Eric Brown
Well-known member
Anyone have any suggestions for a light weight material that would work as interior side paneling ?
Champ Interior paneling
- Thread starter Eric Brown
- Start date
Hiperbiper
Well-known member
I used .025 2024-T0 for the panels with 1 1/8" aluminum angle to attach side panels to the floorboards. They are made so the floorboards can be removed (all or separately) without removing the side panels themselves. All alodined and painted with polyurethane.
Panels have 2 .032 stiffeners along the panel center.
Note aluminum angle to attach to the floorboards.
Microaire 760 radio and stereo intercom mounted on sidewall.
Easy to make. Easy to maintain and modify if required. Very lightweight too.
Chris
Panels have 2 .032 stiffeners along the panel center.
Note aluminum angle to attach to the floorboards.
Microaire 760 radio and stereo intercom mounted on sidewall.
Easy to make. Easy to maintain and modify if required. Very lightweight too.
Chris
Last edited:
Hiperbiper
Well-known member
I will note that when I purchased the wreck the interior was done in dark brown house wall paneling with thin strips of aluminum holding it together. Side walls, top of the cabin, back cabin wall and pieces stapled to the window ledges.
It weighted somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 lbs.!
I decided any interior that didn't require Pledge furniture polish to clean it up would be an improvement...
Chris
It weighted somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 lbs.!
I decided any interior that didn't require Pledge furniture polish to clean it up would be an improvement...
Chris
Eric Brown
Well-known member
I had thought about using sheet metal. What would really be nice is paneling with some sort of texture. I could experiment with wrinkle finish paint, but since we try to make our airplane restorations great looking on the outside, I figure to try and make something simple but attractive on the inside.
I looked a decorative aluminum sheet at the home improvement stores. Patterns aren't great and the sheets are to small. I have used ABS plastic sheet on other projects. Easy to form, texture, fire resistant, relatively inexpensive, but a bit on the heavy side.
I did find corrugated plastic sheet. Textured, easy to form, very light, inexpensive, but fire resistance and durability in question. Can't find any data on it's flame resistance. My own burn tests shows it burns slowly and drips flaming droplets. A search of CAR4a regulations doesn't show any requirements for flame retardant interior materials.
Photos attached.
I looked a decorative aluminum sheet at the home improvement stores. Patterns aren't great and the sheets are to small. I have used ABS plastic sheet on other projects. Easy to form, texture, fire resistant, relatively inexpensive, but a bit on the heavy side.
I did find corrugated plastic sheet. Textured, easy to form, very light, inexpensive, but fire resistance and durability in question. Can't find any data on it's flame resistance. My own burn tests shows it burns slowly and drips flaming droplets. A search of CAR4a regulations doesn't show any requirements for flame retardant interior materials.
Photos attached.
Attachments
Bob Turner
Well-known member
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- Apr 4, 2018
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Get some stretchable textured vinyl upholstery material (hopefully with burn certs). Get a can of Bargs cement. Stretch and glue.
Wish I had a photo of the C-180 pillars I did that to - got some deerskin (no burn certs necessary) stretched and glued. Looked lots better than factory new.
Did the vinyl trick on my Decathlon glare shield. Looks great! Only adds ounces.
Wish I had a photo of the C-180 pillars I did that to - got some deerskin (no burn certs necessary) stretched and glued. Looked lots better than factory new.
Did the vinyl trick on my Decathlon glare shield. Looks great! Only adds ounces.
Eric Brown
Well-known member
Well ...... I decided to go with ABS 1/16" plastic panel. Kind of pricey, but light enough, textured, takes paint, easy to form, and does meet a fire resistant code.
pics from the project when you get into it please.
i'm curious to see how it goes.Eric Brown
Well-known member
I've started the interior paneling phase. I'm using 1/16" ABS plastic with a molded rough finish. I purchased a 4 x 8 ft sheet. Measured the interior and cut out some panels. Trimmed them to fit. A little innovation is required to form bends. Heat gun and 2x4s required. They will be attached to the frame with countersunk upholstery screws and washers. A corner trim of aluminum angle will be used on the window ledges. Small panel attaching angles will be used on the floorboards to secure the lower portions of the panels. Each panel weighs 2.5 lbs. The panels will be painted in a satin grey.
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Eric Brown
Well-known member
Update;
Paneling installation complete aft of back seat. The throttle trim panel was a bit more complicated. The fwd side panel lays flat against the fuselage frame. The panel contacts the throttle / carb ht attachment hardware. I installed the throttle pivot bolt with the nut inward as the factory does. The nut protrudes beyond the panel. The carb ht cable attachment also protrudes. I added little protrusion covers. Not the cutest, but they look as though they belong there. Could have turned throttle pivot bolts around, but the carb ht would still need the cover. The panel color was also change to Nutmeg satin and matte slate.
Paneling installation complete aft of back seat. The throttle trim panel was a bit more complicated. The fwd side panel lays flat against the fuselage frame. The panel contacts the throttle / carb ht attachment hardware. I installed the throttle pivot bolt with the nut inward as the factory does. The nut protrudes beyond the panel. The carb ht cable attachment also protrudes. I added little protrusion covers. Not the cutest, but they look as though they belong there. Could have turned throttle pivot bolts around, but the carb ht would still need the cover. The panel color was also change to Nutmeg satin and matte slate.
