Man, this is going to be awesome. Can I buy it when you get it all back together?

Got the Atlee Dodge jump seats installed today. They look great and are awesome. So glad I went with these over the stock bench seats. Sending them down to Ron Matta (http://www.aviationscreations.com/cessnainteriors.htm) tomorrow along with the fronts and 3rd row to get upholstered. Going to do the same leather as the C170.

Damn that is super cool!

bigrenna wrote:I know I have been keeping quite and flying low RE: the project (sorry for being a tease - more to come at a later date) but some of the big brush strokes...

Stripping the exterior started today. Hope to loose at least another 25lbs with the paint gone. Its gonna look nice polished!

So, what was the paint stripping process like, and really how painful? I may have something similar coming up in the future and I am trying to talk myself out of it. But a polished plane, beautiful...

Bigrenna.

Could you post some photos of your third row setup along with your Atlee Dodge 2nd row seats installed? I'm thinking of adding a third row myself and want to see what kind of room there is with that setup. Thanks.

Sure... although that wont be for a while now. All the seats were just shipped to Ron Matta to get upholstered.

Love the jump seats. I monitor this thread with envy.

MontanaBird wrote:So, what was the paint stripping process like, and really how painful?

I think stripping an airplane is like most of life... If you have to ask, its not for you. For me, I don't regret any of the work thus far, or any to come. Its very doable, but no joke and not to be taken lightly.

I still have to pull the wings and strip them. But that will be phase II after the summer season. Will be adding wing X, Sportsman, Monarch caps, and new bladders at that time. If you strip, get ready to open a can of worms. You never know what you will find... and hold on to your wallet.

Yep, there's a LOT of Bondo out there.

MTV

I think it looks kinda cool with painted wings and bare fuselage. Granted, I could never go polished, but I'm just saying, your current scheme is unique and kinda cool.

Greg,

Looking sharp! I feel your pain regarding stripping, it's like a tooth ache that never goes away!

Rough cut the skylite holes yesterday. I used the STC from Cubcrafters. Fairly straight fwd install. Going with only two rather than the 5. Im using very dark tinted plexi to keep the bake factor down. Im diggin em!

So close to paint....

Hey, if you were REALLY serious about saving weight, you'd polish the INSIDE as well as the outside....

MTV

bigrenna wrote:So close to paint....

This thread is teaching me a lot about the construction of my 180H. Keep the awesome pictures coming!

mtv wrote:...polish the INSIDE as well as the outside....

Wouldnt that be insane! Hmmmmmm

Polished interior? I love the idea! Don't know what the drawbacks may be, but how cool would that look. Especially if you did some minimal insulate/upholstered panels similar to Stewarts.

Polished interior? That would truly be MADNESS. I'm voting for it (I don't have to keep it polished).

I for one am almost relieved you pulled the daily post,God bless you and your endless work ethic. Hope to meet up with you this summer. Now get back to work and post more pics.

You may want to consider putting the middle skylight in. I did the Cubcrafters 3 skylight install about 12 years ago and I find that I am looking out the middle skylight when making right turns. The right skylight is kinda useless from the left seat.
I'd be interested to see how you do a headliner. I still don't have one!

Thanks for the tip...

No plans for a headliner at all. (nor interior either) I am using the CC STC, but I think I am going to stay classic and just do the two. Regardless of the practicality, I like the symmetry and balance of the two. I also like the old school overhead speaker and dome light, but who knows what will happen....