El Camino Camper

[Scott H.]

It was a dark and stormy day...

Seriously, it has been raining here off and on all day and I was bored to death. I started looking through my old parts boxes and ran across a bag of random El Camino parts I bought years ago for $5.00 to get the hood and glass I was in desperate need of for the '65 El Camino I was working on at the time. Lo and behold at the bottom of the bag was a complete kit of the Camper for the El Camino!

The sides of it were mildly warped, but still usable with some creative thinking. After doing a TON of flash removal I got them to glue together ok.

The sides at the rear of the camper were warped the worst. After some serious soaking in hot water and putting some old hard cover books on both of the side panels to keep them straight while they cooled back down, they were straight enough where I could get the glue to hold everything together.

The roof was a completely different story all together! Not only was it slightly warped, but the molded in flange that the sides were supposed to mount to was too wide! After some carving with the old razor knife, it now fits flush again.

Well, that's as far as I have done on it right now. Before I paint it, I want to try and make some silicone molds of a couple of the details on the sides of the camper to try and use for a couple of other camper ideas I have floating around in my empty skull. Once I have that done and the sides painted, I'll update the pictures once more. I also have some ideas I need to work out for window treatments since the interior details and floor are non existent in the camper!

Now to figure out where I stashed that El Camino and finally finish it too!

-Scott H.

*Note* - Edited to fix TYPOS!

Edited November 30, 2008 by Scott H. AKA Cpt. Bondo

[Clay]

I don't know why, but accessories to models sometimes excite me more than the modesl themselves. Nice find with the camper. Hope it turns out good.

[Modellpularn]

Cool project! I have the same camper and Camino, slightly started. I was more fortunate than you, as my camper went together without a hitch. I'll be following this!

[Scott H.]

Thanks guys,

I figured something simple would be a good way to get started building again.

Right now I'm planning on the paint colors being the classic white body with silver trim, but that might change once I find the El Camino I had started years ago. I'm also planning on adding bumper stickers to the back of it like is on so many of the old campers I have seen. I'm still undecided if I want the door to be a separate color or just do it the same basic white like most of the campers I have looked at or have worked on over the years.

I've been looking at the different patterns at the site Tony T mentioned in the build of his Diorama ( Printable Scale Designs ). Hopefully I can find something I like enough to use for curtains on the windows since the details on the inside are virtually non existent. I'm torn between something completely tacky like they used to use for curtains on the early campers or something a little more modern.

Since it's raining again today, I more than likely will have plenty of time to try and find something I like.

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Dave,

As far as I know the slide in camper was only available in the earlier versions of the El Camino and was replaced with the truck cap in the later releases, like you mentioned is in your kit. I'm sure there is someone on here that can correct this if I am mistaken.

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Hopefully there will be an update soon,

-Scott H.

*NOTE* Edited to fix the link

Edited November 30, 2008 by Scott H. AKA Cpt. Bondo

[Modellpularn]

that's really cool! were there different variations of this camper? my '65 El Camino just has a low "cap" style camper, not the taller one like you have.

Dave

The '65 Camino kit comes with different campers, one is the small cap version, and then there's the large version. I think this big one was first issued with the '59 El Camino. I had to try it, but the big camper doesn't fit as snugly on the '59, as it does on the '65. That '59 Camino kit must have a slightly different camper. Another search on the 'bay I guess.....

[CB]

I've been looking at the different patterns at the site Tony T mentioned in the build of his Diorama ( Printable Scale Designs ). Hopefully I can find something I like enough to use for curtains on the windows since the details on the inside are virtually non existent. I'm torn between something completely tacky like they used to use for curtains on the early campers or something a little more modern.

Since it's raining again today, I more than likely will have plenty of time to try and find something I like.

Looking forward to seeing this on that El Camino, Scott. Don't think I ever saw that combo. Whatta ya think about just plain old toilet tissue for curtains?--no pattern or nuthin, just plain t.p.

[Scott H.]

Sorry guys, no updates on it yet. With the holidays here I've been helping out family, especially my mother that doesn't drive much and HATES driving in major traffic. I just haven't had time to get much work done on anything on my small workbench yet.

Unfortunately, I had to take the camper completely apart again. It wasn't sitting square on the bed mounting points due to the warping the body had when I first started on it. I'm hoping to be able to get something done on it soon and this time I'm going to make completely sure that it is sitting completely level before the glue sets up!

Two things I am planning on doing to the camper is replace a few of the running lights with ones from my spares box to update the look a little and make it look like it's had some, but not much, maintenance done on it over the years. I'm also going to TRY and mix a custom color to replicate the silver roof seal coating I used to use all the time when I was working at a truck and trailer store. So far I've come close using silver, black, and grey, but it's not right. I'm more than likely going to have to live with what I have as I'm getting very frustrated trying to mix the colors and keep up with what colors I used and how much.

I've also started a garage diorama build and laying out another camper that I am designing from scratch at the same time, but pictures of the camper is going to have to wait until I have more done to it before it makes it's debut since I don't know if the design is even going to work. The garage will have it's own thread when I get my camera back from the person I loaned it to.

Looking forward to seeing this on that El Camino, Scott. Don't think I ever saw that combo. Whatta ya think about just plain old toilet tissue for curtains?--no pattern or nuthin, just plain t.p.

CB,

I haven't thought about that yet to tell you the truth. Thank you for the suggestion, I going to have to give it a try!

The look I am trying to go for is the gaudy late 60's or early 70's curtain patterns to try and make the camper look like it hasn't been updated much since it was new.

Updates coming soon (I hope),

-Scott H.

Edited December 22, 2008 by Scott H. AKA Cpt. Bondo

[Scott H.]

any updates on this thing? i just picked up one of my own in a trade and i'm looking forward to building it! thank you for posting the original pics!

Dave

Dave,

Mock up the sides, front, and rear panels holding them securely in place with a good tape before you glue anything!

The reason I am saying this is you need to check the molded in roof rails that hold the sides in place. Mine fit in the front and most of the sides, but on each side I had to start trimming the rails starting at about 1 inch from the back to keep the sides from being held out at the top corners.

Please post pics of how you do yours when you start working on it, I'm looking forward to seeing your build variation of the kit!

-Scott H.

[Modellpularn]

I found that the top tailgate trim on the Elky is just a tad too high for the camper to sit perfect on, so a few strokes with a file fixed that. I happened to see it while looking at the whole thing, with a light from behind. Check it out. I'm thinking about cutting out the tailgate, and maybe also opening the door, and.... eventually make a complete interior. I'll probably end up buying another of those reissued camper/wedge car haulers.....