Tempest Restoration

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Tempest Restoration -
Inspiration or Insanity?

Page 4: Control Panel
February - March, 2004

On to the control panel. This puppy has more extra holes than original holes. Some folks on the rec.games.video.arcade.collecting newsgroup think I would be better off scrapping the panel and buying one without extra holes. After 3 hours in the garage with goof off, a paint scraper, a razor blade and 3/4 roll of paper towels I think they are right.

Whew, that goof off sure has a strong and unpleasant odor! After stripping the glue off the panel I find that it is not quite flat across the top. Whether this is due to people pounding on the game, or the drilling of the extra holes through the top I can't say. Problably a combination of both.

Click on images for bigger pics:

	Here is the control panel with the Aliens art removed.
	This is the control panel after it has been stripped of all glue and overlay. I know it looks scratched up, but the scratches are very light and just go through the paint, not into the metal. I had a tough time removing the glue from the bottom section of the panel because a layer of clear plastic from the vinyl backing stuck on top of the glue. I had to use a razor blade to scrape off the plastic, and then use goof off to remove the glue. I have also taken a Dremel with cut off wheel and ground down the backside of the panel where there was some extra metal burrs from the new holes (yea, I know your not supposed to use a cut off wheel that way). I also used a rubber mallet on the backside of the panel to get the top as close to flat as possible.
	Panel and metal patches. The large one I cut from a damaged panel I purchased on ebay some time ago. I was going to use it in my mame cabinet, but never got around to it. The other pieces are scrap automotive metal I had lying around.
	Patch pieces epoxied in using J-B Kwik Weld. I think the patches will hold up just fine.
	Bondo applied to the top, and then sanded down to a smooth surface, and primer applied.
	The control panel is done! I applied a new overlay, new buttons and new leaf switches.

Tuesday March 2, 2004 - I have finished the control panel rebuild! It looks great - there is no sign that it is a patched up panel unless you open it up and check the inside. The buttons and spinner are just long enough to handle the extra thickness of the patch panel with no problems.

I was lucky enough to get a complete control panel with the large box of parts I bought. I have sold the extra controls to lower the cost of my project, but I will keep the panel as a spare.