Not much to report this time. A couple of small (but important) jobs done. I finally got the edges of the hatch, where the weatherstripping will contact, complete (well, almost). All of the layers of wood are in, including the interior trim. Also, I have completed the hatch props.

After working through several variations on the props ranging from a stick (still kinda like that idea by the way) through automotive hood springs, I settled on hinging a prop for each side from the interior of the hatch to the side wall of the galley. I fabricated a couple of mounting plates for the sides where a ball pin on the hatch prop locks in place. While opening the hatch you just swing down the props, place the pin into the hole in the plate and push, the pin snaps into place and supports the hatch. To lower the hatch, just pull the ring on each pin to disengage it and swing the props back up to the hatch.

Of course, it would probably be a good idea to hold the hatch in place while you are doing this if you don’t want to dent your head. (Please, don’t ask how I know this)

The last few days in the garage have been devoted to knocking down some of the jobs on the To-Do list. It is amazing all of the little things that pile up over time. Of course all of them seem easy, but it still takes a lot longer then I plan on. Good news for the day… The CPES arrived today from the Rot Doctor, so I may able to start the sealing process this weekend! Yeah!

Some of the items accomplished from the To-Do List include:

• Installed the VIN/Identification plate
• Installed hatch/body electrical connectors
• Installed the bottom trim board below hatch
• Wired the hatch for galley light, tail lights and license plate light
• Installed corner trim on the counter top
• Made a handle for the stabilizer jack
• Tied back all of the wiring for running lights
• Installed the receiver and safety chains
• Cutout the holes for the tail lights
• Cutout and framed in the depression for the license plate
• Drilled out the hatch for the T-handle

After yesterday’s long day framing the hatch, today went by quite fast. The first layer of skin on the hatch was in place, glued, and stapled by about noon. So while the glue was drying a bit, I took some time to clean the garage.

Then after lunch, it was back to the tear for the second layer of hatch skin. Yesterday, when I was out at C&O picking up the Baltic birch for the ribs, I also picked up a piece of 1/8″ Baltic birch for the outer skin on the hatch. One of the nice things about the BB plywood there is that it comes in five foot widths. So, the entire skin is a single sheet. All we had to do was trim it to length, mark the rib locations, add glue and tack it in place.

In a couple of days, I will take the screws out of the sides and free the hatch. That will be the moment of truth when we first get to see if the hatch went together without any twisting or “springback”. Until then, my fingers are crossed (which probably explains my poor typing tonight).

On a side note, it seems that it is customary to name a teardrop camper during the build. So far, I haven’t come up with a name yet. Not to say that I haven’t called it any names, I have. But I still don’t have a name for it on good days. Any ideas??

Today is a picture free post. The main reason is, the picture would look almost exactly like the last one. Not that we haven’t made any progress – we have. It’s just that this weekend was devoted to putting on the second layer of exterior skin. So, even though we have reached another milestone, you couldn’t really tell by looking at a picture.

The compound curve for the sun roof is in, and it looks like everything came together as planned. But I won’t really know until I get the final trim done on the sunroof opening. It was every bit as painful as I thought it would be, but the final result is ok. Time will tell if it was worth the extra effort though.

The next major project is the galley hatch. To that end, I ordered the “Better then hurricane hinge”, latches and T-handle from Li’l Bear Tag-Alongs this weekend. Grant (the owner) was super friendly and helpful – as usual.