Control Panel Overlays Are There Other Solutions

nerdygrrl

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So I am very new to the game, I have been collecting consoles for about twenty years and have just made the plunge to uprights. My world may never be the same.

I have an SI deluxe and a Centipede that are in need of control panel help. The cosmetics are shot, burn marks, wear, etc. I want to stay as original as possible in my 'restoration'. Is it acceptable to use the control panel overlays out there or is that a faux pas? Was this the original process?

I'm sorry about the newbie question.
 
So I am very new to the game, I have been collecting consoles for about twenty years and have just made the plunge to uprights. My world may never be the same.

I have an SI deluxe and a Centipede that are in need of control panel help. The cosmetics are shot, burn marks, wear, etc. I want to stay as original as possible in my 'restoration'. Is it acceptable to use the control panel overlays out there or is that a faux pas? Was this the original process?

I'm sorry about the newbie question.

Most games were shipped originally with overlays, so you can replace them. Some games had the art printed to the metal, but Centipede for example always had an overlay. Go ahead and replace it, just be careful which overlay you buy as the quality from different sellers differs.
 
Definitely buy some new overlays! It's great to keep parts and artwork that are in good condition, but most everyone here would replace control panel overlays, side art, etc, if the originals are in crappy shape.


But if you would like to stay 100% original, try this.

If the cig burns/wear are not too bad, and the current control panel is just really dirty and grimy, go out and buy some Mr. Clean "Magic Erasers". Use them with a little bit of water or Simple Green to scrub down the dirty control panels. Many times, they will come out looking like new. Just be sure to be very careful when doing this to side art. (Or control panels where the art is screened directly onto metal) Ofentimes it will actually scrub the ink away as well.
 
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