September 2008

9-3-08
Another gathering of former Convair tooling people at the Home Town Buffet in Santee.
After lunch I looked around and saw Fred Shepphard and his wife at a table on the other side of the room. Fred was my manager when I started at Convair.
I went over and talked to him. He wanted to know why we were here.
He came back with me to the group and we had a nice conversation.

9-14-08
All summer I had a lot of time. I looked for work around the house, I did little jobs and painted the outside of the house.
Monday we we are going with the Convair Camping Club to Guajome County Park.
Thursday I washed the motor home and Friday I waxed the front. While polishing the fiber glass I noticed on the horizontal seam, below the over the cab window,the silicone had separated. I got my tools and scraped off all the silicone and got ready to replace it. Water came out the seam. I removed the aluminum bar which goes over the seam. The fiberglass popped open. The wood underneath was wet and mushy.
I removed all the wood and got very nervous.
I wish I would have known earlier, now I am under the gun.
Then I took measurements and made a sketch. Because of the contour of the motor home the 2x4s have to be at the right location. The floor is 3/4 inch plywood. I needed a piece 12 inch wide. I called my neighbor down the street, he does some remodeling.
He did not have a piece 8 feet long.
Finally we called Regie, Doreen's son. He had a whole sheet and was going to cut me a piece.
We jumped in the car and headed for La Jolla.
Saturday I did the wood work.
The pictures show all the new wood in place. I used contact cement on all the wood and the fiber glass. My biggest worry was to get the sheet of fiber glass in the right position. You have only one chance.




We used a 8 food 2x4 to lift the fiber glass. I should have had two more people.
When you live with old people and most of them are women, it is not easy to get help.
We got it in place though today, Sunday. Doreen was a good carpenter assistant.
In late afternoon while putting the last screws in, I hit a finger with a hammer.
Nurse Doreen took care of that. I knew right then that it was time to quit. Monday morning I have five more screws to install and load up the motor home.
Last year I replaced the over the cab window with a sheet of Plexiglas. That window leaked and caused the problem.