Collective inquiry to Sanwa

[NASguy]

metal work is metal work, I don't see any advantage to bulk buying panels from Sanwa beyond their art prints maybe being from master files, but you can just as easily recreate those, if you think a skilled craftsperson can't make a better/just as good panel I'd say you're wrong

[pubjoe]

I agree with the arguments but it sounds a nice price and it'd be cool if you made it happen erzane. Very compatible CP. I'm sure you will sell them if you're doing the rounds on forums etc.

Committed pre-orders though. May be best not to check quality on arrival and then try to shift 60 or so panels. Just in case Sanwa farm the job off too cheaply.

[erzane]

Update from Sanwa :

- Unit price would be around 8'000 jpy + shipping for a MOQ of 50pces. Still an affordable, and I assume a decent price.

- Shipment : each order can be shipped directly from Sanwa to buyers. So, this make things easy.

- Paiement : it seems that each buyer could send his money to Sanwa in order to get his CP. I'll have to confirm this but all seems to go in that direction.

So, that project seems to grow and concrectize and if we all order two or three CPs, the shipment price will not be too expensive and we'll still make a good deal. Also, the number of buyer would reach 50 pces more quick that way.
I guess two or three CP can be usefull since we all want more cabs at home right ? Playing SF2 on two cabs the Kaizen way is ''The Way'', right ? And god knows that the CP gives his spirit to a cab

Reactions :

It seems that they are some angry members who are really attached to their former repro CPs. To these persons I'd say that they are probably good and if they are happy I'm happy for them. To the others, I still maintain that Sanwa CPs are superiors. It's up to you to appreciate this point of view or not but as far as I could compare different ways to make these panels - especially the U-plate which is the most delicate part of these CPs - it's a matter of precision due to the use of more performants (probabily more expensives) machines. Sanwa U-plates are made with machines which allows to do some more precise and stronger solderings.

They are several ways to solder and it seems that the U-plates based on most repro CPs are soldered by a cheaper way.
Let's compare both soldering method on the pictures below : ''A'' is made with a solder gun like ; ''B'' is made with a kind of electric beam which goes trough both plates in order to solder them. The ''B'' way needs a more performant machine and make stronger and cleaner soldering.

The ''U'' shape of the U-plate on Sanwa CPs is also made by a more specific machine. I asked a manufacture in Switzerland to make me a repro CP at the time and the owner explained me some things I did'nt know. For example, the U-plate from Sanwa is difficult to reproduce since only a few machine can do it. He also explained to me about the soldering methods mentioned above.

Steel is also important. Some says ''steel is steel'', but I'd say that japanese steel is made by different rocks than steel having another origin. Also, I doubt Japan will make steel with rocks from other countries. It's still a possibilitiy regarding worldwide business opportunities and globalism but I guess there is enough ressources in Japan to make steel there. To my opinion, there is no needs to take raw material from elsewhere. This can be open to debate since I'm not sure that Taiwanese steel isn't made with japanese rock or ''vice-versa'' and I'm not an expert on that matter but I guess Sanwa CPs are made with japanese steel.

I had several occasions to compare japanese MDF wood plates with Swiss MDF wood plates and the difference was evident. Japanese wood is more smooth/tender (having different color too - more yellow). I also had the opportunity to compare MDF in other countries in Europa and Japanese wood was still singular. So, I guess that's the same regarding the steel. When the Swiss manufacture made my repro CP the steel was more rigide and much heavier. Also, taking the exemple of the screws, we all know that japanese screws are the best, at least at this level of usefulness.

So, I know that several members will say that's not true and maybe they will be arrongant, treating me by all names but I don't care since I always listen my instinct and my appreciation when I touch or see something and this way of doing things will never leave me. Now, maybe Taiwanese steel or wood are also comparable since Asian rocks and woods are quite similar but I still prefere having a japanese panel on my japanese cab. We all know that people restoring motorcycles are mostly such picky as me on this.

Some people don't want to considere the aesthetic side since they only need convenience (the utility) and I can understand it since we all have different sensitivity and needs. But for those who are also interested by the aesthetic and quality of matter, I'd say ''difference is on the detail''. I suggest you to take a closer look at the Sanwa CP then you'll notify these CPs are superiors. Personaly (but it's only up to me), solidity and technical aspect aside, I don't want a CP with some solder points like we can find on most repros CPs. Also, I think that for a part of the given size, it could even break with time and micro-vibrations.

Overlay :

Alberto makes really good overlays, probably the best and his service is really good too. Also, I consider that it's not really important to have an ''original'' overlay nowaday since Sanwa don't owns the Sega rights anymore anyway. An overlay is just an overlay, like the other stickers based on our cabs which are mostly all repros, and we'll never notice the difference. I don't want to make a bad opinion (publicity) on Alberto's CP and I hope he'll not take it the wrong way but even if some members would prefere Sanwa CP there will be a lot of opportunities for Alberto to make new overlays on these CPs. Then, with his contribution on overlay, some of us will have the ''perfect CP''.

Thanks for those who support and understand the meaning of that project.

[cools]

What worries me is not whether Sanwa *could* pull it off, it's whether they *will*.

For a group order like this you take on an enormous responsibility - you can't guarantee that they will deliver the quality you are promising, and you're taking none of the risk. This part alone raises so many red flags that I'm extremely concerned.

All the welding and bending work you *could* get done elsewhere, but it might be tough to find. You're making a strawman argument.

The bit about Japanese steel possibly has legs, but I don't see that you've asked them what grade they use, nor the suppliers quality certificate for it - I would place money on it being recycled steel rather than virgin steel (not from ore), so it'd be entirely down to how its been cast and rolled. You may be confusing the historical record Japanese steel has from the middle ages with modern mass production methods.

Get them to produce a sample that satisfies your specification, *then* start letting people in on the order.

[yosai]

Sanwa could also quite easily use cheap Chinese steel. They're arcade machine panels not samurai swords...

[SuperPang]

I travelled to Japan to have mine made by Hattori Hanzo.

[erzane]

Sanwa CP are now available. Please check their X account and feel free to buy :

[NASguy]

They don't come with an overlay? Lame.

So I still need to put a repro overlay on my official panel. I'll never sell my Astro City for 11.5k like this

[erzane]

You can also buy the CP by Topsgame :
https://www.tops-game.jp/products/detai ... ct_id=7382

Ps. if you need infos about how to buy on Rakuten, I can share some pictured steps showing the process :
https://item.rakuten.co.jp/sanwadenshi/conpane_02/

Enjoy your purchase !