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Old 10-15-2017, 03:18 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 38
Heyya. unnamed project

Hey. ive been on and off the forums mostly using them for advice and ideas and id like to thank everyone for that. i figured id drop a line and some pictures from my project. ive spent 4 and a half months on it this summer and am about ready to park it for the winter and get a job again. its a 35 foot long international 3500. shes got a DT 466e engine paired with a spicer 5 speed manual transmission.

if you have any questions ill be glad to share some knowledge. i have a canadian red seal journeyman ticket in carpentry and a 3rd year in the pipefitting steamfitting trade but ive been building things all my life. with a little help from my old man and some advice and ideas from good friends ive come quite far.

we all know what a school bus looks like gutted and even with the new insulation in the walls so ill skip that part.
enjoy!
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Old 10-15-2017, 03:28 AM   #2
Traveling
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
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Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 12equiem View Post
its a 35 foot long international 3500. shes got a DT 466e engine paired with a spicer 5 speed manual transmission.
NICE drivetrain.

Bus is looking good !! It'll be hard for you to put on-hold, I bet. I like the way you offset the valance using closet rod. Very clever.

Also dig the circular opening. Thanks for sharing.

Can't tell, but did you use stand-offs for the Unistrut? Seems like it'd pool water otherwise. Going for epic solar....or roof deck?
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Old 10-15-2017, 03:34 AM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 38
first set of pics. i used unistrut to create a universal mounting system that spans multiple roof ribs. for future i can attatch solar panels, extra tanks, maybe a rooftop patio, storage racks/bins. drilled 48 holes in the roof but rubber, epoxy, caulking, and other sealants i used leave me with no leaks.

i didnt wanna lose much headroom so i tried using a layer of carpet underlay to help create a small space to prevent as much thermal bridging as i could. turns out its still chilly but i like to think it helps a bit. as a bonus it helped level my floors amazingly when it was squished between the sheets of plywood.

my walls are furred out an extra 2 inches on each side for extra insulation (i did replace the stuff in the walls too). also to help me screwobjects onto and lastly to allow me a small sil which i can apply a nice finished hardwood to later.

bending 3/8 plywood around that roof radius was an absolute nightmare but im persistant. when it comes to inanimate objects...i always win. to anyone else...id recommend 1/4 inch ply.

the electrical is all hidden in my valance framing. you can see the first of 2 led light strips i installed. one does every colour, the other is a cool white.

built a small workshop area into the back with large drawers that slide to under the bed. it will later also include a small shower area.

built a small closet that should suit my needs and then some.

and finally created the portal hole or hobbit hole into the bedroom area aswell as stuck some stick on texture to the bedroom windows. gotta have my privacy. dont wanna scare the neighbors.
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Old 10-15-2017, 03:37 AM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
NICE drivetrain.

Bus is looking good !! It'll be hard for you to put on-hold, I bet. I like the way you offset the valance using closet rod. Very clever.

Also dig the circular opening. Thanks for sharing.

Can't tell, but did you use stand-offs for the Unistrut? Seems like it'd pool water otherwise. Going for epic solar....or roof deck?
theres a 1/4 inch thick piece of industrial rubber underneath epoxied to both the bus and the track. sealant is added underneath to the homemade clamp. its got notches cut in it to allow for water drainage around the bolt holes. and then i layered sealant against the outside of the rubber to make extra sure nothing can sneak underneath it.
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Old 10-15-2017, 03:46 AM   #5
Traveling
 
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Originally Posted by 12equiem View Post

bending 3/8 plywood around that roof radius was an absolute nightmare but im persistant. when it comes to inanimate objects...i always win. to anyone else...id recommend 1/4 inch ply.
3/8" ply???? No kerf-cuts on the back? Yeah, a lesser man woulda cried and quit. I bet you swore like a trucker.

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Old 10-15-2017, 03:53 AM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
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round 2 of pics. you can see the progress. some wirings done. although i dont have my inverter or batteries in at this time i found a way to wire my fuse box up with a 5 amp laptop charge cord. it was a great way to test all the circuits and fuses one by one as i was installing them.

poopin room got a toilet and a barn door, and a bench seat framed in aswell.

bus got tanks mounted on underneath, and painted white.
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Old 10-15-2017, 04:05 AM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
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and finally the most recent pics. counter top, sink, cabinets, stained valance, finished front trims, and a little bit of plumbing porn. those drain pipes look seeeexy.


more pics will be coming soon of all the little things i've custom built and completed electrical and plumbing systems.
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Old 10-15-2017, 04:11 AM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
3/8" ply???? No kerf-cuts on the back? Yeah, a lesser man woulda cried and quit. I bet you swore like a trucker.

Attachment 16554
a few kerf cuts on the tightest part of the curve but only 1/8 deep. screws helped suck it in...but i also chewed up 25 #2 philips driver bits. if they slipped once they wouldnt put another screw in without stripping it. that was the brutal part. actually bending it was the easy part. leverage and couple big sticks. there were more than a few foul words.

but the result of being able to tightly follow that sexy roofline and then glue my panelling to it with no other work was absolutely fantastic.
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Old 10-15-2017, 06:48 AM   #9
Bus Crazy
 
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Looks great!!! Can't wait to see it finished.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Old 10-15-2017, 05:57 PM   #10
Bus Crazy
 
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You got a great bus there! Enjoy!
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Old 10-16-2017, 01:47 AM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
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a few more pictures for everyone of some of todays work. i think you'll all like this.

i know they've basically all of the same thing but im kind of in love with these sliding closet doors painted on birch panels. what a great way to wake up every single morning.

Huge thanks to my Canadian friend. if anyone wants to check out more of her artwork you can find her at @oilandbirch on instagram or oil and birch artistry on facebook.
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Old 10-16-2017, 09:03 AM   #12
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Lookin nice. Nice work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 12equiem View Post
i also chewed up 25 #2 philips driver bits.
arhhrr. that is frustration.
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Old 10-16-2017, 01:26 PM   #13
Traveling
 
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Originally Posted by ACamper View Post
....i also chewed up 25 #2 philips driver bits.


arhhrr. that is frustration.
No, that's Chinesium.

Lights look great- You mentioned 2 strips, one white. Does that produce enough light, or will I need some ceiling lights, as well. I have no windows...
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Old 10-16-2017, 01:52 PM   #14
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[QUOTE=12equiem;229368]a few kerf cuts on the tightest part of the curve but only 1/8 deep. screws helped suck it in...but i also chewed up 25 #2 philips driver bits. if they slipped once they wouldnt put another screw in without stripping it. that was the brutal part. actually bending it was the easy part. leverage and couple big sticks. there were more than a few foul words.

Good job!

That's where the #2 "Canadian" Robertson square bit comes into play. Usually can twist the heads off the screws if you're not careful.
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Old 10-17-2017, 03:13 AM   #15
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 38
[QUOTE=REDD;229561]
Quote:
Originally Posted by 12equiem View Post
a few kerf cuts on the tightest part of the curve but only 1/8 deep. screws helped suck it in...but i also chewed up 25 #2 philips driver bits. if they slipped once they wouldnt put another screw in without stripping it. that was the brutal part. actually bending it was the easy part. leverage and couple big sticks. there were more than a few foul words.

Good job!

That's where the #2 "Canadian" Robertson square bit comes into play. Usually can twist the heads off the screws if you're not careful.
i tried to keep everything i built in the entire bus #2 robertson but its hard to find self tappers that are in robertson. i used inch and a half pan head self tappers that are made for steel stud framing. they really helped suck in the plywood. good screws. stripped 25 bits, but didnt break or shear a single screw. Fubared the head on a good number though.
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Old 10-17-2017, 03:29 AM   #16
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
No, that's Chinesium.

Lights look great- You mentioned 2 strips, one white. Does that produce enough light, or will I need some ceiling lights, as well. I have no windows...
hmmm i guess it depends on how much light you enjoy. i really like the indirect lighting that comes from my valance. one light strip is purely white lights and gives a moderate amount of light. if i want more then i can turn on the coloured strip and set it to white. but it really doesnt make a huge difference in how bright it feels. i chose to use a cool white. some people prefer the warm white.

if i want less i turn on the colour switch, set it to white and dim it with the remote. ive attatched one pic. its older. taken at night with no editing. both light strips are turned on.

for cooking i do still have over the counter lights aswell. also attatched a pic for that too.
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Old 10-17-2017, 03:44 AM   #17
Mini-Skoolie
 
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today was rather productive. got the trim pieces for my toilet room window built and stained. toilet rooms been painted. tomorrow ill install the trim pieces. also got the shower base built in the rear of my bus. I aquired an old record cabinet with sliding doors that i tore the legs off and repainted. itll be perfect to hold all sorts of odds and ends in the rear storage unit. ive also finished the wood trim above the school bus door to run right up to the front instead of leaving me with an ugly gap. its got a much more finished look now. i've finally bolted my stovetop to the countertop so wont lose it during transit and i've done some spray painting and cleaning at the front of the ol beast to help give it a cleaner fresher appeal.

And ive added in a picture of the custom wood curtain rod holders. built, stained, and just screwed right into the bottom of the valance.
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Old 10-17-2017, 07:20 AM   #18
Traveling
 
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Originally Posted by 12equiem View Post

And ive added in a picture of the custom wood curtain rod holders. built, stained, and just screwed right into the bottom of the valance.
Clever use of common building supplies- looks like EMT conduit for the rod.

I like the subwoofer/ foot-massager
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Old 10-17-2017, 11:51 PM   #19
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
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Clever use of common building supplies- looks like EMT conduit for the rod.

I like the subwoofer/ foot-massager
i dunno what it is. its shiny chrome half inch rod i found at the back of a home depot. and the woods plentiful.

the foot massager. XD. yeah. couldnt quite part with my samsung bluetooth soundbar. keeps the bus truely bumpin.
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Old 10-18-2017, 12:05 AM   #20
Mini-Skoolie
 
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today was an ugly day outside that ruined the working mood but i snapped a few pics and still got lots done. Loading dishes into the cabinets, cleaning and rearranging my rear workshop, installing the window trims in the toilet room, and building holders so my cups, bowls and plates dont rattle and bang around as much in the cupboard. also trying to protect them for the eventuality of me encountering an idiot driver and thus having to slam on my brakes. they areny your average rv dishes and in my downsizing i couldnt bear to part with them.

also found the perfect spot for my magnet collection. we're all adults here. its taken alot of time to acquire these. if theres any complaints though ill take the picture down.
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