Mr.B Rides Again

As some of you may know MrB (the 34 y/o RV that has been to BRC twice) hasn’t traveled any significant distance since 3/06. His archaic and complex(read EXPEN$IVE) brake system which had been ailing for quite awhile finally failed. After tracking down some very rare($$) brake boosters, unusual inverted flare fittings, bending tubing and crafting a tool called a Power Bleeder I’ve finally got it working decently. MrB can be an obstinate old bastard, often doing the opposite of what you expect, I imagined it would be a difficult start but no he started right up, it’s been months but spiteful he is. I drove him around town, felt great! I will be taking him to the shop for new brake pads and after that he should be *almost* as good as new.
OH and the new starter, which required dissasembling the old one in place to remove it AND having extreme faith in Chrysler engineering that a starter for a ‘95 Dodge truck would fit, works awesome! Starts easier and faster than ever.
PS-how do I set pics at the bottom of the post? (put them after the text — I did it for ya — ac)

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Free Design Tools

Doodle pad/graph paper/ collaborative design tool from GE. You can conference other people in and work together.

Free online graph paper to print at home.

Google sketchup – free 3D modeling tool. Requires a somewhat powerful computer.

Evaporator Art Project

I thought I could combine our evaporation pond and my fascination with the New York subway. It may also fit into the theme since it’s a fairly iconic structure. The railing provides a nice structure to hang the evaporator screen from and the handrails act as reservoirs and plumbing. The globe and the sign will be lit for night time visibility. Being fairly two dimensional, it will be easier to pack on the roof of the rv. Depending on what liquids end up in it, it may even recreate the smells of the subway.

BloodyMaryland Station Evaporator Cross Section

Bike Art Vehicle

I have a vehicular idea, fueled by grapes from the Loire valley (God bless them). That is, the idea is fueled by said grape extract… not the vehicle.

How about a modular art bike. By this I mean one easily configurable as a single, double, or quadruple. The single is self explanatory, the double could carry supplies/ice in between, and the quad coule be… whatever! We could also possibly add a motor assist, especially to the quad. Perhaps in the form of a powered “wheelie bar” using my salvaged motor from the purple baron?