metal control panel, fill holes?

[clok]

I picked up a Final Blow and want to MAME it, It appears to be be a dedicated with a Curved (v shaped) metal control panel like this  I was hoping it was just a flat sheet i could replace. But its curved and the current button placement make a 6 button layout only possible in some sudo ugly form. Anybody filled those holes so new once could be placed? I have seen some with putty and panels behind them, but would prefer not to go that route.   My other option is taking it apart and see if somebody can replicate the panel at a metal shop, but as all (well most) of you I am trying to keep the price down.  I dont plan on doing anything but changing the control panel as it seems its lesser seen game. I have no love for it all, but someday who knows, its in very good shape. Maybe a new panel is best way to go and keep the old one for 'someday".

[yotsuya]

Anybody filled those holes so new once could be placed? I have seen some with putty and panels behind them, but would prefer not to go that route.   My other option is taking it apart and see if somebody can replicate the panel at a metal shop, but as all (well most) of you I am trying to keep the price down.

 

You could go on eBay and see if someone is selling a Street Fighter II panel for a Dynamo HS-1. Otherwise, I've fabbed my own at a metal shop at work. Basically follow the round over shape of the side of the panel. The blue vertical lines represent where I bent the panel 90 to make the shape- except for the first one, which lie 20 percent or so to make a lip, I eyeballed it (the horizontal ones just showed me how much clearance I have for the battens on the sides). The bottom part of it I screwed on to the ledge part of the cab where the old panel bolted, the top I screwed in to the battens. It worked out very well. If you want the raw file, let me know.

[yotsuya]

Just realized I have a few photos of it done and installed...

[mgb]

You can always pick up some 16 gauge sheet metal at a place like Home Depot and cut out the current button area as a rectangular cut out, cut the replacement piece to fit and have someone weld it into place.
Once the welds are ground down, you'll have a blank canvas to work with.


With mine, I went the route where I used the metal knock out slugs from electrical boxes and I jbwelded them and then bondo slim coat and re drilled.
It worked well for my setup but I didn't have as many holes.

[clok]

So since everybody is so helpful, this is a standard jamma setup, will i need more hardware to make 6 buttons work? I plan on using a Pandoras Box in it.. Jamma plug in, but it seems most jamma is 4 button, do i need a harness to add the other 2 buttons for both plalyers?

[Slippyblade]

This guy did a great conversion and had to do exactly what you are talking about.  He starts the CP bits in this message.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,73101.msg761908.html#msg761908

[f1tech]

You can always pick up some 16 gauge sheet metal at a place like Home Depot and cut out the current button area as a rectangular cut out, cut the replacement piece to fit and have someone weld it into place.
Once the welds are ground down, you'll have a blank canvas to work with.


With mine, I went the route where I used the metal knock out slugs from electrical boxes and I jbwelded them and then bondo slim coat and re drilled.
It worked well for my setup but I didn't have as many holes.

I did this, although I cut mine to the outline of the control panel edge to edge. I then bolted it to the top in several places.  Not the best but worked well. If you have access to a welder you can do it a lot cleaner. I tried the JB Weld and bondo thing at first and it didn't work too well for me when drilling.