Extra Work

I have wandered all my life, and I have travelled; the difference between the two is this -- we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.
Hilaire Belloc

The existing seam next to the sliding door just didn't look right to my eye. Despite creating a lot of extra work for myself I have filled it in and smoothed it off. Time will tell whether there is enough movement in this seam to disturb the filler, if so I'll have to strip it and weld it properly. But for now I much prefer the smooth look of it. The centre ridge pressing still needs some work, coming soon.

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CooP

Roof Join Complete

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.
Mirian Beard

Whew, I'm going to have arms like the Terminator when this thing is finished! Very tiring work. The grey primer is little help against the rain and is about as waterproof as a sponge so I have started using red oxide which should offer more rain resistance. I'm still just chucking it on with a brush, that's why it doesn't look too smooth. It's going to need a lot nore preparation before the final coat. This section will mostly be hidden under the pop-top roof but I still want it to look good.

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CooP

And More...

A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.
Tim Cahil

I sanded down the first layer of filler on the roof join and added a second. This pic was snapped while taking a much-needed breather and coffee break. The big hole in the roof is, of course, for the Dormobile pop-top which has been pushed back to make room for my big head to get in. The two smaller holes at the edge are for one of the roof mounting brackets.

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CooP

More Filling

The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
GK Chesterton

Young Sheldon came to visit for a couple of days and made himself useful by erecting this rain-resistant gazebo for me and my peace of mind. I have slapped a lick of primer over the really rusty bits as a means of slowing down the rust and the pitting. I know it's not waterproof but it should help a bit 'til I can get to it.

Sheldon went on to sandpaper the interior bracing strips and paint on a couple of coats of grey primer. Thanks kid, you earned your dinner!

Just before we put up the gazebo I cleaned up the rusty roof weld and roughly pasted some body-filler over it. Then the $%*&#@ rain came and we turned into tent builders instead.

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CooP

Filling The Cracks

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.
Glenn Clark

I cleaned off all of the rust across the roof and the main left-hand welded join and slapped a layer of filler over it all. I spent most of Easter weekend rubbing it down in preparation for the second filling. Of course it rained all day Monday so I am under attack from the dreaded rust again! When will this rain ever end?


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CooP

Dent Repairs

Once you have travelled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.
Pat Conroy

This is a scratch in the right side of the bus. It has caused a long dent as well. I beat out the dent with some panel-beating hammers and dollies that I have on loan (thanks Dino). I then filled the remaining, shallow dent with some body filler and sanded it smooth.

I have added and sanded a second layer of filler on the welded join. I have also smoothed off the filler in the dent and slapped on two coats of primer to keep it clean. Yes, with a brush, don't worry about it now. It'll be all right. The business of sanding and smoothing the filler is much tougher than I expected. It's going to take longer than I thought...

And I still have this mess to look forward to - oh joy!

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CooP

Floored

Listen, there's a hell of a good universe next door; let's go.
EE Cummings

The floor was also in a sorry state as the roof had leaked with the recent torrential rain and rusted it somewhat. I scrubbed it all down with a wire brush (for three hours!) and slapped on two coats of grey primer with an old paintbrush.

This is my substitute for a roof, at least until this pesky rain stops and I can get some proper work done.

Thanks for stopping by
CooP