Installation of a new headliner is underway in my 1954 C-180.
It is a vinyl headliner from Selkirk Aviation.
A bit of a struggle, I fear that there going to be rinkles.
Suggestions welcome ...

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54c180 wrote:Installation of a new headliner is underway in my 1954 C-180.
It is a vinyl headliner from Selkirk Aviation.
A bit of a struggle, I fear that there going to be rinkles.
Suggestions welcome ...

Headliners are very difficult as you've discovered. Best results will come if your retainer strips have all their little teeth, the wrinkles often start in the gaps between missing teeth.

Trimming the material to length and then tucking it up there super tight is also crucial. This reminds me how much I love my old Boeing Skin Spoon, perfect for this operation.



Keep working away, it's a very frustrating process.

I haven't done Vinyl, only wool, but I've been told a hot, stuffy, sweat rolling in your eyes in the hottest part of the afternoon kind of day is perfect for putting in Vinyl headliners.

hotrod180 wrote:A little late with this, but I'd suggest a wool headliner.

Whats the deal with your posts man? The guy is asking for help with his vinyl one. How is this helpful? Just sayin-

Can't remember seeing a vinyl interior in a 'working' plane that wasn't wrinkled, or hadn't wrinkled, especially after a bit of turbulence or a hard bounce.
But then we here never do that - right?

Personal view for my BC plane is to leave out the headliner. Austere utility.
Cheaper, lighter, but most important, TO ME, was ability to keep an eye on the ends of the Carry Through Spars.

In the spirit of being helpful (seriously), if I was doing it, I wouldn't--I'd have someone who knows what he's doing do it. That's what I did when I had a new headliner installed by my IA. He's done many, but even then, it wasn't easy for him, and it would have been a disaster if I'd tackled it myself.

Cary