I can't wait to see the finished product. This is a dream plane for sure.

Where did you get your pencil/pen holder?

Joe

Thanks Joe.

The little pockets are custom. Since there is no interior panels save two map pockets that go on the pilot/copilot side, these little pockets hold a light, pen, pencil, tire pressure gauge, fuel tester, and a glow stick.

Barnstormer wrote:To parrot Dogpilot whose overhead light are you using?

Using a Selkirk overhead.

Someone had asked for a shot of the seats folded up... Didnt have my camera today, but here is an iPhone photo.



The seats fold up really nice and thin. Keep in mind that this photo is with the back pad removed. I can run it either way. (with or without) Its obviously thinnest w/ the back removed, but when the pad is there, it is flipped around from the forward side of the seat to the back side (its mounted by a sleeve) and then folded up between the back of the seat and the side of the airplane. With the seat pad on (in reverse) the seats are almost as tucked away as when they are not there. The foam really does squish up and stow nice and flat. Its really a nice solution that allows you to maximize the load space.

Better pics to follow...

Still plodding along... although the end is definitely in site at this point. (Hopefully be flying by end of Aug)

Spent the past day or two cutting and installing the Selkirk closed cell foam. I still have three or four pieces to go, but I am really happy with how it is turning out. Sure is nice and quite in there!

Bump.

bigrenna,we all know your busy but--------it's time for more eye candy. Don't make me fly down there and tease you with a flying 180.

Bigrenna, that interior is awesome!!! Please stop with the inspiration though

"Busy" is the key word... Man this thing is killing me. Ugh...

Installed new seat rails the other day, and finally started in on the wiring. Also got the old fuel caps out and installed Monarchs today. Every damn fastener came out easy save the very last one. Someone had stripped it years ago and it was hopeless. Had to drill down the center and use the easy out. Thankfully it came out without too much fuss. Be flying soon!

Slow and steady!

All finished and buttoned up from the stinger to the extended baggage. BAS tail pull is in, Aeroled Sunbeacon and tail light are in and all wiring is finished. I took the time and added closed cell foam in an 8" band around the midsection (aft of Sta 140) as well as adding 6x6" squares in the center of panels in the last section. Should take out most of the resonance and keep it real quiet!

She's getting closer to flying... Got the front seats assembled and installed. Man is it smooth with new seat rails and rollers!

Those are sick....

Ok... Dumb Jim question here... Is that going to be loud with limited to know insulation? My Maule is packed with insulation; I have to believe it makes a difference. If not, I much prefer the look you've got going here! I guess that's why god created ANR's...

Jim

The general assumption is that with less "stuff," it will be more loud... That said, one has to think about what that "stuff" is made of. I went thru this with my C170 project (in which I did the same thing) and in the end it was much more quiet than the stock configuration. Remember, by no means is there "no insulation."

Every panel in the cabin has 1/4" closed cell foam, which is more than before. Each panel aft of the baggage kit has a dampener on it which never existed before. (This will kill any resonant noise from vibration.) The firewall has 1/2" foam which is much thicker than before as well as the underside of the boot cowl (where there was none.) The only area I didn't improve on was the floor mat. The ratty old carpet I removed did presumably provide more sound deadening than what I am using now, but then again, it weighed 11lbs and is being replaced by 3. I have to check my notes, but I think I saved some 30 odd lbs on interior doing what I did. Whatever it was, the weight savings was tremendous and the net net will be a much quieter airplane... Not to mention more headroom.

But if Im wrong... there are always my ANRs.

Thanks for the reply, and.... You do beautiful work!

How goes it? Flying yet?

I'm a little surprised that you kept the overhead speaker on the 170. Seems like easy enough weight to shed? The rest looks incredible, BTW.

denalipilot wrote:I'm a little surprised that you kept the overhead speaker. Seems like easy enough weight to shed? The rest looks incredible, BTW.

Thats a pic of the old 170, but Im doing a sort of similar thing with the Skywagon.... Yeah its a bit of weight, but I love having an overhead speaker! One of my favorite routines is to have AWOS playing on the speaker at the beginning of my pre-flight. I also wired a jack and installed a hand mic.

Tom wrote:How goes it? Flying yet?

Not yet... Ive been putting in lots of long ass weeks plugging away. Its epic.... and killing me to watch/listen to everyone else fly all summer. Im just trying to take my time and do it right. Soon I hope. Before the snow falls perhaps.

Today I was able to fire up the avionics master and watch the radios blink to life. Was pretty damn cool to see the 430 talk to the 796 and the 796 to the SL30. You touch a freq on the 796 and it populates the SL30. Com or nav. The Garmin stuff is just amazing. Also sat for a while in the pilot seat talking to myself on the intercom. Pretty cool indeed.

I'll try to get some updated pics. Just been focusing on the end game and not documenting. Thanks for asking though.

I have been admiring the painstaking process of your rebuild and the 180 looks awesome.

I am up in Portsmouth and would like to buzz down and take a look if you have the time.

Looking forward to seeing the first flight video!

Best...............Rob