Wide-bodied Lowboy

[Generic Eric]

stage one was wiring up the control panel.  The weather and painting the house took precedent over starting stage two: cutting the sides of the cabinet.  I need a new saw blade too.

Anyway here is a pic of what we used to test the wiring.  


The pieces of wood were scrap and I had a 7 button, layout.  So far all of the games I played used 3 buttons or less, so it was a useful exercise, in that I don't need all of those buttons after all.    Changed my mind & went with 7 buttons

I am stoked to have something working, I have been playing on a keyboard for years.  Until last month I had everything but they keyboard encoder setting in the basement in storage.


***Current status***



TODO
In no particular order

• Wire control panel
  
• Wire marquee
  
• Install monitor
  
• Configre hyperspin
  
• Configure LED blinky
  
• Design Marqee
  
• Order and install t-moulding
  
• Add speaker panel
  
• Paint Base & Touch up paint
  

[mgb]

Its always great to get started on a project like this.
Using arcade sticks and buttons is ten times better than a keyboard or even a gamepad.
Goodluck with your project.

keep us posted on how it goes

[Generic Eric]

Finally, after about 10 years, I finally started the building the arcade cabinet.  We'll finish it tomorrow, and I'll start staining the outside.  The inside will be black.  No theme yet, but that'll come later. 

The biggest impedance is the smoke glass to cover the monitor.  I don't have any plex yet.



I am basing this based on this cab below.  Holdenut's Aussie lowboy
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=54567.0

[javeryh]

Nice - I love the look of the lowboys...

[Generic Eric]

Here it is, pre stain.

I drilled an extra hole for each player, so I'll either get button plugs, or I'll start over.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

That looks awesome, but dude, get a bigger monitor!!!!!!!!!!

[drventure]

+1 on the monitor. The proportions are all out of whack based on the size of the hole that's there right now.

I'm guessing a 19" widescreen.

Seems like it needs at least at 24-26"

But otherwise, the cab looks great.

[Generic Eric]

Thanks guys

Actually that hole was cut for a 17" widescreen.  The holes cut for the monitor edges are look wavy like bacon.  I kinda eye balled the width to accommodate two adult players.  This design might be better suited for a single player set up. 

I didn't like the way the  widescreen looked, so I bought a 19inch LCD 5:4 monitor.  By the time I am done with this, the monitor bezel will be lower, and probably won't be made out of plywood.  Or at least it will be covered by plexi. 

I finally filled the extra holes on the cp.  I'll end up painting that black for now, may cover it with artwork sometime later.

[dandare]

Looking great but bigger screen defo. 

[Generic Eric]

I did some more painting yesterday and while taking the pictures I noticed I missed the base.

The lighting isn't the best in the garage.  I don't have any electronics wired yet.  I still haven't got the t-molding yet.

[Nephasth]

Any progress?

[Generic Eric]

Its in the basement.  I have a 22" and 24" monitor to use as an alternative to the smaller monitor.  I have yet to chose which to put in.  Otherwise, it didn't turn out square and I cuss at it every time I look at it.  ~Good times~

[Generic Eric]

I made some progress...

[Generic Eric]

After some wood putty and paint, its on to speakers, then plexi

[Generic Eric]

After some wood putty and paint, its on to speakers, then plexi

Don't recall what that pic was, so here is another.

Not sure whats next.  I have the marquee box off so I can drill speaker holes, but the monitor needs to be remounted because its at the wrong angle.  Tomorrow after supper I'm gonna wire up the cp so I can play in the eyes competition again.

[Generic Eric]

No pictures tonight, but astute readers will note my entry in the galaga88 competition thread that I am playing games on the mame cab now.

The mounts for the underside of the cabinet have outgrown their usefullness so I plan to fix that and get the holes drilled in my marquee/speakerbox. 

No marque or monitor bezel.  I still have to change the angle of the monitor yet.  One of these days.

Still after all this time, I pretty jacked I've made it this far.

[Generic Eric]

I am done for the next few days I think.  I've got a list of improvements I could make.  Tweaks and such.  It is all pretty standard fair.  I've learned a bit along the way. 

Time to clean up the basement and get ready for a few rounds of Galaga 88.

Happy T-Day ya'll