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Should I paint the metal case ?

Fredo

Fredo

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Hey

I have bought a working Model 2 stack, but that huge bulky metal case is ugly as shit.

I'm wondering if I could sand it and paint it nice and sexy, but maybe I should reconsider because it might alter some grounding/electro magnetic function of the damn thing.

But I've also seen a lot of people keeping their Model 2 out of the metal box, and it seems to be working fine.

Need your opinion on this frivolous topic.
 
So the metal cage, with lid, is supposed to connect to "shield", not ground. It acts as a faraday cage to protect the model2 from electromagnetic interference, sometimes caused in arcades with older games. I've been told by Ken that the cage should be connected to the metal of the power supply, but then again, that is for an American style PSU.

I started sanding a poor condition cage I got with a Dynamite Deka 2A board and regretted it after learning the function.

If you want it cleaned, see if you can get it somewhere that will give it an acid bath, then give it good electroplating. Of course that is an expensive, overkill option. If you plan on keeping it in a cabinet, or even not that visible while it plays I request personally that you do not paint it as cages are seemingly becoming rarer as most arcade operators seemingly tossed them as being bulky and unnecessary.
 
biggestsonicfan said:
So the metal cage, with lid, is supposed to connect to "shield", not ground. It acts as a faraday cage to protect the model2 from electromagnetic interference, sometimes caused in arcades with older games. I've been told by Ken that the cage should be connected to the metal of the power supply, but then again, that is for an American style PSU.

I started sanding a poor condition cage I got with a Dynamite Deka 2A board and regretted it after learning the function.

If you want it cleaned, see if you can get it somewhere that will give it an acid bath, then give it good electroplating. Of course that is an expensive, overkill option. If you plan on keeping it in a cabinet, or even not that visible while it plays I request personally that you do not paint it as cages are seemingly becoming rarer as most arcade operators seemingly tossed them as being bulky and unnecessary.
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Thanks for the advice 👌

I will be using the Model 2 with my New Net City cabinet. But the cage is too big to fit inside the NNC, and there's barely enough space for the boards to fit.

My plan is to have the cage rest on the back lid, pretty much like with the Sega Lindgerh kit for NNC, but I'd have to make a custom lid, I was thinking of a large wooden plank with a hole in it for the cables. 🤷‍♂️
 
I have had seen Model 2 pcbs cause fairly significant RF interference on projection screens when they are not in their cage or when the lid is off. This has been true for Daytona USA Deluxe cabinets.

However I have also been able to run a VF2 without its cage in a cab with a crt with no interference.

There are many variables but if you get screen interference, then it's likely you'll need to address the lack of shielding through other methods.
 
Painting the cage won't affect it's shielding properties. You can have it grounded too if you mask off the part that goes underneath the filter board.

Electroplating costs 50x more than rattle canning it and serves no added function.

Paint away.

Keep in mind though that if it's something you consider selling on at some point, painting very likely won't add to its value.
 
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nem said:
Keep in mind though that if it's something you consider selling on at some point, painting very likely won't add to its value.
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It's a convert that I will convert again. Not planning on selling it in a near future. Not planning on making extra money on it.

Just want to know if I can make it look nicer.
 
Fredo said:
It's a convert that I will convert again. Not planning on selling it in a near future. Not planning on making extra money on it.

Just want to know if I can make it look nicer.
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The galvanized steel casing used by Sega doesn't do justice to the Model series boards at all. I'm planning to refurbish my entire collection when I have time，repaint them in rainbow colors. It'll require sanding, priming, and painting... a massive amount of work.
 
Yeah so I brought my Sonic the Fighters board at EVO France, and people seemed to love it and have a great time. 🥰

And some people loved seeing the actual game board visible from outside the cab, but that bulky Grey metal box looks kinda bad in the Evo decorum, especially on that wooden board, so I really think I'll have them painted.
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White finish with the SEGA logo on it. Maybe "MODEL2" as addition. I would keep it simple, but that's just me.

Also, if that fan is nasty, maybe a black Noctua fan?
 
GF77 said:
White finish with the SEGA logo on it. Maybe "MODEL2" as addition. I would keep it simple, but that's just me.

Also, if that fan is nasty, maybe a black Noctua fan?
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The fan works fine, sure it's loud but in the ambiant noise of EVO, nobody could ear it. At home I just unplug it.

But for safety issue, I should definitely put some sort of grid in front of it before someone put a finger in it.
 
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