Question: Orig Double Dragon Buttons and Control Panel

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Question: Orig Double Dragon Buttons and Control Panel

Currently restoring a Double Dragon.

1) Based on research, I believe this game originally came with leaf buttons, but were a type of unique design. Is that correct?

Anyone have a photo of the back of an original dedicated Double Dragon control panel?

I am thinking of using these leaf buttons perhaps as they fit in the wood control panel: http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/...ducts_id=359:383386256c644166c96c8b6dc0dd21f1

2) Regarding control panel, I realize the original control panel is a piece of wood with the art silk screened directly on it. The one I have is a bit cut up so I am thinking of placing a new CPO on top if I can't find another. What replacement CPO would you recommend?

Looking for opinions/thoughts.

Thanks
 
I have a DD cab that I turned into a multicade (dont worry, I saved all the original wiring and cp). I'll take a pic of it for you when I get home after work today.
 
Thanks for those pictures, that's great and I appreciate you taking the time to do that.

Based on what I read elsewhere, it looks like your 1P and 2P start buttons are perhaps original style mechanisms, which are leaf, correct?

These were often perhaps replaced or reissued in another revision of the game with microswitch buttons due to reliability issues (the red and blue buttons in the photo look to have microswitches).

The buttons on my Star Trek control panel look quite a bit like your 1P and 2P buttons.

I'm thinking of getting some of these leaf buttons at the link below which look to be a good fit to match or are somewhere in between the two styles on your control panel:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=398

I also see a few Double Dragon control panels with the "Superman-style" red and blue shafted joysticks. I really like the blue/red 8 way Wicos you have though so I will probably go for those although I've got access to the former style as well.
 
Yes the 1/2P buttons look like maybe mini-leaf to me? The are definitely different from the kick/jump/punch buttons. I'm not an expert at this stuff, still learning so I could be wrong about the mini-leaf thing.

Happy to take more pics if you need anything, let me know.
 
DD used Wico brand leafswitch joysticks and standard leaf buttons. Any available brand should work, they were not anything special. Since the panel is wood it should only need a nut, no spacers. If you can find a decent CPO replacement, get it. I don't think there is a decent silk screen anywhere, just the inkjet junk.
 
I've not been able to physically fit standard NOS long leaf buttons (the kind that have the clip) into the control panel as it seems the buttons holes are not large enough. Standard microswitch buttons do fit though.
 
Also

1) Is the original bezel made of glass or plexi? I need to get one made. I believe them to be 23" by 24.75". I think I may just go with glass regardless. Interesting how it appears that the cardboard bezel insert sits back a bit and angled from how the glass/plexi bezi sits in final position.

2) Fortunately I do have an original cardboard bezel insert that has the round middle. Mine is a bit faded and was considering recoloring it with markers if the colors in this image are close to original:

1124120510.jpg
 
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Mine is glass not plexi. I can try and take another pic of the bezel so you can compare colors if you'd like as well.
 
Go with tempered glass. You should be able to find a local place that have it made to size. Plexi just looks terrible, and it loses sheen quickly.
 
Yeah, I'll go with tempered glass, 1/8 of an inch I assume. I need to get one made for an HS-1 Dynamo as well.

I was reading that the white rail/insert supports shown in the photo link above were included in the later run Double Dragon cabs.
 
The bezel is glass for sure.

As far as I can remember, the buttons were just normal leaf switch type with wico sticks.

The cardboard bezel, if original, will have a space theme on the other side, for when you change games to vert. These cabs were made to be converted, the monitor easily rotates from horz to vert. The control panel wiring is extra long so you can set it aside while rotating the monitor. I always just left the bolts without the nuts on them so rotating the monitor was quick and easy. The wood around the monitor should have holes for your hands for easy rotation.

And of course the bottom drawer pulls out for swapping the pcb.

I remember that my control panel was really nasty with cig burns and coke spilled on it. Then I removed the plexi that was covering it, and it was it great shape! The artwork was almost perfect. It was just the plexi that was nasty. So I replaced that and it looked great.

These cabs were made from cut up parts of other games, remove you bottom drawer and look inside, I bet you will see sideart from other games that they cut up. Video and pinball games were used.

I really love the DD dedicated cabs.

Good luck with the restore.

Brent
 
Just to clarify - the artwork bezel is cardboard but there is a piece of glass protecting the monitor... or is my dedicated cab different? I don't have any glass with artwork on mine...
 
1) Is the glass actually 1/8" thick? Or is it a thicker 3/16" thick? I tried taking a glass sample but still wasn't sure as I didn't have a full 23"x24.75" sheet and so wasn't sure what thickness is necessary when angled in to secure with the control panel.

If anyone can check that would be great.

2) To answser the post just above, yes, there is a cardboard bezel that has the artwork and then the square glass that goes in front (no artwork is on the glass).
 
I was told 1/8 at one point, but that doesn't seem very commercial grade to me.. I was also told there is a metal retainer that holds the glass in, at the top. Anybody have that?
 
My glass was 1/8" and not tempered, though it did have finished/ rounded edges and looked legit. I was shocked that it was so thin and so breakable, but apparently, that's the way the originals were.
 
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