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I am planning on having Clyde Smith make me a new panel blank and firewall for my Clipper to collect next time I am in the USA.
I would like to mount the switch / circuit breakers on a panel recess below the main cross cockpit support. I am also considering mounting the engine controls in this lower position.
I will have the nose tank removed and undoubtedly fitted a left hand door.
My first thoughts are that the recess needs to be just deep enough to hide the switches and CBs. Does anyone have any advice from experience regarding the sizing of this recess from an ergonomic view? I don't want to have the panel made and then find that I can operate the switches. What about the issue of the bus bar feeding the breakers been exposed near the knees? Should this be covered?
Finally has anyone any experience of what re-enforcement is likely to enable the engine controls to be fitted as this could affect the size of the recess?
I have found a picture of a Clipper with a similar panel.
It would be identical to the Z channel on the bottom of the Pacer and Tri-Pacer. Steel tabs are welded to the cross tube behind the panel pointing down instead of up.
I seem to remember Clayton working on extending his Clipper panel. His first prototype was a bit too tall and he found that it interfered with the control sticks. Hopefully he has recovered enough to share his findings.
I made a lower panel to fit below the Clyde Smith panel. It is about 2 inches tall and 1 inch deep. I welded three tabs on the back side of the lower cross tube and attached the panel to that with nut plates. That allows me to drop the panel down in my lap to make changes etc. without standing on my head.
I made a lower panel to fit below the Clyde Smith panel. It is about 2 inches tall and 1 inch deep. I welded three tabs on the back side of the lower cross tube and attached the panel to that with nut plates. That allows me to drop the panel down in my lap to make changes etc. without standing on my head.
I welded three tabs on the back side of the lower cross tube and attached the panel to that with nut plates. That allows me to drop the panel down in my lap to make changes etc. without standing on my head.