11/13/2016

The weather was just nasty today. But there were a few breaks in between fronts rolling through. 

Most of this short day was spent sanding what was hopefully the last of the fairing compound on the back wall. As fate would have it, that was not the case and one last fill coat had to be applied. No good action shots, but there should be tomorrow.

11/12/2016

Spent the morning in damage control mode. The big tarp blew off Tiffany last night and we had to wrestle it back up top this morning. That ain't easy considering how tall Tiffany has become. After that was over, we got more glass on the ass end.


The door jamb is glassed in minus the header but things are getting more solid and waterproof by the day.

 

11/11/2016

It's official! We actually have fiberglass on Tiffany!

This is a milestone we thought would never come, but it did today. The porch cover is glassed on and so is one side of the door jamb. We also rolled an extra coat of resin on the top to assure complete water proofing.

Tomorrow will be working under the tarps again! Today's work was overseen by the symbol of our freedom, how fitting on Veterans Day. Thanks to all that serve and have served.

11/09/2016

Had to work under the tarp again today but we are advancing down the passenger side of Tiffany with the fairing compound.



Pictures kinda suck but work progresses.

11/4/2016

Working between the rain we made some real progress the last two days. We now have the passenger side roof closed up in equal length as the driver's side. As soon as the gluing and screwing were done it was time to shape the flared porch corner and start throwing on epoxy and fairing compound.

Before having to pull the tarps back over the top, we managed to get the first two coats of compound on the corner of the porch cover as well.

The best news of all is that the weather may give us a break over the next four or five days. We're going to try to get the shower stall stuffed through the front wall tomorrow.

10/30/2016

So, this morning was like a scene from Eaters of the Dead. Spooky and foggy, but the forecast said we had a 3 plus hour window of usable weather, so naturally the Captain of insanity went right out to pull the tarps off the top of Tiffany.

OK, so  he is somewhat of a lunatic, but sometimes lunacy pays off. We got the pressure blocking down the right center of the roof done far enough forward to permanently install another 8 foot roof section. Then the rain started, but he was determined to get some structural blocks in before getting washed out.


He only managed 2 before the rain became too much, but for a short time this was a good day.

10/28/2016

Got Tiffany turned around this morning and rattled the tweakers next door in the process.

This is real fun!

We want to get the new tarps on and stop the water leak in the front of the bed. Mission accomplished as well as a bit more fairing compound applied. Also, uncovered an issue that will have to be dealt with on the side wall.

10/26/2016

WOW! Rain wind and some of the crappiest weather thus far this year. So, we worked on inventory. Nothing to take action shots of, sorry.

10/25/2016

What a totally disappointing day. By the time soldier A got out to start on Tiffany things were starting to go South weather wise. The day started with yesterday's cleanup. Shop vac in hand, cleanup started on the lowest level of the scaffold and worked it's way up and into the rear of the box.

After cleanup it was time to pull back the tarps and get to work on the top of the box, not! Soldier A barely got the last layer of fairing compound sanded down to see what the condition is and then the wind started. After mixing the first pot of compound and trying to put it on the roof, only to have it get clogged up with pine needles and leaves, 

he said screw it and put the tarps back.

So, it was back to inventory production.

10/24/2016

Sanded the entire back wall today but the weather would not allow for more body work. 

10/23/2016

Got the tarp off the top of the truck for a little while today. That allowed us to put a second coat of epoxy fairing material on the driver's side addition to the back patio cover. He also took the fairing all the way down the column to the bed rail.

With the weather closing in, soldier A said screw it and got the passenger side addition made and installed before the rain started ag

ain. Somewhat of a close call.

10/22/2016

OCD strikes again! Yes friends, soldier A's obsessive personality took over this morning and now we are doing some build-overs if you can call it that.


Apparently, while doing some work on the table saw first thing this morning he started staring at the rear of the truck and decided that he was not happy with the way the rear patio cover looked. He said it looked out of place and incomplete. Then the neighbor from across the street, who has shown a great deal of interest in the project, came over and they started to POW WOW about what to do.

At this point, the rear overhang had become structural, so whatever was to be done would be totally cosmetic. Mostly it was decided that the rear overhang needed to have a more flowing look to the way it comes off of the main box.


A plan was devised to take some high density foam and create gap fillers that could be custom shaped and glassed into place. This is going to add several days to the project, but he has to have everything just right in his mind. LOL!

The one positive thing that goes along with what he is now doing is the fact that he is also starting to fill voids and get epoxy on the roof, thereby beginning to make things water 

proof up there, and that's the most important thing of all at this point.

10/20/2016

More fairing compound in the needed areas today. Now that the rear overhang is completely framed and sheeted  it's time to do the body work and get ready for the fiberglass.

10/19/2016

Best weather day of the week, which meant we could pull back the tarps long enough to try and complete the patio cover overhang. There were structural gussets and ends that had to be fabbed and installed before the final roof piece could be set in place. Haul butt was the order of the day.


In the end we just beat the rain and you can walk on this area


as if it were the roof.

10/16/2016

Had to make a fairing board today. So, soldier A pirated some parts from an old drywall sander and went to work. First was the board itself and install of the hardware to hold sanding belts cut in half in place. Then ridged back to keep things true and straight as well as offering up good grip. So, he used a saw handle as a template. Came out really nice and works very well.
 

10/05/2016

The weather is really starting to cramp our style. But, soldier A did get a little bit done today.

With the makeshift Jed Clampett rain cover he was able to pull off the brick molding on the back door and make something we can glass in. The common mindset around the motor pool is, the more we can seal up with the West System epoxy, the better.

So, we are glassing the door frame in. 

He ran a soft 45 on the outside and a 3/8's round over one the inside edge. He also started planning the porch cover and handrail. And it's get big girl tires weekend!

10/1/2016

RED HAT DAYS!!! 

What a fun little festival we did today. The Red Hat Days crew was sooo much fun! Tiffany becomes more of an attraction each time we get more done. With the back deck usable now and the door in, people are actually starting to visualize the RV plans. Bottom line, she is just a big bitch and the kids love her!

On a different subject, we have located the big girl tires and with luck we will be going to get them next weekend.

9/29/2016

Besides inventory production, today was all about finishing the patio supports as well as getting the door in. Well, we did it!

Reclaimed parts and a total success! The supports are concrete solid and fairly easy to use. Now we have to engineer a hand


rail system. Soldier A's mind is already in overdrive. And of course there is the issue of a boarding ladder.


We are headed to the Orting Red Hat days on Saturday. Hope to see all our friends there.

9/25/2016

So yesterday was a bit of trial and error, but today Soldier A started making headway again. Our intentions have always been to turn Tiffany's tailgate into a mini porch, if you will. Something to stand on when entering the rear door of the RV box. Keeping safety in mind as this girl is really tall.

So, taking some old military cargo container hinges that we had laying around, we used one of the struts taken off of the tire boom Friday, and made braces to hold the tailgate in place. We didn't get both done but we'll wrap this phase up this week when the weather allows. Coolest part of this step is the use of 100% reclaimed parts from the truck and the containers our buddy had.
 


 And of course paint to match

9/23/2016

Went down  to see our friends at PFS to move the muffler and get the tire crane out of the way, so we can get on with the cab over build.

R has a bad ass crew and the new exhaust is raging loud!

9/21/2016

Tried really hard to wrap up the rear end today, but Soldier A is just so anal!

Got the passenger side rear column done after arguing about a 16th of an inch for an hour. We are now ready to put the door in, but have to go to the truck doctor Friday and move the muffler for the pass through and cab over build. 

Inventory is really starting to suffer so it's time to tie some more knots!