Instrument Panels

[Guest joe]

Considering replacing the instrument panel (on a thruster) presently made out of alloy; does one simply measure up & cut out with a jigsaw or is there more to it? would anyone know of such a service in SE QLD? Is alloy the bestto use or are there more suitable materials to use? any advice greatly appreciated.

 

cheers, Joe

 

 

[pylon500]

The material you make the panel from is not overly important, but the quality of workmanship will be right in front of you, so you need to do a neat job.

 

Commercial Alloy sheet is OK (between 1.0~1.6mm) but if you can get to an airport and try to bludge a bit of say fifty thou, 2024 (0.050"_2024-T3 Alclad to be technical!) this will cut and file better than commercial.

 

DON'T use a scriber to mark out, they say to use a B pencil, but I generally use a Texta!

 

A handy tool will be a 'Fly Cutter' to do the circular holes, much better than a coping saw or like.

 

Get a new 8" half round 'Hand 2nd Cut' file and maybe a 2~20mm tapered reamer (#T4920 at Dick Smiths ~$15.00) to 'adjust' some of the holes! ;)

 

Arthur.

 

 

[Guest joe]

Arthur, again thankyou for your pearls of wisdom mate. cheers, Joe