BEGINNING

I have decided to continue upgrading the interior of my Cessna 150, N8346J, affectionately known as "Juliet".  I am hoping this work will only take a few weeks away from the construction of the Wag-a-Bond http://www.N7559Q.blogspot.com

I attempted to add this project to an earlier blog in which I chronicled previous upgrades to the airplane.  But blogspot won't let me access that blog.

If you would like to see the earlier efforts, and I think you do, go to http://www.46Juliet.blogspot.com

The reason for the continued upgrades is that the previous upgrades have pointed out the shabbiness of the interior elements that were not addressed in the first upgrade. Back in the 1960's Cessna was trying to convince folks that flying an airplane was just like driving a car (it isn't). To that end they tended to use a collection of cheesy plastic trim panels to make the airplane interior look more "car like" without spending a whole of money.  The effort probably didn't hurt Cessna sales, but I would be willing to bet that it didn't help, either.   You will find the word "cheesy" used extensively in this blog.

So!  Some photos showing the current condition:

This view shows the ugly front door posts and some of the door plastic. The door plastic was cleaned and painted in the previous upgrade, but spots of crud are starting to show through.  Also, if you look at the lower instrument on the far right of the instrument panel you can see some light color showing through. This is because the front of the panel is an overlay that stands out a fraction of an inch from the sub-panel.  The sub-panel needs to be painted flat black.

This view also shows the scuzzy visors and some of the discolored headliner.

Here is a view back into the right (passenger's) side of the cargo area. Please note the nice carpeting provided by Shelby Isham at Tnwings.com (the company has a more formal name but nobody ever remembers it). Obviously, the carpet will stay.  The plastic trim was repaired, cleaned and painted in the previous upgrade.  However, it has a number of unused screw holes and has become brittle.  It has to be removed at each annual, and every year it cracks and looses more small pieces.

The headliner is badly discolored and, though you can't see it much from outside, the fasteners are beginning to pull away from the overhead. It won't be long before the headliner begins to sag.

The overhead console, which houses the courtesy light (pretty useless) and the panel light (actually works pretty well) simply got overlooked in the previous upgrade. I was working on that upgrade I tended not to look up as I had decided going in that the headliner was not a part of that project.

This is the left side front door post. Note that the "placards" (required by the FAA) are typed on plain paper and taped to the door post.  The specification placard (the black rectangle below the paper placards) was poorly masked when the door post, at some time in the past, was painted. Not quite so evident, the operating limitation arcs on the Airspeed Indicator (ASI) were hand painted.  It is a pretty decent job of hand painting the white, red and yellow arcs, but, it is obvious they were painted by hand.  I may elect to replace the ASI. It depends on budget.

This is the lower end of the cargo area plastic trim. You can see the cracks. These get worse and more numerous every time the panels need to come out, which is at least once a year.  The orange box is the Emergency Locate Transmitter (ELT) required for all aircraft.  When subjected to excessive acceleration (like in a crash) it starts transmitting on 121.5 mghertz, the universal distress frequency.  These are being phased out because the emergency response agencies no longer monitor 122.5, instead monitoring a satellite frequency (406 mghertz if I recall).  ELT's that transmit on the newer frequency are not yet required, but they soon may be.  So this unit may get replaced now. Another budget consideration. The suppliers are very proud of the new ELT's.

This is a closer look at the cracks.

This is a close-up of the rear of the baggage compartment. You can see where the side trim is cracking and the paint is flaking off.  The other panel seals off the baggage area from the tail cone. The wrinkled edge is actually some kind of gummy substance that was somebody's idea of a good idea.  That needs to be remedied.

Another view of the side trim in the baggage area showing the miscellaneous unused screw holes. You can also see that the plastic has warped and that some areas have cracked and broken through.

This is an area on the pilot's side where the headliner is falling away from the rest of the aircraft. I am sure the wool headliner did not start out that less-than-festive brown color. After all, it has been in place since 1967.

So what's the plan?  In general terms the plan is to strip out all of the plastic and the headliner. They will not be replaced.  In most areas the bare aluminum will be stripped, cleaned and painted.  I am inclined, at the moment, towards a soft gray to match the seats and carpet.  This approach is inspired by similar modifications made by another member of the Cessna 150/152 Club.

Some other things will have to be done.  The trim panels in the cargo area cover and protect some pulleys that are a part of the aileron control system.  New covers, at least for the pulleys, will be fabricated from aluminum.  I haven't decided whether or not to leave the associated cables exposed or fabricate a cover for them, too. I have seen others do it both ways.

A new aluminum panel to isolate the cargo area from the tail cone will be fabricated.

The overhead console will be refurbished. Part of me wants to fabricate a copy in aluminum, using the existing internal parts, and loose the plastic.  We will see.

The painted bare metal, like the door posts, will be stripped (I think), cleaned and painted the soft gray (I am hoping to find a satin finish paint).  The paper "placards" will be replaced either by professionally done placards or decals applied directly to the painted surface.

The cheesy little rear view mirror (don't ask. I don't know what use a rear view mirror is in aircraft) will be removed.

The sun visors will either be cleaned up, or replaced, depending on budget.  I would love to have Rosen visors, but they are pricey.

If budget allows the ASI will be replaced.

I may, or may not, fabricate aluminum inside panels for the doors.  Or I may just paint what is there once the plastic panels are off.  I have seen it done both ways. I do not rue the lose of the armrests. With the new, and thicker, seats (courtesy of Shelby Isham)  the armrests are pretty useless. In a 150 you want all the hip room you can get.

At least the right side of the sub-panel will be painted flat black.

Other upgrades as their necessity/desirability become obvious and as budget allows.

The hoped-for result is a clean, attractive, utilitarian, "aircraft-like" interior.

So let's get started!!!