Museum of the Game® & International Arcade Museum® Forums
Lighted Speaker Panel Mod for Creature from the Black Lagoon (CFTBL)
So I waited about 14 months for this mod, from time of inquiry to time of receiving it, and waited only 3 days after receiving it to install it. WOW. Best mod I have ever installed ever. Basically, it is a new modified wood speaker panel that has been routed for small circuit boards and wiring that run a series of small LEDs to light up various features of the graphic speaker panel plastic. The original plastic is reverse screened on plexi, much like an arcade marquee, but non of it was back-lit. In fact, the entire plastic has a black paper backing stuck to it and then that was stuck to a black board so that no light could get thru anywhere if it wanted to. The new wood panel has the LEDs positioned in such a way that the moon, UFO, Starlight sign and car taillights all light up, which adds a new dimension to the back box/ translight area. The panel itself has a piggy-back style power plug that plugs into J116, J117, or J118 on the power driver board, and the original plug piggy backs onto this plug. The cost of this mod is $170 shipped for just the panel, or $180 shipped if you purchase the optional vinyl mask that sticks to the back of your original plastic to make sure the light only comes thru where it is supposed to. If you decide to opt out of the vinyl mask, you'd have to find and purchase and 'enhanced' or 'deluxe' plastic that already has this step done for you. I opted for the original as it saved me between $80-$100, and also these deluxe/ enhanced panels are all sold out everywhere. Anyway, cleaning the old black material and adhesive off the original plastic is the tough part, but if you've ever cleaned a CPO off a control panel you kinda know what you're in for. Installing the vinyl mask is just like installing side art or a reverse print marquee. Here is a pic of the vinyl mask installed:
Once I had the 2 tough steps out of the way, it was time to reassemble everything and reinstall it. Other than having to mod one of my speaker mounts to allow clearance for the power cords:
everything seemed to fit back together nicely. Here is a before shot of the panel as it comes from the factory, no lights:
And the lighted panel installed:
Entire machine:
So I waited about 14 months for this mod, from time of inquiry to time of receiving it, and waited only 3 days after receiving it to install it. WOW. Best mod I have ever installed ever. Basically, it is a new modified wood speaker panel that has been routed for small circuit boards and wiring that run a series of small LEDs to light up various features of the graphic speaker panel plastic. The original plastic is reverse screened on plexi, much like an arcade marquee, but non of it was back-lit. In fact, the entire plastic has a black paper backing stuck to it and then that was stuck to a black board so that no light could get thru anywhere if it wanted to. The new wood panel has the LEDs positioned in such a way that the moon, UFO, Starlight sign and car taillights all light up, which adds a new dimension to the back box/ translight area. The panel itself has a piggy-back style power plug that plugs into J116, J117, or J118 on the power driver board, and the original plug piggy backs onto this plug. The cost of this mod is $170 shipped for just the panel, or $180 shipped if you purchase the optional vinyl mask that sticks to the back of your original plastic to make sure the light only comes thru where it is supposed to. If you decide to opt out of the vinyl mask, you'd have to find and purchase and 'enhanced' or 'deluxe' plastic that already has this step done for you. I opted for the original as it saved me between $80-$100, and also these deluxe/ enhanced panels are all sold out everywhere. Anyway, cleaning the old black material and adhesive off the original plastic is the tough part, but if you've ever cleaned a CPO off a control panel you kinda know what you're in for. Installing the vinyl mask is just like installing side art or a reverse print marquee. Here is a pic of the vinyl mask installed:
Once I had the 2 tough steps out of the way, it was time to reassemble everything and reinstall it. Other than having to mod one of my speaker mounts to allow clearance for the power cords:
everything seemed to fit back together nicely. Here is a before shot of the panel as it comes from the factory, no lights:
And the lighted panel installed:
Entire machine: