Buy or Borrow Cloak & Dagger Defender Conversion Control Panel for Reproduction

not a C&D historian... are the only known conversions the Defender cab and the original was similar to Crystal Castles or was there another (Stargate?) common conversion? This thread is only Defender cab control panel, correct? Was the Stargate a wood panel or converted to metal the same way Defender was?
 
not a C&D historian... are the only known conversions the Defender cab and the original was similar to Crystal Castles or was there another (Stargate?) common conversion? This thread is only Defender cab control panel, correct? Was the Stargate a wood panel or converted to metal the same way Defender was?

I can't speak to all of this, but my understanding is that there were two conversion kits, the one for Defender and the one for Stargate/Robotron/Joust.This Old Game sells the Stargate conversion CPO, but I can't speak to what the conversion kit's CP was made of. You are correct -- this thread is just for the Defender conversion. I will say that I *love* the look of the dedicated C&D and if I ever run across a cheap Crystal Castles cab in rough shape, I would jump at the chance to do that version of C&D!!
 
This Old Game sells the CPO for Defender, not Stargate. Stargate has a longer wrap-around at the bottom with additional art. Defender is more 16 x 9 shaped.
 
Update

Just wanted to post some progress here :D

I received CP from andrewb last week. Got repro CPO from CarrieZ last Tuesday also to use as reference.

Took a bunch of measurements and have the models about ready to start programming, then start making a couple prototypes. A few teaser screen grabs for reference:

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Close up of assembly parts:

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I decided to go with pressed in studs for the assembly, hopefully everyone will like this better as well. No spot welds or carriage bolts as a result, it will look much cleaner and the CPOs always seem to get messed up from the bolts that hold the joysticks in place.

Any feedback appreciated, I just want to make some nice stuff...and hoping to get prototypes done soon. I'll post here first, then start an official 'put me on the list' thread ;)

Woot!

-GackAttack
 

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awesome work!! I'm not exactly sure what you mean by pressed in, will the top still be smooth, no dimples... and the bottom will be as pictured in rendering? as long as it's not like a tapper cp, where the top is pushed in and the joystick base can get pressed up tight underneath, love the idea of studs and a 'clean' cpo

any guesses at a price range per? I'll be on the list for quantity of two once you start it

again, great work and thanks for doing it!!
 
Awesome progress. I think that the press in studs are definitely the way to go. What do you think of having all the bolts changed to press in studs? It looks as though the cp latch bolts are larger in diameter, maybe that might be an issue? I have pretty much no experience with any of this, just wondering. Nice job
 
Thanks!

To answer your questions -

Studs:

I also want to be sure that they don't have large dimples or ridges that will be visible after CPO is installed. My coworker said that in the past with more cosmetic areas like this, they press in to be flush (or even just a hair above surface) - then sand smooth/flush to surface, then looks really clean after powder coat. I will post pictures of the prototypes when ready.

The studs for mounting joysticks are for use with 10-32 hardware, which match other control panels from what I have experienced in the past. The other latches/brackets I currently have designed with 8-32 size hardware, and in will have serrated flange nuts to hold in place. I believe the profile is low enough for latch/mounting clearance, and will test fit to confirm once proto(s) are done.

Pricing -

I won't officially know cost until after I get quotes back, but I won't sell them for more than $80 plus shipping. Shipping will probably be around $20ish, but I'll need to confirm that after I get total weight and boxes. I may try and reach out to TOG and see if can offer combo w/CPO for people that may be interested in that (not sure yet). I will most likely be building somewhere around 20-30pcs depending on interest, and will need to build at least 20 to get decent pricing also. These will be powder coated as well. I see other powder coated repro CPs selling here for around $60-$100 each plus shipping, I want to be in the lower half of that range for these panels.


-GackAttack
 
Prototypes!

A few more sneak peek shots :D

I've got a few tweaks to do for the production models, but overall they are pretty close. I used electro-galvanized steel which resists rust. Production will be powder coated, but this should help add another layer against rust.

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The studs are really flush to surface. sanded a little bit as test. With fingernail, you can feel a tiny ridge around hardware, but I doubt would be noticeable after powder and installing CPO:

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The hardware that holds the brackets on underneath will be shorter for production. There was a small window to get these made today, so I jumped on it. That was the only length I could get today:

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I'll be test fitting this soon to a Defender cab, and starting up an official interest thread with pricing once I get my final numbers.

Have a good weekend all!

-GackAttack
 

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