wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm thinking of starting anew with the instrument panel in the 300.
The Terra 720 radio is out, and the L-NAV works, but it came with an
old Garmin 95 GPS, which looks more like a typewriter, and no logger.
I'm looking to do a Cambridge 302, with a good radio, and remove the
compass from atop the cowling, and put it into the panel. The panel I
have now is drilled with 4 80mm holes and one 57mm hole, with the other
space taken up by 3 fuses, and voltage indicator. I was hoping some
300 type people might be kind enough to send a few pics of updated
panels? thanks


I think your question was about panel layout and not the actual construction
of a panel, but the following may help even if it is a bit of a thread fork.

If you have a modest collection of shop tools, you can make a very good
looking panel. Start with some 3/4" thick high density particle board or
plywood and, using the old panel for a guide, cut a template with the
layout you think you like. Very accurate and clean 80mm and 57 mm holes can
be cut in the wood template with large Forstner bits in a drill press. Hole
saws work too but the holes are not as neat as Forstner bits make.

Using this new template and a router with a carbide ball bearing guide bit,
cut a .1/8" thick plexiglass test panel. The clear plexi prototype lets you
mount all the new goodies in the glider and see any conflicts behind the
panel while validating the new layout.

Loop this process until you run out of patience or have the exact layout you
like. Then, use the final template and the router to cut the actual panel
out of your material of choice.

If this strikes you as way too much work, use a PC CAD program to lay out
the panel and e-mail a .DXF file to a laser cutting shop who will cut the
new panel for you. Some will even cut plexi test panels for you to play
with. Hint: to get the panel outline right, trace the old panel on a large
sheet of graph paper and then transfer the grid points to the CAD program.

If you choose aluminum for the actual panel, you can have that black
anodized for another $75.

Bill Daniels