Instrument panel paint or treatment

What paint or treatment did you use on your instrument panel?  I'm leaning toward dark gray or black with a flat or wrinkle finish to conceal imperfections and fingerprints.

 

Views: 604

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob McDonald on September 19, 2011 at 5:42pm
Tremclad Hammered Finish in spray can.
Permalink Reply by Dave Gardea on September 19, 2011 at 6:25pm

Larry, I used a spray can of dark gray with a very small amount of metallic flake in it. The latter works well to your point of hiding fingerprints or small blemishes. Click on the pic below and zoom in and you can see the very slight texture the metallic provides. My panel lettering is white on clear labels and they contrast nicely with the dark gray. I've had no problems with sun glare or reflections while in flight. Regards, Dave

 

Permalink Reply by Larry Winger on September 19, 2011 at 6:41pm
Do you remember where you got your paint?  Brand and/or the name the manufacturer called the series with metallic flakes?
Permalink Reply by Dave Gardea on September 19, 2011 at 7:30pm
The can is out at the hangar. Tomorrow evening I'll get the info for you. //Dave
Permalink Reply by Dave Gardea on September 19, 2011 at 7:49pm
Found a can in the garage just now .. Rustoleum Metallic finish.
Permalink Reply by Thomas Longo on September 19, 2011 at 7:16pm
Carbon fiber sheet .017'' thick, used 3m # 77 contact spray to adhere to panel. Purchased on Ebay for $70 and there was enough to do two panels. It looks even better in person than in picture. They also have it in colors, blue, green, gray etc.
Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Chris Aysen on September 20, 2011 at 10:23am

Larry - The biggest thing is glare and reflection. You should keep those to a minimum. Usually a dark flat finish will accomplish that. You may considered extending the glare shield or pushing the panel further under it. Sometimes at certain angles to the sun through the transparent cabin top causes some instrument view problems. The dark finish should apply to the top of the glare shield and some pilots feel the top of the cowling also. My two cents.

Chris

Permalink Reply by Larry Winger on September 20, 2011 at 5:31pm
Thanks for all the ideas. There are more options than I expected.  I'm still open to any other creative solutions, now that my preconceived notions have been swept away!
Permalink Reply by Phill Barnes on September 21, 2011 at 2:08am

Hi Larry

I just went for the same Matterhorn white that I am painting the rest of my plane. My reasons are because the black and white contrast lets me home in the immediately, and because I like it. I made the spray gun splatter a bit to reduce the gloss.

 

Phill

 

 

Power on

 

 

 

Panel right

 

 

RSS

New from Zenith:

Custom Instrument Panels
for your Zenith:

Custom instrument panelsare now available directly from Zenith Aircraft Company exclusively for Zenith builders and owners. Pre-cut panel, power distribution panel, Approach Fast Stack harnesses, Dynon and Garmin avionics, and more.

Zenith T-shirts and Hats:

Zenair Floats

Flying On Your Own Wings:
A Complete Guide to Understanding Light Airplane Design, by Chris Heintz.

The official Zenith Aircraft DVD has been updated with new footage and features, and now includes the STOL CH 750 and the ZODIAC CH 650.

© 2013   Created by Zenith.Aero.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service