Think outside the box a bit on the shape of a new glare shield?
I have a 59 Pacer with the radio stack hump. Have most of us replaced the large WW2 surplus gyros with smaller gyros? Have most of us replaced the original radios with more modern smaller radios?
I have newer style gyros and modern radios. I also have a Woolsey panel STC:
http://cedarcomm.com/~wdi/inst_pnl.htm
I point this out because there is a LOT of SPACE directly below my original plastic glare shield now.
When sitting in the pilot seat on my plane with the glare shield removed, objectively there is a tremendous improvement in over the nose viewing area, subjectively, there is a more open feel in the cockpit. Now the area is clear in a direct level viewing "line" from the top of the panel to the base of the windshield.
The original shield is much higher, is level (in flight) for 3/4 of the way to the windshield, blocks over the nose view much more than necessary in my plane.
Since modernizing my panel, I have always planned on making a replacement aluminum, fiberglass or Carbon replacement panel to take advantage of this newfound space.
My idea was to have the new glare shield shape go from the top of the panel, level (in a straight line) to the base of the windshield. The compass would now need a wedge, thicker forward in order to be level in flight if mounted on this new shape glare shield.
Am I clear on this idea? I realize this "new open area" is due to my modernized panel and radios. One size (or shape) fits all might not work for everyone like the original shape.