Electrical Panel - Part 1

The aircraft cockpit that I most admire was installed in the FW190 designed by Kurt Tank. In a era when components were bolted to the first free bulkhead, Tank managed to provide a pilot with a console and ergonomics before it was a word. 

In any project you need a reference for a styling and to some degree this is mine and most cockpit since the 60's.

Hardware

With  the switch panel located at the top, connection to the circuit breakers only require a short loop of wire to provide power.

The circuit breakers used are Klixon for their small size with the only real disadvantage over the Potter & Bloomfield is that you appear to be unable to pull a breaker. 

The switches are a toggle's from Aircraft Spruce.





Panel Construction
Panel frame was manufactured from 0.030'' 2024-T3 aluminium sheet cut with the Ofla knife, dressed and folded. When all openings were finished the panel was primed and painted to match fuselage.

Preparing panel for mounting

The bulkheads were match drilled from the panel and three [3] x M3 mm riv-nuts fitted into both bulkheads, then the panel fixed with cheese head screws with spring washers.

Trail assembly

The openings are covered 0.030'' 2024-T3 plates fixed with 3 mm riv-nuts and cheese head screws with spring washers.

The panel for the circuit breaker was drilled using a 7/16'' [11.1 mm] drill. A breaker was installed at each end and the inbuilt anti-rotation tang used to mark it location at each end then a line drawn between the marks. Next a breaker was then reinstalled at each hole with the tang location marked and drilled using a 2 mm drill.

Trail fit to fuselage

Panel Finish

The big issues is how to paint the panel's, grey was a big change after the use of traditional black but everyone is grey so "black back again".

The only question left is how to finish it quickly but with a little style. It could be painted and decaled but not only is that slow and hard to do these days as the advent of large scale printers has changed the graphics industry so why not print the panels..!

The CAD system was fired up the labels drawn full size - exported at 1 : 1 to a PDF to see if they can be used by the graphics shop. If this works the main panel will be done the same but like all projects I have to wait and see..!

Jazz tracks wound UP and taking a few moments to dream