I know what you mean by using the knobs as a reference BUT...you have to realize that you have got to completely relocate the actual controls that are behind the knobs. You know that white box when you take your dash apart? That has to be moved and/or resized to fit in the lower cubby space. As I'm sure you know, it's not exactly made to go down there. lol. Either way, good luck on it and I would also be interested to see and possibly purchase the finished product

 

THIS SUCKS!!! where was this in dec when i was buying my h/u i wanted to get one of those sold monitors. I thought about doing it but it would have ended up looking like my 3rd grade homework when the dog got ahold of it. Heres and idea that might help you if you do decide to make them. add a flap that will cover the monitor when not in use to hide it. put some fake gauge or something on it. just an idea though

 

they way you mold fiberglass is almost completely different than the way you mold polyurethane. you start with an armature, which in this case would be the face of the HVAC knobs and the actual control box behind it. you would then have to make a mounting template armature so you know where it all has to match up for fitment. then you mold oil based clay around the control box without the front panel removed to get the rear shape to make sure that the box will fit behind it. you shape the whole panel the way you want. it can be stock looking, or any shape you want really, as long as it matches up to the mounting armature you created and looks good. then you carefully remove the clay model from the box and position the controls on the front of the clay and make an impression with it until it sits the way you want it to in the car. then you remove them and then you bore holes in the clay where the shafts and stuff for the knob panel go through and attach. make sure everything is lined up and squared away. when you remove the panels, you will have a complete clay model of what it will look like which you can take out to the car and check for fitment and edit if necessary. then there are other steps for actually getting it into urethane, but its completely doable. not worth trying to go on large scale with, which is why im going to try it. i dont want to drop that kind of money on something that isnt MINE when i can do it the way i want for cheaper and feel better in the end. im not saying im going to mass produce these, matter of fact, i wont sell them at all probably. it will probably end up as a HOW-TO on urethane with that piece as an example. we will see.