Instrument panel color.

kboyd59 · #1 10-21-2007, 12:33 PM

What are some of the colors used by builders to paint their panels, what is the reason these colors were used, and did the color you applied holdup after the aircraft was flying and being used on a daily basis. Thanks for your input.

Ken Boyd

SvingenB · #2 10-21-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kboyd59

What are some of the colors used by builders to paint their panels, what is the reason these colors were used, and did the color you applied holdup after the aircraft was flying and being used on a daily basis. Thanks for your input.

Ken Boyd

Far from finished yet, but my panel and internals shall be USSR Cockpit Blue

RVadmirer · #3 10-21-2007, 01:28 PM

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ht=Panel+Color

fstringham7a · #4 10-21-2007, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVadmirer

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ht=Panel+Color

It was interesting to look back on this thread and note the great info provided. As you all know I went to powder and have not regretted that ....but.....I also learned that good ole Rustoleum if given time to cure will provide an excellent/durable/cost effective coating. As to color the sky/imagination/taste are the limit. I do like my flat black panel. Easy on the eyes. Instruments really pop surrounded by the black. The powder coating has really held up under the panel/electrical build.

Frank @ sgu RV7A can see light at the end of the tunnel

Dale Ensing · #5 10-21-2007, 02:37 PM

A technique that I used and very happy with, is an automotive color but with out the gloss agent mixed into the paint.
I used a two part system exterior GM color called gray/green or lichen green which looks more gray than green. It is holding up well after flying three years and the color is easy on the eyes with good contrast for the instruments.

az_gila · #6 10-21-2007, 04:05 PM

One approach is to find your favorite car/truck/van interior and just copy it.

All of the paint colors are known and are complimentary. The matching fabrics and carpets are all available, and new auto materials even meet FAA fire requirements (the auto spec. is tougher than the FAA spec.)

Most cars have several interior colors, usually being dark lower down at the carpet level and getting lighter as they go up. The dash is just one of the matching colors.

My theory is that the automotive companies spend a lot of $$ (or Yen, or Euros) on paying color consultants, and they can do a better job than most males on matching colors...

gil A

AntiGravity · #7 10-21-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvingenB

Far from finished yet, but my panel and internals shall be USSR Cockpit Blue

Was thinking a kind fo grey colour, but given that my seats and harnesses are grey/blue, I'm now wondering what a blue interior might look like. Have you got a picture showing the blue you're thinking of?

yakdriver · #8 10-21-2007, 06:36 PM

I did mine in carbon fiber. I used a product called Dragon Plate. Came in a thin layer of carbon fiber with a 3M backing and sticks right to the panel. Looks awsome and the finish is bullet proof. Don

videobobk · #9 10-21-2007, 08:50 PM

I had some leather that I didn't need for the seats, so I covered the panel. Looks great, is very low gloss/glare, ties the interior together color wise and I'm pretty sure the fibers cut the interior noise level by almost .002 DBA! It's tan, BTW.

Bob Kelly

SteinAir · #10 10-21-2007, 11:06 PM

This is an interesting thread indeed! Let me give you the most popular colors first that we see through our shop:

#1 - Grey
#2 - Tan/Beige/Cream/White
#3 - Black

But...right this moment in our shop we have an RV7 panel that is fire engine red, an RV-10 panel that is Jaguar Blue, a G900X RV-10 panel that is Raspberry Chamagne and we just shipped a Chelton RV-10 that was overlayed in Cherry wood Veneer. WE also just finished a G900X RV10 pane; that was color matched "cappacino" to the leather interior of the owner.

In the past couple of years some of the most memorable are:
Hummer Yellow, Mountain Dew Green, Big Band Blue, Red Carbon Fiber, Clear Coated Brushed Stainless, Boeing Courtalds Red, Black Carbon Fiber, Leather overlay, Wood Overlay, Rubber Truck Undercoating, Royal Blue, and a whole slew of other non-standard colors.

I no longer debate panel colors because people choose what they like best...my job is to debate avionincs and layouts!

Just thought you might be interested to know there is a veritable rainbow of choices out there.

Cheers,
Stein