One Long Annual/panel question

[Tom G]

Well, after this annual is done the next few should be easy. I'm waiting for my landing gear to come back from the factory, but of course while I'm waiting we're finding all kinds of things to do since the airplane is wingless and engineless and hanging from a beam in my mechanic's shop. On saturday we pulled the windshield out since I wanted to refinish the tubing structure behind it. Once we got that done the panel wasn't looking all that good since a lot of the black krinkle paint had come off. We pulled the panel out and I just got done removing all of the instruments and the two covers that cover what I believe were glove compartments on either side. At one time there was a narco superhomer on the left and an old DG on the other.

I'm going to strip the panel, prime and paint it and plug the holes for the circuit breakers and switches that were there way back when 716 had an electrical system.

I'm just wondering if any of you have any ideas for what to do with those large holes on either side. I'm thinking of mounting the intercom in one of them. Has anyone ever seen one of the gloveboxes, made one or know if anyone may have one? I'd like to do away with the two covers if possible.

I've also decided not to use that krinkle black paint and go with a smooth surface. Any suggestions of flat or gloss? I'd just like to find out what most of you have done if you have refinished your panel.

This is actually starting to be fun since the airplane will look a lot nicer cosmetically once this annual is finished.

Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

[flylo]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

They were gloveboxes.I'd put them both back in,very handy.I had them in my previous '46 & now in my floatplane project.I'd paint the panel gloss black,but that's only my opinion. Eric

[crispy critter]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

Tom,
My father and I bought an original stamped,uncut,panel from Forrest for about $150 . We made our own glove box for the right side only and extended it a little bit longer then the original so it would hold a sectional chart,the original ones where an inch or two short for a sectional to fit. Look here for pic of panel before glove box installation.I'll try to get some of the glove box later in the week. This is to show you what the panel looks like without a bunch of extra holes in it. When we got the panel from Forrest there were no holes at all in it,just a plain stamped panel,we cut the holes ourself.
Rob will be so proud of me...I did the picture thing all be myself.lol

[Pearson]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

Tom,

I had a pair of glove boxes made to my specifications by a company that supplies stuff to people who restore antique cars. I don't recall the name of the company, but I found them through their ad in a Hot Rod magazine. The material is a heavy black paper or more like light cardboard. It is very stiff and also light. I have also seen glove boxes made from sheet aluminum, but they don't have that original appearance.

As far as the color on the instrument panel, that is a personal choice. I would recomend you use flat or semi-gloss paint, instead of high gloss. I painted mine a light beige to give the small cockpit a more open and airy feeling.

Good luck!

[jawinn]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

I was looking at putting the Airgizmo GPS mount on the left...since someone in the past was nice enough to cut a huge hole where the glovebox was. Thankfully the right side is intact. I'd rather have it original, but I don't know where to get the original stuff. Only a thought.

[1938BF50]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

FWIW....

I recently stripped the nasty looking black naugahyde off my panel on the '38-B. Underneath was a very nice medium gray semi-gloss panel. Not sure if the color is original but I am really starting to like it. Will probably restore it the same color. Another interesting note is that the glare shield over the instrument panel has been covered in some sort of very light cotton fabric and then painted blue/black. The texture kills all light reflection. Does anyone know if this might be original?

[Ragwing nut]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

I have used Bonanza glove boxes in several t-crafts and work well. I have a bunch a new ones, no doors though.

Mike

[Tom G]

Re: One Long Annual/panel question

Thanks everyone for all of your information. Hopefully I'll be back in the air soon.