This is going to sound CRAZY so dont make too much fun for it...it really makes sense...and is do able with the right tools

while in school my buddy was working on a "wood" display for one of his concept cars (in 5th scale) what was done was a super high res scan of some wood...and then he built the "floor" and had it printed on super high gloss uv guarded bill board self sticking paper...a lot faster than building scale planks and nails...

LOOKED AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now - that is very similar to how i made my white gauges, but i did not use gloss paper...THIS STUFF IS 3M AND STICKS, ONCE ITS DOWN - GAME OVER...BUT - YOU CAN APPLY IT WET. My gauges have been in for about three years - no problems (i do use a fitted sun screen)

now the only reason i mention this two fold...

1) you can scan wood you already have so that the interior matchs perfect
2) when i covered my HVAC control with a crushed plastic (.02") to match the rest of the black plastic (woods not my gig - im working on a good carbon fiber type...anyway -) i had to cut it out COMPENSATING for its thickness in interaction to the silkscreened icons for the controls, minimal detail, but a detail...it took a few tries to make it perfect for me.

BUT - the print out will be paper thin, thinner than any wood i would think you can use.

also - if you could...

Scan in the HVAC contol 1:1

if you have access or can have access to ILLUSTRATOR
build it all in illustrator (the final wood design, with even the icons cut out and EVERYTHING - depending on time/ability/ect..), assign cut paths to all that you want cut out, the bill board printer should have a CUT FEATURE...this will use a x-acto like knife to cut out the HVAC to perfect tolerance given the scan...

i had all of my ODDBALL switches replaced with "custom icons" to look more factory than a triplet overhead light switch...the cutter cut out those details that small - no problem

food for thought
Jake