I made some progress on a number of panels. A few pictures you can see below. More development on my website.Robhttp://members1.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/Images/Fuel_3.gif"http://members1.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/I...ng_Panel_1.gif"Boeing Cockpit Projecthttp://members.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/

Nice work Captain !I've always been an admiror of your panels. Are these made as shown on the "how to" page ?I plan on doing the same thing once I restart my project. I'll use an old big table and fit my dremel upside down in it and make some rulers.

Hello Philippe,Thanks and yes they are made as shown on the 'how to' page under 'Panel 2'. An old big table is a very good idea.Best, Rob

Hello Rob,i saw your work and it's amazing!I admire people can make mechanical constructions.Before 2 years I made sone some of this panels for MCP, EFIS and RADIOS with a laser cut and engrave, but it was more expensive and a had some problems with the paint quality.So, your approach is better because you do the job by yourself and with an one-off investmenet for the dzus, but how you are thinking to do the lettering? By engrave the plexies som-how, or with sticker letters? And how about backlight?Finally your paint is very smooth in the plexi's surface, what kind of paint are you using and how you paint the plexi?best regardsEddie ArmaosAthens-Greece

Hello Eddie,Thanks for your kind words. About the letters, I don't care about backlight, when I started this project I made that decision. It would be possible by engraving, but I will use small sticker letters. I just received them today. I have them in 2.5/3.7/5.0mm.About the paint finish, I explain the process I'm following to get to this result. 1) After cutting the needed piece of plexi for the panel, I sand the surface to remove the glossy top. I use grid 180, this way I can use a pencil on the plexi to mark all the needed holes. 2) After all the holes are cut I sand again with 280/400 grid sand paper to get a smooth finish, but the paint will stick nicely to it.3) I spray the panel with 'spray filler', which you can buy here in white or gray. This spray filler fills all small scratches and gives a super smooth finish.4) Some light sanding again with 400 grid sand paper.5) After that I use RAL 7012 for the final color. This is a scratch resistent paint, semi gloss. I couldn't buy that in spray cans, so I let the paint shop make some spray cans for me with that color.And that gives me the result I have now.Best, RobBoeing Cockpit Projecthttp://members.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/

Excellent work indeed.What kind of paint is it? How can we ask it at the paint shop?Any particular brand name or type name?Cheers,George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

Hello George,Both paints are of a local brand. The spray filler is from 'Alabastine' and the other paint is from 'van Doorn paint'.I can give you the URLs but they are only in Dutch. The spray filler is also used for car repairs, so you could look in a shop for car parts. The description of the other paint is 'Scratch resistant PU paint' for indoor and outdoor.RobBoeing Cockpit Projecthttp://members.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/

Thank you Rob,you was very helpful !!Best regardsEddie ArmaosAthens-Greece

Many thanks!Let's see now how much of it the local paint shops will understand... :LOLGeorge DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

Rob, you got this checklist on your website ? If not could you put it there ? By the time I'll need this info it'll be long sunk down into the deep-end of this forum *lol*I plan on doing same panels as you but concider the option to have the text (laser?) engraved afterwards.

Good idea, I will put it on the 'How to' page 'Panels 2'.Rob

I just couldn't resist putting it together, my next creation. After a weekend of building my next panel is almost finished. Ground Power / Bus Switching / APU / Windshield Wiper (left).The sides of the annunciators need to be painted and glued into place and I also need to add the lettering.Robhttp://members1.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/I...wer_Panel_1.gifhttp://members1.chello.nl/~r.vanderwiele/I...wer_Panel_2.gif

Rob,Your panels look amazingly good!! My compliments!regards,Jeroen op den Akker

Bedankt Jeroen.Rob

Hi RobJust wondering where you got the annunciators from.Did you make them yourself or buy them.If made yourself how did you print the lettering on them.thanksPaul