In restoration, at what point do you upgrade materials?

[joeycuda]

In restoration, at what point do you upgrade materials?

Let's open this for discussion-

Let's say you're restoring a classic. Your goal is to restore it in the purest sense, as in only the best repro artwork will do, you want it to look original as if new, and in making new parts you want original type materials.

I'm going to be restoring a SW cockpit that has some rough and/or cracked front and rear panels. No doubt about it, I'll be re-cutting these panels, and while it won't affect artwork, it will clean up the state of the cabinet.

Having some parts powdercoated that were originally painted strays from the original manufacturing method, yet it's not that visibly different. It's possibly an upgrade in terms of durability and a step above the original finish.

What about vinyl vs laminate? In making reproduction doors and the black panel under the backglass, original would be - 3/4" particle board, covered in vinyl.

What if instead I used 3/4" particle board and matte black formica? The look wouldn't really change, but it's now an upgrade in a sense. More durable, etc..

Any drawbacks to this?

 

[famicom]

This is only really a negative for those with OCD. If you are making it for your permanent collection, then I say it makes sense to do it this way.

If you are making it to flip or sell, then I would just go with the original way.

Unless something is super duper rare, I am all for making tasteful improvements. Let's be honest, not everything was originally designed in the best possible way. Some problems don't show up till 10-20 years down the road. Also, keeping the cost could have been the determining factor in the original design or construction.

Again, it comes down to how OCD you are about it being factory original, but you can certainly improve on a design, imo.

 

[RetroHacker]

Upgrade materials wherever it makes sense. These games were made with whatever was cheapest. You're already replacing a component, then it's not "original" anyway. Use whatever is sturdier, and will last longer.

How anal do you want to get, and does any of it matter? As long as the game looks right, that's all that anyone cares about.

-Ian