Need help with the world's ugliest control panel...

[astroboy2001]

 
I've done 80% of the work on my mame cabinet and next up is the control panel.  I plan on using the ORIGINAL control panel that came on the Final Fight cabinet that I had.  After I removed all the vinyl, i found it already had been drilled over with other holes.  

Well, in addition to those already drilled, I attempted to drill holes so that I would have 3 fire buttons on top, 3 on bottom, and one button slightly diagonal to the right....for both player 1 and 2.

As you can see after I did this, I came up with the world's UGLIEST control panel.  My question is do I need to patch up those holes that are no longer "connected"?  I have some holes either right next to each other or right on top that are no longer separated by any wood.  So my concern is when I apply the Happ Pica Vinyl, it will sink down where there is no wood support.  I do plan to overlay plexiglass on top, but am concerned about the "sinking" of the black vinyl.

Should I patch and bridge the holes that are no longer separated?  Or will I be OK?  Thanks!

[madk]

The vinyl should be thick enough to not sag over the holes and once you add the plexi to the top of the cp everything will be fine.  As long as the buttons will stay in place I don't see a problem.  I would be concerned with the hole for the left stick tho.  Depending on what sticks you use you may run into it catching on other other hole.

[astroboy2001]

I've already fitted each of the intended holes I want with the buttons...and also tested out the Happ ultimate joystics and moved around without bumping into any of the wood.

Thanks for you tip on my concern with the "sagging".  Not having to patch and bridge the wood will save me TONS of time and breathing in sanded dust!  The Pica Vinyl does appear to be quite thick!

[paigeoliver]

Umm, this might sound silly, but, it is a WOODEN panel! You can make another one pretty easily. Although you will have to do a bit of sanding to get that curve between the two pieces.

[shmokes]

That's kind of what I was thinking.  It just looks so ridiculous.  

But, really, if it'll hold up and, when finished, will look exactly the same as a brand new one I suppose there is really no reason to replace it.

[crashwg]

If I were you, I would spend the $5 and 30min or less work and make a new one.

[Stingray]

Yeah, you could probably get by with using it, but if it were me I'd chuck it and make a new one.

-S

[Howard_Casto]

Bury it, give it a nice funeral and then move on....

Maintaining that panel would be far too much work.  

[Minwah]

Swiss cheese springs to mind  

[MameMaster!]

....I would fill the holes.....mine originally looked like swiss cheese too. I simply covered the "top" (where the buttons would go) with duct tape and filled it in from the back w/wood putty.

The next day, all I had to do was remove the tape and I had a perfectly flat control panel to work with (I only did some very light sanding).

....or I suppose you could simply take a thin piece of wood and attach it right on top of your swiss cheese and just sand down the edge to smooth it out (so it will match with the front curve of the wood).

MameMaster!  

[Xphile]

....I would fill the holes.....mine originally looked like swiss cheese too. I simply covered the "top" (where the buttons would go) with duct tape and filled it in from the back w/wood putty.

The next day, all I had to do was remove the tape and I had a perfectly flat control panel to work with (I only did some very light sanding).
<snip>
MameMaster!  

if you really don't want to make a new one, do what mamemaster said with tape, but use "bondo*" instead of wood putty...
(*=lightweight 2 part polyester autobody filler)

I'd really go with the new top tho'..(it's perfectly flat, the blue front piece has the radius on it, btw, if that's what you're worried about.. :-)

[paigeoliver]

Oh yeah, the radius IS just on the blue piece.

In that case just replace the top piece altogether and leave the original blue piece. It will save you from a real headache down the road.