Instrument panel, third generation

[ndutton]

One of this off-season's projects was a third run at an instrument panel. The idea began with MMI's panel enclosure, a considerable improvement over my home built fiberglass fabrication and once the EWDS became a reality I knew I wanted to (had to) incorporate it.

So here it is. Improvements over the previous version are:

1. As said, new MMI enclosure. Besides the clean look, the sloped bottom ledge for water drainage sealed the deal for me. My fabrication didn't have the slope and therefore always had a puddle there.
2. EWDS. Goes without further elaboration.
3. The keyswitch is gone in favor of a booted ign toggle switch and a booted starter button.
4. Except for the tachometer, new gauges. Mine were 1977 originals so they were looking pretty tired. Joe linked the Isspro aviation style gauges a while back and I fell in love with the 240° needle sweeps. Can't have the new EWDS sitting next to old, tired, ugly gauges now, can we?
5. The previous panel wiring had crimped terminals. I took my time with this version so all terminals are crimped, soldered and heat shrinked (heat shrunk? I dunno).
6. The plug connection for non-vital circuits showed the beginnings of corrosion. Now replaced, it has dielectric grease inside.

I kept the previous Plexiglass terminal strip deck, couldn't think of a way to make it better. The project is also a comment on how much stuff fits into the MMI large recess.

[Mo]

Wow

Wow, very nice job Neil. Nicely done!

[thatch]

"Wow"

Neil, Absolutely excellent work. If there was one thing that I would add, it would be a "blackout" cover to keep those gauge "colors" from fading while not in use.
Tom

[ndutton]

Good point Tom. I'll speak with my canvas lady.

Thanks Mo.

[gregsails]

instrument panel

Wow!!!!! I think I have a bad case of instrument panel envy

[Scuppers]

Instrument Panel

FWIW, here a modification made of clear polycarbonate, engraved and painted on the backside. Literally bullet proof.
ml

[hanleyclifford]

Nice set up, Neil. Good to see you lost the key switch; those things are a constant source of trouble.

[ndutton]

Yeah Scuppers, I remembered your work. Very nice.

Hanley, I used to replace my keyswitch bi-annually due to internal corrosion. No more. We'll see how long these booted switches last. Longer I hope. That's the reason for the boots.

[Loki9]

Really nice looking panel.

My only nit-pick is that the color coded "normal" ranges (temp & oil) aren't perfectly appropriate for the A4. I'm guessing that it's not possible to open the gauges up to fix this. C'est la vie.

[ndutton]

Actually the gauges are easy to open up but I didn't feel much like redoing the artwork. You get what you get, life's a compromise.

Frankly, except for the oil pressure the green ranges aren't bad.

[67c&ccorv]

You were on the Apollo program were you not Neil?

[joe_db]

This is very very

[Dave Neptune]

Panel envy

Scuppers, where did you get that panel. I just redid mine lst year and cut a new piece of wood out for the stock look. I did not redo the Ericson logo though. I have E35-MKII # 174 a 70 launched in Nov of 69 I was told and still with the original A-4 ticking away.

Dave Neptune

[lat 64]

Panel discussion

[*]The previous panel wiring had crimped terminals. I took my time with this version so all terminals are crimped, soldered and heat shrinked (heat shrunk? I dunno).

It should probably read: [The previous panel wiring had crimped terminals. I took my time with this version so all terminals are crimped, soldered, and heat-shrinked]

In the Chicago Man. of Style, series commas include one before the word "and" for the last item in a list.
In A.P. style, I think you can drop the last comma.
Also heat-shrunk is a compound modifier, so hyphenate.

As to shrinked, shranked, shrunk, not a clue.

Oh, the panel? Sweet!
I want mine to look just like it

Rus

[ndutton]

Although it was a looooong time ago, when I was taught grammar in elementary school and preceded the last item in a list and it was never preceded by a comma. Maybe it's another California thing.

As a hint as to how long ago it was, the ice cream vendor working the streets in our tract of homes did so in a horse drawn wagon. Absolutely true.