Chinook RV

Rig looks new. This was quite the under taking so thank you for sharing all the details.

Thanks 68camaro for the kind words! It's a lot of work due to all the wet sanding and getting the measurements just right to complement the RV. Some decals had to be remade because of incorrect measurements. The driver and passenger sides have different dimensions, which I learned the hard way. I'll post more updates once my new decals arrive.

It's been a while since my last update on this project. This has been quite a journey, and I honestly underestimated the effort involved.

A few posts back, someone asked about stress cracks, which I initially dismissed. That was a mistake . As I removed the old stripes, I discovered more and more cracks in the gelcoat, forcing me to rethink my repair strategy.

I researched gelcoat repair techniques and learned it's part science, part technique – neither of which I was familiar with! I managed to mix and apply the gelcoat, then compound and polish it. Matching the color of my RV proved to be the biggest challenge. I decided to focus on completing the repairs and worry about the color later, maybe in the spring.

Anyone who's worked with gelcoat knows there's a learning curve. With the weather turning colder here in New York, I want to finish as many Gelcoat repairs as possible.

Here's the final design I chose for the passenger side of my RV. I haven't finished the generator cover and the painted stripe below it yet, as both require wet sanding. I might tackle those in the spring since I felt myself starting to rush, and my motto is "slow and stop".

I'm happy with how it turned out and wanted to share it. I tried to stay true to the original design. I haven't started on the cab area yet, as I'm still considering different design options.

WOW!! Very sharp.

First, I want to thank terriv for the compliment! This is likely the final design for the driver's side decals.

There are some minor gelcoat repairs left, but I'll wait for warmer weather to tackle those. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with the results.

I'm currently redoing the rear of my RV because I made some design mistakes initially. I think I've found a design I'm much happier with now. You have to do what makes you happy and satisfied, and I think I've achieved that.

I'm getting closer to finishing this project one day at a time, and that's what matters.

As I mentioned before, I wanted to redo the design on the rear of my RV. It's not 100% finished because I still need to do some caulking around the rig.

Luckily, the weather in New York has been mild, so I was able to get some extra wet sanding done before it gets too cold. I haven't finalized the design for the rear door yet.

Things are progressing slowly but surely. I just wanted to share a few pictures of my progress.

looking good with the new decals

Thank you for the compliment

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but I’ve been keeping busy with several small restoration and upgrade projects on my rig — and a few more are still in progress. Working on the RV has become one of my favorite ways to stay active, creative, and continually learn new skills.

One of the bigger projects I recently tackled was replicating the original Chinook stripe graphics, which were originally painted on from the factory. Reproducing those curves and contours as decals turned out to be far more challenging than I expected. The body lines on these older models aren’t as uniform as you’d think, so getting the proportions and alignment just right required a fair amount of trial and error — and a lot of digital work.

I ended up designing the replacement graphics myself on the computer, carefully scaling and adjusting each section before sending them out for large-format printing. The process was time-consuming, but ultimately worth it.

Considering that the coach is now 23 years old, I’m really pleased with how the refreshed look turned out. It gave the RV a much-needed facelift while staying true to the original design language.

Just wanted to share this with the Chinook community — especially for anyone thinking about taking on a similar project. It’s definitely doable with some patience, creativity, and a good eye for detail.

Enjoy the journey, and keep those projects rolling!