The Great SF II CE CPO Unveiling

nerdygrrl

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As I have mentioned a gazillion times or so, I bought a nice Koam Big Blue from a local OP. Unfortunately it had been converted to a Tekken 3 and upon the first glimpse I knew it was my job, no, it was my duty to restore it to its former Street Fighting glory. The taint of Tekken would no longer brand this exceptional beast. When I get done with it, this machine can once again hold its head high with pride knowing it houses one of the greatest fighting games of all time. It would no longer be forced to wear the sideart of shame.

I can't tell you how many restoration threads I've read where someone starting removing black spray paint only to find a Red Baron prototype hidden underneath several layers of Krylon's finest or the countless tales of a collector a Neo Geo CPO only to discover a near mint Robotron CP instead.

As I set forth this Turkey Day, I had but one goal and few expectations. I would remove the hideous Barbed wire CPO from by beloved machine and maybe, just maybe if I was lucky, I would have a decent enough surface to install a repro SF II CE CPO.

Do not get me wrong, I have nothing against barbed wire tattoos, I just feel they are better left on Pamela Anderson than on an arcade machine, especially my arcade machine.

So, there I was, T Day 2011, quietly removing sticks and buttons from my CP. Trying not to wake anyone in the house. I got it stripped in no time, removed the plexi overlay on the overlay and set forth on my mission to de barb.

I gently started to pull up the right hand corner of the overlay and what's that peeking up from underneath? Why it was some sort of black and gray marble/granite pattern. Could it be? Could this CP still have the original overlay underneath the Tekken filth?

My mind starts racing "OMG, I just save like $20! What will I do with my new found wealth? A new pair of Louis Vuitton pumps? A trip to Europe? The Start Wars chair?!" I dance with absolute joy, praising the arcade gods for this most wondrous gift.

"oh wait, is that pink in the pattern? Is that god damn pink?!" My dreams of new shoes, Europe and a chair with the phone were all dashed as I peeled away more of the Tekken. Alas, it was not the original SF II CE CPO. It was a pink granite laminate used for counter tops.

My mood quickly changes, I start cursing the arcade gods, I vow revenge on an OP who would not only convert this machine to a Tekken 3, but would also use pink granite laminate on his SF II CP's

The End


Sideart of Shame


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CP with ze Barbs

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Wait, Could it Be?

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Curses!

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Dang that's too bad the original CPO wasn't underneath. :( I got lucky enough to find a SF2CE big blue in original condition other than being upgraded to Hyper Fighting. I was also looking for any that had been converted as I'm sure a lot of them were. Good luck with the restore!
 
Not an appetizing prospect either way, but you think maybe they put the laminate on there just to get a smooth surface for application of the tekken CPO?

Kinda smart, in a way..I guess....if not the most aesthetically pleasing or technically correct. :|
 
I chipped the hell out of the plywood removing the bondo plugs. It looks like I may have to cut another CP. Bah!

It looks like they did the same thing for the bezel...pink granite counter top laminate. Yay! I am heading back there tomorrow to dig through their pile of art. Maybe I can find something useable.
 
So are you keeping the laminate on there? It's looks like a nice smooth surface to apply a CPO to. ;)

I am probably going to have to recut the CP, but will leave the shiny, sleek granite for my bezel application :)

You'll see pink granite cabinet art is going to be all the rage
 
whoever drilled that Capcom 6 layout must have sized it for a 7 footer!
 
What is under the laminate?

Also do you have a capcom drill template?

Edit:
Is that the original cp hacked up or something the op made?
 
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What is under the laminate?

Also do you have a capcom drill template?

Edit:
Is that the original cp hacked up or something the op made?

It appears it's just plywood. I am heading to the OP's today and hoping they have something from left the original cab.

I don't have a template, but I am sure I can find one online. I am definitely going to need to have another CP cut.

I may just take a break from this headache and work on the Paperboy for a bit or the Naomi cab.
 
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Router and a flush trim bit and you can cut an exact replica in no time ;-). The cp probably isn't the original.
 
It appears it's just plywood. I am heading to the OP's today and hoping they have something from left the original cab.

I don't have a template, but I am sure I can find one online. I am definitely going to need to have another CP cut.

I may just take a break from this headache and work on the Paperboy for a bit or the Naomi cab.

Router and a flush trim bit and you can cut an exact replica in no time ;-). The cp probably isn't the original.

Yes, replacing that should be really easy. You don't even need the router for that one, it is all straight sides. All you need is a saw jig saw or even a hand saw, and a hole saw for the button and joystick holes. BTW the Capcom drill template suggests a larger hole for the joystick, but the same size hole as a happ/il button works fine too.

Here is a template, just make sure you print it to the right size.

http://www.joystickvault.com/showphoto.php?photo=19

I found that it did print quite right for me, and I just photocopied the one out of a X-men vs Streetfighter manual. I have extras, I can pop one in the mail to you.
 
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