Some modeling work in progress shots. Interior framing will be 1×1 16 gauge (.0625) wall tubing. At .83 lbs/foot, it’s lighter than kiln dried 2×4’s (approx. 1.2 lbs/foot), and if some care is given to the way it’s assembled, should be strong or stronger than a wood structure. For example, the overhead storage structure near […]
metal
Bunk progress
Got the bunk frames sanded, painted, holes drilled, and installed. The real story that you don’t see all the parts to is the mounting on the bus itself. I had to take apart the insulation and install the brackets with UHMW plastic bushings to keep as much of the thermal break intact as I could. […]
Untitled
So I came to realize today that I’m actually working on the living area interior right now, even if it’s currently outside the bus. This marks a significant shift in work on “the bus” because up until recently it’s just been either reassembly (since the roof raise) or a lot of ground work that will […]
Bunk bed idea
I think at the beginning of this project I had envisioned bunks that were fixed, like little kennels or cubbies that the kids can hide in. Recently though, I’ve come to terms with the limited space inside the bus, and I think that foldable “murphy” beds are the best option. This setup with a tall […]
Foam cake recipe.
The foam insulation is a couple layers. There are two foam layers, with the foil backing facing both the outside and the inside. I’ll describe it here: 1. Exterior Sheet metal 2. Small air gap where possible (approximately 1-2 mm) 3. 2″ polystyrene foam a. foil backing b. 2″polystyrene c. poly plastic substrate 4. Mylar […]
Foam insulation update
The value of insulation is rapidly becoming apparent. It is currently 32 degrees f outside with 30 mph sustained winds. I haven’t started insulating the floor or end caps yet. The walls and rear are getting close. With the small electric radiator I can maintain 65 degrees from the waist up. The first 10 inches […]
Thoughts on foam insulation for a metal bus
Some folks were asking about different foam types, I’d say go with the polyiso, it’s a better insulator. The reason I went with the EPS is more to do with cost than anything else. There is a rule of diminishing return on engineered or installed R value for a given structure, and for my needs, […]
Sheet metal completely installed
Detail view of the various panels ready for rivets. The basic idea here is follow the same rivet placement that the factory did, which was I think every two inches, on each rib flange. The weather is already starting to change in September, so there’s that feeling in the air every day to get a […]
Sheet metal
9 sheets of 4’x10′ 20 gauge sheet metal. They’re cheaper when you buy a bunch at once. Picture of the first sheet hung on the side. It’s just held with two rivets, but tucked under the proper roof parts for further fastening. To be honest, adding the sheet metal was pretty straight forward stuff. Measure, […]
Roof Transition
It’s a straightforward translation from high to low, but the patch for the corner gets a little strange shaped. I made a template with cardboard which is way more low tech and easy to do. The drawing below wasn’t something I actually used but illustrates the effort nicely. Blue tape lines “sketch” in the transition […]