Supposing that Cpt. Tim is not a young lady, just "An Illustrated Primer" might be good. Fancy gold leaf on a nice cover (I'd have mock-leather, being a vegetarian type person). Maybe a gold/brass diary lock?
A pressure gauge label behind a glass bezel, perhaps in a brass bezel cup, would make another good nav button cover. (I think the idea of the round brass typewriter keys for the number buttons is excellent.... Have you tried a scrapbooking section at a craft store to see if they have something like that? "Vintage" doodads seem to be popular in scrapbooking right now.)
Hm... Maybe I'll cover my iLiad in wood veneer.
