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  #11  
Old 11-14-2012, 08:47 PM
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txaviator txaviator is offline
 
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Location: Arlington, TX (DFW)
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Quote:
I give all the credit to the big man upstairs!
That makes two of us!
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Gary Robertson
Arlington, TX

RV-12 Built / Sold / Flying
Currently Flying: Cessna Skyhawk 172
Rebuilding a true barn find J-3 Cub
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  #12  
Old 11-15-2012, 06:32 AM
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FuturPilot FuturPilot is offline
 
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Location: Madison, WI
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Great layout...Rather than reinventing the wheel. Could you post the FPD file of your design. I'm building a 7 also.
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  #13  
Old 11-15-2012, 08:03 AM
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mannanj mannanj is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brantel View Post

I give all the credit to the big man upstairs!
If it were'nt for the Man Upstairs, I wouldn't be here. Period.
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Mannan J.Thomason, MSGT. USAF (RET)
VAF788
"Bucket List" checkoff in progress!
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  #14  
Old 11-15-2012, 03:55 PM
Mounz Mounz is offline
 
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Location: Germany
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I'm flabbergasted! That's a lot of panel. Do your knees still fit under all of that?

I'm doing a front plate panel too on a stock Van's tip up panel and there's only an inch or two between my knees and the bottom of my panel. I'm always amazed at how far some builders can extend their panels downwards.
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  #15  
Old 11-15-2012, 04:12 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Location: Newport, TN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mounz View Post
I'm flabbergasted! That's a lot of panel. Do your knees still fit under all of that?

I'm doing a front plate panel too on a stock Van's tip up panel and there's only an inch or two between my knees and the bottom of my panel. I'm always amazed at how far some builders can extend their panels downwards.

It is + 1.5" more than stock same as the existing panel. I am only 5' 9" so it is a non issue for me. I have had passengers as tall as 6' 4" and they had no issues.
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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook
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  #16  
Old 11-16-2012, 05:35 AM
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BSwayze BSwayze is offline
 
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Location: Molalla, Oregon
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Brian, this is amazing. I like the way you have grouped your switches. Very nice way to organize them and keep it clean and functional. Are you going to be using Vertical Power, by any chance?

I couldn't help but notice the blue control cable knob. Does this mean you're getting a new prop, and going constant speed, too? If so, I'm curious about what you're getting?
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RV-7A Standard Build
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Last edited by BSwayze : 11-16-2012 at 05:37 AM.
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  #17  
Old 11-16-2012, 06:15 AM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Location: Newport, TN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSwayze View Post
Brian, this is amazing. I like the way you have grouped your switches. Very nice way to organize them and keep it clean and functional. Are you going to be using Vertical Power, by any chance?

I couldn't help but notice the blue control cable knob. Does this mean you're getting a new prop, and going constant speed, too? If so, I'm curious about what you're getting?
Thanks Bruce. Many here had lots of input on the panel. I also know what I like and don't like about the existing one so that helped with the layout. My old panel was built around a big fuse block but the new one is going to be a VP-X Pro. The integration provided in the G3X and VP-X combo is simply awesome functionality.

The Blue knob is there for a future upgrade. I went ahead and had the hole cut in the panel but it will be filled with a plug initially. If or when I upgrade the prop most likely it will be a BA Hartzell. I need the extra weight up front and it is hard to beat Van's price for those.
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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook
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  #18  
Old 11-20-2012, 08:07 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Default Cut, powder coat, engrave new front panel....CHECK

Finally something real instead of being all in virtual world!

Got my new front panel blank in from Front Panel Express today.

Here is the link to the web album with more photos and comments.

This post will serve as sort of an unboxing/mini review of what you can get from FPE. I have no affiliation with FPE other than being a new customer. I did not even know anything about them until a while back when Mark posted a coupon code available.

This panel came in a little shy of $300 delivered. That includes a 20% off coupon which seems to be standard for them if you look around for a code.

Now I know some will say that is too high but I have already built one airplane and I know what stuff cost. I totally built my first panel myself, cut the panel by hand, painted and labeled it. I have never been happy with it due to the low quality paint and labels. By the time someone pays for the sheet metal blank, gets it delivered, cuts it, does the body work, buys the paint and paints it or has it painted or powder coated and then does some sort of labels, I can almost bet that there won't be much difference in the cost....

The way their process works is you use their free Front Panel Designer software to design your panel the way you like it. Their software quotes the project in real time as you go so you always know where you stand. The software is fairly easy to use. There are a few limitations however in the tools available but FPE does give you the option to import more complex stuff from other full blown CAD programs so you can still end up with whatever you want.

Once you are happy with your design, you can order it over the Internet right from the software. Their standard delivery time is 5 working days and their flat rate shipping charge is $4.95.

One thing to be aware of is that if you ask for engraving after powder coat, you will get charged another $15.50 fee that is not automatically applied by the software.

Today when I got home, I found this huge box on my porch:



The panel is in their somewhere!

Included in the box were not one but two Gummy Bear packages. The kids loved them!



The crazy big box had this inside under the airbags:



And inside that was the panel blank wrapped in tissue paper:



Here is the end result:



Here is a detail shot of the engraving/infill work:



There are a few more detail shots in the album link above. You can zoom in to the big versions....

Needless to say the packaging was top notch! I doubt it could be done any better. Remember it was only $4.95 flat rate!

I have studied the finish that FPE applied to the panel blank. I would say it is not perfect but close. The powder seems to be applied evenly. There is a slight texture to the finish which is exaggerated in the photos by the camera flash but it is there. I would classify it semi-gloss. The quality of the engraved and infilled text is very good. If you look at the panel with just the right light and angle, there are a few places that look like they may have been touched up but I can't tell for sure. These spots are very small and most are near text that has been engraved. You have to try really hard to see them. Overall the finish seems to be cured very well and ready for use. The back of the panel is coated as well.

Before anyone ask, I plan to reuse the angle that goes around the top and behind the panel on the tip-up. I will make a new angle to go along the bottom. I plan to use some nice contrasting 4-40 hex head pan screws to fasten the angles and the radio stack rails. I want this panel easy to change out in the future if I decide to upgrade....(just kidding) really though, I like the tech look of nice screws around the panel.

My final comments are that I think FPE can offer a good value to the homebuilder. Just make sure you know what you are getting and you should be fine. I would do it again but be sure to search for a coupon code to get the 20% off.
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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 11-20-2012 at 08:22 PM.
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  #19  
Old 11-22-2012, 06:44 AM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Location: Newport, TN
Posts: 7,496
Exclamation

I forgot to mention that if you plan to have your panel coated after machining, you need to leave clearance for the powder in all of the holes and cut outs. I just went with an extra .010" which looks like it was too much. I would only do + 0.005" next time...
__________________
Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 11-26-2012 at 01:01 PM.
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  #20  
Old 12-02-2012, 08:32 AM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Newport, TN
Posts: 7,496
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The update for this week....

At this point I am awaiting delivery of avionics and working on a list of materials I will need to make the conversion happen. There will be a ton of wire, connectors, terminals, shrink tube, labels, ties etc. needed. I have a bunch left over from the original build but I will need more.

I am also not convinced I want to use the Red panel or not. The Red does not match my exterior paint that well. I am considering going with Grey that will match the interior. FPE gave me 50% off my next order (they took an extra day so they offered the discount) so I may pull the trigger on a Grey one.

I could get started ripping out the old panel but I am undecided on when to start that as it will render the plane grounded till the conversion is complete. I am most likely going to wait till I have most of the components in hand before executing the teardown.
__________________
Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 12-02-2012 at 08:39 AM.
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