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Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

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william(at)wbliss.co.uk
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:13 pm Post subject: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

Hello All



Does anyone have any tips, experience etc of retrofitting the mod 63 

instrument panel cut out? I cannot even find pictures of the blanks that 

Europa sell. Mine are steam gauges which I do not plan to change. I'm 

about to remove the panel and fit a Trig Radio and Transponder into 

G-WUFF so thought now is a good time for the mod.



Thanks William

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BobD

Joined: 05 Jan 2016
Posts: 112
Location: Sheffield UK

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:52 am Post subject: Re: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

Hi William,

When I bought a replacement panel from Europa, I found that it did not fit, as the original builder had used a modified module. Karen was good enough to take it back. 

I decided to design my own, using s a free 2D autocad system (Draftsight). This had several advantages. I could play with various layouts to find the best for my needs. I could also have it laser cut using the output to get clean holes for the instruments and switches. I had the design cut in MDF initially, so I could check that everything fitted correctly, before having the final panel cut from aluminum. This resulted in some minor changes, before the final cut.

Several other forum members were kind enough to send me their CAD layouts, which I altered to suit my needs, and I would be happy to do the same now. This saved a lot of time , as the measurements for instruments, switches etc. didn't need to be re-entered, I could do a lot of cut & paste.

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_________________
Bob Dawson
Europa XS TG || 912 ULS || G-NHRJ || Dynon Skyview || PilotAware || SmartAss3

Burrilla

Joined: 25 Apr 2015
Posts: 185

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:53 am Post subject: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

There are lots of pictures on the  members section of the Europa Club Website including showing the sub panels.



Basically they are an aluminium version of the Panel shape inside the lips of the fibre console.



Leave enough room when you cut out the fibreglass to fasten the number of captive nuts for the retaining screws. See the old sheets.



 Check, and check again, the clearance behind the panel for what you are mounting, some radios are quite long and you need clearance for the cables which usually attach at the back. If you have existing cables installed make sure they will reach the new instrument location and also leave room for you to pull the panel forward during construction and future repair.



Trace the shape of the panel full size on to paper and draw out your intended layout and check the instrument widths, the facia and also the box behind.



If you have standby instruments make sure they are in the best place to use them if needed and not in a far away part of the panel because you ran out of room, in other words have a look at several layouts and decide what works for you. If you have warning lights, you need to see them but, placing them in the eyeline when your flying will bring it to your attention but will also be a major distraction if your are then trying to sort the aeroplane out and making a safe landing.



Weight is not your friend. Place the instrument on the scales and if they read more than zero think seriously if you need it. Any changes to the panel may affect weight and balance as well as compass calibration.



And finally, measure three times and cut once.



Alan 



G-OBJT



Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 29 Oct 2017, at 21:12, William Bliss <william(at)wbliss.co.uk> wrote:

 

 

 

 Hello All

 

 Does anyone have any tips, experience etc of retrofitting the mod 63 instrument panel cut out? I cannot even find pictures of the blanks that Europa sell. Mine are steam gauges which I do not plan to change. I'm about to remove the panel and fit a Trig Radio and Transponder into G-WUFF so thought now is a good time for the mod.

 

 Thanks William

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Burrilla

Joined: 25 Apr 2015
Posts: 185

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 1:27 am Post subject: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

Just a thought.



I used good quality hole saws, a pillar drill set to a low speed and lots of drilling lubricant to get good results in the aluminium.



Alan



Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 30 Oct 2017, at 08:52, BobD <rjd(at)bobdawson.plus.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 Hi William,

 When I bought a replacement panel from Europa, I found that it did not fit, as the original builder had used a modified module. Karen was good enough to take it back. 

 I decided to design my own, using s a free 2D autocad system (Draftsight). This had several advantages. I could play with various layouts to find the best for my needs. I could also have it laser cut using the output to get clean holes for the instruments and switches. I had the design cut in MDF initially, so I could check that everything fitted correctly, before having the final panel cut from aluminum. This resulted in some minor changes, before the final cut.

 Several other forum members were kind enough to send me their CAD layouts, which I altered to suit my needs, and I would be happy to do the same now. This saved a lot of time , as the measurements for instruments, switches etc. didn't need to be re-entered, I could do a lot of cut & paste.

 

 --------

 Bob Dawson

 XS TG || 912 ULS || G-NHRJ

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473962#473962

 

 

 

 

 Attachments: 

 

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/sg_cockpit_preview_117.jpeg

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JohnFrance

Joined: 17 Sep 2014
Posts: 78
Location: Grenoble France

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 1:32 am Post subject: Re: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

Hi William,

I recently installed a Trig radio and transponder on the right hand side of my instrument panel.

I did buy the aluminium panel from Europa but in the end I made the panel out of 2 mm thick carbon fibre, the cut-outs were done using water jet. I think 1.5 mm carbon plate would be sufficient.

I put the control heads in the panel and the rest behind the baggage bay bulkhead in my classic.

It was necessary to rewire the trim to allow the panel to hinge down for access and of course all the other electrical items on the that panel.

Access for maintenance will be much easier in the future.



Regards



John

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_________________
Europa mono Nr 192

dg.watts(at)talktalk.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 2:14 am Post subject: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

I have done both my avionics and instrument panels with 1.5mm Carbon sheet.



Dave Watts

G-BXDY Classic Mono 912S   2440 hours



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 30 Oct 2017, at 09:32, JohnFrance <77alembert(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 Hi William,

 I recently installed a Trig radio and transponder on the right hand side of my instrument panel.

 I did buy the aluminium panel from Europa but in the end I made the panel out of 2 mm thick carbon fibre, the cut-outs were done using water jet. I think 1.5 mm carbon plate would be sufficient.

 I put the control heads in the panel and the rest behind the baggage bay bulkhead in my classic.

 It was necessary to rewire the trim to allow the panel to hinge down for access and of course all the other electrical items on the that panel.

 Access for maintenance will be much easier in the future.

 

 Regards

 

 John

 

 --------

 Europa mono Nr 192

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473965#473965

 

 

 

 

 Attachments: 

 

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/img_0733_217.jpg

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/img_0743_691.jpg

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Fred Klein

Joined: 26 Mar 2012
Posts: 503

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:17 pm Post subject: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

 	  Quote: 	
		  -> Europa-List message posted by: William Bliss <william(at)wbliss.co.uk (william(at)wbliss.co.uk)>Does anyone have any tips, experience etc of retrofitting the mod 63 instrument panel cut out? 

	


Consider FG sheet goods instead of aluminum…very easy and forgiving to work with…save some weight…inexpensive…zoom in to note instrument layout mark up on attached photo:

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clivesutton

Joined: 23 Jan 2013
Posts: 187
Location: KENILWORTH

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 6:21 am Post subject: Re: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

Hi William, have you considered using plywood instead of Aluminium?  It is so much easier to cut and shape and can also be lighter and stiffer than the metal solution.  My inspector was quite happy with it and the a/c is all signed off/it all works fine.  I used 3/16 ply skinned with 2 layers of BID each side - though i also applied ash veneer on the cockpit-facing side before applying BID on that side.  Peel-plying it also gave a nice matt/non-reflective surface.  As the Epoxy ages it will go more yellow, but i anticipated that/am happy with it.  Just a thought.

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r.vogel(at)ggs.ch
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:35 am Post subject: Removable Instrument Panel mod 63

Hello William



You can see attached CAD drawings used for my Europa Classic.

I think the outer contour should fit to other Europas too.

The drawings are in DXF - format. I am using the low cost, but powerful

CAD tool QCAD. See: https://www.qcad.org/en/

The generated DXF - file could use direct for cad milling or laser cutting.

My panels are 1.5mm thick. I have got a library with lot of instruments

and avionics in DXF. Please let me know if you need something.



Best regards, Ruedi



Am 31.10.2017 um 15:21 schrieb clivesutton:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Hi William, have you considered using plywood instead of Aluminium?  It is so much easier to cut and shape and can also be lighter and stiffer than the metal solution.  My inspector was quite happy with it and the a/c is all signed off/it all works fine.  I used 3/16 ply skinned with 2 layers of BID each side - though i also applied ash veneer on the cockpit-facing side before applying BID on that side.  Peel-plying it also gave a nice matt/non-reflective surface.  As the Epoxy ages it will go more yellow, but i anticipated that/am happy with it.  Just a thought.





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=474000#474000






	




-- 



Ruedi Vogel

Wiesenweg 6

CH-3380 Wangen a.A.

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