How can I redo Control Panel Layout?

[hypergaming]

Hi Everyone!!!

anyone here ever worked on a Williams Cabinet? I'm trying to convert this old Williams Cabinet I have into a 2 Player MAME Cabinet.

So Far everything is going good, Painting, Wiring, Lights, everything, "BUT" I'm missing  the most important, The Control Panel.

As you all may know, The Williams Cabinets have a a pretty small Control panel area, the worst is that this cabinet already has more than a few holes in it, it seems to me, it was converted from a Joust to a Final Fight. to make story short, The Control Panel area seems unusable, so my question here is:

What would be the best way, to "still" use the original Williams Control Panel but also be able to create a 2 player layout? ( thinking 6 buttons per player + the 1 & 2 Player buttons ) Would Plaster or anything be use to cover the holes and drill again? would this work?

if You don't think is possible, what would you suggest would be the best thing to do?


here are images of Control Panel

Thanks for your help.

[BadMouth]

fill all the holes with bondo
(will take several coats. I'd probably temporarily screw a board covered with wax paper on the backside and fill from the top.)
sand flush on both sides
drill the layout you want

[CheffoJeffo]

Looks like I am +1ing BadMouth today as his suggestion is what I would do (and will be doing on a Robotron->MW conversion).

Having said that and I include it for completeness, you can get metal replacement panel blanks (or metal MW panels) for Williams cabs.



http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Panels

[hypergaming]

fill all the holes with bondo
(will take several coats. I'd probably temporarily screw a board covered with wax paper on the backside and fill from the top.)
sand flush on both sides
drill the layout you want

Thanks  for the tip!, I'll check that out. never heard of it.

[hypergaming]

Looks like I am +1ing BadMouth today as his suggestion is what I would do (and will be doing on a Robotron->MW conversion).

Having said that and I include it for completeness, you can get metal replacement panel blanks (or metal MW panels) for Williams cabs.



http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Panels

I contacted Arcadeshop when I got the Cabinet, told me they were out of Blank Panels for Williams Cabinets.

[CheffoJeffo]

 

[vwalbridge]

KLOV member hailrazer might be making some repos:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=366007

[hypergaming]

Thanks for the link!!!! man, thats just what I'm looking for, I hope he responds, thanks again!

[hypergaming]

Thanks for the link!!!! man, thats just what I'm looking for, I hope he responds, thanks again!

I registered at arcade museums forum but I still don't have full access, I can't send a message to anyone yet, what a pain in the ass, so much technicality, lol.

[vwalbridge]

I bought a reproduction Donkey Kong control panel from Hailrazer. He makes top notch stuff. Totally recommend him. Classy guy.

[leapinlew]

fill all the holes with bondo
(will take several coats. I'd probably temporarily screw a board covered with wax paper on the backside and fill from the top.)
sand flush on both sides
drill the layout you want

I've had pretty good luck gluing in dowels and then using bondo. It helps reduce the number of coats of bondo needed.

[vwalbridge]

Thanks for the link!!!! man, thats just what I'm looking for, I hope he responds, thanks again!

I registered at arcade museums forum but I still don't have full access, I can't send a message to anyone yet, what a pain in the ass, so much technicality, lol.

They make you donate $2 to prove you are a human and not just some guy that wants to spam everyone. It sorta sucks but it does keep the riff-raff out. Might take a day or 2 for the admin to clear the pay pal donation.

[CheffoJeffo]

You should be good to go now.

Upgrade Forum Friend for http://forums.arcade-museum.com/

All prospective forum users have to either (1) be approved by an existing user, or (2) donate $2+ before being allowed onto the forums.

Attempting upgrade (from group Pergatory to Regular User): hypergaming

User hypergaming upgraded by CheffoJeffo

[hypergaming]

Thanks man! I really appreciate it. I just saw the $2 thing, It makes sense, with all the spam crap outhere.
If I can help you in anyway please let me know.

Thanks again

[RetroGreg]

Wow I'm so glad I saw this thread. I just signed up and asked for a blank Joust panel. Thanks.

[hypergaming]

I bought a reproduction Donkey Kong control panel from Hailrazer. He makes top notch stuff. Totally recommend him. Classy guy.

I'm just waiting for a reply, how and where to send payment,  the quality work is evident. Thanks

[hailrazer]

Hey guys. Thanks for the interest in the reproduction Williams panels.

I haven't started actually offering them for sale yet. I am still in the process of perfecting them. 

I'll be happy to get with you and make you what you need when I'm ready to offer them for sale.

Thanks again

[hypergaming]

Thanks for the reply!  I look forward to get one, is all I need to start playing
Great work,I'm a web developer,  I'm useless when it comes to carpentry or anything that requires measuring, cutting, etc.

Thanks again