Metal Control Panel help please

[Bobbler]

Dunno if this is the best way to do it but would appreciate some advice if possible:

Got a Neo Geo based cab last night and it has a metal control panel. I want to change the button layout for a six per player style instead of the four it has now
Would simply filling the holes with auto bodywork filler and then redrilling them in the 6 button layout be ok? I am really not sure if it would end up caving in after a game of button bashing frenzy like track and field.
Alternate option would be to buy a replacement metal panel but I have no idea where stocks them (I am UK based)

[HaRuMaN]

I would leave the 4 neo geo buttons the way they are.  Simply add 3 buttons beneath the first 3 buttons on each side.  That way you'll have the 6 button SF layout as well as keeping the 4 button Neo Geo layout.

[Bobbler]

I would leave the 4 neo geo buttons the way they are.  Simply add 3 buttons beneath the first 3 buttons on each side.  That way you'll have the 6 button SF layout as well as keeping the 4 button Neo Geo layout.

I see what you are saying but unfortunately the layout is not the standard Neo Geo style layout

See here:



Though I have had a thought on the matter. Back the control panel with some 6mm MDF or wood across the whole button area, sticking it to the metal. Fill with body filler to the level of the metal. Then add the new holes.
As I am probably going to end up spraying the control panel after stripping it of the tatty sticker, it should come up alright I think/hope.

[CheffoJeffo]

The restoration page in the wiki is your friend.

http://girasoli.org/?p=104#more-104

Cheers

[Bobbler]

Thanks for that. Never thought of looking at it from that angle (restoration) as I am doing the opposite.

[CheffoJeffo]

De nada.

I'm using the same technique to refill/redrill the panel on my Basc Vertical MAME project. If you have a heat gun, it ought to take that overlay off like butter, then use some GoofOff/GooGone to remove the glue residue.

Cheers.

[_) (V) (-)]

A quick and simple (albiet ugly) 'fix' could be them button hole plugs.
Basicly just a black plastic disc that pops into the hole.

[CheffoJeffo]

A quick and simple (albiet ugly) 'fix' could be them button hole plugs.
Basicly just a black plastic disc that pops into the hole.

Problem is that he wants a standard SF2 six button layout, so he will need to fill or replace the panel.

Cheers.

[Crowquill]

I found this page to be the most helpful when working on mine:

http://www.multigame.com/cp.html

Nothing too drastically different, but since I was actually cleaning up a Frogger CP, it was helpful to see someone working on the same piece. I also did most of the "clean-up" steps. The biggest thing I did differently was paint it white after cleaning and filling as I have a light-colored overlay that isn't completely opaque.

I ended up using epoxy to glue on the metal pieces on the back, and used Elmer's wood putty to fill the holes. Surprisingly, metal is one of the surfaces listed on the package that it can fill. It came out quite hard and sanded down just fine. It probably didn't come out quite as smooth as bondo would have, but under an overlay I don't think it matters at all. Also, I hate working with bondo and it's much more expensive than a small tub of this. This is what I used:

http://hunt-corp.com/homerepair/product_page.asp?pCode=E847DL