Accurate Defender Control Panel

[Fly]

I'm starting to gather info for my second MAME cabinet. I'd like to more accurately reproduce a Defender or Stargate control panel.

I have a reproduction Defender joystick from here:
http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Joysticks

I need some help with mounting this thing. If anyone has a real Defender or a Stargate, help would be appreciated.

Do I cut a hole so the joystick "hump" is flush with the control panel and then let the overlay cover up the mechanism? It's kinda hard to explain.

[steve_pss]

There's a Defender manual here:
http://www.mikesarcade.com/arcade/manuals.html

I imagine that would have an exploded view of what you need to see.

[Fly]

Nope - those manuals dont have an exploded view of the CP.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

[paigeoliver]

Judging from my NOS overlay, and damage I have seen to other overlays, I would say the answer to that question is yes.

[slycrel]

  My yie-ar kung fu (that paige laments the destroyed side art for) seems to have the original defender CP which had been converted.  I'll check when I get home, but IIRC it should be from the bottom up.  I'll try to post a pic of the original panel depending on the time I have.  The joystick was replaced with a wico 8-way leaf that's still in place, and that is definitely mounted from the bottom.  I'll probably have to remove the "new" wico stick to see for sure though.  I'll attach a pic of the top of the CP that I have here at work.  You can see that the ball-style stick is fairly low.

I suppose it's possible that this CP was from a different game than defender originally, but it has holes cut into it (from the bottom) that are not currently used, so I've assumed it was original.  Maybe paige or someone with a bit more knowledge can correct me.  

[Fly]

That would be great if someone can take a close-up pic of the top of the CP and the underside showing the holes.

I really only need to see the joystick up close.

Thanks!

[slycrel]

  Well, don't expect a great picture.  

  I had some issues getting the old wico stick apart.  I think that the shaft has rusted to the washer that's just above the rubber grommet.  I cracked the rubber already, so I'm not going to mess with it much more than I have.

  Anyhow.  It looks like the joystick has a groove cut for it all the way thru the 3/4" plywood, apparently with only the lexan (or even just the guard, I dunno) between the top of the joystick and the top of the control panel.  You can also see how the old leaf-style buttons were mounted here to the left.

  Hope that helps.

  Edit:  the white you see behind the groove is the bottom of the yie-ar control panel artwork, which is topped by some sort of plexi/lexan material.  I'd guess that the lexan is 1/8" thick, but it's also not the original stuff that was on here.  Good luck and keep us posted!

[paigeoliver]

I have a converted Defender panel in my basement that I can dig up is needed.

I can try to check it out if need be.

Too bad you didn't post this thread just slightly sooner, as I was over at an ebay seller's home recently (picking up a Defender door), and the man literally had like 4 Stargates and 5 Defenders in his living room, (along with a smattering of Jousts, Robotrons, and a Joust 2).

Also, you could probably get this question answered on klov.com in a jiffy, several defender owners there.

[DARRYLICSHON]

there is one on ebay that has a photo of both sides  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3263939458&category=13718&rd=1

[Fly]

My quest has taken a turn for the better - I won a Defender on Ebay!

I should have it Monday. This should give me the best possible way to completely duplicate the control panel. And, of course, play on a real Defender!

Stay tuned.

[DARRYLICSHON]

Thats what i did and i put a few extra holes , one for inviso and i also put two more for playing games like space duel ,  Asteroids ,and GRAVITAR the holes don't get in the way of playing defender , and they fit nicely  

[Oldskool]

Thats what i did and i put a few extra holes , one for inviso and i also put two more for playing games like space duel ,  Asteroids ,and GRAVITAR the holes don't get in the way of playing defender , and they fit nicely  

Darrylicshon, do you have a pic of your button layout?

[DARRYLICSHON]

I don't have it mounted on a cab yet , i am trying to make a spin 180 panel with the robotron two joystick panel. I really like robotron. I us to use the 2 player start button for one player start and the yellow ( inviso ) button for 2 player start , for the other games , until i put the two together , now the start buttons are on the robo panel , i started to drill another hole to replace player 1 start button , if the spin doesn't work i might still do that. i use player 1 start for move left , the next red button for move right , the three other buttons yellow for inviso , red for shield , but a friend only put the yellow button , he doesn't mind using the yellow for inviso and shield , for me that makes the shield button too far to the left , i like it where it should be , so when i play my buddies cocktail space duel the buttons are where i am use to and of-course the green button stays smart bomb , I hope this helps

[mahuti]

FWIW, I finished vectorizing the defender upright control panel, if anyone needs the artwork.

Until the vector library is updated, you can find it here.

http://homepage.mac.com/mahuti/Mamecab/FileSharing30.html

[Nannuu]

Here is another site with the dimensions of the panel:
http://www.arcaderestoration.com/index.asp?OPT=3&CBT=66
Just in case the cab you bought is not using the original panel.

I have the panel in vector format as well.  But I have 7, 8 and 9 button versions.  7 buttons like the original.  8 buttons adding Stargates Inviso.  And a 9 buttons adding a coin insert.  They can be found here:
http://www.willyliliana.com/