Need some help...newbie alert

[m61177]

I've got 2 issue's

Picking this cabinet up Saturday and need to find out what would be the easiest most least expensive way to do a bezel for this 19' lcd. Looks like he had a crt in before and just never changed the bezel.


And now the CP, it was painted with that Krylon textured paint and I was thinking of maybe striping it, refinishing and maybe adding and overlay with plexi and possible rounding those front edges off. Any suggestion's or ideas on the CP would be greatly appreciated.

[Blanka]

Easiest must be to replace the whole bezel with glass, and paint it black on the back where it should hide stuff.

[cmoses]

I used black poster board and pushed the monitor forward and then slide the poster board in the bezel so it rested right on the monitor.  I also used a piece of tinted glass over all of it.  Looked good and was very cheap.

Those buttons look like they are spaced pretty far apart.  Have you played on there yet?

[CheffoJeffo]

Easiest must be to replace the whole bezel with glass, and paint it black on the back where it should hide stuff.

+1

[ghettodish]

How thick is the panel? T-molding is 3/4" if you want to use it for the front edge.

5/8" panel plus 1/8" plexi equals 3/4"...



...those buttons look like they would be tough to actually use. It may be easier to start from scratch than to strip and refurbish the existing panel.

I would also router-out 1/4" under the joysticks to raise them up a bit.

[m61177]

I would not even know how to begin doing a panel from scratch, you mean just remove the top holding the buttons and stick and have a new top done?

I actually have an old NBA jam CP cabinet I could use for the base if the CP.
Or should I just buy one like this
http://www.mameroom.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID=CLASSICCPKIT

That wouold be an expensive way to go though...

[severdhed]

i covered my monitor with plexiglass, i masked off the screen area and spray painted the back side of it black, which made it look really nice.

as for the panel, it is easy to make a new one... you could use a flush trim router bit and use the old panel as a guide to cut out the new one.  then just mark and drill your button holes where you want them. ( 1.5" center holes is standard spacing i believe)

[HaRuMaN]

I would not even know how to begin doing a panel from scratch, you mean just remove the top holding the buttons and stick and have a new top done?

I actually have an old NBA jam CP cabinet I could use for the base if the CP.
Or should I just buy one like this
http://www.mameroom.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID=CLASSICCPKIT

That wouold be an expensive way to go though...

It's not hard to make a CP top.  Can you use a drill?  That will be the tool you use, other than a saw to cut out a rectangle of wood or MDF.

[m61177]

Well I guess drawing up the plans would be my main concern, I'd most likey screw it up I'm sure.

[severdhed]

cutting out a rectangle is pretty easy...plus if you made your own panel and the buttons were closer together, that would allow you to move the p2 joystick to the right a little more to give you a little more elbow room.  all you would really need to make a new panel is a drill, 1 1/8" spade bit or forstner bit, and a circular saw or something to cut a straight line.

trust me...if i can do it, anyone can

[m61177]

ok old control panel

New layout so far...

All measurements are correct so what exaxtley do I print this own to use as a template to cut my wood?

And I love these forum's, I've learned so much from here.

[Turnarcades]

If the bezel is easy enough to hack, just re-trim the curved sections to match the flat profile of the LCD. With the control panel, I'd never recommend patching/filling, so just grab some MDF and knock one up in the layout you really want.