Ok, some of my dearest friends will no longer have to hear about that dad gum tug boat. It is finished.
Well, let's take a close look see if'n it's finished or not. Accord'n to the instructions on "how to build a tug boat", all items are checked off. The instructions are no longer of any use to me. Now, when it come to modifications, I bet ya a dollar I'll find me some. If'n it warms up enough today, I will take this tug boat out to the donkey (burrito) water trough an' see if'n it will float or if'n it will sink. I'll try to remember to take a pic or two. Damn it's cold out there....45 degs.
While we are on the subject of build'n stuff, did I ever tell ya bout the time......
It was way back in 1955 an' 1956. I had me a special best friend that thought along the same lines as I did. His last name was Ferguson, his nick name was Fergie. Our interest were identical. Well, maybe not exactly identical, as he didn't like his sister near as much as I did.
In his garage was a pool table. We smacked pool balls around on it. It also served as a hobby table where we spent endless hours building plastic model cars. In my collection of "never quite finished" models, was a 1955 Ford "Woodie" station wagon. It was mostly completed, but as I looked at it, I was think'n "pick'em up truck". Modifications came to mind.
The top was cut down to right behind the front doors. The station wagon part was carefully cut away with a taped up hacksaw blade. The rear door lines were covered/filled with a homebrew Bondo concoction an' sanded smooth. It was now a two door hap hazard pick'em up truck in the make'n. The rear station wagon back hatch winder was made to fit the new roof line....Bondoed an' sanded smooth like it was made that way. Rear tires were changed to larger "hot rod" tires from other models. Twin exhausts were added with chrome tips.
On the shelf was a can of gloss black spray paint. The entire model was disassembled, imperfections filled with that Bondo stuff an' sanded slick. A fresh coat of shiny black paint was applied. With no runs. A total of 3 expertly applied coats of paint complete the paint job. Perfection at it's best. An' I'm only 15 or 16 years old. What does a little 15 year old know bout auto paint'n?
In the mean time "sister"...."damn, what was her name?"... has been hang'n out in the garage watch'n this 1955 Ford Ranchero come to life. Sit'n on a stool right next to me while I'm hold'n back on the cuss'n words an' throw'n stuff...she liked me too.
All parts are reassembled. The front end is dropped. No, I didn't drop it on the floor. The front end was lowered, just like the real hot rod cars run'n the streets spin'n tires an' do'n donuts in a attempt to impress the young ladies. That was a bit before my time. I builded models.
My 1955 Ford Ranchero is complete....sit'n on the display shelf. But wait a minute. Did I tell ya bout what "sister" did? She broke out her sew'n stuff an' builded a "Tonneau" cover for the back end. Solid white with a black diamond in the middle. Where the hell was Brownie Hawkeye at a time like this. I had to give her a big ol' hug, just for the hell of it ya know, for her excellent help. Ha, we both kinda liked that a whole bunch. "Shut up Fergie, git yer mind out the gutter".
It were but two years later that the Ford Motor Company added to their line up of trucks, the 1957 Ford Ranchero was introduced.
Hurt'n pains again this morn'n....dad gum leg cramps an' such. Along with a whole bunch of "damn, I wanna go outside". Now I don't know how other old folks that don't like cold days deal with this, but the old Billy Bob sits in "da house" all day. I don't think I'm alone with this procedure. I sure as hell ain't go'n outside an' freeze my ass off do'n stupit stuff. Simple as that. Even Sadie Mae don't spend much time out there. Do her business an' bang on the door to get back in where it's warm. Her's a good dog.
Don't see no use talk'n bout where my mind has been the last few days. I'm talk'n.....that thing is cross wired or something like that. A direct short....sparks an' puffs of smoke. Come on sunshine an' warmer weather, I could use some help here.
Well, let's take a close look see if'n it's finished or not. Accord'n to the instructions on "how to build a tug boat", all items are checked off. The instructions are no longer of any use to me. Now, when it come to modifications, I bet ya a dollar I'll find me some. If'n it warms up enough today, I will take this tug boat out to the donkey (burrito) water trough an' see if'n it will float or if'n it will sink. I'll try to remember to take a pic or two. Damn it's cold out there....45 degs.
While we are on the subject of build'n stuff, did I ever tell ya bout the time......
It was way back in 1955 an' 1956. I had me a special best friend that thought along the same lines as I did. His last name was Ferguson, his nick name was Fergie. Our interest were identical. Well, maybe not exactly identical, as he didn't like his sister near as much as I did.
In his garage was a pool table. We smacked pool balls around on it. It also served as a hobby table where we spent endless hours building plastic model cars. In my collection of "never quite finished" models, was a 1955 Ford "Woodie" station wagon. It was mostly completed, but as I looked at it, I was think'n "pick'em up truck". Modifications came to mind.
The top was cut down to right behind the front doors. The station wagon part was carefully cut away with a taped up hacksaw blade. The rear door lines were covered/filled with a homebrew Bondo concoction an' sanded smooth. It was now a two door hap hazard pick'em up truck in the make'n. The rear station wagon back hatch winder was made to fit the new roof line....Bondoed an' sanded smooth like it was made that way. Rear tires were changed to larger "hot rod" tires from other models. Twin exhausts were added with chrome tips.
On the shelf was a can of gloss black spray paint. The entire model was disassembled, imperfections filled with that Bondo stuff an' sanded slick. A fresh coat of shiny black paint was applied. With no runs. A total of 3 expertly applied coats of paint complete the paint job. Perfection at it's best. An' I'm only 15 or 16 years old. What does a little 15 year old know bout auto paint'n?
In the mean time "sister"...."damn, what was her name?"... has been hang'n out in the garage watch'n this 1955 Ford Ranchero come to life. Sit'n on a stool right next to me while I'm hold'n back on the cuss'n words an' throw'n stuff...she liked me too.
All parts are reassembled. The front end is dropped. No, I didn't drop it on the floor. The front end was lowered, just like the real hot rod cars run'n the streets spin'n tires an' do'n donuts in a attempt to impress the young ladies. That was a bit before my time. I builded models.
My 1955 Ford Ranchero is complete....sit'n on the display shelf. But wait a minute. Did I tell ya bout what "sister" did? She broke out her sew'n stuff an' builded a "Tonneau" cover for the back end. Solid white with a black diamond in the middle. Where the hell was Brownie Hawkeye at a time like this. I had to give her a big ol' hug, just for the hell of it ya know, for her excellent help. Ha, we both kinda liked that a whole bunch. "Shut up Fergie, git yer mind out the gutter".
It were but two years later that the Ford Motor Company added to their line up of trucks, the 1957 Ford Ranchero was introduced.
Hurt'n pains again this morn'n....dad gum leg cramps an' such. Along with a whole bunch of "damn, I wanna go outside". Now I don't know how other old folks that don't like cold days deal with this, but the old Billy Bob sits in "da house" all day. I don't think I'm alone with this procedure. I sure as hell ain't go'n outside an' freeze my ass off do'n stupit stuff. Simple as that. Even Sadie Mae don't spend much time out there. Do her business an' bang on the door to get back in where it's warm. Her's a good dog.
Don't see no use talk'n bout where my mind has been the last few days. I'm talk'n.....that thing is cross wired or something like that. A direct short....sparks an' puffs of smoke. Come on sunshine an' warmer weather, I could use some help here.
You're right - I'm not going outside in 43 degree weather, even if the sun is shining. I'll wait for a few hours to warm everything up, and in the meantime I have a little electric heater aimed at my recliner.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you just started on the tugboat, and here it's finished. It looks better than anything you can go out and buy.
Don't think I'll be build'n no more "plastic" boats. Too easy to put together. I was expect'n it to take a good 6 months.
DeleteNext boat will be all wood construction like the Mississippi river boat is. But where the hell am I gonna put another boat????
Well, you could build an extension to 'da house' just to house all your creations.
DeleteOk, the boat is done. now all that's left is to put it in the water. (sink or swim) I'm sure its a floater, it's a boat (right). Now what you gonna do??? Okay, just wanted to be first to write. Love ya
ReplyDeleteGood try Robert, but ya gotta get up earlier to beat Gypsy.
DeleteBout the boat be'n done. You know yer daddy pretty well, so you know more will be done to it. Just for something to do ya know.
Sit'n up there on the shelf is a Mississippi river boat. Never finished. There's a possibility I may work on that a little bit until I can go to the golf ball swak'n place an' swak a few. I can always find something to do. Git'n up the gumption to do it is a different story.
Oh yes Robert, you don't know how much it means to yer daddy that you have checked up on him. I love ya son.
DeleteWonder if you got paid for designing that Ranchero for Ford?
ReplyDeleteAm sure that boat will float and you will do some more modifiactions.
Nice that Robert does check in on you
You got a lot more patients than I do, building those intricate models.
ReplyDeleteThat's why so many call me "doctor"....'cause I have so many patients.
DeleteNow if'n you was talk'n bout my "patience", I got me some that too. When I was a younger wippersnapper all full of P&V, I would have finished this tug boat in a week an' it would'a look like a Chinese Junk.