Show us a picture of your RV-10 progress.

[Cbull]

Decided to do my own upholstery. It's been a learning experience thus far and I only have the bottom of one front seat done. I do have the templates done, so the second will be easier. I'd be happy to share if anyone is interested. CAD or PDF.

[BigD]

Looks like cloth in the middle and vinyl or leather on the outside? I did my own as well - saved money even with buying a new sewing machine and, as you said, learned a lot. is this your first upholstery job? I also wonder if you attached the fabric to the foam (glue or Velcro) or just covered it?

Here's the previous thread:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=114271

Did you make your own sidewall panels too? the other trim in your airplane looks very nice!

==dave==

[Cbull]

Thanks Dave. I saw your post before I started and it helped bolster my confidence to do my own, so thanks again. This is my first upholstery job. I bought a $250 walking foot machine off of Craigslist from a guy in San Antonio, then spent another couple hundred for a servo motor for it.

All the material is vinyl. I've been struggling for days with getting a tight looking fit. I purchased some 1/4" backing foam to use behind all of the vinyl. I was spraying it with glue , then stitching it all together. I noticed some really bad, no other way to describe it other than "cottage cheese" effect going on. So I surgically separated the material from the foam and used baby powder to keep it from sticking back again. Seemed to work.

The next problem involved the seat foam from vans seemed to compress too much when I pulled everything really tight. So I made an AL pan to go under all the foam to keep it elongated.

To further explain/describe my process I stitched in some 1/8" steel round rod under each of the center "humps" and then tied some wax coated string to the rods and pulled tight from the bottom. One day I will learn all the proper lingo.

I made the overhead console, window trims, air and light trim on the OH console , and elbow pads. The side panels, armrest and instrument panel are from Aerosport Products. Very nice products, by the way.

Cory

[Aiki_Aviator]

Love the upholstery, very nice.

Today, got the baby in the air after 5 months in paint. It has been flying for 18 months already, however, looks a lot better now.

[Mike S]

[babock]

With marine vinyl, you have thin plastic between the vinyl and the foam. If you don't do that, the foam will eventually turn to dust as it rubs the vinyl.

To get rid of wrinkles, you can use a heat gun. Just practice on a scrap piece to see how much heat is too much.

[Jasonm]

Finally done with the baffles. And I thought the cabin top was a pain!

[supik]

Cory, that looks great!!!

[mgregory176]

Fist time the -10 has been out of the shop

[Cbull]

Back seats completely scratch built. Upholstery almost done.