by Mr. Lahey » Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:47 pm
Yep I've got a 1" wide ledge 2" down from top surface of the tear on the inside of the walls. The ceiling panel and spars lay on it. I can't take credit on the glue the spars to panel then lift it thing. I learned that here, on a couple other build threads of other builders. They seemed to do okay using that route. I'm pretty sure it's they way I'm going to go.
First I'm going to test fit the panel after work tomorrow. I cut it a tad narrow and a tad short so it has some wiggle room on the ledge. If I can get it centered in the opening pretty good, and bend clean through the front curve, I'll mark it for the spars. They are cut and fit to thickness and width required and waiting. My concern with this method is it's an 8' run from back to front. Plus it has to wrap around the front curve. If it starts to run cockeyed through the run, it could get ugly. Especially with the spars glued to it.
It should be okay as the ceiling panel is supported in the back by a rail across the upper cabinets. Then it lays on the front bulk head which supports it on that end. I would have 1 spar between the rear cabinet and my vent fan frame. Then the vent fan frame work. Then 2 more spars between the fan frame and front bulkhead. A tad less than 5' ceiling length in the cabin. So I won't have multiple spars glued to the full length of the panel. Just those over the cabin area.
The rest of the panel after the front bulkhead is supported by the curved front cabinet dividers for its full length. It will just be glued and stapled to those dividers. The spars added in later without too much worry about panel sag since the cabinet dividers are about 16" apart.
So if the panel trial fits okay, I'm going to keep on with those prior builders method. I'll flip the panel face up on the table. Mask off the panel edges that rest on the ledge that get glued at install. Then sand, stain, and finish the panel on the table. Flip it over when its dry and glue on the spars. Then put it in place???? I hope so. I'm as apprehensive over this ceiling as I was with building the hatch.