Aloha!
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 9, 2013 21:32:03 GMT -8
Aloha All! I read a thread tonight (which I can now not find) that made me wonder if I erred in turning down a titled 69 Serro Scottie yesterday. After having been used as a hunters' cabin for many years it sat in a meadow for the past 20, after "mom" opted to log the land and hunting went kaput, and has recently been hauled out and to the house. After replacing one tire it is now parked it beneath cover and used to lean various and sundry items against it to include drywall. He really doesn't have much of a plan for it except to use it for storage. Selling had not really entered his mind until I stopped by a couple of times. The first time I stopped the drywall stored against the door kept me from seeing the inside. The second stop a day or so later (stalking?) resulted in the same. The owner did promise to call when it was available to be seen. He did call and I returned yesterday. After going through it, using the ice pick show, talking like I actually knew what I was talking about it (thanks to all you folks!), it all came down to $$$$$$ and my abilities or the lack thereof for both. The lowest he's willing to go is $700 and my abilities are practically none. I turned it down. Now, after reading the thread.... I wonder if that was the right decision. I currently have the 64 Shasta 1500 in work by my Handy Andy (seems more like his than mine now) which I'm excited about and the Travelmaster (which doesn't really excite me at all but was taken because it was free) has been moved to my cabin property. I still want one that I can bring home, park in the garage and do myself. Or at least try to do myself. (Handy Andy just laughs and says I don't know what I'm getting into. He's still surprised how much time and work it's taking with the Shasta. He thought it was going to be a breeze!). I'm not mechanically, electrically or any other "ically" inclined but I'm willing to learn. I believed this little Serro to be above my capabilities, particularly at the prices with lots of work to be done (you can see your smile on the skin roof... from the inside!) but don't know now. I read of others in horrid shape going for double the price. So you tell me, what do you think? Go back and hand over a stack of twenties (I liked that idea!) or hand this off to someone else that may be less "ically" challenged? Limited space in and around the trailer made it somewhat difficult to get decent pics. 69 Serro Scotty
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Post by vikx on Nov 9, 2013 22:18:13 GMT -8
This Scotty is not worth $700. You did good!
Scotties have plywood walls. If any rot is visible, the whole wall must be replaced. They are almost always frame up build. I like them but they aren't particularly easy. The trim is riveted (or twisty nailed) and the roof is butted against the wall skin rather than overlapped.
They can have frame problems; bent, cracked and broken. Leaks are insidious and often weaken the whole structure. Wiring is usually compromised, the fiberglass sink/counter can have cracks, and rust abounds.
I would hesitate if this one were free.
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Aloha!
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 9, 2013 22:27:59 GMT -8
Thanks Vikx. Based on your feedback I feel much better for having walked away. Maybe someone else out here in the Virginia area would be interested. Happy to provide anyone a phone number.
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Nov 11, 2013 20:02:41 GMT -8
I hate to dispute a long time restorer Vikx, but memories of many members stories during the VTSA days of multi thousand dollar rebuilds on Compacts, etc, and the rising values of what we all recognise as 'tear downs' makes me feel the need to differ a bit on your assesment. Although my $200 find had rot in all the expected places, excluding the frame and running gear, during this past year's rebuild I have less than $1000 into it, and that includes a lot of VTS purchases. I'll grant you this; I'm doing it all myself so I'm not paying for anyone elses labor, but I've got pretty much all the materials I'll need to finish. Everyone has his or her own comfort level on their build abilities, but after watching Nancy K's adventures on the Scotty site, Scotty rebuilds are not rocket science. My new plywood walls (5 ply, A/C exterior/interior, American made)were $32 a sheet or $192 total, splined and glued, primed and painted and installed in a weekend. I agree, $700 seems too much, but then so does $3.50 for a gallon of gas. Times change and so do values as things like our choice of travel trailers become more desireable, don't you think? Since Aloha wants something "to park in the garage and do myself", the simplicity of the Scotty construction seems to fit (as if there was anything simple in rebuilding a ham!). My '69s skins were stapled around the side's edges, twisty nailed along the bottom and roof overlaps; not a rivet anywhere. All million square heads in the J rails needed dremeled for flat head driver removal, but that only took a day, and that day was sunny and warm, and Christine brought me iced tea till noon, and cold beer when it got late and she wanted me to quit and come in for dinner... so not an unpleasant task once taken as just another part of Scotty better.
The thing that really raised my eyebrows was that Aloha's find was titled, and these days that in itself is worth some bucks.
Please understand, I mean no disrespect in you knowlege of these beasts when I differ in my opinion; we all come from different backgrounds and skill sets, but I suspect if I were closer to Virginia and not already neck deep in my own Hilander project...
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Post by vikx on Nov 11, 2013 22:56:44 GMT -8
Good points, Kirkadie.
I misspoke on the rivets. They could very well be twisty nails.
I've seen derelict Scotties I would have paid $1500 for, but not this one. It's a mess. It's not the parts money, the condition is nasty, therefore not worth the $700. Anyone wanting to sell a trailer for more than bottom dollar should at least clean it up a little.
Personally, I would rather frame a wall than do the plywood thing, but that's me...
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Nov 12, 2013 8:51:44 GMT -8
You gotta love the pad lock on the outside of the bathroom door at least...
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Aloha!
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 12, 2013 9:15:23 GMT -8
Yes you do. I didn't want to ask though. Not after having found the... uh... adult toy catalogue in the storage beneath the dinette seating!
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Nov 12, 2013 20:20:26 GMT -8
I think I'm gonna go along with Vikx remark; "Nasty". But I won't blame poor Scotty for 'owner abuse'. Anyone in the group experienced in ham exorcisms?
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Aloha!
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1964 Shasta 1500
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 13, 2013 5:09:51 GMT -8
Ahhhh... this kind of saddens me. It's a cute trailer with that neat wall, floor, Scottie color thing going on. Along with the laminate table and counter tops. I was hoping it would be a worthy endeavor for someone with talents enough to do something with it. Bummer. On the other hand, it's a good learning experience of what one may look like to walk away from. Even with a title. Kinda sad.
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Post by vulcancowboy on Nov 13, 2013 6:56:02 GMT -8
I'm in the middle of a (nearly) frame up restore of my '68 Scotty. After looking at the pics of this one, I'm sure it would need a frame up restoration. Kirkadie is right about Scottys being relatively easy to restore, but you have to wonder what you are really buying when they are that bad. (I have been asking myself that lately!). In hindsight, I paid too much for mine, but I am (mostly) enjoying the restoration process.
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Aloha!
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 14, 2013 10:04:18 GMT -8
Will yours have the interior coloring as this one does? I understand it's the original and strangely enough I like it. I don't know what to call it but I like it.
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Post by vulcancowboy on Nov 14, 2013 14:24:01 GMT -8
Will yours have the interior coloring as this one does? I understand it's the original and strangely enough I like it. I don't know what to call it but I like it. You mean the aqua "spatter" paint? Mine had that color, but I don't think we are going to try and duplicate it. I haven't given the interior colors much thought, that's my wife's domain!
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Aloha!
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 14, 2013 14:32:36 GMT -8
Spatter! That's it. I found that quite interesting after seeing birch and ash in the ones I've gotten to see or online. Looking at all the different techniques available today I imagine it can be duplicated but it's definitely not for everyone.
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Nov 15, 2013 10:02:29 GMT -8
Ah, if only Scotty had the foresight to imagine how much that "splatter" would resemble mouse-fecal-matter 40+ years later... mine was a low rent mousie high rise when I found it, and that memory, plus the hazmat suit and respirator days of cleaning, finding more little surprises, and more cleaning will make me cringe, even stepping into a 100% restoration. Guess you had to be here.
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Aloha!
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Post by Aloha! on Nov 15, 2013 10:25:18 GMT -8
No I don't. The Travelmaster that was just given to me is a mouse/rat nest country in its own right. Next weekend I believe I'll be donning a mask, gloves and armed with a spray bottle of clorox -- just to remove the HUGE (fill the pots in the stove, cabinets, bathroom sink, etc.) nests. Granted they're so large I can't confuse the nests, or acorn collections in the drawers, with anything else. As for droppings, haven't seen any. The nests cover anything and everything! Nope, I don't have to be there. Thanks though.
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