New Galaga CP overlay cracking

[BUCKETHEAD]

I restored my Galaga about 3 months ago.

The guy i bought it from, Gave me a new CP sticker with the deal.

Well, now after 3 months it is starting to crack.

Sure, the machine gets alot of play on the weekends.

But is this normal? Or is this just the case of a poor quality overlay?

[RayB]

Yeah, it kind of is normal. I find repros crack really early, and SOME (but not all) new-old-stock overlays can crack just due to having "dried out" and aged, making them more brittle.

If there is a way to keep them "maleable", I don't know what that product would be. (Armor-all? hahahah)

[TheShanMan]

Maybe it's worth contacting Scott at MameMarquees.com and see if he has any tips or advice on preventing cracking. Maybe there is some kind of treatment that can reduce the chances of that happening. Or maybe his vinyl laminate would work well here (as opposed to his polycarbonate). My panel has a bend and I am deciding whether or not I want the overlay to wrap. I don't think the bend is as sharp as your panel, but the vinyl laminate is what he recommended for my panel - he said it "should wrap around the edges nicely".

[BUCKETHEAD]

Thanks guys!

Well, sounds like this is normal.

Normal, but still sucks!   

[fixedpigs]

didn't i read somewhere here about using a hair dryer on it when first applying...?

that is supposed to help the life of the overlay from cracking...

[Mauzy]

That definitely happened to me about a month after applying mine. I had also heard that loosening it up with a hair drier when applying works, so I'd try that.

[arcadefever]

happen to mine too 

[BUCKETHEAD]

Damn!  lol .

[CheffoJeffo]

Make it 3 ... and I did soften mine up during application ...

[RayB]

The other problem I'm finding with repro overlays is the top clear layer can seperate from the underlying art layer (mostly happens if you tighten a bolt too tight and it presses into the overlay). (Not sure how else to describe this).  Never saw this with original overlays. Really makes one wonder how they printed these back in the day, and why today's materials don't hold up.

[patrickl]

Did you guys get a TwoBits repro or did you get it printed somewhere?

I printed mine myself and covered it in laminate. Still holding up fine after 5 years.

I used a roll of book laminating foil. Doesn't look as sexy as the matted finish laminate (lexan?) I've seen on reproduction CPO's, but it's flexible and apparently stays in one piece better in the end. Since it's made to fold around book cover edges (and not break) it's not going to be troubled by a bend as in the Galaga CP front.

[D_Zoot]

didn't i read somewhere here about using a hair dryer on it when first applying...?

that is supposed to help the life of the overlay from cracking...

Yes it does !

During installation,  soften the overlay with a hair dryer at sharp bends and corners.  It will allow the material to bend around the corner easier and conform to the corner better without stressing the material.

Another method is to leave the overlay out in the sun to soften it.

Doesn't assure it won't crack, but it's been my experience it helps.


D