Neo Geo 4 slot restoration

[shinyredrobot]

So I had the fortune to get a Neo Geo 4-25 ver. 3 for free. As you can see in the pictures I'm including, it needs quite a bit of work done to it to get it back to what it used to be. Its missing the control panel,  the upper coin door and the marquee/speaker holder as well. I'm hoping to start work on it soon but I was hoping to get some tips from some of you guys as to what to do as this is my first restore. I've noticed that a lot of people just end up repainting it instead of trying to find vinyl to replace what used to be there, is there a specific type that should be used? A second question would be about restoring some of the imperfections in the wood, I know people use bondo, but is there a specific kind? I know there's a few that I found on their site, so I was just wondering is there one that's better suited for this than another? I'll be updating this thread as I'm able to work on it, but it may take a bit of time between posts because of my busy schedule. I hope to hear from some of you experts soon so I can restore this wonderful machine to what it used to be.

[Spyridon]

Well, for a first restore, you sure didn't take on an easy one.  Good luck with the project and keep posting progress and we'll help you along.

As far as Bondo, you can really use any kind.  I just use the basic 3M Bondo automotive body filler.  If you want something stronger, I believe they make one with fiberglass in it.

The use of vinyl depends on the type of cab and how much work someone is willing to put into it.  Most cabs didn't use vinyl and that is why paint is a good option.  Using vinyl requires you do do all the same prep work as painting, including (in most cases) painting the cab and then putting the vinyl on top.  Many people don't want to spend the extra time and expense using the vinyl.  Check out This Old Game if you need some vinyl as they have a good selection of colors.

[Oni2382]

Man you do have an uphill battle restoring that. i wish you the best of luck. Did it come with the motherboard or any games? To cut down on initial cost you may want to slap a 1 slot mobo in there first until you can find a 4 slot. Also is the wiring harness intact or is that Missing? I am selling a bunch of spare MVS parts soon if you need anything (i'll post the sale thread tonight)

[valgalder]

Wow.. you do have a lot of work ahead of you!  Good luck, look forward to seeing progress.