How to achieve this aesthetic??

[morton]

Hey everyone, hope you're all keeping well.

I am finishing up some stuff on my cabinet and now dealing with things I put off for too long, and want to see if anyone had some suggestions for what I am trying to do.

I want to make a panel to top my control panel that looks like the old Taito Space Invaders Cocktails... The silver/metal plate with black anodizing or paint:

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images4/1/0616/07/1979-taito-space-invaders-japanese_1_0b201ea27bc2163480c6a2178f915c24.jpg

Apologies if against rules for posting that link. But it shows what I am after.

Originally was considering just a rear mounted print using black and silver on a piece of plexiglass. Thought about a transparent overlay on top of a metal panel. Someone suggested a vinyl stencil, and use paint but I fear it will be too delicate even with clear, and the fine details will be hard to make out.

I know a guy on another forum sold anodized replicas of the SI panel, and it wasn't cheap to get done, so it's likely not gonna be an option for me. Tho it would be nice. Maybe it can be DIY'd but it seems like a lot of learning etc to perfect.

Needless to say, I am at an impasse and there are lots of great ideas born here... was hoping for some inspiration or coaching.

TL:DR - am looking to do a control panel that has a look similar to the Taito Space Invaders Cocktail cabs without going to too much extreme.

[mahuti]

The link is showing "forbidden". Can you post the image here?

[mahuti]

Is it this one?

[mahuti]

Worst case scenario you could get a CPO printed at GameonGrafix (or wherever) with some some shinies added via photoshop. It doesn't truly capture metal... but its inexpensive and evocative of what you want while still being durable.

I can think of some paint applications as well, but none would really look much better and certainly wouldn't be as simple to achieve.

 if I were you...  if a vinyl-ish cpo isn't close enough, I'd consider dropping the $$$ on exactly what you want  and get it custom done.

[mahuti]

The two images attached  remind me of the look you're going for... a bit. The original space encounters panel was aluminum with screen printing. I made an alternate panel that captures the same look. Itmixes the use of silver paint and vinyl CPO. Sometimes I forget its not the original part

[morton]

Sorry for the bad link... But that photo is it.

My control panel as it stands is made of MDF and my plan was to either top mount my sticks just below the surface in the wood itself and then have a larger cutout for the button area, and mount snap in Sanwas into the panel of metal/plexi. If I used metal, I suppose I could also mount my sticks on the panel too. Then the panel would just go on-top of the wooden CP base I have now. I apologize if my explaining is terrible.

I think the vinyl over the aluminum you replicated looks good and that will definitely be my backup plan. I just feel like given the overall look of the cab, going too synthetic or modern with a black and silver would come off looking like the Vewlix Control panels. Not a terrible thing, but like the old aesthetic and rounded corners etc.

As you said, if I want it to be perfect then the expensive way may be only way.