Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

Sprayed the cabin top

Papa

Well Known Member
Sponsor
Making slow steady progress. We’ve had beautiful weather in LAS but I’m not sure how much longer it will last, so I took advantage and sprayed the cabin top yesterday. Pretty happy with how it turned out.
IMG_3229.jpeg
 
On my first RV-10 build I did a similar approach, and then used a marine grade vinyl covered foam for a headliner on the same areas you left unpainted. Much less body work and it looked good, until it didn’t. The new owner is in Florida and at the 8 year point the sun got to the contact cement holding it up.

Lesson learned.

On the new RV-10 I did all the body work on the inside and outside of the cabin top, and primed. After the cabin top was installed I did the final body work, primed and then top coated the inside along with the rest of the interior. I’m very happy wiht the results.

Carl
 
On my first RV-10 build I did a similar approach, and then used a marine grade vinyl covered foam for a headliner on the same areas you left unpainted. Much less body work and it looked good, until it didn’t. The new owner is in Florida and at the 8 year point the sun got to the contact cement holding it up.

Lesson learned.

On the new RV-10 I did all the body work on the inside and outside of the cabin top, and primed. After the cabin top was installed I did the final body work, primed and then top coated the inside along with the rest of the interior. I’m very happy wiht the results.

Carl
My plan is to use the headliner from Aerosport…their’s is attached to a separate fiberglass sheet that then velcros to the cabin top. Hopefully that will avoid the issue you had with the contact cement.
 
My plan is to use the headliner from Aerosport…their’s is attached to a separate fiberglass sheet that then velcros to the cabin top. Hopefully that will avoid the issue you had with the contact cement.
And what contact cement will hold the Velcro in place?? Same problem.
 
On my first RV-10 build I did a similar approach, and then used a marine grade vinyl covered foam for a headliner on the same areas you left unpainted. Much less body work and it looked good, until it didn’t. The new owner is in Florida and at the 8 year point the sun got to the contact cement holding it up.

Lesson learned.

On the new RV-10 I did all the body work on the inside and outside of the cabin top, and primed. After the cabin top was installed I did the final body work, primed and then top coated the inside along with the rest of the interior. I’m very happy wiht the results.

Carl

You need a tube channel to share with the RV world.
 
Why not just paint it and be done with it?
I like the fabric headliner look. Also acts as a degree of sound and temperature insulation. The headliner additionally trims out the rear windows nicely. Are you the same Oly that used to fly for United? If so, we’ve flown together before.
 
Last edited:
I don’t think there are any shortcuts really.
You either elect to do a moderate amount of bodywork on the inside of the canopy and paint it - ideally before installing it permanently (my choice) or use an aerosport or SFSA style separate fabric covered liner. Effectively the same as most cars are headlined.
Both can look nice and age well if done properly.
Gluing anything to the inside of any RV skin with contact cement or otherwise will most definitely need to be replaced at some stage.
I made lots of small interior closeouts and panels similar to the classic aero panels I had on my RV7. These have lasted well as the panels are separated from the skin and the fabric extends around each piece. Thin marine ply or thin alclad sheets bent to shape.
IMG_7927.jpegIMG_7912.jpegIMG_7930.jpegIMG_7931.jpegIMG_7932.jpegIMG_7934.jpeg
 
Back
Top