Well I've been pretty much heads down working on the 345 so we could take it on our summer vacation.  I have more to post, but wanted to get a couple of shots up of the new sofas.  More to follow:

 

 

I've been spending a lot of time out in the Airstream "thinking" about the rear bedroom changes.  Don't know about you but it's something I do.  Call it "Noodle Time" but I try to envision how everything is going to fit together within a space. 

 

I've been spending a lot of time working out how the futon frames will attach to bulkheads, how much of the futon backs to cut down and how to get the sofas to unfold so that they meet right in the middle of the coach (making a bed).

 

 

I had some time earlier this week to cut out the new bulkhead that replaces the curbside closet that was already there.  In the 345 the curbside closet is shallow and wide.  It was too shallow to support the sofa.  This was one of the reasons why I was spending so much noodle time out there.  So to get a feel for things,  I cut out the bulkhead extending it about 5 inches into the coach (deeper than before and exactly the same depth the the roadside closet).  Then I could place the bulkhead in the coach, moving it forward until the frame rails for the sofa fit.  A few clamps and some spacers and I was able to mock up the layout.

 

 

After some measuring and mockups with the hinges, I think a 12" - 13" back support will work fine and everything should meet in the middle when pulled out.  One of th benefits to these hingest and frames is that they allow you to lift up the sofa seat, giving you access to storage on the roadside and the mechanicals of the water pump and air compressor on the curbside.

 

I think this might actually work! 

I'm finally wrapping up the kitchen in the Airstream.  After bribing my brother in law to drive to his local IKEA in Connecticut to buy the sink I wanted (and some other small items) it arrived last week.  (Note: you would think IKEA could figure out how to ship this stuff directly to me but for some reason one of the items on my web order was out of stock so they cancelled the order and directed me to my local store - IN CHICAGO).

Anyhoo.  I found a local wholesaler for cabinetmakers, setup an account an purchase a 48" x 96" x 3/4" sheet of melamine (at only $28 this is a very economical way to buy this stuff over smaller cut pieces from Home Depot).  I was also able to get a sheet of 1/2" red oak ply I needed to the new rear closet bulkhead (another post)

 

 

So I got the new counter made, sink installed and a few little odds and ends are left like staining the frame faces and installing a kick plate, connecting the drain lines.  All in all about a half day of effort left and I can call the kitchen complete (YEAH!!!)

The shower in our 345 is nasty.  It's been usable, but ugly with a faded tub, older fixtures and peeling vinyl on the walls.  My wife refuses to use it at all.  I've used it in a pinch, but the shower head to so low you need to kind of "stoop" down to wash your hair.

 

In any case, the rennovations will include a makeover of the shower.  I've remove the plumbing, the tub, the back panel and the remaining vinyl from the walls.  The plan is to to re-vinyl the walls in the white dot decking material, refinish the tub in gloss white, new fixtures and drain, and a new glass shower door.  

 

Getting the tub and back panel out required a lot of dissasembly and effort.  I plan to post a DIY article about it soon as there are a number of tricks to getting it right.  Here are some pics of the aftermath.

 

  

 

Surprisingly little water marking after 20 years.  The floor is completely solid

 

 

Another view of the "stripped" shower stall.

 

 

This is a view of the closet side of the shower plumbing.

 

 

Here is the old pan, out and in the shop ready for a facelift.

 

 

This back panel took hours to remove.  There is a secret to getting it out.

 

 

Here is a mock up of the new shower system.  It will allow us to raise of lower the removable shower head...perfect for grown ups, kids and dogs.

 

 

 

 

Spent Friday night and Saturday morning finishing up the cabinet faces in the kitchen.  Got everything done and installed.  I'm pretty happy with the results.  Just ordered a new round skink and a large bar stock handle for the large drawer from IKEA.  I was also planning to use there aluminum laminte countertop but it doesn't have the depth to work.  On the hunt for some laminate.  Here are some pics.

 

 

 

This is the pantry/mocrowave cabinet.  I still have to apply the espresso stain to the woodwork