Bedroom Wainscot and Insulation

I took down the sheet metal in the transition between the windows and the ceiling in one place to inspect. Trinda would like wood trim there instead. I can't decide. Not that removing the toilet area and starting over on it would make a difference in the decision. But it does delay any more work that would reach that area.

I insulated the walls with 1" foam insulation because I need all the room I can get to walk over the wheel well and beside the bed. I'm still planning a nice looking window sill, whatever that is ...

And probably a shelf for storage above the back window.

Port side bedroom wainscot and nightstand

I didn't accomplish much the past few days, but here it is. I had to edit out hours of sitting and staring at the walls,trying to figure out how to do the next steps.

I ask Steven to help with parts of it today.

Seventh Week: A Brick Wall

Some visible progress for a change. I started with the starboard forward wall and wheel well but didn't make much progress. Guy and I insulated them with R-8 fireproof bats. Today I finally got the 115 volt outlets and wiring in and put up the "brick wall" paneling. I have yet to install the cedar trim on top. It is just balanced there now.

Starboard side from front looking back

Starboard side aft looking forward

I have not shown a picture of our new mattress on the bed frame so here it is.

Our new queen mattress, still in the wrapper.

And I have been working on the area for the toilet and closet. It will be a composting toilet. There will be a closet and shelves beside it.

Starboard side aft of the wall and emergency exit

Also, the time-lapse camera is still running part time. The battery died for a few hours when I didn't notice.

Sixth Week: Toilet Started

(Week 6 of actual work, here may have been a week or so lost to the Coronavirus...)

Here is a time-lapse video of a couple days at Wyndi's. Lots of thinking and designing and not much work.

I made a time-lapse camera from an ESP32-CAM and mounted on the front bulkhead of the bus, looking back.

Fifth week: Nightstands and Wheel Well Covers

I finished the nightstands and stained them a light walnut. It soaked in more than I thought so it may take more ...

One for each side of the bed

Also insulated the rear wheel well covers and boxed them in. They are in kind of an  unfortunate place. We will have to step up and walk around to the sides of the bed.

I also started insulating the walls. In the back we need all the room possible to walk beside the bed. So the plan is one inch of foam insulation beside the bed.  Then wainscot up to the middle of the window, just to where the top of the window opens downward. 

Fourth week: Nightstands and Underneath

We insulated the front part of the wall. I used 2x3 studs and good insulation. We plan to use a brick look panel for the front room of the bus. May be a couch where the hammer is some day.

Front wheel well cover with insulation.

I started to make nightstands or tables for beside the bed. Got to have a place for for all that stuff that winds up next to the bed!

Beginning the nightstands in a friend's nice shop.

Also I have been wondering what is underneath the bus. And whether there is room to install some water/holding tanks as well as pumps, batteries, generator, etc. 

Looks like there is plenty of room!

Looking aft.

Looking forward.

The Bus-Watch System

The bus came with a Bus-Watch system. I am not sure even yet just what it is. There are 4 nice looking cameras installed inside. And to large black boxes locked up with keys that I did not receive.

As I discovery it I plan to update this post.

Third Weekend: A Sample of What it May Look Like

This week we finished most of the floor and built the bead frame. I have ordered a queen size mattress to be delivered mid March. I hope it will fit through the door.

I have been preparing to change the registration from School Bus to RV. The seats must be removed and accommodations for cooking, sleeping and restroom installed. The insurance company also asked about water and/or a sink.

The Good Sam Club was the only company I found willing to offer liability insurance for a bus conversion. They are really reasonable too.

Since the bus is mostly steel, the toilet curtain ids held up with magnets.

The Data Plates

I am trying to decide exactly what bus I have. There seem to be several models, so here are the various data plates I have found.

The chassis info

The year and body

The tires

The VIN

The transmission

Engine plate

The Second Weekend: Insulating The Floor

The bus is not the "tall" version, so I don't want to loose much headroom. I decided the floor will be 1/2" of insulation and 1/2 inch of OSB sub-flooring.

I Bought A School Bus

There it is, certification that I'm nuts. I bought a bus. A 20 year old, 38 foot school bus. Today, Guy and I took out the seats in preparation for registering it as an RV, caravan for you Aussies. My kids think we are too old and crippled to start building out a bus. We'll have to see.

The other side.

The first day: Started removing the seats.

End of the second day: seats mostly out.

I was inspired by Guy's bus, a 1992 Blue Bird

Guy's custom wood stove.