This thread is devoted to interior projects an owner or operator can do. With Winter coming it is good to have some things you can do during bad weather, other maintenance downtime, or just need an excuse to go out to the hangar and spend some time with your baby.
Please post the purpose of your project, materials needed, sources of materials, steps and tips, approximate cost, and pictures.
Examples include those paracord grab handles, firearm or fishing rod stowage, first aid kit, aesthetic jobs that do not require an interior shop, etc.

I'll start it. The ugly beat up tunnel really let the interior down and it is a focal point.
Materials- Automotive plastic paint $18, Placard kit from Wag Aero, $59, Heat Shrink from Buyheatshrink.com $18.50, spray enamel paint $8.50
Tools- masking tape, small paint brush, heat gun
Time-3 hours
I removed the tunnel and associated parts as usual for annual, rubbed down with scotch brite, cleaned with dish soap and brush, 2 coats of automotive plastic paint, applied appropriate placards.
Scotch brite flap handle, cleaned with acetone, applied enamel paint with a brush. Even with good prep the wear from bare hand started marring the paint. Slipped over a piece of 35mm heat shrink with built in grip and warmed gently with a heat gun on full power. Be careful to heat slowly and evenly.

I like the heat shrink on the flap handle. My handle gets beat up from being slid through the slot when the cover is taken off for annuals. I'm also considering a vinyl "boot" for the base of the flap handle, sort of like what is used for car parking brake handles. Think I've seen a picture of one on this site.

That came out real nice. Good job!

Very clean setup and refurbish [emoji1360]

On my 170, I just masked off the floor and seats and used a rattle can to paint the flap handle. Four years later when I sold the plane, it still looked like new.

I am always skeptical of ANY type of "wrap" on something made of steel. I don't think you want to buy one of those handles down the road.

Or, it might be fine.

MTV

mtv wrote:On my 170, I just masked off the floor and seats and used a rattle can to paint the flap handle. Four years later when I sold the plane, it still looked like new.

I am always skeptical of ANY type of "wrap" on something made of steel. I don't think you want to buy one of those handles down the road.

Or, it might be fine.

MTV

You're right, I think. I have mine wrapped with tennis racquet tape. With that setup or this one, it's easy enough to unwrap it at annual, take a look, and wrap it again. I was thinking of a paracord wrap this year, but the fact that you can put the heat shrink over the collar makes me consider it.

Otherwise, how do you secure the collar in a non-permanent way?

This is a timely thread given we are now flying but without the interior done. The pedestal is high on the list because yes it is the first thing seen.
My Dash is peeling paint black and desperately needs something to not shine on windscreen. Matte paint, wool pad, carpet?

And I hate to see my spiffy new doors sills get scratched up. Any ideas on some kind of vinyl sill protector?

Every glare shield I’ve seen covered with cloth, etc has looked like crap really soon, due to UV . There may be some sort of vinyl overlay that could cover the glareshield.....maybe.

MTV

Glare shield ideas would be great, my bright yellow isn't the best.

I had excellent service from the Dennis Ashby fiberglass glare shield in my '62 Skylane. You can get them from Spruce. The lights were a real upgrade for panel visibility, too.

CAVU

Selkirk makes great glareshields for Cessnas. My current plane has one, and I installed one in my 170. They look good and are very durable.

They really aren't that hard to install, either. Takes a little cutting to fit, but I just made a form out of poster board to fit how far out from the panel I wanted it to extend, then used that to cut the Selkirk glareshield. Then it was just a matter of installing it. My 170 had a V brace, so had to remove it and re attach to get the shield to fit. Really no big deal.

MTV

mtv wrote:Selkirk makes great glareshields for Cessnas. My current plane has one, and I installed one in my 170. They look good and are very durable.

They really aren't that hard to install, either. Takes a little cutting to fit, but I just made a form out of poster board to fit how far out from the panel I wanted it to extend, then used that to cut the Selkirk glareshield. Then it was just a matter of installing it. My 170 had a V brace, so had to remove it and re attach to get the shield to fit. Really no big deal.

MTV

pictures? Cost?

frstnflt wrote:

mtv wrote:Selkirk makes great glareshields for Cessnas. My current plane has one, and I installed one in my 170. They look good and are very durable.

They really aren't that hard to install, either. Takes a little cutting to fit, but I just made a form out of poster board to fit how far out from the panel I wanted it to extend, then used that to cut the Selkirk glareshield. Then it was just a matter of installing it. My 170 had a V brace, so had to remove it and re attach to get the shield to fit. Really no big deal.

MTV

pictures? Cost?

https://selkirk-aviation.com/wp-content ... iation.pdf

MTV

frstnflt wrote:

mtv wrote:Selkirk makes great glareshields for Cessnas. My current plane has one, and I installed one in my 170. They look good and are very durable.

They really aren't that hard to install, either. Takes a little cutting to fit, but I just made a form out of poster board to fit how far out from the panel I wanted it to extend, then used that to cut the Selkirk glareshield. Then it was just a matter of installing it. My 170 had a V brace, so had to remove it and re attach to get the shield to fit. Really no big deal.

MTV

pictures? Cost?

https://selkirk-aviation.com/wp-content ... iation.pdf

MTV

My 180 has some material (wool?) covering the top of the boot cowl, no v-brace removal required.
I hid the wires going to the G5's GPS antenna & the Stratux ASD-B in under it.
I guess a "glare shield" is actually a piece that hangs out over the panel--
none of my airplanes have ever had one of those, I never felt the need.

hotrod180 wrote:My 180 has some material (wool?) covering the top of the boot cowl, no v-brace removal required.
I hid the wires going to the G5's GPS antenna & the Stratux ASD-B in under it.
I guess a "glare shield" is actually a piece that hangs out over the panel--
none of my airplanes have ever had one of those, I never felt the need.

The "glare shield" is the portion of the fuselage that extends into the cockpit under the windshield. It may or may not extend out beyond the instrument panel. The Selkirk kit allows you to decide how far out from the panel it extends, or leave it nearly flush with the panel.

Easy peasy......

MTV

Black carpet on mine has held up for nearly 30 years

The "overhanging" portion of the glare shield is primary intended to control the washout effect of high angle sunlight on the instrument panel or reflective light upwards from the instrument panel onto the wind shied during night operations. I've seen some creative shapes on larger transport category for this purpose but they all had central console containing a wide array of lights etc. so its likely a huge issue for GA aircraft.

mtv wrote: The "glare shield" is the portion of the fuselage that extends into the cockpit under the windshield. It may or may not extend out beyond the instrument panel. The Selkirk kit allows you to decide how far out from the panel it extends, or leave it nearly flush with the panel.
...

Semantics, I know, but as I see it the portion of the airplane fuselage you describe is actually the top of the boot cowl.
The "glare shield" is what you put on top of it, to overhang the panel to cut glare on the instruments.
My 180 doesn't have a "glare shield", and I don't miss having one.
It is a good place to put eyebrow lighting to illuminate the instruments though,
if the stock overhead lighting isn't sufficient.