Museum of the Game® & International Arcade Museum® Forums

Hey guys, this is my first ever arcade cabinet purchase and restore attempt. I picked up an Alien Vs. Predator Big Blue cabinet for a decent price and I'm on my way to convert it to a Super Street Fighter II Turbo cabinet. The cabinet is in great shape so I am conflicted on whether to to a full restore or keep it somewhat original and deal with it's "character". I really want something that looks brand new so I am replacing whatever I can to make the cabinet look that way. Hopefully with high quality reproduction parts. I just need a little help with suppliers for some of the resto parts. I also need some help tracking down a new Control panel bottom or modifying this longer 3 player unit.

Here is what I have done so far: 1) Fixed bulging cap on WG 7400 chassis to fix vertical alignment issue, 2) Ordered new Control panel top with plexi cover from Haruman's Customs for SF layout, 3)Ordered all new parts for the controls (jamma+ harness, buttons, joysticks), 4) Ordered new Marquee from Szabo's Arcades.

I still need help with:
1) Deciding whether to to clean or replace the superficial laminate and finding the correct supplier to find a correct color match.
2)Find the best quality CPO and side art. (GOG and escapepodonline seem to be the only suppliers, who is better?)
3) Find a replacement control panel bottom or trade for a smaller version, or modify the one I have. If I modify the one I have, I'll need correct dimensions of the smaller one. Also, the laminate will probably get destroyed during the process.
4) Find correct USA SSF2T CPS2 B board. I have a USA "The New Challengers" board but want the correct USA SSF2T board. They seem very few and far between.

I'll be uploading a few pics to see what you guys think of my first step into the arcade hobby.