How Can You Patch a Cut-Up Radio Panel on a '62?

[62ShortStep]

I have this '62 that was generally restored several years ago and I'm working on making it as stock as possible. The dash is painted and looks pretty good. Unfortunately the guy cut the radio panel to install his cheap-o radio and it looks like #$^%$&.

I want to put the original radio back, but I don't want to launch into a major project for the dash (I'll do it right at some point in the future). I have two thoughts on how to fix it for now:

1) I could buy a radio patch panel and cut it to end up with a piece that covers the entire radio recess of the existing panel. It makes life easy to create the radio cut outs, but it would be tough to exactly match the existing panel without showing gap lines. Painting it would be a problem also because I'm not sure I could exactly match the existing paint, or I would have to paint it contrasting white.

2) I could make some flat sheet metal pieces that cover the cut-up sections. They would probably have to be painted white.

These are my ideas at this point, but I hope there are better alternatives out there. Has anyone been able fit a correct radio back into a cut-up panel without doing a complete weld and repaint?