I'm still progressing on the trailer's hatch. As I stated before. The hatch is of an RV application for venting in a horizontal wall.
So the modifications I had to do to this thing is a real challenge.
This view is of the underside of the hatch. I had just painted certain areas on it that would show when finished. The venting sections that you see in the center. I have fabricated an aluminum box that will fit tightly over this. I left the vented ribbing for strength since the hatch is made of plastic. I had also added two side push button latches. These set flush to the surface when latched in place. When they are pressed. The center pops out about 2 inches and has finger holds. These are what I will be pulling up on when I need to remove the hatch. I also installed a keyed lock in the center. The tabs on the back (not shown) were made of plastic. I removed them and replaced them with steel.
When I complete this hatch. I'll put up pictures.
While the hatch is drying. I started building the mirror finished SS spoiler that will set in front of the hatch. The spoiler's purpose is to aid in deflecting rain, up and over the opening when my black lab rides in the trailer.
Designing this spoiler to mount on a lid that has a downward curvature in every direction was another tough challenge. Especially with the new tools I purchased that I'm still learning to use. That old saying, "Practice makes perfect" is WRONG! Perfect practice makes perfect!
I made a back section and on it's bottom side I formed it to have a curvature that conforms to the lid's surface. I had placed low tact wide masking tape on the lids surface to make my measurements and to avoid scratches to the surface.
After forming the SS spoiler. I wanted to try and assemble it with as few signs of rivets or machine screws as possible. In the next picture the red arrows show where a rubber "U" channel was adhered. This allowed a press a fit of the spoiler and the backing mount. It can also be dismantled if necessary.
This picture shows that the center of the spoiler rests on the lid.
Where as both ends are elevated slightly. Depicting the curvature in the lid's surface. The stainless steel had an enough flex to allow for it's fixture to the surface. I used a 3M two sided tape, sandwiched between the spoiler and the fiberglass lid. I activated only one side of the tape to adhere to the bottom side of the spoilers lip.
After mounting the spoiler to the lid. I could now get tracings off the ends of the spoiler to fabricate it's sides. At this stage of my build. I'm presently making the ends to finish this project.
Below is a good look at how the spoiler will look.
zoood
