Where can I find/buy file's to create new WWII instrument dial's?
- Thread starter Max Ammer
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MiTasol
Captain
I can only think of two sources at present but only one is blueprints.
The first is instrument manuals - they have drawings and photos of instrument faces and cases - often with dimensions.
The second is aircraft blueprints. These only have a small number of diagrams that show the individual performance limitations for the aircraft and its engine.
Have a look at Aircorpslibrary.com for both. You will probably need a membership to download what you want but that is cheap.
The first is instrument manuals - they have drawings and photos of instrument faces and cases - often with dimensions.
The second is aircraft blueprints. These only have a small number of diagrams that show the individual performance limitations for the aircraft and its engine.
Have a look at Aircorpslibrary.com for both. You will probably need a membership to download what you want but that is cheap.
MIflyer
Captain
Well, here is what I actually did, once.
I have a 1946 vintage aircraft temp gauge that had faded badly. So I took the scale off the gauge, scanned it with my computer, and then edited the photo to make it darker. Then I printed it out on photo grade paper with a photo grade inkjet printer and glued it over the scale of the gauge. I had to drill out the tiny rivets that held the scale on to be able to remove it and scan it and then found some teeny tiny screws and nuts to put it back on.
I have a 1946 vintage aircraft temp gauge that had faded badly. So I took the scale off the gauge, scanned it with my computer, and then edited the photo to make it darker. Then I printed it out on photo grade paper with a photo grade inkjet printer and glued it over the scale of the gauge. I had to drill out the tiny rivets that held the scale on to be able to remove it and scan it and then found some teeny tiny screws and nuts to put it back on.
cvairwerks
Staff Sergeant
Unless you can find and gain access to the original instrument manufacturer's drawings, or find replacement dial faces in parts stashes, you will have to create your own. The chance of finding the drawings for any particular instrument are about nil, despite how much the military loves documentation.
MIflyer
Captain
I do not believe that all aircraft instruments were standard AN or MS parts. If they were, drawings would exist showing how they would be required to appear. AN and MS parts ranged from individual screws and rivets all the way up to entire tanks. And I never understood what good a drawing of a M41 tank would be used for; you sure would not buy them based on that.
But there might be drawings available for some instruments. For example I have a Manifold Pressure Gauge that is marked "AN5770-1" and an airspeed indicator that says
"Type MS 28045-T2" So you could look through military specifications available on line for items with titles such as Indicator or Gauge.
But there might be drawings available for some instruments. For example I have a Manifold Pressure Gauge that is marked "AN5770-1" and an airspeed indicator that says
"Type MS 28045-T2" So you could look through military specifications available on line for items with titles such as Indicator or Gauge.
MIflyer
Captain
This video shows the inside of the cockpit of an A6M3.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg24-z0TaRc
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg24-z0TaRc
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cvairwerks
Staff Sergeant
If the instruments were procured in the 1960's or later, they may have the procurement specifications annotated within the item specification. Some, but not all of these are publicly released documents. If you can't find it on Everyspec.com, then you would have to purchase the spec from IHS or one of the other companies that maintain specification libraries. Just be warned, that having to purchase a specification gets expensive in a hurry...
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