On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 21:52:15 -0800, Richard Riley
wrote:

I've just finished machining my instrument panel. It is (I say with
no small pride) nice. Milled out of 2024T3 3" thick, reduced to .120
with .120 webs between each instrument and around the perimeter.

Now the question is: how should it be finished? Polished? Engine
turned? Anodized? Clear powder coat?

it all depends on whether you are building a hangar queen or an
aircraft to fly.

a matte surface in a medium dark green works pretty well.

if you go with polished or a gloss surface try not to fly in bright
sun or with the sun behind you. one will have you looking at high
quality reflections of your shirt and the other might just blind you.

btw crinkle finish black is a traditional crappy looking option :-)

Stealth Pilot
oz.