Painting / prepping an arcade machine?

[82-T/A]

Hey guys, I've got basically everything I need at this point to build / make a multi-game cabinet. I'm using a weird device that I got from Argentina that has dozens of arcade roms loaded on it and has a menu that is driven by a controller (no keyboard needed). I have a 19" SVGA monitor, and a separate 2-channel amp that powers car speakers. I have the controllers, buttons, wiring, etc. The question I have now is what I need to do to repaint the cabinet. It's currently a Sega Zaxxon cabinet. It's in good shape, no wood damage, but it needs painting. I've restored a number of cars, painted my house, and painted drywall... but I've never painted wood. The sides of the arcade machine has some sort of vinyl covering (brown) on it. Do I paint over that, or do I remove it completely and try to get it down to the bare wood? I've also removed the T-moulding and any metal brackets locks, etc and taped off the areas I don't want paint to spray into.

 

I'm doing a ghetto Polybius cabinet, so I'm going to paint it all a semi-black with some weird aqua stripes on the side. Just looking for a little advice on how to proceed.

 

 

Thanks!!!

 

[number six]

I would sand it completely down to the wood first then paint it.

 

Replace the t-molding as that will go a long way to making it look nicer, google Twisted Quarter they are Florida Based and sell a variety of parts.

[82-T/A]

I would sand it completely down to the wood first then paint it.

 

Replace the t-molding as that will go a long way to making it look nicer, google Twisted Quarter they are Florida Based and sell a variety of parts.

 

Thanks! I was checking out Twisted Quarter, they have some pretty cool stuff! They're also only 3 hours away from me... I wonder if they have a whole shop that I can go in and buy stuff... might check the place out when I head up there for vacation on Memorial day (I live in Fort Lauderdale).

 

 

Thanks!