CP : Plexi or Not to Plexi???

[chrisindfw]

I am making a new wooden control panel with some artwork.


Would you put plexi over it, or just make the artwork some sticky back vinyl from Kinkos?

[slayerjenkins]

I think that the plexi would help protect your artwork investment.  A little extra work can extend the life of it by a great deal.

[chrisindfw]

Thanks

Now another question. I have an Imperial 3" trackball. What do I need to do to bring the ball up past the plexi?

I think that the plexi would help protect your artwork investment.  A little extra work can extend the life of it by a great deal.

[Minwah]

I think it depends on the look you want - IMO plexi looks more modern (so less classic)...

I think printed vinyl would not wear well over time, you might want to go for a printed CPO from somewhere like classicarcadegraphics.com - these would presumably wear as well as a 'real' arcade overlay

[Jakobud]

Just of a word of advice, I'd look to Lexan instead of Plexi...

[Stingray]

Like so many other aspects of this hobby it's really a personal preference thing. I wanted my cab to have a classic early '80s look to it so for me it had to be a metal CP with a real arcade overlay. If your own mental image of an arcade machine is a flat panel with a clear lexan cover then that's what you should do.

-S

[Sasquatch!]

I went with plexi, and although I'm pleased with the results, I don't think I'd do it again.  It's not worth the extra time and money.  The CPO that I got from classicarcadegraphics.com would definitely stand up to a decent amount of abuse, so the plexi was kind of redundant.

[slayerjenkins]

I went with plexi, and although I'm pleased with the results, I don't think I'd do it again.  It's not worth the extra time and money.  The CPO that I got from classicarcadegraphics.com would definitely stand up to a decent amount of abuse, so the plexi was kind of redundant.

Well he's done it before so he knows what'd happen.  I guess I just remember too many machines with the plexi cover, it was good, but then again I'm not an early years fan.  I am a fan of like the Mortal Kombat era, early 90's.

[Carsten Carlos]

I did use lexan as I can print my cpo's here at work without paying money for it. I also laminate them to make them last longer - you never know were the sweat is going to drop!

Unfortunately we don't support vynil & pigment ink here, otherwise I would have tried if selfadhesive-vynil would wear off or not.

By the way, which games started being covered with lexan? I just've seen it on a Dragon's Lair, but maybe it was just added for additional protection. Anyway, I liked the look of it though I'm more playing the golden age games.

[paigeoliver]

I normally DO NOT suggest plexi, but Kinko's vinyl scratches very easily, so you are going to have to cover it with something.

[Carsten Carlos]

I hope some golden day I'm going to collect at least a few real golden age-machines, so I don't have to bother with such stuff. At least a Tempest or something other with a color XY-monitor.