princess candy cab.

[Marsupial]

My daughter requested a "small, pink cabinet. So girls can play arcade". (quote from my 4 yr old girl)

I had a good opportunity yesterday - a candy cab! In fact, it is a japanese quiz cabaret cab, but with little LTC it will be perfect for princess toddler.
the price was right, so I took it. Can't beat freebiecabs.




Those things are WAY SMALLER then the full sized stand up cabinets! does fit in my echo - no jokes, my echo can haul a videogame cabinet arcade machine!




I started to fiddle with it. The previous owner gave it to me with 2 brand new keyed alike keylocks, that was very nice of him - particularly for the price I paid.
Is it pretty much standard for japanese cab to have keyswitch on top? I actually like that, as I use a keyswitch for the master shift to change games, adjust volumes, etc. This way is perfect, really. even have 2 admin buttons straight there.


I have a pink joystick from paradisearcadeshop (the cheapostick - feels good to play, and is the correct colour for this project)
I think this cab is too narrow for two players... so one stick might be a good solution. Maybe a trackball? small one would be required, the CP isn't big.
The stick will likely be a 4-way using the restrictor plate. I already have a 2-player 8-way cabinet, this would complement it well in the gameroom.

I could go with 2 or 4 buttons, but I think it might be OK to have at least 5 - for games like defender.

The cab came with yellow "mini convexe buttons" - I might use that, as it would fit better the kids hands? or should I get them used with appropriately sized buttons?

here's my first tests in CP layout for this cab:




right now I am planing the CP out, opinions, comments, questions are all very welcomed.

[Yvan256]

Since your target is a single-player cabinet, I would try to center the controls a bit more and put the player start and credit buttons on the left. In your last picture, move the joystick and buttons one "half-row" to the right, maybe you'll be able to use four of the holes already there and only have two buttons holes to drill in the middle.

[severdhed]

nice find...i'd love to get a candy cabinet like this, i've never seen one except on these forums though

[Marsupial]

honestly, I never saw any of those anywhere in service. I think the only way to get those is to import them from asia.

also, looking at the construction, this wouldn't hold our arcade places, and be vandalized/destroyed pretty fast.


Yvan, why would you put the starts on the left?

My idea would be to reuse 2 of the small button holes for the starts (the credits would be in the coin-slot, I do have 300+ japanese tokens for that lol) and then use the remaining section to add a plastic plate for the CP. I could see this being on the left, or on the right, or one on both side for simetry.

So, why would it make a difference having the buttons one side instead of the other?

if I go with "mini buttons" I could reuse holes... I am still uncertain about using minis or full-sized.

[emphatic]

I say - why use more than four buttons for this? If it's for your daughter, would she play fighter games?  What monitor type/size are you planning?

[Yvan256]

Yvan, why would you put the starts on the left?

My idea would be to reuse 2 of the small button holes for the starts (the credits would be in the coin-slot, I do have 300+ japanese tokens for that lol) and then use the remaining section to add a plastic plate for the CP. I could see this being on the left, or on the right, or one on both side for simetry.

So, why would it make a difference having the buttons one side instead of the other?

if I go with "mini buttons" I could reuse holes... I am still uncertain about using minis or full-sized.

Keep the mini buttons. I'm guessing they're 24 mm... it's small but for your daughter it's probably going to be the right scale for her hands.

What I meant by moving the buttons in your last picture:

From the first picture, I see there's six columns and two rows of buttons. If the leftmost/top button is called "A", the next one to the right is called "B", etc and the last one of the upper row is called "F", and the leftmost/bottom is called "G", etc up to "L" for the rightmost/bottom button.

Put buttons in holes "DEJK", drill the missing holes between thoses for the middle buttons (if you go for 3 columns of 2 rows of buttons), center the joystick between the "CI" holes.

Moving the player start/etc buttons on the left is only to prevent pressing those by accident when playing games.

[Marsupial]

I am trying to not block "important" games; defender comes to mind, a proper setup is 5 buttons.
But you might be right, besides SFII, rare are the games with more then 4 buttons that I use... Plus, SFII needs 8-ways, I will set this up with 4-ways. I guess you're right, 6 buttons isn't needed.  I might do a 5-buttons setup.

This leads to the other topic: reusing current cp holes.  I need to somewhat hide the extra holes, no matter how I do this. Therefore, I still have to redo the pannel - somehow.

With this in mind, I figure I don't gain much by reusing the minis, particularly thinking that the kids are used with larger arcade buttons on the other cab. They might still like the smaller ones so this point is not very strong. This said, I think the smaller buttons would make for a better CP, this thing isn't very big to begin with and the large buttons might be a bit much. That being said, I wanted to have "many colours" on the CP, and the minis are all yellow... but I guess "appropriately sized all yellow" would be better then "wrongly sized colourful"


Monitorwise, I think the 19inch VGA CRT I have would be a perfect fit for that cab's bezel but have to do measurments to confirm.  If its the case, I'll go with that, in horizontal mode. I was somewhat hoping to go vertical on that one for the old classics, but if I have a monitor that fits perfectly with no hardware modifications, I guess its a plus.

[Marsupial]

if I somehow reuse the current holes, I might be able to do with just adding extra plates on top of sections of the CP. Its something to look into.

[polaris]

only my opinion, but if you want 5 buttons then go for 6 its prettier i think.
but in honesty, i don't think your little ones will play defender , its very tough especially when you don't have the correct configuration of buttons
i would make it less busy, with four buttons maybe even just 3, which they'll be happier with for its ease of use.
looking forward to seeing it done up, these can be nice cabs
 

[Marsupial]

here is my current idea: 3 buttons, but on both sides. This way the kids can use whatever serie they want, and if there's any more complex games to be played the buttons still can be used separate.

Original:


current CP idea:


Is it a good idea?

[Rick]

current CP idea:


Is it a good idea?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's a great idea.  If my cab was going to be single player, I'd kill to have buttons on both sides.  (I've said it before, I'm a righty, and use a crossover playstyle so my right hand controls the joystick and my left controls the buttons.)

[Marsupial]

I am currently looking at bondoing the current set of holes. I figure, if it works for a car, I should be able to make it work for a CP.
However... what should I use for piercing the metal? I have normally use spade bits for woods, but never pierced that big of holes in anything metal.

[opt2not]

However... what should I use for piercing the metal? I have normally use spade bits for woods, but never pierced that big of holes in anything metal.

Bi-Metal hole-saw. Drill or scar a pilot hole to guide you, and keep your saw from shifting around. Grease up your hole-saw (i use WD40 for this) and drill out your holes.  You can find these in any hardware store.

[mgb]

Heres a great project for some inspiration
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66932.0;all

[Malenko]

I'd go with 4 buttons, the track ball and a stick. That'll give you all the regular JAMMA games and NeoGeo, though if you (she?) arent playing fighters you may get away with 3  Puzzle Bobble on MVS/AES is fantastic.

[Marsupial]

I didn't think of NeoGeo... that's a valid point.

Is there any trackball that fits within that thin of a CP? I would really like to add a trackball, but it needs to fit. 

[Marsupial]

Before I take a final decision on the control pannel, I have the intention to fit the monitor.

I have a 19in VGA CRT monitor that I think would fit (very tightly) in there. The screen is the perfect size for the bezel. There are something to hold brackets on the sides of the cab, and something to hold where the chassis would be.

Should I be trying to make a shelf, or a bracket? How good are home-made brackets (or where can we get ready-made monitor brackets)?

[Marsupial]

I like it when things works great, but the most fun is when its not.... like, right now. lol.

I have a 19 inch VGA CRT that has the same visible size as what the cabinet was planned to.

Problem is, the tube is WAY too long. I would need to add a protrusion on the back of the cabinet. Not sure that's a good idea. I was looking forward to using this for that purpose...

guess its out of the question.

Option 2: a 19inch arcade monitor in "unknown" condition that we can read backward "disc of tron" burnt on the screen. This one seems to have a bracket the exact same size as the cabinet expects, should work good. But...the screen is completely different than the cabinet's bezel, and - HOW DO I FIT THIS IN THERE?


the bracket is the exact size of the cabinet, should I split open the back of the cabinet? Need to say, I am uncertain if the monitor even works, this was supposed to be a "learning experience" not something I'd place in there.  If it would be an easy perfect match, I guess it would be a no brainer, but hacking the bezel, for a monitor that might not even work anymore???  I don't know. opinions are welcomed.

Option 3 would be a small LCD monitor that I can buy from the guy who gave me the cab; its about the same size as the bezel, and is a LOT less heavy then the big CRTs. I'd make a bracket and place it without much issues, I guess.

I am uncertain... should I go with the horizontal 19 inch, or go with a 4:3 VGA LCD?

[Malenko]

Id go with the LCD. I doubt she cares about authenticity, its easier, and its lighter.

[Marsupial]

LCD it is.

I installed literally a wooden shelf inside the cab, where the monitor brackets normally go.



added metal frames


and voilą, the monitor fits great.


I have metal frame on top and bottom; then the bezel fits over nicely




next up is the control pannel

[emphatic]

That's a really nice fit! 

[Marsupial]

Thanks!

I am currently looking at getting sanwa buttons instead of using concave ones; to get a more "asian cabaret" feel to it. I got an iPac-2 for the machine, so it is slooooowwwwlllly getting there.

I am in no rush, I hope to bring it in the gameroom for the hollidays. lol.

[Marsupial]

I pretty much decided to mimic half an astrocity control pannel, but with 4 pink buttons + pink stick. Reason for 4 is to go up to the neogeo games with it. 6 buttons is for fighter games like street fighter that you play 2 players on the bigger cab. This one will be more retro stuff, and likely only 4-way stick.

here's my inspiration for the design of the CP:

[Marsupial]

here's the current CP layout design




I have an aluminium plate that is destined to become that CP...

[Marsupial]

some development.

Firstly, I decided to bondo the original CP and repierce it, instead of adding a second layer of metal. I figured "what the heck? if it doesn't work I just cut it out, that's required anyway if I am to do another plate..."

Also, my daughter decided that princess aren't as cool as Hanna Montana, so I used "wall decals" on the cabinet, gives a great result IMHO.











the panel's paintjob is a full rush, will likely be redone in the neat future.

[Malenko]

looks fantastic! good idea with the stickers too

[Marsupial]

Thanks!

plus, its removable. When she grows out of hannah montana, I might put ms-pacman styled stickers on the cab. The colors screams "ms pacman"....