Lucky Prime

[N5tavniec]

Here is the only pic I took yesterday while sanding the bus.

Today I got an early start, ran to home depot for a few supplies and harbor freight for a heat gun and drill. The wind wasn't as bad as I thought though there were a couple of really good gusts. Hung my trash bag on the windshield wipers so it wouldn't blow away.
Took a heat gun and scraper to the signs and reflectors.

Hung it on the handle for the back.

No more reflectors or school bus signs. Need to sand the between and above the windows, the door side, the rear and all the spots reflector tape was, and the chair rails and bumpers. All that will be done after I clean up the left over glue with mineral spirits. I left the small circle reflectors on for now. They may or may not come off and get fresh ones added.

She's coming along.

Have an overnight work thing tonight along with a storm coming in. Monday looks good to finish sanding and get a few things done to it. I'm off to New Jersey on Tuesday to pick up a brand new MCI motorcoach my boss has decided to letter with my name under the driver window. First time he's done anything like this in 26 years. I'll post a pic or two once I'm back. Now I just need the weather to warm up so I can lay some primer. Busy season starts week after next.

 

[N5tavniec]

The weather does not want to cooperate with me. It was freezing and wet Monday, so nothing was accomplished. Tuesday was beautiful but I was bringing a Motorcoach home. Today is okay, but snow is coming tonight, so I took a gamble. I jumped on the roof, removed what silicone I could cleaned it up and put polyurethane sealant down.

 

[N5tavniec]

Sealant cured nicely despite cold wet weather while I was away. Ordered new replacement lights today and cleaned up all the glue residue around the bus.

 

[N5tavniec]

I've been very busy with work lately and the days I've had off have been bad weather. Well today the stars aligned so I got up early (6am) and got to work. I pulled ALL lights front and rear and the eyelashes, cleaned up, sanded, wiped down with mineral spirits.

Work called so I had to take 2 hours to go retrieve a bus. Came back and got right to it. Primed the rear and front and a little on the sides. Used Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer. Did a bit on the roof as well as I was missing some paint up there.

I also removed the handles hanging up front. They will be put back on after it is painted.

Then reinstalled the lights for now so water doesn't invite itself in while I'm away for work.

It was a quick hack job as I was running out of time but I'll take the small win. Another day I'll get the details.

I ordered a bunch of new lights. Some came last week, a bunch came today and I'm waiting on 3 more sets to arrive (on back order) hopefully in the next week or 2. Time to pack for a week long trip.

 

[nikitis]

Where did your order your lights from?

 

[N5tavniec]

Where did your order your lights from?

Got LED Turn arrows from UnityBusParts.com
And found same/better LED lights for everything else, for a few bucks cheaper, off Amazon.

 

[N5tavniec]

Did another scrub on the roof, cleaned it up with the deck brush, and wiped down the seams with a rag. The sun dried the rest. Sealed the joints with a thin line of Vulkem 116 polyurethane sealant. Let that set while I taped off the roof and windows. Put one coat of Rustoleum on the roof and pulled the tape.

Then got the door side sanded, Stop sign pulled. I tasked the kid to remove that and she cut the air line. NO Biggie, but I'll need to get a fitting if I decide to repurpose it. I'll worry about that later. As "punishment", I made her start the bus to test it still starts even though she didn't cut anything critical and waited for it to air up to build up.

Sanded where the stop sign, turn signals, and side clearance lights were. Wiped it down and got to priming the sides. Still need to get around the windows and the side compartment and engine door, but one is not able to mistake it for a school bus no longer.

I have the next 3 days off also so I'm hoping to make some good headway on the bus. I should have all my LED lights by Wednesday. Waiting on one last set that took 2 weeks to ship.