Thoughts on panel upgrade?

Agreed.

To the OP, unless you fly at sea level, please get used to setting the altimeter to field elevation, all aero maps use altitude above sea level. It is also good to get used to it now before getting much further.
If need be, use a small piece of white tape in the middle of the altimeter with field elevation written on it as a reminder. I do that when flying at a contest site. As an example, HHSC/Elmira is on a hill next to a valley, quite a difference between the two elevations. It would also be a hassle doing a final glide over ridges to a valley airport and trying to figure out if you will clear terrain.

You may also want to inquire about getting your airspeed calibrated/serviced, yours is quite a bit off "0" unless it was really windy when you took the picture. ;-)

NOTE: I'm an ex-CFIG, contest and badge pilot in regards to altimeter setting.

Not familiar with what you have got on your Android tablet - does it give you audible warnings before airspace infringement?

There's a number of new varios that display a bunch of navigation data on
an
itty-bitty display. A flight computer works better for that.

There's a lot of integration available to link vario, Flarm and computer;
so for
new vario I'd be looking for one that supports integration, but before
getting a
new vario, get a Flarm.

On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 8:24:56 PM UTC-6, waremark wrote:
Not familiar with what you have got on your Android tablet - does it give you audible warnings before airspace infringement?

I'll probably use my phone, which of course has a speaker, but I don't know whether Avare (the software) has that feature - you can download it at Google Play for free, if you want to check it out.

On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 7:31:00 PM UTC-8, Paul wrote:
On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 8:24:56 PM UTC-6, waremark wrote:
Not familiar with what you have got on your Android tablet - does it give you audible warnings before airspace infringement?

I'll probably use my phone, which of course has a speaker, but I don't know whether Avare (the software) has that feature - you can download it at Google Play for free, if you want to check it out.

For those unfamiliar, Avare is a power flying app. It's great for current sectionals and detailed airport info including approach and departure plates, and will connect to other services. You can set the glide ratio of your aircraft for those pesky power-off approaches.
Well worth hitting the "Donate" button on.
Jim

Phones generally are not very readable in direct sunlight. Look into a
Dell Streak 5 and load it with XCSoar (free). A quick look on eBay
finds a Streak 5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Streak-5-M01M-GSM-5-Android-Tablet-Smartphone-Black-16GB-Unlocked-/391688090085?hash=item5b326df1e5:g:NeAAAOSwo4pYimD L
(NOT a 7) currently bid at $17.50 and fully functional. I have three of
them, one in use and two spares. They are that good!

On 1/30/2017 8:30 PM, Paul wrote:
On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 8:24:56 PM UTC-6, waremark wrote:
Not familiar with what you have got on your Android tablet - does it give you audible warnings before airspace infringement?
I'll probably use my phone, which of course has a speaker, but I don't know whether Avare (the software) has that feature - you can download it at Google Play for free, if you want to check it out.

--
Dan, 5J

He has a Kobo. This is a monochrome eink reader a bit like a Kindle. It runs XCSOAR well and is superbly sunlight readable. Drawbacks are that it has no audio, and as it comes new it does not have a GPS source. People add GPS and vario chips, such as the combined Bluefly device. With the Bluefly the internal battery lasts about 5 hours.

Depending upon configuration XCSoar gives very good audible and visual
airspace warnings.

On 1/30/2017 7:24 PM, waremark wrote:
Not familiar with what you have got on your Android tablet - does it give you audible warnings before airspace infringement?

--
Dan, 5J

All of the information above, centered on which instruments to get, is great. A couple of points about the behind the scenes part of your panel. Before doing any work you should make a schematic of what goes to where, both electrically and airlines. This may be tedious but will be important during the rebuild. Seriously consider rewiring everything behind the panel. I imagine it is a hodge-podge of wires from years to additions and subtractions. Scary? Maybe but rewiring, and making a schematic, pays dividends when you are getting everything working and later mods. Guess what I am doing this winter on my "new" ship? See http://aviation.derosaweb.net/presentations for some helpful hints. Best of luck. - John

On Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 9:42:03 AM UTC-6, OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
All of the information above, centered on which instruments to get, is great. A couple of points about the behind the scenes part of your panel. Before doing any work you should make a schematic of what goes to where, both electrically and airlines. This may be tedious but will be important during the rebuild. Seriously consider rewiring everything behind the panel. I imagine it is a hodge-podge of wires from years to additions and subtractions. Scary? Maybe but rewiring, and making a schematic, pays dividends when you are getting everything working and later mods. Guess what I am doing this winter on my "new" ship? See http://aviation.derosaweb.net/presentations for some helpful hints. Best of luck. - John

Thank you for the link, John, it's very timely. I removed my panel yesterday, sanded and primed it today; tomorrow I'll finish paint and reinstall it.. The wiring isn't too bad (not like the "rats nest" in your photo), but there are a few things I'm tending to, and I'll be doing it with a bit more of an appreciation for best-practices, thanks to your presentation.