Pre-war instrument panel placard

[baldeagle27]

Anybody have a good photo and dimensions of the pre-war instrument panel placard where the throttle/fuel shut-off/primer etc. mount? Or has anybody had these made?



Also, any ideas how they did the finish on that instrument panel?


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[Howard Wilson]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Hi Andrew, Don't know if this is original or not. From my '39 BL. The keyed mag switch makes me wonder?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

The "swirled" finish is called "Engine Turning" and is done with a drill and VERY steady hand. That was what was on the cowl of the "Spirit of Saint Louis" and it is a beautiful finish, but I don't know how well it stands up over time or if it was original on a Taylorcraft. The panel in the second picture is partly original but someone has put a key mag switch in and added a cover for the fuel cut off that wasn't there from the factory (but is REQUIRED now). I kind of like that safety cover since there is just NO WAY you could accidentally pull the fuel cut off like you can with the little spring clip ones.
We are gathering parts for the restoration of Josh's plane and he wanted to put the original panel back into his, so we will probably be doing that. We have a panel and big Tach, as well a s some of the other parts so I will be following this thread closely. I am just starting to research the "big tach" panels and hopefully Josh had a lower plate in the boxes and I can post some pictures and make a drawing. If it was engraved I will be able to make them, but from the photos I have seen it looks like it was Silk Screened. Oh well, I have wanted to learn to do Silk Screens for years. Always fun to learn a new process.
If we can get a good example of an original rectangular panel, we should be able to make copies. Hopefully someone will chime in. Good project for the cold winter months.
Hank

If anyone knows a good deal on a pre war fuselage frame let me know. I never thought I would say a Taylorcraft component couldn't be repaired, but Josh's fuselage may be the one. Some of the parts that are damaged will be almost impossible to repair. Easier to build a whole new fuselage.

[NY86]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

The "swirled" finish is called "Engine Turning" and is done with a drill and VERY steady hand.

Use a wire brush sort of like this in a drill press.

Start at one corner and make rows across the piece, overlapping slightly each row and column

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Practice on a scrap sheet of aluminum! Don't want to screw up your panel while learning. I had seen someone doing it once and he used a thing that looked like a really big exhaust valve with a Scotch Bright pad stuck on the end of it. It looked like he was using tooth paste with the pad. Probably not really tooth paste, can you imagine how long the cockpit would smell like that? ;-) Not bad, but STRANGE for an airplane cockpit!
I would try some different methods for keeping the lines straight and even spaced swirls. Great, ANOTHER thing I want to learn to do!
Hank

Whoever does it, TAKE PICTURES and post your process!

[3Dreaming]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

This was taken from another forum. The date was April 2010. He has a nice copy. Tom

Noel Allard
Decals-Data Plates
P.O. Box 53
Park Rapids, MN 56464

[email protected]

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

look at that panel closely and the turning is not all the same size which means it had to have been hand done. You can buy "turned" metal sheet, but it is uniform.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

This was taken from another forum. The date was April 2010. He has a nice copy. Tom

Noel Allard
Decals-Data Plates
P.O. Box 53
Park Rapids, MN 56464

[email protected]

Noels stuff is good. sometimes the etchings are not as deep as original, but is done in the same manor as original

[ajfriz]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Noels stuff is good. sometimes the etchings are not as deep as original, but is done in the same manor as original

X3. Noel does great work.

[baldeagle27]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Should've thought of Noel, I just bought some stuff from him.

Re the instrument panel, I don't think that's engine turning, it's too dark for natural aluminum, it looks to me like some kind of swirled paint process. I've done plenty of engine turning on my old plane...





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[M Towsley]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

It looks turned, maybe anodized afterward?

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Should've thought of Noel, I just bought some stuff from him.

Re the instrument panel, I don't think that's engine turning, it's too dark for natural aluminum, it looks to me like some kind of swirled paint process. I've done plenty of engine turning on my old plane...

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Yup, I heard that it was some kind of 'crackle process' ? h

[baldeagle27]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Look at how random it is, and some of the swirls have straight edges, which you can't do with engine turning. Also, they didn't tend to do anything fancy (unless maybe it was a show plane, doesn't seem likely, but could be). It was probably some cheap, quick process.


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[Mark Julicher]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Also called Jeweling. There are several standard pattens. Several good techniques. I prefer to use the scotchbrite pads in my drill press. Some guys use water-based lapping compound on the end of a cork bottle stopper - again use a drill press if at all possible. Would make a good thread to compare notes on the process...

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Pre-war instrument panel placard

Having done a little engine turning I can tell you it not as easy as you might think. At least it isn't if you have absolutly no idea what your doing. The scotch brite is what I used, you can buy the little pads at any automotive store and the mandrel too. They are used in an airdrill to clean engine surfaces for reassembly and are a quick change thing.
L