[VAC] Re: 1954 Airstream "whaletail" with Wally Byam club number 179

[wescott50@xxxxxxxxx (Bill Scott)]

Dear Roger,
Welcome to the VAC discussion list.  Your 1954  22 footer with a
"Dutchman's Cap", is probably a 1955  Flying Cloud, made in the Calif
plant.  The 9 segment rear section was made only in Calif and to my best
knowledge, only in 55, 56, and 57.  The 54 serial numbers for Flying
Clouds started with #7600, so yours is probably a 1955 with # 7722 or
maybe even a 1956.  

As to the WBCCI "Club" number of 179.  It was NOT Wally Byam's number.
Wally and Stella Byam used the number #1 on the Capetown to Cairo
Caravan in 1959, and later.  Why would he use any other number?   Your
local club said if you joined , you couldn't use that number.  I ask,
why is that number so important?  As a matter of sequence, and
retirement, the first 100 numbers are reserved for Company Caravans, and
other old timers. Some of those numbers have been retired.  All other 3
digit numbers are reserved for Regional officers, or have been retired
forever.  I see that #179 is not presently in use, so maybe it has been
retired.  If you join the WBCCI, you will be assigned a number, if it is
not in use.  You can even request a special number, which might be
assigned, if it is not in use.  Kinda like "Vanity plates in
California".  Your number is then printed in the annual directory, so
other members will know who you are, when they spot you on the road.

Your nine segment "Dutchman's Cap", or whale tail, if you prefer, was
just another way of building the rear section.  It was discontinued in
1958, probably due to the excess labor and rivets that were required.

As to the "glassed" surface of your coach.  After plasticoting was
introduced in 1961 or 1962, many older coaches were sprayed to seal the
aluminum and prevent oxidation.   The plasticote (clear cote) breaks
down from UV rays and streching, after about 5 to 10 years.  To remove
the old plasticote, use any good paint stripper. If it is fiberglass
resin, you have a problem, that I have not heard discussed.  I suppose a
good heavy stripper , like Bix, or Savagran, will dissolve it.   You may
have to use something with a little more punch.  Use care, and a mask.
You might want to talk to some boat builders about it.  If you stay on
this list, all you ever wanted to know about polishing will be answered.
Good Luck.

You can still buy all of Wally's old books. Some are available on
Amazon, some are available on ebay, and some are available through some
of the existing members of this list and the VAC.   There is a picture
of Wally and Stella, and one of his coaches, #1, with a bunch of pygmies
in Uganda, while they were on the C to C caravan in 1959.  It's in
Burkhart's book.

Bill Scott
Charter Member and Membership Chairman
Washington DC Unit,  WBCCI   #3221
Our Homepage;  http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/