Skymaster Forum  

Go Back   Skymaster Forum > Messages
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 8 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 11-10-07, 09:23 AM
tropical tropical is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 146
tropical is an unknown quantity at this point
Metal Instrument Panel for 74 G

I'm thinking of redoing my instrument panel. I would like to get rid of the plastic overlays and put in a solid aluminum panel.

Anyone done this? Right now I'm looking for ideas.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 11-11-07, 05:31 AM
WebMaster's Avatar
WebMaster WebMaster is offline
Web Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 1,524
WebMaster is on a distinguished road
I got rid of the plastic overlay, but replaced it with Carbon Fiber. The Carbon Fiber is then overlayed with clear plastic. All the legends are reverse etched.

Aero Enhancements did it. Ernie has much the same thing, but in wood.
Unfortunately, their website says under construction, today.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 11-11-07, 11:43 AM
hharney's Avatar
hharney hharney is offline
Forum Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Michigan (8D4)
Posts: 2,261
hharney is on a distinguished road
Riley is your best source for ideas. When they were converting the P models to Super Skyrockets they did a spectacular conversion on the panel.

I find that searching the sales sites (TAP, ASO, Controller) you find lots of pictures of ideas including panels.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 337 rocket panel-1.jpg (68.0 KB, 1597 views)
__________________
Herb R Harney
1968 337C

Flying the same Skymaster for 47 years
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 11-11-07, 11:51 AM
tropical tropical is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 146
tropical is an unknown quantity at this point
Yes, that's what I plan to do to mine.

Who is doing the Riley mods now? Do they have a web address?

Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 11-11-07, 12:07 PM
Ernie Martin's Avatar
Ernie Martin Ernie Martin is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 989
Ernie Martin is an unknown quantity at this point
My Aero Enhancements burl-wood panel is gorgeous and the electroluminescent lighting with battery backup is super; you can see pictures at www.consultresearch.com/N924LA.htm

Their website is down, but you can see it by Googling "Aero Enhancements" and then clicking on "Cached" on the first result (that gets you the page stored in Google's server).

Ernie
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 11-11-07, 08:58 PM
stackj stackj is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 311
stackj is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to stackj
I'm not much as a photographer, but here are some samples of Aero Enhancement's work. Pretty much everything in black (except the control wheels) is theirs.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg dsc_0012.jpg (445.6 KB, 1468 views)
__________________
Jim Stack
Richmond, VA
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 11-11-07, 09:06 PM
hharney's Avatar
hharney hharney is offline
Forum Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Michigan (8D4)
Posts: 2,261
hharney is on a distinguished road
Riley is out of biz at this time but my suggestion is to talk to some avionics shops in your area and get references to look at and to talk to customers that have had this work done.

Here's even a better idea, come to the SOAPA meeting/convention in June 2008 and you can see these planes in person. This is a 336 that belongs to Walter Simondinger that is a perfect example of restoring an aircraft especially what he has done to the panel. Great job Walter, please come to Michigan in June of 2008 for SOAPA. He even has the Beechcraft control yokes. Sweet.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg walter panel 336.jpg (87.8 KB, 1597 views)
__________________
Herb R Harney
1968 337C

Flying the same Skymaster for 47 years
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Unread 11-11-07, 09:10 PM
tropical tropical is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 146
tropical is an unknown quantity at this point
Thanks. I'll probably end up fabricating my own panel from aluminum.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Unread 11-11-07, 09:13 PM
hharney's Avatar
hharney hharney is offline
Forum Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Michigan (8D4)
Posts: 2,261
hharney is on a distinguished road
Here is Dave Jarrett's P model. Very nice panel. See what the SOAPA meeting can do for a thirsty 337 driver!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg dave panel n268.jpg (120.1 KB, 1532 views)
__________________
Herb R Harney
1968 337C

Flying the same Skymaster for 47 years
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Unread 11-11-07, 09:17 PM
hharney's Avatar
hharney hharney is offline
Forum Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Michigan (8D4)
Posts: 2,261
hharney is on a distinguished road
Attached is Beth & Tom Fiala's Riley. This is the standard Riley not the Super Skyrocket. Very nice panel.

http://www.tuleriveraviation.com/

Tule River is now doing some Skymaster conversions in California.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg beth panel riley.jpg (102.8 KB, 1536 views)
__________________
Herb R Harney
1968 337C

Flying the same Skymaster for 47 years
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Unread 11-15-07, 11:46 AM
travis's Avatar
travis travis is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: KFWS
Posts: 78
travis is an unknown quantity at this point
I also went with Aero Enhancements and have used them on other planes as well. I have a large collection of photos you may want to see if you send me your email address then Ill send em to you.

_travis
Attached Images
File Type: jpg cimg1654 small.jpg (86.6 KB, 1444 views)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Unread 11-15-07, 11:57 AM
travis's Avatar
travis travis is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: KFWS
Posts: 78
travis is an unknown quantity at this point
Its hard to tell in these pics, but the black is actually carbon fiber and is beautifull...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg dec[1][1].2005113.jpg (59.7 KB, 1356 views)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Unread 01-17-10, 06:22 PM
CO_Skymaster CO_Skymaster is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 153
CO_Skymaster is on a distinguished road
I was looking to have my instrument panel redone in the future and search the web for Aero Enhancements with no luck, does anyone know if they are still in business. Do you have an website or phone number for them?

Karl
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Unread 01-17-10, 07:06 PM
WebMaster's Avatar
WebMaster WebMaster is offline
Web Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 1,524
WebMaster is on a distinguished road
They went out of business last year.
A loss for everyone.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Unread 01-18-10, 10:20 AM
Todd Gessel's Avatar
Todd Gessel Todd Gessel is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 36
Todd Gessel is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by tropical View Post
Thanks. I'll probably end up fabricating my own panel from aluminum.
Hello everyone, I have a metal fabrication shop here in Phoenix. One of the services we provide is Laser cutting. Some of the parts we cut are for the aerospace industry.

I have not made a control panel before, but I would be willing to work with you to make your aluminum panel. I would need a drawing or a template.

Of course, as a fellow Skymaster owner, I would like to do this for the bennefit of our group, not for profit.

Let me know if there is any interest.
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.