The Poet Creek Express - Foamie Hybrid

[GPW]

Since we’re on about this , we just lost our Cat Sam ... 18 1/2 years old ... The old boy just couldn’t go anymore ... Sad to lose our friends , eh KC ...

[Atomic77]

Sorry about your Maggie... I lost my maggie a year ago... And God brought me a new girl a few months later... I knew she was the one... she already had a name...Maggie.

[KC's Mom]

Sending warm wishes and hugs for you guys tonight. It's hard to believe she was almost 10. It seems like only yesterday when you got her.

[daveesl77]

KC, I am so sorry for your loss. Pets are family.

dave

[KCStudly]

Thank you all for the well wishes and kind thoughts. They are very much appreciated.

[Ned B]

KC, GPW sorry for both of your losses. our furry family members are such important parts of our lives.

Makes me count my blessings with our pride of 5 felines and our lone, though aging, ball chaser Dachsie/terrier mix.

[Wobbly Wheels]

So sorry to hear that KC - you too GeeP. I know what a cloud that can cast over one's life.
When I lose a buddy (confessed dog guy here), I try and remember first and foremost that what I'm feeling is a direct result of the good times and positive impact they have on our lives...otherwise it wouldn't be so tough to get over.
It's a crime that their lifespans are so short....but gorillas and elephants make tough pets...

[KCStudly]

Thanks. I appreciate the sentiment.

[atahoekid]

Sorry to hear about the losses KC and GPW, I stopped in to look at progress and still (as expected) it is all top notch work. Good to see the progress!

[KCStudly]

Thanks Mel, on both counts.

Got the taxes done, so tomorrow is back to the build.

I found a reasonably nice tension spring in a pile of junk yesterday. It's used and tweaked a little, but still good, so will add that to my hot wire knife before the next use; when ever that may be. Might do a test cut just to see.

I plan on picking away at the hatch wiring details some more and finishing the front foam. I'm going back and forth on whether to mount the hatch handle. I think I would like the look of it, but it is relatively heavy being solid stainless steel; and I have concern about someone yanking on it against the actuators. The actuators won't give like struts, so they will leverage whatever force is applied into the hatch and hinge. I'm probably better off leaving it off. Maybe I'll add the blocking but leave the handle off.

[GPW]

Just thinking ahead .... actuators.... will there be a way to open the hatch , should the actuators fail ?

[KCStudly]

Yes. The lower mounts are bolted thru from the cabin side of the bulkhead. Remove 4 bolts with a 1/2 inch wrench and I will be able to lift the hatch manually. I made custom 2-bolt SS washer plates for under the heads of the bolts on the cabin side (although I think I will have Dave powder coat them black like the locker trim so that they disappear more... they kind of stand out inside of the rear cabinet with no doors on them...which also reminds me that I want to have the ceiling outlet cover plate in black, as well).

The upper shelves in the galley will have chases around the actuators. I am also considering filing the detention nubs off of the weather tight electrical connectors, so that they can pull apart if need be, but will take a closer look at that when I do the wiring (if I can create enough slack w/o making an eyesore I would rather not create the possibility for the connectors to separate due to vibration). Maybe I'll wind the pigtail into a curly-Q (like a phone handset cord) to create some extra slack, yet keep things tidy; or even buy some coiled/retracting cable.

[OP827]

I am sorry for your pets losses KC and GPW. I know it is hard, I had a dog and lost him too long time ago, but it was hard.

Great work KC. I want to keep up with your highest level of detail, I shall try.

[KCStudly]

Thanks OP.

I do appreciate the sentiment and kind words.

[S. Heisley]

.
I have a belief that with each step of our lives, we are "given" the pet with the personality that we are needing, if we need a pet. Further, I have decided that the reason animals can't "talk" is because, if they could, they would tell us everything that they know, which is more than we are supposed to know.

Magdalene was a beautiful, interesting looking cat. RIP. Condolences to you, KC. Maybe you'll see her in Kitty Heaven someday.