Galaxian control panel

SRS

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OK, here's a newbie question: Are the Galaxian and Galaga control panels the same?

I just picked up a Galaxian to restore and it is going to need a replacement control panel.
I haven't found anyone selling Galaxian control panels - just overlays. The control panels look like they would interchange and I'm fairly sure they would work, but would the joystick and buttons line up with the overlay?
 
There's enough difference that you may have problems.

Here's a pic of the Galaxian cp.

http://www.arcade-museum.com/images/118/118124211017.jpg

And here's one of the Galaga cp.

http://www.arcade-museum.com/images/118/118124210969.jpg

You can see a difference in where the screws that hold things down are in different locations. If the Galaxian cp is pre-punched with holes for these screws then things aren't going to line up.

I know that the Galaxian has a piece of plywood under it and can't remember on the Galaga, but if it doesn't then your clamps for holding the panel down will not line up and it will use different buttons to make up for the difference in thickness with and without the boards.

If no one else knows off the top of their head then I'll pull the ones off of both of my machines and get a couple of pics of them side-by-side. It will probably be the weekend before I can get the time to do it.

-JM
 
gameguy1957, Thanks for the info and I greatly appreciate the offer to take pictures of both.

At first look, I really thought they would interchange, but I think you're right, they are just different enough that it won't quite work - bummer.

It looks like at some point in time my control panel was bent upwards on the left upper corner and someone fixed it by bending it back and hammering it out, so now it's all wavy. I guess I will look for a blank and use my old control panel as a template for the cutouts.
 
You can swap them physically from any of the Pac/Ms.Pac/Galaga/Galaxian style cabs. My Galaxian stuff is currently in a Super Pac cab. It bolted in and everything wired up with minimal effort, but I think I had to move the clamp-down's a little to make up for the difference in the wood piece on the Galaxian.

As far as an exact replacement, you're going to have to find another Galaxian or make yours work.

If your cp looks like it may be too much effort then post something in the wanted section. They made so many of them that there should be plenty of spares. I think I got mine on here or eBay a few years ago for something like $15 + shipping. It was very dirty and missing a button, but it cleaned up well and works great once a new button was installed.

-JM
 
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