Alright, now we're tackling a big task: installing the vinyl on the sides.
But before installing it, I still had to find the right vinyl. If I lived in the US, I would've jumped on the Black Vinyl (Morocco style) from QuarterArcade, but I need to find something 'locally' or risk blowing the budget. So I spent a few days searching and finally went with a vinyl from Amazon that, on paper, should do the trick...



No luck! This vinyl turned out to be absolute garbage: no texture, doesn't stick, and way too thin... So I went back to searching for a few more days and finally found the holy grail, right here



Here's a comparison of the two vinyls. On top: the Amazon junk. Below: the holy grail of Atari-style vinyl.



Just to be clear, this is a quick test for illustration purposes, on an unprepared surface. It really shows how thick the bottom vinyl is, how well it sticks, and most importantly how it has the same texture and grain as the vinyls Atari used back in the '80s and '90s. 

Honestly, I was starting to lose hope of finding a vinyl of this quality! ... and so true to the original. 



Okay, time to dive in...



Cut's done. Seriously, this vinyl's so thick and sticks like a charm I didn't even need the surface to be that smooth.



The photos don't do justice to the quality of this vinyl...it's just perfect!



... and I can't stop running my fingers over it. 



I just have to share this great find with you  it's from a site based in France. Here's the product description:



But here's the most important part, which explains the quality: it's a certified product for public spaces, so we're talking about professional-grade material here 


Decorative adhesive film for furniture, suitable for use in public spaces thanks to its fire-retardant certification and excellent VOC test rating.

Easy to apply without requiring any downtime for the premises - a practical and efficient solution. Offers elegant, refined decoration with a high-quality surface that withstands nearly all forms of wear and tear.

Direct link to the product : REV-1K (for the record, this isn't a sponsored post)

Bruno !!!
Now you need a CPO withOUT the skill level selection !

Damn it, yes, you're right...    OK, I'll manage that! 

...and 19 years later, my European Space Ace finally looks like the European version I knew when I was young! 



I finally have a marquee with the Atari logo printed on it 



...as well as the square sticker bearing the Atari logo 



Thanks to Barry from arcadeartrepro.com for printing this for me! 

Despite several sanding sessions, the surface still isn't smooth enough for my liking. I don't want to take any risks moving forward. So, I'm going to fill in the tiny imperfections with this product:



It's a type of wood filler, but it comes in a lighter form (almost like whipped cream) perfect for filling in all the small imperfections.
Here's the result after two coats 



I'm also prepping the edges of the cabinet, in case the T-molding is too small, by adding black paint along the borders :

Rare enough to be worth mentioning here... and keeping track of it: a Starblade arcade cabinet is for sale in UK, listed onto our friends UKVAC forum.
These are becoming very difficult to find these days That one took quite a bit of work, but it was totally worth it! 

Link on UKVAC