(Dave) wrote in news:b45e1530.0401091020.5bb05440
@posting.google.com:

I want to make my own aluminum overlays to simply replace the plastic
in my Piper Cherokee. I've been told over and over that this is
cosmetic, non-structural and therefore legal without an approved 337.

Personally (YMMV) I wouldn't worry about it, provided you are confident you
can do it safely (i.e. don't drill into wiring or vacuum or oil lines back
behind the panel). Just reasonable precautions and everything should be
fine.

But I am curious. The main panel (unless you have a MUCH different model
than most of the ones I am familiar with) rely on the panel overlay being
molded. The lamps stick up slightly, reflect off the back of the current
plastic overlay, and the "shine through" in places where the panel is cut
away near the instruments. Are you going to make an actual metal
reproduction of the existing plastic panel (unlikely) or are you going to
replace the existing lamps with something else (like maybe NuLites)?

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James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
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