Metal CPs

[Malacus]

Sorry if this has been asked, I don't really need an answer anytime soon as I still need to purchase joysticks and pushbuttons, but I was wondering if there is anyway to re-use my metal CP. It's an old centipede CP converted for a larger Trackball and with 4 pushbuttons, and it was a very nasty conversion.

The only thing I could think of was to put a piece of wood under or over it and using it to keep the joys/buttons in place, but if you put it under, youd still feel it through the overlay, IE - I can feel where the Volcano's from the centipede USED to be cause the hole's still there.

Also, I really like the overlay thats on the CP, now I know I cant really salvage it, but where could I get something like it? Its a pretty thick feeling black vinyl with a leather-ish texture.

-Mal

\/ I later took off the plexi 'cause I hate it \/

[motorfish]

Whoa! That's brutally beaten up!

[Malacus]

that nasty, ugly, dirty look is mostly from the Plexi, and is the number one reason I'm keeping it off.

(yes, the red and 2player buttons are swapped, the red button broke while cleaning)

Any ideas/help?

-Mal

[Rocky]

I've restored a few metal CP's.  To fill the holes, I use JB Weld to attach a strip of metal under the hole (making sure that it won't interfere with any controls I'll be using). Then I fill the hole from the top with bondo and sand.

That system should work fine for Atari start buttons.

For an overlay, different people sell generic overlays on ebay.  Parts Express also sells black textured vinyl for covering speakers that works pretty well. Happs also sells textured vinyl, but it's a bit more expensive.

Good luck,
Rocky

[Kremmit]

Here's Oscar's restoration of a Centipede CP:

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/

While I was looking for that link, I noticed he mentioned that Arcadeshop sells repro Centi CPs.  I don't know if they still do, but that might be an option, too.

[Malacus]

Awesome, thanks for the tips!

-Mal