Took a 4 year break and trying to get back into it. I need to finish this thing

[Excretious]

Hey guys i kinda got sidetracked for 3-4 yrs and am back to get this cab finished.  Two issues im having....


1)CPO artwork problems
2)need help choosing better joysticks.


I could use some help concerning the cpo artwork.  Basically i had this printed back in 2005.  I had nothing but problems with it.  The print was done on glossy photopaper and was not glued down at all.  I sadwiched it in between particleboard and plexi.  Immediatly the print began to "adhere" to the plexiglass in areas all around the cpo.  After a few more weeks the artwork began to wrinkle all over.  It is basically unusable and needs to be reprinted and applied the RIGHT way this time. 

here are some pics........







I since took apart the whole control panel to remove the art and this is what the surface looks like that the print will be laying on.
 




I really liked not having to glue down the artwork but maybe thats where i went wrong
the first time around. 
 
I work in a sheet metal shop and was playing with the idea of laying down aluminum over my cpo to make the entire surface flush (around the joysticks spinner and trackball) and then putting down adhesive backed vinyl from mamemarquees.com directly to the aluminum then covering it all with the plexi. 
 
As you can see i need some direction here and hope you guys can help.



Now for my second question.....  The joysticks were bought from happ or ultimarc a few years ago.  I cant remember what they are but player 1 and 2 have 8 ways that can be twisted to become 4 way joys.  Player 3 & 4 are the exact same sticks but dedicated 8 ways. 

My problem with these are the sticks are stiff and very "clicky". 

I am most comfortable with the joysticks used in games such as Hyper fighting street fighter, Killer Instinct and Ultimate Mortal Kombat III.  Can you guys point me in the right direction as to which joysticks i should try? 
 

Thanks in advance for any help.  BTW its pretty cool coming back here after so long and seeing all the new projects going on.  Most of the same ppl who helped me out when i was getting started are still around helping others.   

[leapinlew]

That particle board is going to be a problem. You'll want to remove much of the roughness. I would recommend some drywall compound or some bondo, lots of sanding, and some primer.

If that doesn't work - consider a redo using MDF or plywood. The redo sounds like a big pain, but you already have the everything cut so there would be no measuring. It would be easy to trace with a router. I'd bet you could have it back up in a few hours.

[EwJ]

Wherever you get the artwork printed, see if they'll laminate it - should take care of the adherence and wrinkle problems.
Those joys look like maybe T-Stik , J-stik, or maybe Mag-Stik from Ultimarc - any of those ring a bell?
For fighters, some say the Happ Competition are good (cheap too), but still have the microswitch click.
To get away from the click, find some old Wico Leaf joys, Happ/Midway 49-Way, or look into the Ultimarc 360.

[Donkey_Kong]

thats cool looking cpo. Too bad it's ruined!

[Excretious]

Yea thinking back i think those are t-sticks.  Scott over at mamemarquees.com suggested i go with polybanner and had this to say.

"The polybanner is printed, allowed to fully dry, then over laminated with a textured vinyl, this will prevent the image from sticking to the plexi and gassing out, which will also keep it from bubbling or crinkling."


That sounds like exactly what i need.


As for the joysticks, the happ competition is probably what im after but i do want player one and two to have the ability to go four way for games like rolling thunder etc............

If i have to sacrifice 8-4 way compatibility to have a more fighting game style stick than i'll do it.  Ive been out of the scene for so long that maybe theres a joystick out there that is exactly what i want.


thanks for the suggestions ........... 

 

[retrometro]

Man, that nice CP and the cab being almost finished is most of the work already?  the rest is downhill!

[XeviouS]

Well until I read your post i had no idea there were joysticks that could swap between 8-way and 4-way at a simple twist! 

So I've just ordered me Mag-stick Plus from Ultimarc (4-way/8-way twistable from the top ). Damn aussie/US exchange rate was a killer though....

So thanks!

[Todd H]

That particle board is going to be a problem. You'll want to remove much of the roughness. I would recommend some drywall compound or some bondo, lots of sanding, and some primer.

If that doesn't work - consider a redo using MDF or plywood. The redo sounds like a big pain, but you already have the everything cut so there would be no measuring. It would be easy to trace with a router. I'd bet you could have it back up in a few hours.

I'd laminate the particle board myself. Some nice, black laminate would do the trick.

[richms]

Well until I read your post i had no idea there were joysticks that could swap between 8-way and 4-way at a simple twist! 

So I've just ordered me Mag-stick Plus from Ultimarc (4-way/8-way twistable from the top ). Damn aussie/US exchange rate was a killer though....

So thanks!

You think you have it bad, the NZD has gone from 80c US when I was ordering heaps of things off eBay to now sitting at 51 - so thats 46 when the credit card procesor takes their 3%.

Totally put a stop on all my geek purchases, and I am directing effort to the house which is probably a good thing.

PC gear here is about to go up massively because all the importers only get hedging for a few months. Sadly my cab is well and truly not going anywhere at the moment.

At least MDF is unaffected since its made locally

[Malenko]

thats cool looking cpo. Too bad it's ruined!

not to sound mean, but that CPO looks like someone threw up chili and clip art.


Whats the theme?

[thatitalian]

Those are def Mag stik plus joys as I used to have them and they are exactly what you described!

Personally, I like the clicky! Makes it more real!

As for your CP art, it does look kinda busy. I can't really tell what is going on.