Kitplanes magazine has a good article on building panels. The author describes an effective way to create templates for the various sizes of instruments. You might find that article helpful if you can locate a copy of the May, 2006 issue. By the way, their cover story has a very nice article on the RV9A.
Here is their website
www.kitplanes.comhttp://www.kitplanes.com
A warning on using their website. I subscribe to their magazine but I still cannot use their website. Unless you pay $49.95 per year to subscribe to their website you cannot get to any content. It is odd to me that a subscription to their magazine costs $29.95 but an electronic subscription to their website cost $20.00 more. If you want the magazine and access to their website it will cost you $80.00. Their logic seems a little reversed if you ask me. Imagine the savings in printing, packaging, mailing, etc. the publisher would save if more people subscribed to the electronic version rather than the hard copy that has to be handled and delivered each month. This is one of the only companies I have seen where it cost more for you to do business with them electronically than via snailmail.
Having said all that I do like their magazine. They have great articles on every aspect of building airplanes. Check the panel article out and see if it doesn't offer the information you need.
Good Luck,
Steve
RVBYSDI
slow building RV9A fuselage
Currently twisting and bending those 173 7/16 in. longerons.