What do YOU want for Xmas?

You need to fix it again, the enlarge the mounting holes and
not tighten them up so tight, so when the metal of the radio vs the
plastic
gets cold, the can shrink how much they want to, without putting pressure
on
the faceplate.

Yeah, that's what I tried last time. Trouble is, the screws come through
from the *sides* of the audio panel, meaning that they are necessarily too
small for the job, and the plastic that they must go through is too thin.

Worse, one side (where the screws go through) of the faceplate is completely
gone, after breaking numerous times. I have replaced this entire missing
side by building up successive layers of JB Weld (a 2-part epoxy-like
product that is drillable, sandable, and just about indestructible) and then
carving/cutting it to the proper dimensions with a Dremel tool. It was
painstaking work.

It lasted six months or so, until it got cold. The push-buttons for the
audio panel are slightly smaller than the tip of your index finger, which
means when you push them in turbulence, you tend to jam the plastic
faceplate, too. This, of course, puts stress on those four little side
screws, which is what broke the thing in the first place. Add cold
weather, and *pink!* -- it breaks pretty easily.

It's a dumb design, and Narco (incredibly) wants $200 just for the
faceplate!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Have you thought of taking 'it' to a machine shop at your local high
school or tech school and paying the teacher or one of his best kids to
make you one(douplicate) in aluminum? Probably cost you $50.00.

The Monk

Have you thought of taking 'it' to a machine shop at your local high
school or tech school and paying the teacher or one of his best kids to
make you one(douplicate) in aluminum? Probably cost you $50.00.

Been down this road. It's got the marker beacons (itsy bitsy colored
lenses) in the faceplate. Pretty tough to machine those.

Somebody here offered to try and make me one, but I lost track of them... I
don't think it would be possible, sadly...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The lenses in the face plates are no problem, ever seen how stained
glass is made? Machine the plate with holes for where the lights will
go and drip colored acrylic in the holes and buff them flush.

The lenses in the face plates are no problem, ever seen how stained
glass is made? Machine the plate with holes for where the lights will
go and drip colored acrylic in the holes and buff them flush.

Not *that* is a great idea!

Thanks,
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Not *that* is a great idea!

I hope you mean 'Now' ... :^) Glad to help.

That was me who offered to make you a faceplate.

Still open. Just need to get your faceplate for dimensions.

John

That was me who offered to make you a faceplate.

Still open. Just need to get your faceplate for dimensions.

Ah, thanks John.

Well, if I had *known* we were going to get two straight weeks of snow, and
if I had *known* that the runways were going to be three solid sheets of
ice, and if I had *known* that I wasn't going to fly at all in December, I
coulda sent it to you.

If only I had known!

:-)

How long would the turn-around time be?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

A day or two to measure the faceplate. That plus whatever mailing time.
Then I'd take my time to get to the faceplate.

John

Then I'd take my time to get to the faceplate.

Wow, you must be an A&P!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"