Atari Cabaret Wood Grain Vinyl

[zoggynog]

I've been researching the wood grain vinyl on my Missile Command mini and have come to the following conclusions:

1. A distinct pattern/color of wood grain vinyl is used on (most?) Atari cabarets. Missile Command and Asteroids have the exact same print for sure, and I'm fairly certain Centipede uses the same vinyl, just more of the print. This is in regards to US cabs only...I know Irish cabs use different (more generic and uniform) vinyl.

2. Nothing currently sold matches this stuff.

3. Lots of people care about Atari cabarets...and restoring them.

So, I want to get a count of people who would buy a set of repro wood grain vinyl. I'm not saying I have any ability to do the work, but perhaps if there is enough of us, someone who can...might notice.

Thoughts?

 

[TheSilby]

I myself could use some of this. I currently have a Dig Dug cabaret that is immaculate. I bought it from a former Atari employee and he stated it came out of the engineering lab. In the sale, I also picked up a wiring harness, control panel, coin door, trackball, and power supply for a Centipede cabaret. Since they aren't that easy to find around here, I decided to make a new cab from scratch. I looked high and low for something that matches and couldn't find anything either. I haven't gotten very far in the construction process, but I could definitely use enough vinyl to do this one cab.

 

[zoggynog]

When I was trying to research this I stumbled upon a cool little repair blog where "[email protected]" was working on a MC and an Asteroids cabaret. The first picture shows the sides of both...see how similar the pattern is.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kinetic-arts/jamma/asteroids/asteroidsrepair.htm

For a better look at the side, here's a link with some pics of Pookdolie's MC cabaret.

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=136478&page=7

 

[TVsFrank]

How close does the stuff from arcadeshop come to matching it? When i found their King's Walnut Woodgrain, i had just assumed it was a match. I cant get to my centipede right now to compare the two. If that stuff doesnt work, i would be up for tyring to find a supplier.

 

[shirkle]

When I was trying to research this I stumbled upon a cool little repair blog where "[email protected]" was working on a MC and an Asteroids cabaret. The first picture shows the sides of both...see how similar the pattern is.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kinetic-arts/jamma/asteroids/asteroidsrepair.htm

That first picture is literally the same cabinet. He converted it to the Asteroids.

Regardless, I'd love to find this wood grain too because I have a centipede with some dings in it.

 

[joeycuda]

Can anyone say how different the Arcadeshop vinyl is from what was on a Missile Command cabaret? I was just about to order enough for my project, so I guess I'll hold off and see what info this thread generates. Thanks..

 

[zoggynog]

That first picture is literally the same cabinet. He converted it to the Asteroids.

Whoops. You sir are correct. However, I can vouch that my cabinet has a very similar pattern of woodgrain.

Can anyone say how different the Arcadeshop vinyl is from what was on a Missile Command cabaret? I was just about to order enough for my project, so I guess I'll hold off and see what info this thread generates. Thanks..

I'd be curious to see a real comparison.

Do any of the fine folks at Arcadeshop post here? I know they were excellent to work with when I wanted a sample to compare to my Dragon's Lair vinyl (it was dead on btw). I'm sure I could ask them for a sample and compare to my cab.

The only issue being, there are several different shades in the real stuff (almost like virtual planks of wood). So without a large piece, it would be hard to tell how close it is.

 

[zoggynog]

I heard back from Arcadeshop a little while ago, they have discontinued carrying any wood grain vinyl (source no longer sells it to them).

Thought I would at least let you all know.

 

[Alpha-tron]

Thanks. Maybe I just have to do the stain and vanish on the next cab I build maybe scan a side and have a printer print up a sheet might work.

 

[Scott C]

I have an Atari cabaret that needs new vinyl, so I am in if someone can source the correct, or very close, stuff.

Scott C.

 

[Scott C]

Bump. Any updates?

Scott C.

 

[DarkKniyt]

This is being picked up by us.
I have a sample of a Centipede Cabaret "wood grain" side coming shortly.
We will be scanning them and color-matching.
I'm aware that there are numerous wood-grain styles for different cabs, so we will be working on what we get from people as far as samples.
We are just kicking this off so we don't even have a list of the cabs that are needed, dimensions, want-list, etc..

Any information that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.
If you have specific game(s) wood-grain art that you would like to see become available, post it for us.

I will start a "Want-List" / "Working-On" list.

Thanks - John

 

[zoggynog]

Very Cool.

I traded my mini to Jawhn for a Pac-Man Cocktail project...so I'm out of the running...for now.

However, if you are going down this road, I'll be making it a point to pick up another mini in the future.

 

[Scott C]

This is being picked up by us.
I have a sample of a Centipede Cabaret "wood grain" side coming shortly.
We will be scanning them and color-matching.
I'm aware that there are numerous wood-grain styles for different cabs, so we will be working on what we get from people as far as samples.
We are just kicking this off so we don't even have a list of the cabs that are needed, dimensions, want-list, etc..

Any information that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.
If you have specific game(s) wood-grain art that you would like to see become available, post it for us.

I will start a "Want-List" / "Working-On" list.

Thanks - John

If you need someone to do some direct comparisons with numerous cabarets and minis, feel free to send me some swathes. I have quite a few.

Scott C.

 

[toro1966]

This is being picked up by us.
I have a sample of a Centipede Cabaret "wood grain" side coming shortly.
We will be scanning them and color-matching.
I'm aware that there are numerous wood-grain styles for different cabs, so we will be working on what we get from people as far as samples.
We are just kicking this off so we don't even have a list of the cabs that are needed, dimensions, want-list, etc..

Any information that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.
If you have specific game(s) wood-grain art that you would like to see become available, post it for us.

I will start a "Want-List" / "Working-On" list.

Thanks - John

Frogger, Pac Cabaret, Phoenix

 

[prOk]

Be careful where this goes guys. The results of a scan and print of woodgrain are going to look hokey at best. Test yourself, go scan a piece of woodgrain shelf paper and print it out the best you can and see what it looks like. Nothing will be comparable to the original stuff when printed out like that. The woodgrain texture in the vinyl won't be there, it will be laminated so the surface sheen won't be there, it won't be sharp like the original.. you'd be better off using the peel and stick shelf liner from parts express in terms of quality compared to the original. I only bring this up because a number of posts in this thread are being critical of the presidential walnut people have used in the past that actually is basically the same material with the right sheen, the woodgrain texture and the right type of print quality although the wood pattern isn't quite the same. If the presidential stuff doesn't pass muster, how on earth can a scan and print come close?

 

[joeycuda]

I don't want to thread crap, but the perfect laminate is already available, but not heat applied to particle board like the original. Formica and Wilsonart make a massive variety of vertical grade laminate in woodgrains. It just requires contact cement, a router, and a flush trim bit. Once properly applied, it looks way more accurate than peel and stick.

 

[DarkKniyt]

joey - Do you know of a supplier(s) for this?
And, anyone have a comparison list (what product for what game?)

 

[joeycuda]

joey - Do you know of a supplier(s) for this?
And, anyone have a comparison list (what product for what game?)

Honestly, it's a pain in the ass to buy. It's not impossible, but you either have to find a cabinet/supply place locally and order it or find a reseller on Ebay, like this guy:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/savinmoneytwo/m.html

It's not cheap either. Because of that, I will say that a peel and stick version would work for a lot of folks. Also, not everyone has a router, flush trim bit, and ability to not peel the finger flesh off of the bone in doing it. For those of us who dabble in woodworking, it's not a big deal. I just want to point out that there IS a solution, but it may not be accessible to everyone and that technically neither an adhesive backed vinyl or laminate is exactly as the original. The particle board sheet goods were cut to pieces at the factory with the vinyl/laminate already applied to them. I suspect the reason that pretty much all Atari cabinets are 23.75" from inside/side to side is that the sheet goods were 4' wide, and that made the cut list economical. You have to take into account the kerf of the blade and the sometimes rough edges.

 

[toro1966]

How do you account for the extra width of the laminate with the t-molding? The laminate will stick out on either side of the t-molding. Also , how do you do the front piece? Can't laminate and route that can you? Definitely interested in the laminate option, but I see some difficulties with the above issues. Otherwise, I agree, looks far more professional than vinyl and pretty easy to apply.