The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER - Page 15

JakeC · 09-17-2013, 09:43 AM

Any updates?

wmkbailey · 09-17-2013, 11:58 AM

I was taking time off in Cape May NJ Just got back last night. I acutally missed working on the bus.

ol trunt · 09-17-2013, 04:55 PM

Ya sure, working on a bus is better than a vacation. It's your story so I guess you can tell it any way you want! Ha Ha!

syke · 09-17-2013, 06:31 PM

Wow! looking great. Sure do love the roof raise. Almost wish we had done the same.

wmkbailey · 09-17-2013, 07:13 PM

By the time I get the tarp off and the tools out I only have an hour to work on the bus before I have to start putting everything back.

I did get the last large panel on. Tomorrow I start with the two front small panels. Depending on rain, I should get them done and that would leave the weekend to start attaching the front roof back together.

crazycal · 09-17-2013, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

It's starting to solidify! You're gonna be so psyched when you finally button that whole thing up. Are you going to try to find rub rail pieces to make the emergency door area blend in better?

We don't have salvage yards in Maryland, I will have to look out of state, but yes I want blend it in with rub rails.

The bus is coming along nicely. Looks great. You can buy rub rails from the bus parts companies.

crazycal · 09-17-2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

I was taking time off in Cape May NJ Just got back last night. I acutally missed working on the bus.

You can come work on mine. I haven't done anything with mine.

wmkbailey · 09-17-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycal

The bus is coming along nicely. Looks great. You can buy rub rails from the bus parts companies.

Thanks, I will check on that.

wmkbailey · 09-18-2013, 07:05 PM

I got my first front panel drilled, cleaned and painted.

Then I realized I used the other piece for the emergency door. Tomorrow I will have to order a replacement.

Now comes the fun of drilling out the rivets.

I was only able to get started before I had to put everything away. I still have to weld the front to the raised section before I can put the panel in. I have plans for tomorrow, but I should be able to finish Friday. That will leave the weekend to work on the roof.

wmkbailey · 09-21-2013, 11:54 AM

Well Friday was a bust. Durango had his yearly teeth cleaning and I could not pick him up until 6:00. That did not leave any time to work on the bus. Today we have storms moving in. I decide to leave two of the original windows in the front until I get the RV windows I ordered in the next couple weeks. Then I will finish skinning them and installing the new windows.

I spent my time this morning cutting up the old tarp I used to cover the bus into two smaller pieces. It is starting to show ware and tear. I can leave these on and still work on the bus, until I complete the roof.

Tomorrow is going to be a good day, high only in the 70's. Hopefully I can get a good start on the front roof section.

Just finished putting them on when the first drops of rain started to fall.

Edit: Maybe I should just leave the tarps on and not do the roof. I can take them off on nice dasy, kinda like a canvas sun roof front and back.

browncrown · 09-21-2013, 12:59 PM

Really like the way this is coming along...beautiful job

JakeC · 09-21-2013, 04:24 PM

Dude, this is so fun to watch. You are doing an amazing job. It looks huge!! Hope tomorrow is a good day for you!

LuckyChow · 09-21-2013, 06:16 PM

Great project! You're coming along very quickly with nice quality work. I really like this bus.

wmkbailey · 09-21-2013, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycal

The bus is coming along nicely. Looks great. You can buy rub rails from the bus parts companies.

Thanks, I will check on that.

crazycal came through. In Tutorials and How-to's he posted Body panel parts. with a link to a website that has the T123 Rub Rail 10 ft. section for a Thomas bus.

wmkbailey · 09-21-2013, 09:35 PM

Thanks for the encouragement people.

Diesel Dan · 09-21-2013, 11:15 PM

Dude, I am loving this project. I hope I get the opportunity one day to replicate exactly what you are doing with your roof raise. I'm really looking forward to seeing how yours turns out.

syke · 09-21-2013, 11:21 PM

Wow! Nice work man. Looks great!

Accordion · 09-22-2013, 03:07 AM

Your bus now looks very stylish, unusual, and distinct.

I wonder if there is a way to put glass on the caps. It would let light in. A taste of old GMC buses.

Having looked at your new pictures, I think (just my opinion) that you should have the openings vertical instead of slanting.

wmkbailey · 09-22-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accordion

Your bus now looks very stylish, unusual, and distinct.

I wonder if there is a way to put glass on the caps. It would let light in. A taste of old GMC buses.

Having looked at your new pictures, I think (just my opinion) that you should have the openings vertical instead of slanting.

I do have two windows that i plan to use.

They won't fit if I go vertical, I have to put a slight slant to have enough space for them.

wmkbailey · 09-22-2013, 01:58 PM

Well... Three hrs with flimsy cardboard on a ladder in the wind and I almost gave up. I got to the bus at 8:00 to get an early start and by 11:00 was ready to sell the bus.

I took a lunch break and went to Mc Dees. A quarter pounder deluxe later and I had a break through. Just like that old TV show "Name that tune", Tom, I can connect that roof in four pieces, OK connect that roof.

The first two pieces are the hard ones. On the good note, once I got one figured out the other is a mirror image.

After measuring the roof, I figured out if I can get the first piece to go the first 18" The left over 6.5' would almost be straight. With my quarter pounder deluxe break through, it only took me two tries. the first one was very close.

I used this to make a template for the other side and used it in reverse.

At first I thought I could connect the two with one straight piece, but after putting it together I see that where it meets in the middle will be at an angle. So it will take two.

This was not easy because I had to do it all from the ladder. I need to build a support under the roof so I can climb on top and make a more accurate template.

Here it is from the side.

Here I put one of the window trim rings on. The steel is 14.5" wide and the trim ring is 10.5". Now I'm exhausted and going to take a break and let it stew around to see if I come up with any problems. Let me know what you all think.

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