Galaga Bartop (99.9 percent done with pics) Update 11/16/2010

[The Evil Collector]

Combo combo combo 

[BobA]

Back to actual construction.  Gathering up the parts to put into the cab and finishing various pieces.

First pic: LCD screen that is going to be used.  Stripped down to screen and bezel.

Second pic: Control panel with button and joystick holes drilled.  Coin button and speaker to be mounted on the front of the cab under the CP. Light for marquee.

Third pic: Test rig and other buttons connected to jamma harness to test the function of the circuit board.  Unused wires cut back as they take up alot of space and probably will never be required.

Fourth pic: Exhaust fan mounted in panel at the top of the back.

Not shown ATX power supply to power the whole bartop. Power on jumpered to GND so the supply can be turned on and off with the PS switch. Marquee light, coin light, LCD monitor, fan and circuit board all connect to 4 pin drive connectors.

[leapinlew]

Combo combo combo 

C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKERRRR

[BobA]

Speaker and fan mounted. Going to have to clean cab and touch up some spots when complete.   Thought I would get the hardware in then design the graphics around it.

That is it for tonight.

[BobA]

Installed buttons and joystick on control panel.

[ids]

Great build!

I vote galaxian (waiting for leapinlew to have aneurysm)

Just kidding, dedicated galaga.  I like the 30'th anniv cab, but that's too much artwork for a bartop, imho.  And then there's Galaga - what other game is there?  People might ask what those other characters are?  Were they in a game? 

[BobA]

Great build!

I vote galaxian (waiting for leapinlew to have aneurysm)

Just kidding, dedicated galaga.  I like the 30'th anniv cab, but that's too much artwork for a bartop, imho.  And then there's Galaga - what other game is there?  People might ask what those other characters are?  Were they in a game? 

Pac-Man's Arcade Party
30 Anniversary Edition

Comes with (13) Thirteen Classic 80's Video Games : Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Galaga, Galaga '88, Bosconian, Dig Dug, Dragon Spirit, Galaxian, Mappy, Rally X, Rolling Thunder and Xevious all in one cabinet !

[ids]

Sorry - something got lost in the translation between the voice in my head and the text i typed.  I was kidding - I do know the other games.  Just having some fun along the lines of "what other games exist?" when you have Galaga.

But since I'm here, another vote for dedicated Galaga.

Tho, that 30'th anniv cab would look nice next to my imaginary pins, skeeball, pool table, etc, in the imaginary game room i imagine i have 

[leapinlew]

No angle on the CP? Bob, live a little man!

And I like Galaxian ok the problem with it is the slow game play, poor sound effects, static levels, and no challenge stages. Other than that though, awesome game.

[abispac]

Installed buttons and joystick on control panel.

Hey boba, what joystick are you using? thanks.

[BobA]

Using a Magstick Plus top switchable 4/8.

[BobA]

Screen mounting time.   The bare screen did not have any Vesa mounting holes so I had to open it up and drill holes to screw the screen to the support.

Screen mounted showing back and front.

[BobA]

No angle on the CP? Bob, live a little man!

Good point.   I will give it a try flat and see what it feels like.  I can put it on an angle by unscrewing the back of the panel and lifting it a bit. I will give it a try too.  Good thing the screen is floating.  My original mounting idea would have had it supported by the control panel.

Thanks leapinlew

Edit:  As per leapinlew's suggestion gave the panel about a 5 degree rise for an angle. It is hard to see in the picture but it now has a definite slope.  Also lined the marquee top and bottom shelves with metalized tape for better light reflection.

[BobA]

Here we go today.  If I don't run into any unexpected problems it will be running by this evening.

Mounted circuit board in cab and attached jamma harness.  

Left to do:

Mount Power supply
Connect buttons and joystick
Mount marquee light
Mount back panel with hinge and lock

[BobA]

Buttons and joystick connected.   Service and Test buttons added to interior of cabinet.
Jamma harness tie wrapped and made neat.
Power supplied wired in but not strapped down yet.

It's alive!

GALAGA!

Total time elapsed since original post 7 days.

[BobA]

Now that it is running it is time to finalize the to do list.

Mount Power supply (strapping) DONE
Mount marquee light (HD double sided tape used to mount touchscreens) DONE
Mount back panel with hinge and lock probably add some wood or mdf stops DONE
Cut and install plexi for bezel DONE
Cut and install plexi for marquee DONE

Artwork for marquee, side and control panel. DONE

This is the last little bit that always seems to take the longest.
Have to go play some Galaga.

[Rick]

This is the last little bit that always seems to take the longest.
Have to go play some Galaga.

We'll check on you in a couple months, to see when you're ready for your next update.

 

[BobA]

Hopefully it will not be that distracting since I have a full featured bartop with MAME and other emulators.  This unit is actually a present for a family friend so I had to make sure I got a jump on it to be finished for Christmas 

[Rick]

Hopefully it will not be that distracting since I have a full featured bartop with MAME and other emulators.

You're the lucky one.  I have promised myself I won't wire up the joysticks and buttons until the entire cab is ready.  Let's see how long that lasts.

 

[Bender]

looking sweet!!! It's like a twin of one I built
I have art for the Marquee, side, CP and Bezel PM me the dimensions and I think I can hook you up

[leapinlew]

Looks good. The only issue I have is the clarity of the LCD with Galaga. It's just a little too sharp. Know what I mean? Not much you can do about it. It's one of the few games I prefer a CRT with.

[BobA]

Looks good. The only issue I have is the clarity of the LCD with Galaga. It's just a little too sharp. Know what I mean? Not much you can do about it. It's one of the few games I prefer a CRT with.

I use the scientific additive method to reduce the sharpness.   Just add BEER 

[Rick]

I use the scientific additive method to reduce the sharpness.   Just add BEER 

Just remember, when the display suddenly disappears (this has been known to happen with this method) rotate 180 degrees.

 

[BobA]

Went with a combo look.  Pac-man and Galaga art.  Hate the split front panel on anniv cabs so I just left it alone for now.

So here it is at about 98 percent done.

Finished back panel.  Used a cutout for the ATX power supply so I could use it's AC cord and on/off switch.  Fan is reversed to blow air in and the fan at the top of the cab blows air out.

Pac-Man art for the left side of cab.
Galaga art for the right side of the cab.
Combo marquee for Pac-Man and Galaga.  I know - wrong game on screen  

Total elapsed time 11 days

[Encryptor]

Very nice machine Bob. 

Encryptor

[IG-88]

Never thought about reversing the PSU fan. How hard was that to do?

[BobA]

Never thought about reversing the PSU fan. How hard was that to do?

It only takes a few minutes.  The fan is held in by self tapping screws from the outside.  Remove those and the top and sides (1 piece) of the power supply.  Usually you can slide the fan around and reattach using the self tapping screws. 

[IG-88]

Never thought about reversing the PSU fan. How hard was that to do?

It only takes a few minutes.  The fan is held in by self tapping screws from the outside.  Remove those and the top and sides (1 piece) of the power supply.  Usually you can slide the fan around and reattach using the self tapping screws. 

Brilliant!!    

[jmike]

  
Amazing work as always BobA! What front end are you using?

[BobA]

There is no front end required as the circuit board has it all built in.

[BobA]

Bezel installed. Completed  

Total time elapsed 12 days  

Thanks for all the comments!

[Termin8tor]

Excellent work, congratulations on a stunning bartop.

[jipp]

looks great.  keep up the good work

chris.

[emphatic]

Pac-Man's Arcade Party
30 Anniversary Edition

Comes with (13) Thirteen Classic 80's Video Games : Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Galaga, Galaga '88, Bosconian, Dig Dug, Dragon Spirit, Galaxian, Mappy, Rally X, Rolling Thunder and Xevious all in one cabinet !

Are all of these games on that same PCB? I don't really see how Rolling Thunder fits in, as it's horizontal.  Also, do all games run perfect, i.e. is this a recommended product?

[BobA]

That list has not been verified as the actual 30 Anniv cab has not been released as far as I know.  The list was only from the advertising.

[emphatic]

That list has not been verified as the actual 30 Anniv cab has not been released as far as I know.  The list was only from the advertising.

Thanks! I totally misread that post and thought that it was describing the PCB that you've used in your bartop. Would be really sweet to buy an official JAMMA multi-PCB with those titles running perfectly. *drools*