1946 Airfloat

[kennb]

In keeping with the concept of setting up drawings for scratch building I am including this. I found a drawing on the net that I liked.

This intreged me but alas there is little information on this trailer.

The Airfloat Coach Company began operation in 1930 from a manufacturing location in Pasadena, California, and moved in 1935 to a plant in downtown Los Angeles. Company owner Omar Suttles helped organize manufacturers into the Trailer Coach Manufacturer's Association, a trailer trade organization. Airfloat patented the roof ventilation system, third-wheel and a double exit door. Models include the Commodore, Presidential Landyacht and the Skipper. Airfloat shuttered the doors on the factory in 1957.

I did find a 1947 for sale that had all 4 views, so I made up a basic drawing and some front and rear half sketches. The 1947 was fairly close although it had been cobbled together and the door replaced It did give me some basic clues I did not get from the origional photo.

From there I was able to come up with a relativly in scale representation that is quit credible.

You can develope yourdrawings from any reference that you ave with a little care and scale reference.

You measure how wide a car is and how long it is and you can guess from there other dimensions, if you have nothing to go on. I had no dimensions for his but used common ones from other trailers.

KennB

[Chuck Most]

Nice to see Travel Trailer fever spreading.

WILL be keeping a close eye on this one, for sure.

[b_lever1]

this is cool man when do you sleep

[Haubenschild]

I cant wait to see this! , what car will be towing it?

[Dr. Cranky]

I love it, now you need an extra-ordinary subject to pull it. Can't wait to see more.

[RodneyBad]

Cool.

It does look a bit taller and narrower tho or it could just be my eyes are too close together..

Nice work from scratch.

[kennb]

This needs to have a 1946 Chevy or Chrysler hauling this about. I did make it alittle undersized because the scale version looked a bit big. One thing to remember is that they were taller than they were wide. The main reason I wanted this is becasue of the shape. Now to try to figure out what the inside is suppose to look like, going to have to wing it there. Thanks for the comments....will be posting more on the concept tomorrow.

Sleep, whats that.

KennB

[62rebel]

you should have a look at the forum on oldclassiccars.co.uk that specializes in "caravans".... they have a load of reference material there, albeit for British style and european caravans.

[Mike Kucaba]

IF I could "cobble" like that and with such speed I'd be in hog heaven!! I think you'll be responsible for the scratch-built tables at shows to really fill-up.

[Sixties Sam]

That's going to be so cool! Tow vehicle suggestion: 53 Hudson.

Sam

[Kris Morgan]

I am diggin this.

[gasser59]

This is really cool. I may be able to help you with reference for the interior. Give me a couple days and I'll see what I can find. In the meantime, check out my vintage travel trailer thread. Mind you, my build doesn't have nearly the cool factor as yours and I started from the inside and am working my way out. I'll be following this one very closely as I LOVE vintage trailers of all kinds. I even own a 1:1 1959 Airstream TradeWind.

www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48138&hl=&fromsearch=1

Edited November 17, 2011 by gasser59

[Hypermung]

This is really cool. I even own a 1:1 1959 Airstream TradeWind.

An Airstream ....... Now there's a great candidate that should be re-popped in resin

[surfjunke]

Neat trailer. Beautiful work. This is very cool.

[Foxer]

You sure are supplying us with the sweetest form of eye candy, Ken! I'm just staggered with the speed you build these.

And that's a cool looking trailer. I'd have to guess it's pretty much the same as others inside ... I've never seen much difference among similar sized trailers.

Edited November 17, 2011 by Foxer

[crazyjim]

Oh yeah. I'm liking this build.

[kennb]

Just a quick photo update. More later.

The hub caps are made by heating plastic and pushing it into a short tube section with the end of my exacto knife. Note that the one I use for shaping parts and molding is without a blade for safty reasons. I slice my fingers enough without inviting it.

[kennb]

This afternoon I started playing with the interior

KennB

[george 53]

WoW! That is just TOO cool! That's gonna be SWEET when it's done!

[W-409]

WOW, I really can't believe that it's scratch built! Very nice job with it, your skills are awesome. Great to see these builders, who build just what they want. Great job with the body shaping and interior looks good too, can't wait to see more. I'm really impressed about your skills, scratchbuilding something this big isn't easy...

[disabled modeler]

I love campers....and this is going to be a cool build! Some model company needs to issue some camping trailer kits.

[gasser59]

I totally agree. With the latest resurgence of vintage trailers, there is a market for producing camping/travel trailers like this.

Ken - I see you waste no time gathering dust. Here's a few pictures I found but you may have already seen these. These pix are of an Airfloat but not the style with the kickup window in the center rear. I couldn't find any of those interior pix. Your build is spectacular and I'm anxiously waiting for another update.

[kennb]

Thank you for the piccys. It is close to the 1946. The older onesw and even newer ones ha rund windows which give it a distinctive flavor. The interior you show is very close to wha I am doing on this one.

As a side note I would be intereswted in making some masters for casting on these. I would like to have some good accurate scale drawings for any kind of vintage to start with. I want to make sure that tings are in the correct scale. What i do is close, I think. I know the trailer is undersize but that was very intentional since i felt it was too bulky . I know wish I did it in the little larger format.

KennB

[kennb]

Just afew photos with the interio in place. I also redid the rear window to give it the reverse curve that is signature in this trailer,

KennB

Edited November 18, 2011 by kennb

[kennb]

I have been working on the interior cabnitry and appliances. The reffer face is by the wheel. It will be pink with chrome hardware as will the cook top and sink. The rest is all birch which will be painted and wood grained. I have 40'ish vinyl for the floors.

Thanks for all the comments and looking

KennB