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Painting cockpit interior
- Thread starter ymc9
- Start date
I sort of wish I had painted my interior earlier on in the process. I'm at the point of front skins now, and at this point I've got bolts, weldments, rudder pedals, and all sorts of things in place that I wonder if I should remove before painting. I still haven't fully decided.. Paint early and touch up any scratches would be my recommendation.
Agree with inktomi. I painted the interior of my 12iS when the fuselage tub was pretty well completed, but before rudder pedals went on. I also prepped and painted all of the access covers, seat floors, fuel tank (uninstalled), etc. at the same time. I’ve needed to touch up a few spots, but not a lot. Working on the canopy now, and will need to paint the frame before the plexiglass is installed.
Attachments
Personal preference. Or maybe pick your poison.
I painted before assembly, because I like the look of the fasteners. It required masking to only paint surfaces that show. No interior except seats.
Painting later, requires, prep in place, washing, masking, equipment removal, etc. Painting in odd positions. Not fun.
I painted before assembly, because I like the look of the fasteners. It required masking to only paint surfaces that show. No interior except seats.
Painting later, requires, prep in place, washing, masking, equipment removal, etc. Painting in odd positions. Not fun.
Thanks for sharing the pictures. Very helpful and it looks great! What paint did you use?
Yes, the benefit makes very good sense. However it assumes you can do a very clean job during assembly. I guess I’m not there yet
If you paint earlier (I’m a fan of that), search “low tack vinyl” on Amazon and buy a roll - put it on your painted surfaces for the rest of the build and peel it off when you’re finished - it will keep from marring your finish unless you are REALLY careless.Yes, the benefit makes very good sense. However it assumes you can do a very clean job during assembly. I guess I’m not there yet
Primed with zinc chromate after scuffing with a red Scotchbrite, painted with Sherwin-Williams Jet Flex, which is water based and goes on nicely. Some feel it isn’t very durable, but that hasn’t been my experience. I like Paul’s suggestion to use the low-tack vinyl while completing the build.
I was inspired by your earlier posts to do the same on my build. Glad I did. Will do the same again if I'm lucky enough to build another one.
I'm at the same point in my build, need to paint the interior. I have a quick build fuse with the wash primer. It wipes off with paint thinner, not impressed. Any advice for prepping the wash primer for paint? Doesn't seem like there's any option but to clean it and paint.
Intend to use SEM Self Etching Primer when I start Fuselage. Other than a good clean and scuffing is there anything else I should know to prime? Have read where some powder coat certain areas that will take abuse. Is this something I should think about as I would have to find someone locally to do this.
It’s really one of those never-ending debates. Many go whole-hog with two-part epoxy primers and finishes, many meeting Mil Spec under clean-room conditions. And there is no doubt that they get really great finishes.
I tend towards simpler - I use rattle-can self-etching primer and matching paint. I shoot the interior “skin” and ribs early in the process. Underneath floors I generally just leave in primer. then I paint floor, bulkhead, and wall panels separately before final installation. This works fairly well - I can build quickly without much cleanup, and minimal masking. I’ve been flying my RV-8 for twenty years, and the upholstery is more worn than the painted parts… and yes there are a few scrapes here and there. I call them “patina”…
Granted I haven’t won a Lindy - but I have won a workmanship award at Oshkosh. I don’t have the time to put in the effort for a Lindy!
As always - build what you want, not what others want you to build…including me!
Since you're building a 12iS, one way to minimize the amount of interior painting is to order the full interior side panels for the cockpit and baggage area. Click on the two photos of the side panels and baggage area at the link below. You'll still have to paint the longerons, roll bar assembly, center console, etc. but most of the stuff that needs painting can be done in small sections before you need to install the items into the interior.
Oh, thanks for the reminder! I already ordered all the panels. If only painting the exposed areas the task is much more manageable.
I painted only the parts that the upholstery doesn't cover, which is still plenty. I did all of it before assembly. You would have to be a super-pro painter to get into all those nooks and crannies after assembly without runs and drips everywhere. Stewart Systems paint and primer works well and isn't too toxic, but I spent a lot of time rubbing out orange peel.
Adding a few more pics of a paint-as-you-go interior. The 2 tone with contrasting rivets is beauty in the eye of the beholder of course, but I love it. I have the full interior so most of this is all covered up but I'm still glad I did it. If I want to save a few pounds for some reason, I pull some or all of the interior and still have a finished look.
Floor surfaces are a textured Rustoleum rattle can paint, sides and steel parts are Jetflex WR Pepperdust.
Floor surfaces are a textured Rustoleum rattle can paint, sides and steel parts are Jetflex WR Pepperdust.
I skipped interior panels to save weight. I also painted with Kirker EnduroPrime 2K epoxy primer as a single primer/paint. Also to save weight. I did shoot Jet Flex SB on some parts and wish I didn't. It's no where near as durable as the EnduroPrime. Funny. The EnduroPrime black and gray are exactly the same color. Easy to mix, spray and dries pretty fast. Dry to touch overnight. Fully cured in 5 days.
Photo is an arm rest.
Photo is an arm rest.
