Aircraft Instrument Panel Projects

I did not know that this type was made of brass, and considerably thinner than the aluminium type.

In the light of this information, it may be possible to make a press tool from several layers of cheap MDF, inlaid with steel wire (forming the male half of the swage form). The female half of the MDF tool can simply be routed with a rounded cutter, to match the same profile(allowing for material thickness).

Large diameter rod can be used to locate the two halves of the tool, then put in a flypress. I have done this on a similar application, and seems to work well. Ideal for the “cockpit builder” working on a tight budget, or for prototyping generally.

6A/1336

This is the Mk II 6A/1336.
Well, I hope to find one at an aero market someday.
But I know as guy, who makes 1:1 replicas of the other two versions including engraving, if you´d only have to fill the hole.
Herbert

Hi DaveR

I have seen this type panel on mosquitos as well. Curved top, with raised “Swaged” ridges inbetween the instruments. To create this sort of form in a panel, this thick, would need a heavy press/steel tooling to achieve. I have never seen one for sale.

Of the several b/f panels that passed through my hands over the years, the ridge swaged type were made of Brass and I would from memory say 16swg. or possibly 18swg. Quite thin and light, but strong and rigid by virtue of the swaging.

mark

Blind flying panel “swaging”

Hi DaveR

I have seen this type panel on mosquitos as well. Curved top, with raised “Swaged” ridges inbetween the instruments. To create this sort of form in a panel, this thick, would need a heavy press/steel tooling to achieve. I have never seen one for sale.

Typhoon Blind Flying Panel Question…

The blind flying panel in the hendon Typhoon (and I seem to remember the Duxford Cockpit aswell) has the curved top. In addition to this it has horizontal and vertical curves in between the instruments (probably not the best description ever!!!). I haven’t seen this in any other panels and I certainly have never seen one for sale. Was this the ‘Swaging’ that puukka described on the Mk II 6A/1336 panel? What else were they fitted to and does anyone know where I can get one?

Here are some of the drawings I brought back from the UK last week (and is also the cause that I am now at home with a bad cold (must have been those draughty London Undergroundstations).

Aren’t they the most beautiful drawings, almost like art.

Cheers

Cees

great pics guys..! lets keep the thread going…

First one is the main panel refitted inside our lancaster. It was rebuilt by the late John Spinks and sat on display in the hangar. I rebuilt a second panel and installed it in the lancaster many years ago but it turns out that the one in the photo is the one that was fitted to our aircraft.

The second photo is of the main charging panel for our Lancaster MKX that had made at our metal shop you have to admit cad and high pressure water are great things!

Hawker Hunter

Just remembered that I had this picture saved to my drive. Another one from my collection is a Hawker Hunter blind flying panel, this aircraft was operated by F.R.A.D.U. This one was purchased by me some time back from a private collector.

Canberra T22

Another find from Shoreham aerojumble about 3 years ago is this instrument panel from EE Canberra TT22 serial “WH903” operated by F.R.A.D.U. Again the panel was void of instruments and I have slowly built it up. Since taking this picture I have added the Rad Altimeter which is fitted on the top row. I am still uncertain to what the missing instrument is on the left row, it certainly isn’t a MK6 standby horizon as the hole is to big. Any one with any knowledge of what it could be would be greatley appreciated. I have a few other panels in my collection and will try to get some more photo’s submitted.

Wow, that´s great!
I think I´ll manage to get to Shoreham on the 19th of march.
I´ll start a thread before, getting the faces to the names so we might meet each other arguing about who gets the nice parts 😉
Cheers,
Herbert

Sea Fury

Here’s a picture of my Hawker Sea Fury blind flying panel circa 1952. I managed to find this at Shoreham aerojumble last year void of instruments. Fortunately I managed to buy the Pilots notes and all the instruments on the same day at the said aerojumble, just goes to show that there are still some good finds to be had.

PS For those eagle eyed amongst you please note:

1) The simulation was not running, hence some funny indications (eg Art Horiz vs Bank)

and

2) The extra airspeed indictaor has been replaced by the (working) RPM indicator
(I know, I know, it should be the standby altimeter but I prefer it my way!

Merging Historic with Flight Simulation, here is how my Frasca mid-sixties instrument trainer simulating a Piper Warrior ended up.

It is a mixture of original instruments supplemented by modern versions and the panel instruments are slaved to Microsoft FS2004 which provides the scenery display (not shown but above the panel).

Apart from the VOR it all works!

(I did feel bad chopping up the original mechanical drives though)

regards,

Ian.

Aaah, I see! Thanks a lot!

Grüße nach Wien!

Thanks,
Kenneth

Hello Kenneth
The early Spit BFP (blindflying panels) were the rectangular Mk I 6A/616.
Later they were cut, so they´ve got the radius on the top “to facilitate installation when the panel is fitted closely to the contour of the cockpit”
(Taken from A.P.1275A Vol. I 1948). They were now called Mk IA 6A/760.
Later there was also the radiused Mk II 6A/1336 made of brass and swaged vertically and horizontally to increase rigidity. 😀

What a strange discription but it might mean that with that radiused shape it was easier to mount/dismount. :confused:
Cheers,
Herbert

Glad that the instrument panel experts have opened this thread because hopefully someone can answer the following question which has always puzzle me:

Have a look at the Spitfire panel in post #2: Why is the upper edge of the sub-panel with the six flying-instrument curved such that it does not match the straight edge in the cut-out in the main panel?

On the subject of Defiants – N3328

Regards – Nick – Lancashire UK

“Ex tenebris Lux”

LAIT Website: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/lait
Bond Website: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/nick.wotherspoon/site

Instrument Panel

Enclosed is a picture of a Percival Pembroke panel I have in my collection (this was posted on the previous thread). I’ll ty to get some more pics posted of my other panels. Always good to see others!

Flying Barn Door 😉

Err, forget what this bit is…. 😉