How are you doing the Graphics for your cockpit panels?

[Tom_G_2010]

I'm in the VERY early stages of planning my first pit. Likely a single or twin engine GA with a lot of Cessna influence.

I'm evaluating how much to build from scratch vs. buy pre-fab'd. Budget is, as with almost everyone, a major factor. As for building skills, I have done more than my share of electronic prototyping and fabrication so not issues there. I can manage most large component mechanical fabrication, but do not have access to much along the lines of metal machining tools.

Any advice or hard learned and earned wisdom from experienced builders would be welcome.

At the moment though I do have one specific question on my mind. For those who build their own panels how have you handled lettering and other graphics on the finished product?


I really want to get as close to a commercial built look as possible. I have used dry transfer lettering in the past and was able to achieve modestly good results but at the expense of a lot of painstaking letter by letter effort. And, lines and other complex graphics always proved to be challenging.

What other options are there for panel lettering and graphics?

[AK Mongo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cessna-Interior-Placard-Kit-170-172-175-FREE-SHIPPING-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem415779c7faQQitemZ280640473082QQptZMotorsQ5fAviationQ5fPartsQ5fGear#ht_500wt_749

Search Cessna Placard on Ebay...

Reid

[Tom_G_2010]

Reid,

Thanks! Those placards will work for many of the panel graphics. How about graphics other than that like those on the face of the equipment in the radio stack?

[mocha22]

Or you can get the same decals here for free...

http://desktopaviator2.tripod.com/Decals/Decals.htm

[AK Mongo]

Or you can get the same decals here for free...

http://desktopaviator2.tripod.com/Decals/Decals.htm

I saw those and rejected them for three reasons:
1. They will need to be printed on good material.
2. They will need to be laboriously cut out.
3. They are marked planeplastics.com. They appear to still sell them at their site, so I did not want to take their work for free.

Reid

[mocha22]

I hear ya...they may not be for everybody because you do have to print them yourself and cut them but they are free to use as they don't sell them on their website. I just mention it becasue it may be an alternative for some who are looking to work within a tighter budget. Hey, I've seen some of the cockpits on here and if people can spend time programming, cutting, wiring etc. then printing and cutting might not seem so bad.

Also, just wanted to plug them a bit since they offer some good product, great prices and service that is top notch. The website is a bit hard to navagate at times but for those who spend time on the site will find something they like.

[AK Mongo]

I have a few DA products that I have integrated into my project. I agree about the product. Choose for yourself, but I am not going to use the labels because they appear to belong to someone else. JMHO.

Reid

[Ronson2k9]

You can find the actual placards used by Cessna in their parts catalog. They will need to be redone most likely as the quality of the PDF isn't the greatest but they do tell you in the parts cat where and why each placard is in the place that it's in.

It's not to hard to make them yourself with a bit of graphic software I used Paint.net to create the placards from the original versions found in the catalog. You can find sticker sheets at your local big box stationary store. Or you can get them printed on that by them for you (if you don't have a printer). Then it's just careful cutting and sticking. If you're panel is a metal template then you could have them printed on fridge magnet material and then move them to where you find they are the most needed (a wooden template / MIP won't work for that of course).

Check the parts catalog of the aircraft you are building and that will supply you with the placards you need.

Cheers
Ron

[Tom_G_2010]

For large portions of the panel the purchased or printed placards should work well and will look very much like they do in the real cockpit so I have some good ideas now for that part.

However, I still need to solve for the graphics that aren't normally stickers such as those on the face of the radio's. I'm sure I could also use tickers there but have seen pic's of SIM's with home built panels that looked more like silk screened or some other very professionally finished look. Is solk screening a practical solution or are there other alternatives. I read a little about CNC etched work but don't have access to the equipment for that.

[ddimm]

I used the placards from Aircraft Spruce for my Cessna 172 sim....
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/interiorplacardkits.php

[Doon1]

I created mine with Paint.net (free software) printed some of them on white sticker paper and some on clear. then sealed them with "Preserve it" matt acrylic spray on sealer. Cut them out with a strait edge, Exacto knife, and hole punchers. I'm really pleased with the results. here's a couple of pics.
John

[Tom_G_2010]

John,

It looks like those came out real nice. I'll have to do some experimentation with that. I bet the matt acrylic gives them a very finished look.

Thanks for posting.

[Doon1]

Hiya Tom,
The finish is like textured plastic. Spraying them prior to cuting them is important as it gives you a firmer surface to cut through. mounting them once they were cut out wasn't that tricky but you only get 1 shot at it. there's no peeling it up for a second try. "Goo Gone" will remove the adhesive from your working surface but the sticker will be ruined. Once I figured out the trick to it (on the second try at the radio panel) i didn't have any other problems.
John

[Cessna172sim]

We made all the decals ourselves. Then laminated and glued them on the instrument panel. I still have the document available and can send it for you if you like.
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/assorted%20construction%20pictures/Simkits%20%2C%20Instrument%20panel/13.jpg/full

[Tom_G_2010]

Thanks! If you would be willing to share that would be great. tom@thegauvins.com

[Cessna172sim]

Also check out these manuals:
http://www.micro-tools.net/pdf/Cessna/

There are also decals that you can print out.