Panel face blanks

[soaringjac]

Any recommendations on where to buy premade panel face blanks? Or someone who can make on for me? Looking for a blank panel face for Grob 102 Astir CS

Thanks!

[[email protected]]

On Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 1:35:56 PM UTC-6, soaringjac wrote:
> Any recommendations on where to buy premade panel face blanks? Or someone who can make on for me? Looking for a blank panel face for Grob 102 Astir CS
>
> Thanks!

Do you have your old panel? I might be able to make a blank off your old panel.

[[email protected]]

On Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 3:35:56 PM UTC-4, soaringjac wrote:
> Any recommendations on where to buy premade panel face blanks? Or someone who can make on for me? Looking for a blank panel face for Grob 102 Astir CS
>
> Thanks!

This works AOK. Make a new aluminum panel overlay and attach it to the "skeleton" of your original panel. Use poster board to duplicate your original panel footprint. Make it so it barely covers the radius edge of origination panel and fits inside any glare shield or surroundings. Transfer template to .125 aluminum and lay out new panel as desired. Once new aluminum panel is "perfect", "hollow out" your old glass panel face up to the edges leaving attachment "ears". New panel just bolts to the attachment "ears". I've done this using only a hand-held jig saw, good hole saws, a drill press, and sharp files. Much easier than molding one out of glass.

[Bob Kuykendall]

On Friday, April 19, 2019 at 7:44:11 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> ...Transfer template to .125 aluminum...

I would recommend thinner material; I think 0.050" or 0.063" 6061-T6 would be perfectly adequate. But even so I think the best thing would be to pan-mold a fiberglass replacement from a tracing or molding of the original.

--Bob K.

[[email protected]]

On Friday, April 19, 2019 at 10:44:11 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> On Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 3:35:56 PM UTC-4, soaringjac wrote:
> > Any recommendations on where to buy premade panel face blanks? Or someone who can make on for me? Looking for a blank panel face for Grob 102 Astir CS
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> This works AOK. Make a new aluminum panel overlay and attach it to the "skeleton" of your original panel. Use poster board to duplicate your original panel footprint. Make it so it barely covers the radius edge of origination panel and fits inside any glare shield or surroundings. Transfer template to .125 aluminum and lay out new panel as desired. Once new aluminum panel is "perfect", "hollow out" your old glass panel face up to the edges leaving attachment "ears". New panel just bolts to the attachment "ears". I've done this using only a hand-held jig saw, good hole saws, a drill press, and sharp files. Much easier than molding one out of glass.

Aluminum panels can be a meaningful risk of leg injury in an accident. I would suggest any modification be done in fiberglass.
UH

[Dave Nadler]

On Friday, April 19, 2019 at 3:43:25 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> Aluminum panels can be a meaningful risk of leg injury in an accident.
> I would suggest any modification be done in fiberglass.

....with a well-rounded edge into a strong flange...

[Charlie Quebec]

I had mine laser cut from 3mm black on white plastic by an engraver, they cut the instrument holes perfectly as well, and it was fairly cheap if you supply accurate drawings.