We are using two tones of grey vinyl. I thought long and hard about Kydex sheet but the fabrication cost was high and the color availability was difficult to find. The new headliner will be the standard off white vinyl. I repainted all the interior tubing and trim with primer and a hammered black paint. I’ll post some pictures in a few weeks as they progress.

Cosmetics vs utility. Are you carrying a mountain bike in the back, propane tanks, firewood, chainsaw? Flying in mountain turbulence? ACA's interiors are a dated concept that aligned well with then state-of-the-art '56 Chevy. Would you have stretched sheets of vinyl on the inside of your pickup truck box to protect the outside skin?

Karmutzen, what did you do to yours?

If I wasn't a redneck hillbilly (thought that was an oxymoron until I watched Ozarks), I would have gone kydex like Goodyear considered. .016 instead (both sides are done now). And after seeing your craftsmanship I'm gonna pull the carpet next.

I like that and am considering doing the same but my side panels are currently pristine so I'm going to wait a bit. Thanks everyone for posting stuff on your scouts, I enjoy seeing what you've done. Not much stuff like this out there on the internet for scouts.

Got it mostly wrapped up after work today. Ended up with 3 coats of Spar Urethane on the floorboards and am very happy with it. I cut out some kick plates but I want to fly first before I mount them so I can see where my feet actually are. I had to make one alum cover for a 2" hole that is a mirror of the rear seat heater duct - not sure why it's there. Otherwise, there are small holes but nothing a phone could fall through, just screw-sized things. I'm working on sewing up a lightweight boot for the front stick. I don't plan to have the rear stick in much No not going to worry with that.

Everything but seats in. I moved my ELT from cargo area to under rear seat to get it out of the way and free up cargo floor. You can also see where I ended up mounting fire extinguisher. It's out of the way but easily accessible.



I hate the little steel push-clips that were used to secure the floorboards, so I replaced everything I could reach with machine screws and nylocks. I only had 1 belly panel off, so next time I have the front panel off I'll replace the others up front. Cargo area was only place that had any stains in the wood.




Footwell finished. Kick plates aren't secured, just in there to see how they looked.


Overall very happy with the result. Right now the bottom of the side panels is just stapled to floorboards like it was originally. I pulled ol staples, trimmed side panels, and restapled. Original plan was to put 0.5" thin aluminum angle around the lower perimeter to tidy it up and keep stuff from sliding into the fabric. I'm still going to do that in the cargo but leave the rest as-is.

That looks great!

Thanks!

she was looking pretty cute when I went up. No noticeable loss of cruise speed due to bushwheels. I'm sure there was some, but not noticeable.

Good point about the interior. Could probably attach Kydex with Velcro to existing liner

Goodyear wrote:Good point about the interior. Could probably attach Kydex with Velcro to existing liner

Is thin Kydex available anywhere? Seems like 0.060" is the most common thickness and that would be twice as heavy as 0.016" aluminum. I see that it's theoretically available in .030 but can't find it anywhere. That theoretically would be same weight as 0.016" aluminum.

Edit: nevermind... https://www.amazon.com/KYDEX-Sheet-0-02 ... op?ie=UTF8

For $15 maybe I'll bvuy a sheet to play with. That's cheaper than AL

Sewed up a stick boot... not bad for a hillbilly like me.

Also ordered a $15 sheet of 0.028" kydex to play with. Too much time on my hands, this should take some of it up at least. Not commiting to the interior project until I'm 100% sure it will be a positive result.

Have you flown it yet? Curious, was it “drafty” due to all the uncovered holes and slots that the carpet used to cover?

Kurt

G44 wrote:Have you flown it yet? Curious, was it “drafty” due to all the uncovered holes and slots that the carpet used to cover?

Kurt

Yes I've flown it and I did not notice any draftiness. So far I have not encountered a downside, really happy with it.

You may want to add an extension to the exhaust.

A PG&E power line patrol pilot based out of Northern California had tested very high to blood levels of lead. He flew 7+ hour patrols for many years. Consequently, PG&E added an extension to the exhaust pipe for their fleet of Scouts. It was verified that exhaust (and lead) was entering the belly pan and then entering thru the plethora of gaps in the floorboards. I fully believe this to be true and highly recommend an extension. Also, it makes it a bit less noisy. The extension must be removed before removing the lower cowl for maintenance however.

Your ship is looking good! It’s a real backcountry airplane. Not a mountain top GoPro dancer.

8GCBC wrote:You may want to add an extension to the exhaust.

A PG&E power line patrol pilot based out of Northern California had tested very high to blood levels of lead. He flew 7+ hour patrols for many years. PG&E added an extension to the exhaust pipe for their fleet of Scouts. It was verified that exhaust (and lead) was entering the belly pan and then entering thru the plethora of gaps in the floorboards. I fully believe this to be true and highly recommend an extension. Also, it makes it a bit less noisy. The extension must be removed before removing the lower cowl for maintenance however.

Your ship is looking good! It’s a real backcountry airplane. Not a mountain top dancer.

How big of one? Mine has one on there, like 6" maybe

asa wrote:

8GCBC wrote:You may want to add an extension to the exhaust.

A PG&E power line patrol pilot based out of Northern California had tested very high to blood levels of lead. He flew 7+ hour patrols for many years. PG&E added an extension to the exhaust pipe for their fleet of Scouts. It was verified that exhaust (and lead) was entering the belly pan and then entering thru the plethora of gaps in the floorboards. I fully believe this to be true and highly recommend an extension. Also, it makes it a bit less noisy. The extension must be removed before removing the lower cowl for maintenance however.

Your ship is looking good! It’s a real backcountry airplane. Not a mountain top dancer.

How big of one? Mine has one on there, like 6" maybe

Excellent, you apparently have an extension (longer the better). I didn’t notice. But, make sure you mitigate any areas in which exhaust may enter the cabin. I used to use duct tape but it would rip the paint pretty bad if removed! There is a SB relating to gaps in the floorboards. The SB may be guises to drafty exhaust?

My ship had the shorter pipe and was extended.

Again, nice ship!

asa wrote:

G44 wrote:Have you flown it yet? Curious, was it “drafty” due to all the uncovered holes and slots that the carpet used to cover?

Kurt

Yes I've flown it and I did not notice any draftiness. So far I have not encountered a downside, really happy with it.

Fantastic! Looks great!

Kurt

Decided to go check out RAF's Miracle Mile airstrip. I hadn't heard of it until a couple months ago and it sounded like it was a cool spot to camp, fish or just hang out. Spoiler: yes.

I took my gravel bike along thinking I might do a ride on the dirt roads around there. Fits in the scout just fine, and while you don't need a bike to get the 1000ft from the tie downs to the river, it was fun.



Rode down to the river at a couple different access points. Would be a great place to camp.


Wyoming residents get made fun of but I think I met the WY RAF ambassador (not sure who else would be hanging around the windsock) and I thought he was a fine guy.


Loading up to head out after exploring



Made a stop at a lakeshore on the way out of the area. I love the 31's...



And then another stop at 80V



I had a gopro on the wing most of the day so I'll try to put together a video but don't have a great editing solution. A couple screenshots of the video:




I love this airplane.

Wow, looks like a fun day for sure! That is one cool bad ass looking Scout!

I must of missed it or forgot, where is Miracle Mile and 80V?

Kurt

G44 wrote:Wow, looks like a fun day for sure! That is one cool bad ass looking Scout!

I must of missed it or forgot, where is Miracle Mile and 80V?

Kurt

Thanks Kurt. The plane still feels well above my pay grade, I have to remind myself I got a great deal on it. I filled up the tanks before leaving today (didn't expect to be landing on the beach, originally planned only miracle mile), so I had 72gallons at the start, and about 55 when I landed at MM and the lake. Still impressive performance at an elevation over 6000'.

Miracle Mile is about 30nm Northeast of Rawlins, WY on the Platte River. Medicine Bow (80V) is in the center of a triangle made by Casper, Rawlins, and Laramie, WY.

Is the water low on the south side of the ridge between Miracle Mile and Rawlins? There is a campground by the water over that ridge that was too packed with campers to get down near the water last time I was in.

North of Miracle Mile along the water are a pair of sand dunes, one of which looked to be on BLM. It may or may not have been a ton of fun last time I was up that direction.