VFR Instrument Panel

[PhillipsRC]

Hello,

Can you guys upload any pictures of upgraded/updated instrument panels that you have done? I want to update my panel by keeping it VFR and simple.

Looked at the Cub Crafters model but don't want to move C/Bs and switches. Would prefer the "round-shape" as well.

I see that Atlee has a picture of a panel on their website and that Univair sells blanks as well. Anybody used these?

Any photos, with comments and suggestions, would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray

F. Atlee Dodge - Instrument Panel

CubCrafters - Instrument Panel

 

[Fortysix12]

Do you own a PA 18 Parts manual. Some layouts in there. The very basic.

 

[harneymaki]

Here is mine with a 196 - 496 dock.

 

[m wittler]

Kase posted a beautiful panel about a month ago or so.

 

[Darrel Starr]

Circuit Breakers have been moved to be on this panel but it does demonstrate squeezing a lot into the original shaped panel. Lower edge is 1.75 inches below mounting screws. Garmin 296 mounts on an "L" shaped bracket above the transponder.

http://sparky.supercub.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=11804&what=allfields&name=darrel

 

[kase]

94 super cub panel


Panel in a 1960 cub. Garmin 296, 327 txponder, SL40 com.

 

[Lance]

I would post mine but I forgot how to put pictures in a post. Look in my album.

Lance

 

[Rob]

 

[Crash]

My brain thinks in terms of things being symmetrical and balanced (Note the same number of switches and push pulls per row). Every thing I need is in this panel. Electrical (breaker toggles) on one side, right to left / left to right - start up and shut down (master, mags, mixture, primer) on the other. All cabin comfort controls (cabin heat, defroster, and rear seat heat) in a row next to the compass. Alternator breaker toggle, alternator field, low voltage in a row next to the AMP meter. Panels are a matter of personal taste. No wrong answer to the question.

Take care.

Crash

 

[Bill Rusk]

Crash

That is still the nicest panel I have seen. Very well done.

Bill

 

[willyb]

Instument panels

Really nice panels! It's interesting to see the different layouts and the thought that went into them.I have a vertical card compass[Precision] and
pondering where I might place it and and actually have it work.Precision
says upper left corner above the panel in a SC seems to work well.Anyone
tried one of these?Appreciate input. Bill

 

[gander]

a real good way to go is to cut out a large area of the panel and install nut plates with countersunk rivets and replace hole with a flat piece and then install gauges such as airspeed,alt., rpm,ect gauges that can be disconnected easily so if you have to work on panel you can disconnect the gauges and remove large plate and you have easy access to the existing panel. I did mine this way and it sure works out great. those recessed mounted gps holes are nice but what happens when your gps is outdated and the new one does not fit.

 

[PhillipsRC]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for uploading all of the panel photos. It gives me some good ideas.

Thanks again,

Ray

The Cub Doctor - Blank Instrument Panel
N9577D's instrument panel currently looks like this:

 

[PhillipsRC]

Anybody have a picture of the F. Atlee Dodge instrument panel other than the one that is on his website?

Thanks,

Ray

 

[Scooter7779h]

I like Crash's, and I have flown with him, and it really works well.

My cub is a -12, but here is a partial shot of my panel which allows IFR if needed. I use the EI gages and really like the battleship grey for the panel itself, it allows great reference in low light, and is fine with bright too.

 

[PhillipsRC]

Nice panel. I like the use of the engraved placards.

Ray

 

[polardds]

Where did you get those made

Speaking of which, where did you get those engraved placards made?

 

[PhillipsRC]

Real nice Stewart!

Thanks for the photo.

Ray

 

[PhillipsRC]

Re: Where did you get those made

Speaking of which, where did you get those engraved placards made?

I had a couple made (N9577D and VFR ONLY) at AeroGraphics, (800) 336-9633, in Loveland, CO. I will have more made there when I get my simple panel finished.

www.aerographics.com

Not sure if the placards show up on their website; however, their catalog shows some.

Ray

 

[Scooter7779h]

I actually just went to a local trophy shop. Give them a list, with wording and color. Very inexpensive.

 

[PhillipsRC]

Checking tray clearance through Plexiglas.

Garmin Radio Trays


I will post an image of the updated panel upon completion.

Take care,

Ray

 

[cubscout]

Ray, those folks at Aerographics do NICE work, eh?

For SOME of the Supercubbers here, I also have a source which can do panel placards with braille sub-titles.

If back-of-panel space is a problem on the Garmin trays, (Garmin's my current favourite) you might consider the Becker, which also fits in a 2-1/4" instrument hole; or Dittel, Filser, or Microair, in about that order. A good source is www.wingsandwheels.com

Ray, if you ever need an extra pair of unskilled hands, lemme know.

Thanks. cubscout

 

[jay cross]

panels

A trick way of doing a custom panel is to make a blank out of a piece of plexiglass. draw everything out and if necessary mount things up to see how they fit. This allows you to work any interference out ahead of time.

 

[cubscout]

Jay, plexiglass blank a GREAT idea. Now why didn't I think of that....

Or maybe a clear lexan panel, kinda like the visible human body they use in anatomy classes, eh? Handy for troubleshooting, too; just need to wire hard earths(ground wires) back from each point, which you should anyway; the earth potential needs to be all the same or evil things happen with electricity.

Is this group great, or what, with constructive, helpful tips like this.

Thanks. cubscout

 

[Fortysix12]

Regarding panel height,
Super Cubs were available with an 8 in and an 9 in panel as I understand it. With the longer panels did the front control get shorter thus loosing control leverage?

 

[PhillipsRC]

...plexiglass blank a GREAT idea. Now why didn't I think of that....

Hey cubscout,

While I did a paper layout of the entire panel, I used Plexiglas to verify clearance on the "trouble spots." The image that I posted of the Garmin radio trays in an earlier post today, is a view looking through the Plexiglas.

You'll have to drop by sometime at Everitt. Thanks for the offer of help.

Take care,

Ray

 

[jay cross]

panels

Sometimes I don't go the extra step to explain things completely. When you get done with your plastic panel, transfer the measurements to your blank panel. On a cub doing it like this might be over kill, but on an airplane like a widgeon or a howard where you have a lot of clearance problems it works slick.

 

[Broknbone]

PA-14 Panel

Just finished my new panel in my PA-14. I thought the crowd might like to see it. During the process of thinking about my panel layout and in doing the research, I scrubbed the Supercub.org site pretty thoroughly for ideas. I appreciate everyone's inputs (i.e. the posting of pictures of their panels).

Maybe a bit too many gadgets to fit in genre of cub flying, but I'm a recovering technophile. Okay, maybe I'm not too concerned about recovering - I love the toys. The blank space to the right of the instrument gauges is for the iPod.

 

[Steve Pierce]

Nice looking panel Pete.

 

[Ruidoso Ron]

http://www.supercub.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14857&cat=500&ppuser=936

This was the original panel in my Italian L-21B. It was actually used as an instrument trainer, and had the old AN gyros (big and heavy!). I removed the gyros and the vacuum pump to save weight. You can see the shock-mounted gyro panel, on which I had mounted my Garmin 295. I am currently rebuilding it, and will mount the Garmin 296 (496?) in a Gizmo mount in that panel. While the contour is high, it doesn't obstruct my forward vision. My 3" gear and 0-Thrust mount accomplish that for me. I like it because it is original, and I've never seen another like it. It will be better organized and black crinkled when finished. Also, I plan to move the elctrical panel to the area in the bottom middle. I will fabricate a sub-panel for that.