[VACList] New to the list

[MaryDotson@xxxxxxx]

Hello,

I'm new here-- I've been lurking for three days to get a feel, but now am 
taking the plunge and writing!

DH (Rick) and I are new owners of a '61 ILY Safari--we are really psyched 
about our "new" old airstream.  It's in remarkably good condition--really a user 
more than a project.  Right now I am sewing curtains and slipcovers and 
replacing the cushions, since they all smell a bit moldy, getting the bathtub's 
gellcoat refinished (it's a bit cracked), and repairing the only malfunctioning 
system, the heater (Rick believes he can do it, I wait to be impressed). 

Then there are "happy to glads"--the trailer has a new carpet, which is nice, 
but it blocks access to the gaucho drawers.  We may end up redoing the 
flooring. Some of the drawer and cabinet facings are chipped, so I'm thinking of 
replacing them.  Other projects are definitely in the maybe category--I really 
hate the fake wood grain formica counters (original, in good condition, but 
hideously tacky).  I'd like to replace it with some cute retro boomerang pattern 
laminate--it would look retro, but also lighten up the look of the galley. We'd 
also like to replate the faucets.  And of course there's polishing (bwa ha 
ha).

One surprising thing--we originally intended to strip the interior down to 
the aluminum, since there is paint over the original Zolatone finish (and in the 
galley, it is peeling off).  Rick tried chipping off bits of paint in a few 
hidden places--and surprise, in the front interior cap wasn't aluminum at all!  
Inquiries to the other airstream forum revealed the mystery:  turns out that 
in 1961 (and only that year) some trailers had plastic shells at the endcaps.  
So, don't think we'll strip--though may try to sand and repaint!

I have a few questions.  First--at some point, someone removed all the 
hangers for the shower curtain.  It's got a different track than the window curtain 
hangers--does anyone have any experience replacing this?  

Also--the appliances are painted in rust red and brown.  On the stove, it's 
chipped, on the fridge, someone tried (semi-successfully) to scour off the 
brown edge paint.  We'd like to get them repainted/reenameled someday.  Does 
anyone have an idea of how much is fair to get a stove/oven re-enameled (I 
understand this is a specialist project, since it has to be heat resistant)?  Also, 
would it really be a heresy to paint both appliances white instead of the 
original colors?

Can't wait to hear your feedback!

Mary Dotson
...in the wilds (ha!) of Northern VA