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Build an OND designed cab 'Metropolis'
Ond:
--- Quote from: Chapel on April 21, 2013, 07:37:43 pm ---Just Started my build, heres a pic of the side pieces, cut the other cabinet pieces after I took this pic, Just need to cut out holes for coin mech and speakers, then Cut CP pieces.
Then the real fun begins!
I've Build a 4 player cab off the Ultimate Arcade II plans, and a Cocktail table style (Both sold years ago)
Really like the plans Ond drew up, more modern style with a smaller footprint will fit nicely in my small home.
Will keep yas updated as I go along.
Thanks Ond!
Chapel
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Welcome Chapel! That blue T-Molding and controls should look very nice, keep us posted on your progress.
--- Quote from: Alistair Keith on April 26, 2013, 10:44:00 am ---Wow, all these designs are amazing. I've never actually built my own cab.
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Hey Alistair, now is the time to start your very own build, especially as I'm gearing up to add new content to the thread, speaking of which, the Metric plans are now available for download on Page 1 in PDF. ARTWORK NEXT!
:cheers:
Ond
GernBlanston:
Getting closer. Exciting stuff. Here's a pic of my Metropolis design (23" Dell LCD, vertical) as it sits today. OND, I probably wouldn't have attempted this if not for your plans. I tend to research things to death and have to be 100% confident that I can pull a project off before I'll begin, so had I not found your plans I probably would have just researched and researched until I just got bored with it and moved onto something else. So, thanks, man. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. My kids can too actually, so they are bugging the absolute crap out of me to finish this thing. My oldest actually asked me to stay home and work on this cab vs. coming to his soccer game. WTF?
Still need to add:
* Mount casters/wheels
* Acquire/install speakers and grills (looking at the Logitech 2.1 recommended here)
* Venting (heat)
* Tweak panels for marquee fitment (need marquee track/holder thing)
* Install CP side pieces
* Latches for rear door and CP (need CP hinges too)
* Fill holes, sand, paint, T-molding, etc.
* Acquire smoked(?) plexi to cover LCD and bezel
* Side and CP artwork
* Acquire/install marquee light.
* Acquire power supply for 12v lights in coin door, RGB's, etc.
* Install PC and wire everything
* And probably 20 other things that I haven't thought of yet or just forgot to listA few questions for now, though more will be forthcoming I'm sure, and thx in advance for any help the Gang here can provide:
1. Paint. I'm going to eventually cover the sides and CP with custom art and am unsure about which paint to use. I *hate* painting and have never used oil-based paint. Not sure that I've ever painted MDF either, though I have mix of MDF and ply in this cab. I'm afraid that if I use latex it won't spread properly, will leave brush lines, etc. Though I haven't glued everything together (some but not all of the big panels, CP box is still sitting loose on top of the cab, etc.) I'd prefer to paint it fully assembled if I can vs. taking much of it apart. Will a rattle can get this done or will it look like total crap? Main areas of concern are the LCD bezel and the front of the cab. Should I go all in and do oil-based primer and paint? Or is latex sufficient?
2. Artwork, DESIGN. I'm eventually going to commission some custom artwork for the sides, CP, and marquee. Should be ready to go in about 2-3 weeks. Probably want some sort of "Retro" design showing a bunch of old characters, e.g., Donkey Kong, PacMan, Robotron, Metal Slug, etc. Also unsure about the CP artwork. I'm going to go ahead and wire one up now but really want a nice CP with custom art with borders around the various sections of the CP. Recommendations for a designer (prefer to use someone here of course) and approximate cost for design and actual printing of this stuff? I'd like to use someone that is "proven" but have no idea where to start. Lil hep?
3. 1/2" MDF is spec'd for the top of the CP and it seems sturdy enough for this small 2 player panel, but I've also read several suggestions to only use 3/4 or 5/8 MDF for the top of the CP. I can still do 3/4" MDF easily enough and now's time to change it if I'm going to do it. Should I bother? I am going to install a U-Trak in this thing and know that I'll have to build it up a bit to make it work (no problem) but afraid that the hole in the middle might weaken it a bit? Is 1/2" MDF sufficient for the top of this 2-player panel with U-Trak or should I go to 5/8"? (OND: Hey, a-hole, if you needed 5/8" I would have told you to use it in the plans!)
4. Marquee channel/track/holder-thing. Did I read that someone on this board sells marquee channel?
5. Plexi to cover LCD and bezel... I'd like the idea of using a "smoked" plexi (or lexan or whatever) to cover the monitor and bezel in an effort to hide the unused top/bottom of the screen while horizontal games are being played. Is smoked plexi the way to go? Source? Cuts on table saw OK or will they pre-cut with decent accuracy? Approximate cost?
Thanks again to all of the contributors here, especially the regulars. And extra-special big thanks to OND for caring enough to share(ing). (Lordy, that was lame.)
-Gern
Ond:
Great work Gern! Its really pleasing to know your kids share in the excitement too :).
Here's my answers to at least some of your questions:
1. I will be covering an approach to painting which would work well for this cab in detail in the future. There are also video tutorials I've done on preparing MDF (or any surface) for a nice paint finish. But just a quick summary here. MDF is a highly absorbent and porous material, the key thing is to both seal it and smooth it prior to painting. Non water based primers are best for this. I’m going to show you the finished result on some speaker cabinet (two of eight I built) for my home cinema. That surface is the surface I recommend for this cab. It will take vinyl printed artwork nicely, and just look the business especially in dark grey or black, without being super labor intensive. I highly recommend painting the partly disassembled cab using the process below.
These speaker cabinets were built from heavy (up to 30mm thick / 1+ inch thick) MDF. Screw holes were all filled with Bondo, surfaces sanded and rattle can sprayed with High Build Automotive Primer (several coats, sanding (with 400 grit power sander in between each coat) and then painted using a foam roller and acrylic paint (two coats). The High Build Primer provided the perfect smooth, sealed surface to apply paint to, with zero underlying MDF texture evident. The rolled on finish feels like a vinyl low sheen surface with very slight texture.
2. I will be providing high resolution, drawn, Metropolis themed (based on the Fritz Lang film) side, Marquee and CP art for this design. Obviously this will not appeal to everyone building this cab. I’m nearing the end of doing any further custom artwork for people gratis. With the exception of one other members cab and the Metropolis cab, that will be the last of the free artwork from me. I’m so busy with life right now (away from home for my job) I barely had time to draw up the metric plans for this. Hopefully this will change in the next few weeks.
There are some excellent artists on here I’m sure would be happy to do some artwork on commission. Just post a request in the Artwork board. Opt2not and Pixelhugger are highly recommended; also try wol-nz for some juicy looking graphics.
3. No problem with using ¾ for the CP, just route for joysticks and buttons accordingly. Or if flex concerns you with ½, just put a couple of brace pieces between CP bottom and CPtop.
stigzler:
Thanks for the reply OND - all very helpful. I'm sooooo frustrated about the LCD monitor situation though! All I can seem to find are widescreen ones on ebay. Am desperate fro a 4:3 to get maximum height for my width!
I love your design, but need to make some mods for Speaker placements and other front panel features. What CAD software you use for this? I need to get stuck in examining adaptations in theory before going mental with my circular saw. :)
Thanks again for your contribution!
Oh, and Gern - your build looks wizard!
HaRuMaN:
--- Quote from: stigzler on May 08, 2013, 03:11:48 pm ---I'm sooooo frustrated about the LCD monitor situation though! All I can seem to find are widescreen ones on ebay. Am desperate fro a 4:3 to get maximum height for my width!
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Must not be looking very hard, then. ;)
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Dell+UltraSharp+2001FP