I have been thinking of doing a little custom work when I get to my interior and have been looking at how the audio junkies do their amazing work. It doesn't seem to hard to make things like the pillar you are talking about. Just lay out a frame in wood that will mount the gauges you want. Then stretch some fabric out on it to make a nice round pilar shape, then cote the fabric in fiberglass resin or "Tiger Hair", sand and do all the same stuff you would do when doing body work, and then paint.