Panels for Node Types I need to control the layout a particular, pre-existing node type using panels.  However unless I'm not mistaken, creating a panel for a node type allows you to manipulate the layout for every node of that type, whereas what I want is a default panels layout - which I can change if I need to - but free reign over adding new content elements for each node I create (of that type).

I could override the nodes individually by entering the un-aliased path for each node, e.g node/123.  However it's not very clean or intuitive, has to be done manually for each node, and I lose some useful information in my template pre-processing.

I could use the panels_node module, but this creates a new node type called "Panel", and while what I want is similar, the node type already exists - and I'd need the option of creating a new node type that uses panels later.

...or am I missing something really obvious?

Any help would be appreciated.  

(Drupal 7, Panels 3)
If I clearly understand your question You want to create something like this:


Different layout based on Node Type


Go to Structure --> Pages and enable Node Template (/node/%node)
There should be only one variant - go to Selection Rule. From drop down menu choose Node Type: and then choose Variant for Node Type being viewed.
Create as many varants as you need for any Node Type