Lunar Lander Control Panel Restoration Advice

[64B1T]

So I've got this lunar lander panel which was recovered from a junkyard.

I'm starting to try to clean it up with the intent on using it in my second asteroids (if I ever get that working) as a quasi-dedicated lunar lander.

It did have a thruster, which has cleaned up very nicely and the mission plexi, which cleaned up decently but no light pcb unfortunately.

In any case, my issue is the rust. After spending so many years out in the elements, the paint is very rough. I tried a quick clean with windex, and it took off more paint, so I put a stop to that. The front of the panel is really bad, though the top only seems mildly scratched up.

What's the best path forward for restoring this thing?

1. Mask off the artwork (and hope it doesn't peel it off with the tape) and rust-oleum coat that sucker?
2. rust-oleum coat the entire thing and then get a new cpo from TOG whenever those ever go back in stock?
3. Ignore it?
4. Some other magic method of cleaning?

Thanks!

 

[andrewb]

Clean with a magic eraser and spray cleaner. If it takes off more black paint, so what. It'll still look better.

You could then just mask off the front (and maybe sides and top) and paint just that black.

But this is a 'the more you do to it the closer you're going to get to just completely stripping it and getting a repro CPO' situation.

I'd try to do as little as possible to it. The main graphics aren't that bad. And it'll look a lot better once it's populated.

 

[64B1T]

Clean with a magic eraser and spray cleaner. If it takes off more black paint, so what. It'll still look better.

You could then just mask off the front (and maybe sides and top) and paint just that black.

But this is a 'the more you do to it the closer you're going to get to just completely stripping it and getting a repro CPO' situation.

I'd try to do as little as possible to it. The main graphics aren't that bad. And it'll look a lot better once it's populat

The main graphics were also coming off when I attempted spray cleaner. That's why I stopped.

I guess I was concerned that if I masked it off and painted the rest, the shades of black would not be exact and would be... irksome to say the least.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

The mission Plexi and light panel were available on eBay, depending on how deep your interest and pockets are.

Otherwise, source a @Takeman repro.

You can clean that one up. I agree with masking stuff off, but be aware with that much weathering, you may lose paint when you lift the tape.

I'd try it first (mask, let sit for 8 hours, lift the mask) and see what you get.

Please post before and after pictures.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

For the paint, bring the control panel to a paint store and match the black.

 

[andrewb]

I guess I was concerned that if I masked it off and painted the rest, the shades of black would not be exact and would be... irksome to say the least.

It's going to be irksome no matter what you do, if something being worn is irksome to you.

I'd say learn to accept it as it is. Google the term 'wabi sabi'. Just leave it, you'll appreciate its beauty after a while. Or if you want a perfect panel, try to find one of Takeman's repros.

If you do want to put a new CPO over it, get it sandblasted down to bare metal then paint it (black or white, there are threads about this), as you don't want to put a new CPO over any rust.

 

[daniel64485]

You could spay it with a few coats of clear and wet sand it smooth. It might take more than a few coats.

 

[64B1T]

I ended up masking it and repainting it. It comes off as a little shiny in direct light, but on the whole, it's looking much better. I was able to get the rust off of the thruster, so now I just need to make a trip to lowes to get black carriage bolts so I can mount it back to the panel.

 

[64B1T]

Does anyone repro the wooden backing for this that separates the light PCB from the mission plexi?

I know the light PCB is available (if you've got coin...) And I do need one, but I'm not sure where to get the wooden spacing piece.

 

[andrewb]

Does anyone repro the wooden backing for this that separates the light PCB from the mission plexi?

I know the light PCB is available (if you've got coin...) And I do need one, but I'm not sure where to get the wooden spacing piece.

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[64B1T]

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No longer available

 

[andrewb]

There was one when I posted it. Someone beat you to it.

Message him.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

There was one when I posted it. Someone beat you to it.

Message him.

Yep. These come up regularly.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

I ended up masking it and repainting it. It comes off as a little shiny in direct light, but on the whole, it's looking much better. I was able to get the rust off of the thruster, so now I just need to make a trip to lowes to get black carriage bolts so I can mount it back to the panel.

You can get the black carriage bolts from Ace Hardware too. What size do you need? I bought 4 one size too large for Tail Gunner 2 - they are yours for $1 plus shipping. With nuts!

 

[andrewb]

No longer available

There are threads here about that guy. He's either making them, or has a lot of them. They just aren't always posted, but he's been selling them for a while.

It's worth messaging him and asking, as I think he likely will still be able to get you one.

 

[64B1T]

Definitely not perfect, but much better than it was, and more importantly, completed.

I'll be using an Arduino Nano to control the mission plexi while running on an Asteroids PCB.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Definitely not perfect, but much better than it was, and more importantly, completed.

I'll be using an Arduino Nano to control the mission plexi while running on an Asteroids PCB.

It's sad to think you found it in a junkyard. Thanks for rescuing it and bringing it back.

You may want to paint the thruster bezel with black paint - that one is pretty faded to gray.

 

[64B1T]

Here's how the Arduino nano is hooked in. I'm using it to control the mission plexi lights and the button lights that aren't on the asteroids pin out. Think maybe I can make it display some cool attract mode light pattern. That would be fun.