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Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:07 am
by rarecomponent
Does anyone know of any panel suppliers ? I'm looking for any Moog Modular panels apart from the 921b's.
Ben at Bluewave is pulled out,snowed under ,so there is a very long wait.
Or has anyone any panels for sale?

Without proper machinery and process my panels are pretty iffy.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:45 am
by Just Me
Blank panels or modules? Blanks are available from many sources. FPE, dotcom, re-synthesis, etc.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:49 pm
by fyvewytches
In the EU you can also get blank MU panels from Moon Modular. Maybe you can get some made by http://www.schaeffer-ag.de.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:35 pm
by rarecomponent
Thanks for replies ....I'm wanting complete panel fronts for Moog Modular....I have made blanks, no problem...but lettering etc poses a big problem ..I have silk screen stuff but never attempted the process but looks like the only way to go.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:50 pm
by EricK
Maybe you can contact stgsoundlabs, he uses the same method that Moog used to make their panels. Maybe if you have all of the original fonts and markings already properly arranged on a template, maybe you can convince him to make you one.

The problem that I ran into with RE:Synthesis when trying to get them to transfer the moogerfooger markings for making 5U versions of the Foogers, They wouldn't reprint any of the copyrighted words or logos for legal reasons.

You might have more luck with the R.A. Moog panels rather than the Moog panels.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:53 pm
by Analogue
If I may chime in here Eric /STG would be unlikely to want to engage in the panel business, but he should speak for himself here.

Perhaps stating the obvious, so pardon me if that is the case. To get past any copyright issues you would need to either source scans of the original panels from modules themselves or make up your own to send onwards to someone who makes panels. Assuming a bureau might not care or be aware of any infringements of copyrights. The original film-work had clearly been owned by Mike Bucki and was not available for general public use. Mike had made panels only on request for people but they were expensive and thus rare. I do not know of any single complete source of panel graphics and any that I have seen beyond those few copied from actual modular metalwork were handmade in order to clone modules by individuals.

Metalphoto in Cincinnati provide metal panel fabrication services and also make the photosensitive aluminum for both processes: Metalphoto (STG uses this) and Fotofoil (Ben uses this I believe). Contact them for details: http://www.mpofcinci.com I could not tell you what materials they need to fulfill a request for a panel nor if they would be concerned about copyright issues.

There are a number of other suppliers of these trademarked materials you will find on the web as well. Someone amongst these might just be able to provide what you need if Metalphoto pass.

ps.Very good to hear things are going well for Ben's BlueWave enterprise.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 6:23 am
by rarecomponent
Thanks for these replies ....weighing it all up I still think the only option is to fabricate them myself. I can do the panels pretty good with my Clarck metal folder..for the finish I use black spray metal etch primer...good enough. My anodising efforts provided poor results with the black dye..cloudy effects. Now I anodise then etch spray.

So now to try out silk screen process

I have one or two Moog panel scans which I can use. I hope copyright is no problem ..I'm not selling these and they will not be shown in public ..but I wish I had more ..ive made up several panel artwork and they are very difficult and I am not satisfied . Matching fonts is the first big problem. Dials are something else .All in all very time consuming ...but sort of fun!

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:44 pm
by Analogue
Fabricating these yourself is the cleanest way to avoid the pitfalls of copyright. Made for your own consumption nobody would ever bother you, even if they were seen in public. Mike Bucki's agreement was a bit gray if I recall but he had the right to continue to use the original trademarks within the confines of products from the old Moog Music regime and anything else he could thing of. There are plenty of places that will fab this but I have not tried them myself more attest to any questioning of reuse of trademarked names.

I have considered starting with anodized aluminum stock and laser etching the panels at a bureau. Food for thought.

Approaching introspective detail:
One small hurdle is the infinite variations of the "hue" of the black anodizing which will become apparent when side by side. STG using Metalphoto is different from the original Fotofoil, both of which will be different than local anodizing you do yourself or obtain from a metal finisher. If you looked close enough one might find subtler "hue" differences in batches of the same material. I've also noticed that the folded shoulders of the Metalphoto panels appear to have tiny cracks in the clear section across the radius of the bent shoulder. Moon Modular use the same Metalphoto material. Fotofoil is different and doesn't exhibit this. This is s subtle artifact of the process not a defect and does not detract from using this as a process or it's longterm durability.

Fonts:
Alternate Gothic and Franklin Gothic

Dials:
Do you mean knobs? Got to Smallbear have these or if you are in UK Ben supplies the same items. He even is suggesting he might consider stocking the 1.25" diameter knobs used for tuning. The equivalent of the Cosmo 7603.

Are you going to use c-frames to hold the pcbs?

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 4:52 pm
by CZ Rider
Analogue wrote:Are you going to use c-frames to hold the pcbs?
I could use a source for "C" frames! :)

Some of the hardware is tough to source too. Still looking for those original panel screws, sort of a low profile truss head with black finish. 6-32 X 3/8". My 1P came with two blank panels and the 8U blank only needed 8 screws and the 4U only 4 screws. So I'm 12 original screws short filling in the blanks. But after many searches at fastner manufactures web sites, I haven't quite found the same ones they used on the originals. Some one made them?

For the "C" frame hardware, I found some square plexi stock that should match the back support. Needs to be drilled and tapped after cutting to size. And have some aluminum "L" stock that is close to the front bracket. But making my own "C" frames would be much more work.

For logos one could always just print it on paper, cut it out and glue it on. I did a few "R.A.MOOG" logos on blank panels, and you need to look really close to see it's not etched. It made my system look right with the logo on the blank, and it could never be passed off as an original. :lol:

Might have to give Ben an order in the future for that 902A and a few others. But for just prototyping a Dotcom blank will do.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:28 am
by Analogue
I have black anodized c-frames made from a proper drawing furnished by Mr Bucki, if you need them. I have been meaning to dig them out of storage for another interested user here and have been remiss in digging the out. Didn't have the upright metal strap stamped though. The lexan bar Bucki used instead seemed good enough.

Screws I got from Aarons. Pan head if I recall. No longer have any Moog originals to compare on hand though, but for any new fab I wasn't going to make this any harder than I needed. These were for securing the c-frames to the panels. Panel screws I was satisfied with whatever Roger was pushing on his site. Could just as easily gone to Aarons for those.

I found "the" classy dress nuts for the toggles as well. Again no originals for comparison but ought to be very close if not the same. Ask if you need more detail on any of these sources.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:08 am
by EricK
Would you mind scanning the drawing if you still have it?

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:27 am
by rarecomponent
Thanks for great pointers here...those fonts ? Yes ! The best so far regarding a match to Moogs own, a big big help. Thanks.

No, with "dials" I meant the panels round symbols like clock face.
I have the knobs. But the dial faces are pretty difficult to reproduce , such as the 921a etc....lots of time/effort involved and again not quite right .
So far ive made the art work and printed onto self adhesive matt whiteA4 vynil which gives a "set dressing " to the panels that from
6' look convincing until you get close up. Also they do scratch and wear easy and you have white artwork instead of silver/metalic.

Regarding panel screws, dot com have some but not sure how authentic looking they are .

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 10:48 am
by Analogue
Kevin L had posted scan of the 921B "clock face" here somewhere in the past.

Otherwise, if one was so inclined you could trace over a photo of the panels in a drawing package if no scans were available. If I recall correctly I had done them freehand in a drawing package as temp drafts.

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:07 pm
by rarecomponent
Yes...got the 921b and 902 ..thanks to Kevin...if only 911 and CP3 !!

A good suggestion to use photos for copying/tracing once edited to correct size ....

Re: Supplier of Moog Modular panels wanted

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:29 am
by Analogue
Here is a sample of the log time graphics on electric druid site that is suitable for tracing or as a guideline. (missing the curved arrow of course)

http://www.electricdruid.net/images/env ... raphic.jpg

If you have the fonts the rest is easy, tracing on top of an actual image at size. I have drawn in software a considerable library of MoogModular-esque panels for pcbs found on the internet. You should be fine to draw out whatever panel layouts needed without wishing to come across the ideal graphic file.