Spitfire My restored Spitfire seats ... photos at 11 !

[Scott_Hower]

Just finished an upholstery project on the eBay Spitfire and it looks pretty good if I may say so myself /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/angel.gif.
The local upholstery shop quoted me ~$800 labor for this job (using my new covers/foams).
They advertise in Hemmings and do good work, but still... $800?!

I have another seat back to finish, but it's late and I'm tired. SWMBO approves, so it's all good.

It has been a few years since I've done seats; I forgot how much I *hate* hogrings... I bought a special pliers to compress them and it still a PITA. Did I mention that I hate hogrings?

First things first... The Workbench...

Followed by The Supplies...

The Work in Progress...

The Finished Product... (they were stinking up the house from the glue)

 

[Soup]

Very nice, always liked that color combination hounds tooth.

 

[guzzul]

Nice job, Scott. And a nice combination. I don't care that much for the tan houndstooth, but the black and white looks very good.

Any chance of getting a copy of those instructions? I am about to do my Spit seats. I got a nice set of covers from Canley, but the instructions I received with them look like they've been photocopied about a thousand times. I can't find any details online for Spit seats.

What did you use the wide-blade trowel for?

 

[Scott_Hower]

Thanks; I'll gladly send you a copy of the instructions, drop me a PM with your address. They're pretty bad - the photos are about an inch square.

I used the wide trowel to smooth out the center sections of the seat base and seat back after gluing (the fabric part of the seat, not the vinyl).

You need to pull the seat bottom cover *really tight* to clip the hogrings onto the wire basket/base. Make sure you let the glue on the seat bottom covers dry for a couple days before you attempt this.

 

[Aldwyn]

That looks excellent! Great job!

 

[guzzul]

You need to pull the seat bottom cover *really tight* to clip the hogrings onto the wire basket/base. Make sure you let the glue on the seat bottom covers dry for a couple days before you attempt this.

Will do. I am *not* looking forward to clamping all those hog rings.

PM on the way, many thanks.

 

[billspit]

Great job. So how much would you charge me to do my seats??? $800?

IIRC the foam and seat cover kits for my MK I cost over $500.

 

[DrEntropy]

Very nice, Scott.

And I see the all-important tool: The Coffee Cup! With a USAF logo to boot!!! Good lad!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[Scott_Hower]

Great job. So how much would you charge me to do my seats??? $800?

IIRC the foam and seat cover kits for my MK I cost over $500.

You couldnt afford me /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif I'd be afraid to mess yours up.

The 1500 foams are about $300/set (kindy pricey for a $5 chunk of foam, but mine were really bad) plus another $350 or so for the covers. Toss in another $50 for glue/consumables/tools and it's about $700 in materials alone.

Wife said I better sleep on these seats for what I have in them. Hmmm, they do retract... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[Scott_Hower]

Very nice, Scott.

And I see the all-important tool: The Coffee Cup! With a USAF logo to boot!!! Good lad!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Took a tour of the USAF museum near Dayton last July whilst wisiting the BIL and his family. Spectacular place; thats were the mug originated.

 

[Guest]

Wife said I better sleep on these seats for what I have in them. Hmmm, they do retract... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

What, you let her look at the receipts?! Come on Scott, you're slippin.....



Nice job, by the way.

 

[Scott_Hower]

What, you let her look at the receipts?! Come on Scott, you're slippin.....

Yeah, I know.

Another lesson... don't ever, EVER pronounce a restoration as "done". That cuts off the funding.