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#21
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20B Panel
On Feb 18, 10:03*am, JJ Sinclair wrote:
With all the talk about computer generated panels, I would offer this. It is quite easy to redo an old fiberglass panel.............just grind the back of the panel down until its paper thin, then clamp a smooth surface to the front (I use a clean hunk of aluminum), then lay in 3 layers of medium cloth (92125) and after its cured, pop off the front piece and you have a clean, flat new panel to drill what and where you like. I use hole-saws in a drill press (drilling from the rear) Tidy up any minor depressions with bondo, prime and paint with flat-black spray can. The original panel mounting holes can be drilled out again and everything fits back in the cockpit with mininum hassle. Cheers, JJ Just a quick variation on this theme. I had a minor panel reconfigure job last week involving the relocation of some panel mount fuses and switches in order to take advantage of that space for a new transponder. I used JJ's approach with some minor modifications and it worked outstandingly well: - Used a piece of plywood instead of aluminum and covered it with duct tape as the release agent. - Filled from the back using Bondo impregnated with chopped glass as the filler (these were only dime-sized holes) - Upon removal, had a very smooth surface complete with "simulated glass weave" thanks to the pattern in the duct tape. - Quick surface coat of regular bondo folloed by flat black spray and ended up with a perfect repair. Saved me probably $200 for a new panel blank not to mention countless hours re-drilling all of the instrument holes. Thanks JJ |
#22
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20B Panel
On Apr 1, 2:42*pm, Papa3 wrote:
On Feb 18, 10:03*am, JJ Sinclair wrote: With all the talk about computer generated panels, I would offer this. It is quite easy to redo an old fiberglass panel.............just grind the back of the panel down until its paper thin, then clamp a smooth surface to the front (I use a clean hunk of aluminum), then lay in 3 layers of medium cloth (92125) and after its cured, pop off the front piece and you have a clean, flat new panel to drill what and where you like. I use hole-saws in a drill press (drilling from the rear) Tidy up any minor depressions with bondo, prime and paint with flat-black spray can. The original panel mounting holes can be drilled out again and everything fits back in the cockpit with mininum hassle. Cheers, JJ Just a quick variation on this theme. *I had a minor panel reconfigure job last week involving the relocation of some panel mount fuses and switches in order to take advantage of that space for a new transponder. * I used JJ's approach with some minor modifications and it worked outstandingly well: - *Used a piece of plywood instead of aluminum and covered it with duct tape as the release agent. - *Filled from the back using Bondo impregnated with chopped glass as the filler (these were only dime-sized holes) - *Upon removal, had a very smooth surface complete with "simulated glass weave" thanks to the pattern in the duct tape. - *Quick surface coat of regular bondo folloed by flat black spray and ended up with a perfect repair. Saved me probably $200 for a new panel blank not to mention countless hours re-drilling all of the instrument holes. Thanks JJ I do it JJ's way and have done probably 20 panels this way. Little cost, and you don't have to doall the stuff that's right all over again. I find satin Rustoleum give nice finish and seems to resist scuffs a little better than flat. UH |
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