I'd like to tap the BCP brain trust for thoughts on interior painting. We have a 206 with ratty insides and want to do panel, seat frames, door posts etc. New Airtex interior is enroute. Can I get thoughts and ideas on how to best prep the panel and seat frames? Is acid wash/alodine the way to go or is a scuff and shoot sufficient for these out of the weather surfaces? Thanks!

For the panel, I would recommend nothing less than professional powder coating. I made a new panel for my '56 182 three years ago out of .125" aircraft aluminum powder coated in textured black and despite considerable abuse there's not a scratch or chip on it.

Both Colorbond and SEM make paint for the plastic and vinyl. I think you can use the Colorbond for metal too. I will look and see what I used on the 175 when I can get down there. I saved some for touch ups. I think Aircraft Spruce sells both but a local auto paint store might be cheaper.

I have helped repair plastics of interior and paint/prep seat frames. Both under supervision of my local A&P who owned the project plane. We sent the panel off to a local powder coat place. The interior was repaired using fiberglass cloth and epoxy, then sanded, wiped with denatured alchohol and then painted with a flexible paint used for automotive plastics.

For more insight and ideas/ details look at this page. This is the home of Shelby Isham, TNwings aviation. He is rather a legend in the refurbishment of Cessna and piper aircraft. He has many detailed albums of projects he has done. Its worth taking a look in my opinion.
http://www.tnwings.com/N1631Q.html

For sure you'll want prep bare aluminum with an acid etch prior to painting (or Alodine). Save a few bucks and use "Jasco Metal Prep" (available at Home Depot etc) rather than an aviation sourced acid etch such as Alumiprep. Both basically a dilute phosphoric acid with surficants added. Metal Prep is also used on ferrous metal and as a light rust conversion prior to painting.

Me, I'd also go with the powder coat for the panel, and with either etched or screen print labeling.

In 12 years of working in motorsports It's quite rare that we have time to get something off to a proper paintshop.I couldn't tell you how many times I've spary bombed a high end car minutes before hitting the starting grid you'd be amazed at what you can accomplish with spray cans and very little money.

While I havent used these tips and products on a airplane I have used them in automotive,marine and other misc projects with excellent results and I wouldnt hesitate to use them on a plane.

If you're looking for something to either add a textured coating,add some sound dampening or for a durable chip resistant under coating that can be painted over. http://www.3m.com/product/information/R ... ating.html
If you want to see it in action chances are its on the rockers of your car.It runs about 20$ a can,but once you use it you'll find a 1000 other uses for it.

For paint if you dont have a gun and compressor,or for small parts your local automotive paint supplier should be able to make you cans of Acrylic urethane in any color you want.It's a 2 part paint that usually comes with a plunger in the can to activate it before use.

For a clear coat from a can that will give you amazing results that sands and buffs like a "real"clear coat take a look at this http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm I've used it on my Audi to do a few touch up repairs and color match a few items with great results.Granted it does take a little extra elbo grease and compound to get it to professional A level results.

As far as plastic items go I'd really have to know what type of plastic they are to give you any advice that would net you a long lasting end result you'd be happy with.But pretty much anything a automotive body shop uses can be put in a can and sprayed at home.

As with any paintwork the end result is in the preparation and before trying anything I recommended on costly aircraft parts.Grab a can or two and try your hand at it on some scraps or small pieces that can be easily stripped to start over.

If you don't feel comfortable tackling something like the panel,send it off to be done and in the meantime do all the small parts yourself at home and save a good bit of coin while ending up with a nice results and colors that match

I looked when I was at the airport yesterday and I used both SEM for the plastic parts and Colorbond on the metal. I sanded the metal and I think I wiped down the plastic with something too. The instructions on the can tell you what to use. I resprayed all interior in the 175 and it worked out real well. Stuff is expensive for spray cans but worth it.

BCP's, the interior project goes well but we're stumped on the cargo door seals. I don't really like the fusealouge mount versions and all I can find for the door mount version is just foam weather strip more-or-less. Any experience or recommendations? A nice moulded soft seal would be Ideal. Thanks!