Thank you Robert

Have you ever watched a live choir perform? Seems like a funny question but it's the question I want to ask you. I'm pretty confident that if you have ever listened to a choir perform, then you have been there what I am curious about is have you ever watched a choir perform?
What do you see?.....or better yet, the hopeful question would be what don't you see?
In a choir you want uniformity of performers. The uniform expression of emotion, the unanimous agreement of the story, the flawless execution of music and movement in telling the story.
Distraction is the enemy. As an audience you yearn to be swept away by the story and the music but all too often we are pulled away from our imaginary trip by something that doesn't quite fit, a wrong note, a quick failure of synchronicity, as little as one face looking in the wrong direction. Its the little things that pull you away from the fantasy and make you think "huh! that's weird" 

And this is where Robert comes in. A former owner of Fillmore Robert had accumulated a whole bunch of "bus stuff" that pertains directly to Fillmore's past. When we connected we had a great chat, and near then end of the conversation he told me he had the middle section of the rear bumper, I couldn't believe it and I jumped all over it when he asked if I was interested in taking it off his hands!

So today I decided it was time, I removed the other mid section that we had formed a couple years back.

This one was a much better fit than the last. The curvature of the previous one.....just wasn't right. It drew your eyes away from the flow of Fillmore's butt......I can't believe I just said that...but it's true and I'd say it again!

To fine tune the curve, I employed the same technique as you could use for cabinetry, the kerfed plywood technique.

Of course where I needed to mount the bumper the bolt holes had to be repositioned

And the "extra" hole welded over.

Note of interest: there is a reason why welding jackets are made of leather....or at least flame retardant canvas. As tough as Carhart clothing is, it's can't compete with the constant shower of sparks from the angle grinder.

Now the choir can sing, my eyes are not drawn away from the beauty....thank you Robert.