I used the factory-provided fiberglass instrument panel but cut out the inside and used an aluminum "insert".  The factory fiberglass blended nicely with the cockpit interior (Lance's training was as a graphic designer and is probably why our airplanes are so pretty) but cutting instrument holes in fiberglass was a real bear.  Much easier to use the fiberglass as a shell and screw a flat piece of aluminum onto it to hold the instruments.

 

My aluminum panel is black anodized for corrosion protection and also to make the hole edges not shiny.  I then covered it with teak veneer and two coats of satin varnish.  Most labels are engraved onto switches and indicators but where placards are required, they are polished brass with engraved black letters (very cheap from trophy shops).  I had someone lay out the panel for me using a CAD program and had the inserts (panel blanks?) cut with a CNC water jet cutter.  Then came trial fits and some filing and deburring, followed by anodize, followed by veneer and then varnish.

 

Most people think it is good looking.

 

- Rob Wolf

 

p.s. Say what you will about the steam gauges.  When I started building, that's all there was...