Re: Battlezone CPOs

What happens if you just cover either one with some of that
self-sticking mylar that's used for pinball playfields?

chumblespuzz wrote:

> Ok. Before I go into this let me say I know that Battlezone control panels
> are painted on.
>
> My Battlezone project is coming along quite nicely, especially because of a
> surpise, recent aquisition of a complete set of NOS joysticks (Thanks
> Mike!) . My control panel sucks. All rusted, paint flaking, but it has no
> dings.
>
> So several weeks ago I scanned in my control panel and have been carefully
> reproducing it. I'm not touching up the scan, I'm completely redrawing the
> whole thing at 600 DPI, and it's coming out really nice.
>
> So I AM going to have one of them produced at a local sign shop. They've got
> some great equipment which I will describe below. I know printing on vinyl
> is not the ultimate medium, but I highly doubt there would be enough of a
> demand to have a decal made or to have it screened onto Lexan. So vinyl will
> have to do.
>
> I have two options to choose from. The first option is ink-jet printed and
> laminated. My local sign-shop has a 600DPI HP printer that can print on
> vinyl. The colors are, of course, dithered but at 600DPI it's not too bad -
> fairly solid when chosen carefully. The blacks are solid and there are no
> visible streak-lines within a color. The problem with this one is the local
> shop may not laminate, and non-laminated it would get destroyed easily. If
> they do laminate, great. If not, I'll find someone else with similar
> equipment who does or I could use the shop that the Appollos use, although
> he only prints at 300DPI.
>
> Another problem with an ink-jet is that it can't print silver. I would have
> to use some shade of gray, instead.
>
> The second option is the local sign has a "Roland" machine. I'm not quite
> sure of the technology behind this machine, but it is a printer, not a
> cutter. This machine is used for printing signs to put on automobiles or
> trucks. The colors are sharp and bright. I'm not sure if the colors are
> dithered, but the demo's look solid and clean, actually a bit glossy. Very
> nice.
>
> This printer can print silver, and it looks great. The cool thing is that it
> can also print chrome.
>
> The output of this machince is very durable, but not great. I couldn't
> scratch it with a key, but it came off easily with 400 grit sand paper. I
> know I probaly won't go down to my gameroom and sand paper the control panel
> very often. My concern is more with long-term scrubbing with scouring pads.
> I don't believe this can be laminated. It's suppose to stand up to car
> washes, but damage to a sign on a car is less critical in appearance than a
> CPO is on a restored game.
>
> The real problem with this machine is that it is expensive. The off-the-cuff
> quote without them seeing finished art was about $75. Ouch. This is compared
> to $35 for ink-jet printed vinyl.
>
> I have seen many Q's about reproducing CPOs and I question how many are
> actually done. Unless someone comes forward with an awsome BZ control panel
> for sale for a reasonable price, I am going to print this.
>
> My question to you is, if I go with the Roland machine, should I stick with
> silver as in the original or should I go with the chrome? I think the chrome
> is really cool looking, but it is making a major deviation from the
> original.
>
> Also, of course, would anybody else be interested in one? If so, which one?
> It doesn't matter if some want one style and some want the other. Once the
> artwork is done it can be sent easily to either machine.
>
> What do you think? Thanks.
> -roy-
Received on Sat May 22 23:04:40 1999