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I was doing through the parts I've collected for My P-47 cockpit project last weekend and realized that I had enough left over instruments to complete another control panel, although not one as large and complicated as the P-47 one. Making a P-40 panel seemed to be the one to build as it had been a close second choice behind the P-47.
Now the hard part. Which model of P-40 to build? The panels differ greatly from model to model. I think I have it narrowed down between the P-40B/C or the P-40E. Both have advantages and disadvantages. For instance, I have all the instruments right now to make up a P-40C Panel. If I make a P-40E panel I could use the N3C reflecting gunsight that I have, but I would have to get an 8-day clock, and those are expensive.
I have made up dimensional drawings for both panels and posted them below. I did this by pasting a head on picture of them into an excel document, and knowing the diameter of the instruments, I blew it up until it was exactly ½ scale, then measured out all the other dimensions with a scale ruler right from the computer screen. I used this same method to layout the P-47 panel.
This is going to be a long term project as I will be working on The P-47 cockpit more than this one, but I wanted to start this thread so I can record the work as I do it. I am also going to confine it to the panel itself and possibly the gunsight and not let it get carried away as the P-47 panel did!
Mike, I would welcome any help with dimensions. If you see anything wrong with my numbers let me know.
Wow Peter, that looks like some real nice work! I'm kind of leaning toward the P-40E panel right now and I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions for you. One I can think of right now is how did you make the curved back edges around the perimeter of the panel? I did something similar for the small primer pump panel on my P-47, but I don't know if the method I used would work with something as large as the main panel. Also, what was the thickness of the aluminum you used?
I am also going to confine it to the panel itself and possibly the gunsight and not let it get carried away as the P-47 panel did!
Sounds like you're at the same place I'm at Joe. All the gages and nothing to put them in........ Yet.
I I know some guys do cut the holes with just a regular drill, chain-drilling holes in a circle and then doing a lot of fileing. That sounds like a lot of work though.
That's sure something to think about Peter. It would save me a lot of work. I did a google search but couldn't find any idea of how much something like that would cost. $100? several hundred? anybody have a rough idea? up to $200 would be worth it, but that would be my limit. I'm afraid a one-off custom job like that would be way more than I could afford.