Cocktail build questions (glass, control panels)

[MrD]

I'm currently trying to finish a cocktail build that I started a year ago.   

My original intention was to build a Galaxian cocktail table (non-standard top 24x36).  I've been working on the artwork and I have that taken care of.  I have a set of original galaxian cocktail control panels as well.

I'm getting set to order my glass to.  I think onedayglass.com is probably my best bet.    Here's my question: 

I've seen some cocktails that have clear glass, then underlay, then smoked plexi, then bezel, then monitor.     Others are smoked glass, then underlay, then bezel then monitor (no plexi).    If I go with smoked glass and avoid the extra piece of plexi in the middle, will that alter the viewing of the underlay?    I was thinking of using the onedayglass - solar gray tinting.   

My other question is this:  I'm planning to have this cocktail game play multiple games, not just Galaxian.   So that means putting in 4 way joysticks.  However, the original control panels don't really have any room to modify them.   Plus these are originals in very good condition.   It pains me to gut them, for a non-authentic machine in the first place.   So my thought was, maybe buy some others, and sell these (or swap)?  Then maybe go non-Galaxian, to maybe a Ms Pacman?    Either that or I just stick with 2 way games on this machine.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this project.

[NOP]

I have a converted galaga cocktail machine (it was gutted, so I felt free to MAME it) and it originally had clear glass with a silkscreened artwork on it.  THe viewing area was still clear.
Under that was a plexi+monitor bezel, and that plexi is slightly tinted.

I replaced the glass and used only clear glass, and purchased an underlay for it, which looks as good or better than the original silk screened version.  I am still using the original bezel+smoked plexi.  To me it looks and feels as good as the original ever did.

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as for control panels, since there's not much room on a midway panel, I ended up using a U360 for each player, and I managed to squeeze 3 buttons in.  I don't recall if the galaxian panels are the exact same size as galaga/ms. pacmans, but I'd suggest just keeping your originals and buying replacement CPs online-it's not that expensive.

I'd be happy to send you the layout and artwork I used for my panels and send you links to all the vendors I used to put my panels together.

Here's a pic of the finished machine:
http://www.waste.org/~winkles/winterMAME/pix/winterMALA.jpg