Thanks for the positive feedback. I am trying to get some time to post
the pictures. They really do help explain things.

Yes, there appears to be a lot more plastic to paint in a Cessna.

When I was thinking about which route to take (Airtex vs. boat
upholstery shop vs. local woman vs. airplane interior shop), I really
was not totally satisfied with any one of them. Either the cost was too
high or the quality too low or the time factor was unacceptable. As you
may have seen, I mulled this over for quite some time.

So far, I like the Airtex stuff as a good compromise between a lot of
factors. Yes, I have to do all the "work". But, that is the fun part for
me. Others swear by their local upholstery shop or some other route. But
I believe Airtex was the best solution for me.

Will let you know when I am finished if I still think that way!

Thanks,
Mike

jls wrote:
"Mike Spera" wrote in message
ink.net...

Day 48 (The Seats)
[snip great narrative]
Next challenge, the carpeting!

End of Day 48.


Very informative, fascinating, and well-written, Mike. Thanks! A couple
of us are doing a 172 and so following watchfully along with you. We are
removing an Airtex interior and replacing it with another brand, and I wish
we had gone with a new Airtex because it is much better quality, especially
the carpet. We have used more than three cans of brush-on contact cement
and should have bought a gallon, which would have been cheaper.

We bought some SEM at $7 a can, but went to Krylon Fusion in paloma blanca
(cream color) at $4 a can. 8 rattle-cans used so far for the interior
plastic, and we are very satisfied with the results. If we had this to do
over again, we would have had a good auto paint store mix a quart or so of
SEM and shot it with a Binks gun. SEM has reputation as a quality paint or
dye for plastic.

Where we had cracks in the interior plastic we patched them on the back side
with paper-thin fiberglas and epoxy then filled any imperfections with ABS
glue from the hardware store and bits of ABS filings. Sometimes we did
just a bit of sanding or filing.