Last year I spent time designing a new interior for the Airbus A321 that created more legroom along with more seating in the same dimensions of the existing fuselage of the aircraft. I was happy with the 3D renderings I did via Solidworks/ Keyshot, but I wanted to take it a step further.

It started with a sheet of 16 gauge steel. I drew up a few CAD files in order to keep the model relative to scale. For accuracy purposes, I lasercut the steel using a .STP file. After the cut, I sent it through the roller using a template to make sure it stayed true to the dimensions I planned.

After the steel was cut I began the painting process using a self etching primer, along with an HVLP sprayer to keep the finish smooth. In the meantime, I recieved my order of 180 chairs from a manufacturer in China and began painting those as well.

Pictured above left, you can see the subflooring for the airplane. I wanted to stay true to the real thing, seeing as how the cut away would show more than just the surface of the airplane floor.

Decals applied and sealed with clearcoat. At this point I created a "diffused" LED strip that spans across the entirety of the interior.