Control Panel continued :

During Restoration :

Replacing the control panel overlay is pretty simple after all of the difficult work of stripping the old one off (and the old adhesive). Just make sure that you have replaced all of the hardware in the wooden panel before you apply the new overlay. That means that you've installed all of the T-nuts, the joystick guard disks, and the metal guide plates. Do NOT forget anything because once that new overlay sticks, you are committed ! Also, install the new plastic top edge molding after the new overlay, not before. When you apply your new CPO, start along the top edge of the panel and work toward the bottom. This will ensure proper alignment of the stick and button holes. If there's any extra material along the bottom edge of the wooden panel, you can trim it off with an x-acto knife.

You can purchase a new CPO from Arcade Shop (here) for $40 USD. Fortunately for me, I got one of these new & unused on eBay for half the normal price and I got a used but nice marquee from the same seller, also for less than half the price of new. Speaking of the marquee, Arcade Shop sells that too, also for $40 USD. Their link for it is right under the CPO link.

 

New upper molding:

Click the picture below and scroll way way down and you'll find this nifty piece of plastic for just $4 USD:

Help with the Controls:

A serious problem that develops with the Wico joysticks used in Robotron (and lots of other games) is that the insert-molded rubber centering grommets deteriorate and must be replaced. I needed some new ones for Robotron and also for my Black Widow game. I searched on eBay and found some but they looked old and questionable and the prices were way too high. I eventually located a source of brand new parts for a very reasonable price and you can order them online here:

My primary source: http://www.arcadeshop.de/Control-Parts-Wico-Grommet_546.html

Or this alternate source: http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=GROMMETKITW

While I was ordering the grommets, I also decided to order two new transparent-blue player-start buttons. Note that these are the shorter version of this style of leaf-switch button. They come with a nut but not with a leaf-switch.

http://www.arcadeshop.de/Leaf-Switches-Leaf-Switch-Button-41mm-clear-blue_507.html

 

If you need other parts, Mike's Arcade sells a few other bits as well...

The spring http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=JOYSPRINGW

The guard disk http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=JOYGUARDW

The 8-way actuator http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=JOY8WACTW

Also, be aware that the reproduction Wico joystick sold at Mike's Arcade has "short sticks". Games such as Robotron and Black Widow used the long stick version !

 

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