I need some advice for vectorizing side art

[TalkingOctopus]

Now that I have the marquee done, I would like get started on the side art.  However, I am not sure exactly how to go about this.  Here is the side art I am trying to vectorize:



My questions:

1) How exactly was the side art originally applied?  To me, it looks like there are 2 seperate sheets b/c of a seam in the middle.

2) Should I just vectorize the characters or should I do everything?  There are a lot of parts that are detached from the characters like "The Simpsons," Konami, and those wavy lines that make the side art span a huge area.  

3) How practical is vectorizing this?  If I vectorize the entire thing is it feasible to print or would the cost b/c of the large size be overwhelming?  

4) What dimensions do you normally use inside the illustrator file?  For the marquee, I kept the illustrator file at the same dimensions as the actual marquee, but I think that would not work for this large sideart.

Thanks!

[froggerman]

I am no expert but here are my suggestions.

1. The original artwork was applied as 3 separate pieces. I have a TMNT which is almost the same cabinet and that is how its graphic was applied.

2. I would vectorize everything, just make sure that you put the specific components on different layers. That way you have to option of just printing the title and the characters or the entire side.

3. I would like to know what it would cost to print something this large. I know others have printed full side art.

4. I am not sure that it matters what dimensions you use inside the file. Why not use the actual dimensions and just zoom out a bit when creating it.