alternate to lexan/plexi?

[pezkore]

I want to make my Golden Tee control panel with the grass overlay and the real decals, but i would like to try to make the panel without putting lexan or plexiglass over the control panel. Is there some sort of clear laminate or something along those lines that i can put over the decals so that it still appears like a GT CP, but doesn't have the lexan on top?

[Brad Lee]

I've seen clear contact paper.. is that kinda what you mean?

[rampy]

why skimp on the lexan/plexi

If you go to the expense trouble of buying/reproducing GT control panel art,  you should consider protecting that investment (and making it look mint) with the real deal holyfield lexan/plexi...

You could try a clear vinyl contact paper but I doubt you'll be happy...

At the local wings place they have a few machines and the Tekken 2 machine has super thin lexan/plexi screwed on (like 1/16th of inch) to protect the overlay...

Of course it's near destroyed (that's how I can see that it's 1/16th of an inch =P ) but in a home environment that could be the eas;y to cut, protect the overly and have the "look" but not as bullet proof (figuratively speaking) for public hammering...

*shrug*

rampy

[shmokes]

If money is no object you could have Wilsonart make you a custom laminate.  It would give you exactly the effect you want, but I can't imagine it is remotely cheap.  You won't know without asking, though.

www.wilsonart.com

[Snarbald]

Just buy this then.
http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/900242100.htm

[pezkore]

the problem with that is that the cabint that i am fitting it to is much narrower than the premade GT control panels. Ideally, i want my panel to come out like that, and that does not have lexan on it, but i dont think i can cut that to fit. Does anyone know what kind of material the happ CP is made out of?

[paigeoliver]

If the Golden Tee overlay is anywhere near the quality of the overlays from the classic days then you will not NEED to use any plexi at all. I have quite a few 15-20+ year old games that don't have plexi and never did and still have stunning overlays. (My Kangaroo, Crystal Castles, Jack the Giantkiller, and Assault all have nearly perfect overlays and never had any plexi on them).

The biggest problem with overlays is abuse (which you shouldn't have to worry about at home), and cracking at the bends, which plexi will not help.

I also reccomend buying a spare overlay now while you can still get new ones. That way in 10 years you can slap a new one on and keep on trucking, but you probably won't need to.

[Snarbald]

the problem with that is that the cabint that i am fitting it to is much narrower than the premade GT control panels. Ideally, i want my panel to come out like that, and that does not have lexan on it, but i dont think i can cut that to fit. Does anyone know what kind of material the happ CP is made out of?

Well, what kind of cabinet is it? would it be possible to build a box for the control panel, or would that not work with your cab?

[hyiu]

you might want to follow this thread....
it seems to have some kind of clear stuff....

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7537

I'm not sure of the details... hope it helps....