Midwest Panel Builders Install Visit

Share your best Photos & Videos of Slings in action (whether it's in flight, on the ground, or in the build).
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AaronG
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 10:58 am
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Midwest Panel Builders Install Visit

Post by AaronG »

Having not posted for some time to the forum, I wanted to share an outstanding experience with a recent Midwest Panel Builders (MWPB) visit to north Texas for our TSi build. Steve and Adam came onsite for three days to get the avionics and related systems installed and working. This was by far the best decision I have made on my project. With their expertise and pre-work done on the wiring harness, avionics shelf and repeatable processes they provide it made for an extremely productive three days. I want to thank Steve and Adam for all of the hard work and the final result which is more than I expected.

These guys are well known in the Sling community and I was fortunate to meet Steve back in 2019 during my final research of the TSi. Having built from flatpacks, one sub-kit at a time, it has taken a few years to get to the avionics stage. Along the way, the MWPB wing and rear fuselage harness wires were purchased when building those sections so those were already installed. Even though MWPB is well known, I wanted to share positive feedback here to reinforce the good things they are doing for us Sling builders.

Some notable new features from MWPB that were installed included the flush panel backlighting and the intelligent boost pump system with the fuel pumps in the wing roots. The backlighting uses a small transformer and a unique process to light up the panel. I chose to have mine linked to the nav light switch so it only does the backlighting when nav lights are on. To prevent fuel vapor lock, the boost pump system helps ensure fuel line pressure and works in conjunction with the firewall Rotax fuel pumps. Because I had selected the new boost system during my harness build, it was already integrated into the wiring harness. Also installed was the new Garmin GHA 15 height advisor antenna for AGL reference. MWPB has YouTube videos of all three of these on their channel for more details.

A nice time-saving feature was the cutout template MWPB provided for the glareshield which allowed for perfect notching out around all of the panel items. The list of items accomplished during the three days is long, but briefly included installation of G3X touch, G5, navigator, autopilot, prop controller, connected engine to Rotax ECU, installed battery and battery contactor/shunt, added circuit breaker box to firewall in addition to usage of VPX system, antennas, wing nav and tail beacon light wire connections, headset jacks, ELT, overhead lights, boost pumps, Tosten stick grips, extended the heater wire to reach the panel and generally cleaned up and secured wire runs.

On the third day, we powered up the system and tested all of the integration to make sure everything was working. The tail was on but the wings were still on a wing stand so we wheeled the wings to each side to plug in and test equipment one side at a time. Testing each of the features on the stick grip was very cool and everything is working beautifully.

Builders doing their own wiring or getting a harness from MWPB and installing themselves are great options. For our build, we were just looking at ways to compress the timeline with this installation assistance package being an amazing option to have available from MWPB - we are extremely happy we took it.

Some pictures of the installation are on Google Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8hos1LjjJkkYeSay6
Building Sling TSi since Jan 2020
wiseguy59
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:33 am
Location: MD/KDMW

Re: Midwest Panel Builders Install Visit

Post by wiseguy59 »

I'll second the quality and assistance proved by Midwest as fantastic.
I had installed their rear fuselage harness, and noticed that the GMU 11 wires were too far from the GMU 11 location.
After sending them some pictures, Steve made me a new harness that I installed last evening, and it fit perfectly!
Any emails and/or phone calls were always answered promptly.
When a vendor steps up and provides us with great products and service, it's in our best interest to promote them.
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ibgarrett
Posts: 208
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2020 8:22 am
Location: Westminster CO
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Re: Midwest Panel Builders Install Visit

Post by ibgarrett »

I'm super curious as to roughly how much extra that cost for them to come on site to do the install. :)

If you're not comfortable sharing that, that's fine... some times I wish I had done that... :)
Brian Garrett
AaronG
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 10:58 am
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Re: Midwest Panel Builders Install Visit

Post by AaronG »

I will leave it to MWPB to give out their pricing as the amount/structure could change over time and the travel expenses will vary depending on where your build location is. Their pricing structure as of my onsite visit was an install fee plus travel expenses. I am comfortable saying their install fee was extremely reasonable IMHO and they were good stewards on the travel expenses. Best money I have spent on this project...
Building Sling TSi since Jan 2020
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ibgarrett
Posts: 208
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2020 8:22 am
Location: Westminster CO
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Re: Midwest Panel Builders Install Visit

Post by ibgarrett »

And honestly - that's quite fair... I appreciate the framing of the costs. :)
Brian Garrett
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