), I only found a few Scottys worth looking at, one in Phoenix that looked great on Ebay, but it went off Ebay just before the auction was to end.  Then I found another, really cute, in the SF Bay Area Craig's List, but when I wrote the seller, I got this cockamamie story about "she was out of town with injured sister, dealing with doctor, caring for her nephew, and the trailer was now listed with ABS (an escrow service)" and I could deal with that service.  Smelling a rat/scam, after my third leading email, my question was not answered, and the trailer disappeared from Bay Area Craig's List. 

And, just after I bought our Scotty, I saw the very same "scammed Scotty" on Denver Craig's List, and turned it into CL as a scam; beware the "too good a deal"!  Then I saw a Cree (somewhat similar to Scottys, and, able to fit in a garage) in Bend, OR, but it went for $1,400 on Ebay, more than I thought it worth.  After about 4 months of scanning ads, had pretty much decided "needle in haystack" to find a good Scotty in our area!  Then, I had some luck, finding that "needle"...

Late August:  I spotted a 1964 Serro Scotty 13 Sportsman, advertised by a classic motorcycle dealer in Oceanside, CA, for $1,500.  Looked reasonably solid and complete on Craig's List, so, called down, talked to a salesperson who indicated some willingness to dicker, and took Friday, Aug. 17 off and drove my Nissan 300 ZX down to So Cal, leaving at 3:30 AM for the 400 mile trip.  Arrived about 11:30 AM, and found this cute little trailer tucked among other trade-ins on the cycle dealer's lot.

I gave it the thorough look-over, found the interior a bit beat-up but all complete, with original two-burner Maynell range top, sink, original ice box and an un-modified interior (best as I could figure).  Looking in back end, noted a good bit of water damage (Scottys are known for water damage), and, under the back bed, daylight showing through at the floor area (not a good sign).  But, still a cute little trailer.  So, chatted with the cycle dealer, noting the water damage and dryrot, and asked what he would take.  He noted "$1,000"; I offered $750, we settled on $900.  Before I set off, I had to purchase the right electric trailer coupler, and the missing safety chain, from a nearby auto parts store (that chain proved a good investment).  So, off I went, into LA stop and go traffic and 96 degree temps. 

Finally got through the metroplex, up over the mountain pass and down into the Great Valley.  During the trip, I worried that the trailer hitch was not functioning properly (could not get the hitch clamp to "clamp and stay down"), so had duct-taped it down.  At about 8:30 PM, in the dark, cruising along I-5 doing about 60 MPH near Patterson, went over an I-5 overpass and felt a "jerk".  That was the trailer hitch leaving the hitch ball and, with hitch no longer connected, the safety chain going taught!  Next observation, a huge cloud of orange sparks behind my car, as the trailer tounge dropped to the black-top; next sensation was a "whack" as I slowed down/moved to shoulder and the "semi-free" trailer whacked into my rear bumper.  Fortunately (make that very fortunately), no real harm done; I discovered, the next morning, how the old hitch lock worked.  Dumb, yes I am!

Home with Scotty: Got the trailer home, and did a good, thorough exam of the exterior and interior.  Inside, fully complete, and no real modifications, other than the ugliest "brick wallpaper" and paisley fabric added to walls, ceiling and cabinets.  All original appliances there, and seems the front 2/3s of the trailer are pretty solid, but backend, and back right side seem heavily dryrotted.  You will see water damage in the back bed area, in the third picture, below.  In the area on right side of Scotty, above the bed, found it almost entirely dryrotted (it was hidden by cheap paneling screwed over it; should have guessed that).

At any rate, I now have the Scotty tucked into our garage (a tight fit, what with an old "built-on-site wooden garage door", but, it is inside).  The last few weeks, I have been scanning the National Scotty web site (lots of good sources, and lots of good Scotty rebuilds documented) and the two Scotty Facebook owner sites.  Have worked up a pretty good "low and high" spread-sheet of what I need (what with cost of trailer and varied rebuild parts/supplies, looks to be around a $4,000 project).  Just yesterday ordered new teardrop running and side-marker lights, both red and amber, from Amazon.com.  Three weeks to retirement, when I can really get serious and find out just how much of a rebuild this will be!  Am also hoping that this project will be "mostly fun"; we shall soon see!