10/28/2006
Another major chance to screw up the instrument panel was upon me.
I decided at the last minute to to put the radios on the right side. My logic is that since I am right handed I would rather use my right hand to fiddle with the 430 knobs. The reason I had the radios on the left side in the first place was that the indicator would be in its conventional position on the right.
I mounted the instrument panel in its frame in the fuselage and drew and outline of the overlapping edges. Then I drew a rectangle of the exact width but less height of the AirGizmos. The rectangle was centered between the edge outline and trays for the Dynon components. This would allow me to install 1/2" wide rails on the sides of the AirGizoms. The top to bottom position was dictated by making it as low as possible while still allowing room for toggle switches and circuit breakers underneath.
I drilled #30 holes in the corners and much bigger ones with the unibit for the sabre saw. Then I cut and filed until the AirGizmos fit perfectly. Then I fabricated the rails, clamped them into position and drilled them to the panel and AirGizmos.
The radio cutout was done the same way. Again the left to right position was dictated by having 1/2" on each side for the rails. The bottom was even with the Dynon and top by the edge distance. This gave me a height of slightly less than 8", plenty enough room for what I have planned and some room for expansion (maybe).
It wasn't clear to me whether I should make the width 6.25" or 6.30". I picked 6.25" to allow the bezels to overlap slightly. I had already decided not to mount the 430 flush since mounting it flush would push it back too far allowing it to make contact with the baggage compartment bulkhead.
