231 Interior Panels

[CoachTom]

Has anyone replaced the interior panels of their 231?  Have you used "Vantage Plane Plastic" as their parts are labeled for a "J" model not a "K" model?

If not Vantage, then where have you or know of where to replace the interior panels...

 

Thanks in advance!!

 

T

[Frosty]

I looked at them, decided that they would fit, then decided to rebuild my original panels instead of trimming and 'painting' theirs.  Takes time but I am happy with the results.

[CoachTom]

My door panel is completely broken at the elbow rest as well as the pilots station elbow rest. no chance of rebuild.  The ceiling panels are staying up by a miracle I believe as all of the screws are punched through the Royalite.  Didn't know if I took those panels down and fiberglassed over the holes, if the Royalite wouldn't break at a different stress point? 

Panels are all yellow and very brittle, just reaching for straws regard which way to turn...  worried more so than not if I take the panels down that they wont go back up since they are so fragile.

All ideas or recommendations are welcome except spending 18 Grand for a new interior at the factory (wish I could, but the real bills keep rolling in)

[N601RX]

I took my side panels off recently to replace windows and noticed the previous owner had covered the back side of a couple of them with some thin fiberglass cloth and brushed a coat of resin over it.  It seemed to have stiffened them up and to hold them together pretty well.

[Frosty]

I skuffed the back with sandpaper, cut fiberglass to fit as required, brushed on resin, laid cut pieces of plastic drop cloth over the repair, and then clamped with a variety of boards, blocks, and angle iron to straighten warped sections.  I covered the ashtray openings with fiberglass.  Mine were also badly yellowed.  When all the cracked places and pulled through screws had been repaired I painted the panels antique white. 

The armrests and trim I repaired using leather repair kits. Mine were bad enough I had a chance to try several different kits I found online using Google.  The "Professional Leather & Vinyl Repair Kit" "The original LIQUID LEATHER " with a heating iron included worked the best.  I sprayed them with vinyl 'paint' from aircraft spruce.  They were the original burgandy and I went with navy to match the 'new paint' done in '93.  I had doubts about coverage but the old color doesn't show throught at all. 

I have before, I will try to get some after pictures to post.

[Frosty]

Oh yes, a couple of other points.  Make sure to clean them well to get rid of any oil.  I used a final wipe down with alcohol.   My edge trim was hard and shrunk up and there was no way it could be salvaged so I did buy new trim from Plane Plastic. 

[jlunseth]

That's what we did with my plane - cut a set of panels from Plane Plastic for the J to fit my K.  It came out ok.  There is some fitting to do though.