Author Topic: The Spike - 100% Complete [formerly VertVigolix] (Read 22875 times)

DrChek · « **on:** April 29, 2012, 10:23:30 pm »

[EDIT: Final Product]

Inspired by Vigo's visionary arcade design detailed in this thread, I was inspired to build a classic vertical variant with a spare monitor and computer I had lying around. Six hours of work later I have this:

BTW, I'm only calling it VertVigolix until I can come up with something better. I've already ordered a Zero Delay Encoder (from Vigo!), a Zippyy Stick, three player buttons, a coin and a start button for some straight up classic vertical action. The thing is perfect adult sitting height and just right for my seven year old son to play as a stand-up machine. Thanks to Vigo's economical design I should be done with it at a price that is under $150!

Here is what it will look like next to my bartop that is sitting on a little table in my office:

crashwg · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2012, 10:27:50 pm »

It's a race to see if you can finish your cab before the one that inspired it!

DrChek · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2012, 10:36:09 pm »

A few differences from Vigo's design of note:

I tilted the bottom kickplate panel back square with the ground instead of continuing the angle of the front edge. I did this to give the player a little toe room while playing.
I also added two 2x4 pieces as a "floor" behind the kickplate. This was done to add some heft to the base and counteract the top heaviness that the monitor creates. To be honest, the thing was pretty stable before I added the 2x4's but If my son is going to be yanking on the controls I felt it could use a more solid base.

What's amazing is that 90% of what you see is from a single 2'x4' sheet of plywood!

Nephasth · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2012, 11:21:07 pm »

Quote from: DrChek on April 29, 2012, 10:36:09 pm

To be honest, the thing was pretty stable before I added the 2x4's but If my son is going to be yanking on the controls I felt it could use a more solid base.

You're son looks super excited about it!

Like that the paint scheme is similar to Vigo's, kind of gives these things that Taito paint scheme feel.

404 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2012, 11:47:47 pm »

I'm beyond jealous. You did a great job! I'm seriously considering having one last attempt at making a cab, possibly using the plans i sketched out using vigo's outline. I just really wish i was a better woodworker and most importantly, had better tools.

Pretty sure you can add a full atx motherboard, hard drive and power supply in the back without any issues whatsoever. I also agree with Nephasth, the schemes also do have a tinge of taito retro in them. I'd rock just about any of the color schemes.

emphatic · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2012, 07:24:24 am »

I hope this is just the beginning of "the VigoLix explosion" of many more similar builds!

not_so_handy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:36:25 am »

that is a pretty cool looking unit. I imagine it is quite light as well

I only wish I got that far in 6 hours on mine....

opt2not · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2012, 02:55:48 pm »

Yay! Glad you're taking on Vigo's build as a vertical cabinet. I was saying how it would make a really nice solo shmuppin' setup.

Keeping an eye on this as well as Vigo's!

DrChek · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2012, 03:10:34 pm »

After painting this week I'm ready to put it all together this weekend. Been thinking about the CPO art. Something minimal and basic, like the cabinet. Thoughts on this?

404 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2012, 04:28:14 pm »

^^ personally, i prefer the start button horizontally mainly because this is going to be a shooter cab. in shooters you tend to smash fire buttons quite a bit. you could inadvertently hit the start button instead of the third fire button. That's just a personal preference of mine.

Speaking of personal preferences, when are you going to build me one?

DrChek · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2012, 12:45:03 am »

I'm essentially done!

All that is needed now is a piece of plexi for the bezel, CPO and marquee vinyl, and a little wiring management for all the components. Here is a picture of the final paint job.

I'd post one of the thing up and running but I've got some vertical shooters to play.

[EDIT: OK Here's one. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics. BTW that computer on the ground is not the one running this build. That's for my yet to be started full size upright.]

kalars123 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2012, 01:26:26 am »

looks great wish i could get my build off the ground, got all the hardware and wood just finding time to start building. Is that a 4:3 or 16:9/16:10 monitor i'm going to use a 16:10 and it looks great but man does it make the games TALL, also what front end are you using? do you have windows rotated or just standard?

DrChek · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2012, 01:28:22 am »

Quote from: kalars123 on May 05, 2012, 01:26:26 am

looks great wish i could get my build off the ground, got all the hardware and wood just finding time to start building. Is that a 4:3 or 16:9/16:10 monitor i'm going to use a 16:10 and it looks great but man does it make the games TALL, also what front end are you using? do you have windows rotated or just standard?

It's a 17" 4:3. I have windows set up rotated and the frontend is MaLa.

DrChek · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2012, 03:15:53 pm »

Taking some advice I finalized my button layout and I'm continuing to develop the artwork. The name I'm thinking of is The Spike with artwork as such.

Trying to keep it simple and classic.

yotsuya · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2012, 03:26:05 pm »

The Spike is a great name and really fits the cab.

Vigo · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2012, 03:42:24 pm »

I didn't notice your thread until now. It looks fantastic!

Your design changes look great as well. Great improvements all around I love what you did with the front panels.

You might easily finish before me as well. I haven't posted all my progress, but this is essentially about as far as I am. I can't wait to see the final product!

emphatic · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2012, 04:07:04 pm »

Great name!

Nephasth · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2012, 05:08:01 pm »

I like the name. Maybe have the shape of letter "I" in the marquee match the profile of the cab?

DrChek · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2012, 06:14:58 pm »

Quote from: Nephasth on May 07, 2012, 05:08:01 pm

I like the name. Maybe have the shape of letter "I" in the marquee match the profile of the cab?

That was my initial idea but it looked a little wonky.

Vidiot · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2012, 07:23:01 am »

This is fantastic. The name is awesome and fitting. Also, I really like the changes you made to the CP art.

DrChek · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2012, 07:57:12 pm »

An action shot:

crashwg · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2012, 10:05:32 pm »

So effin cool. If I had a spare LCD lying around I'd go to Home Depot tomorrow and start building.

opt2not · « **Reply #22 on:** May 09, 2012, 02:19:08 am »

That turned out really nice! Shmups on that must be a blast!

404 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2012, 05:56:36 pm »

I absolutely must have one of these!

great job!

BobA · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2012, 11:50:41 pm »

Nice looking mini cab. Less is more

DrChek · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2012, 03:28:28 pm »

Got the artwork in place so I'm totally done on this one!

Vidiot · « **Reply #26 on:** May 25, 2012, 05:06:04 pm »

Nicely done man. I love the artwork too!

geomartin · « **Reply #27 on:** May 25, 2012, 05:12:24 pm »

Awsome job and I love the artwork. Looks like a dedicated cabinet.

Vigo · « **Reply #28 on:** May 25, 2012, 05:22:28 pm »

I really like the tinted plexi you used. My art board marquee isn't quite cutting it. I might be making the switch. Where did you get the plexi at?

DrChek · « **Reply #29 on:** May 25, 2012, 05:29:11 pm »

Quote from: Vigo on May 25, 2012, 05:22:28 pm

I really like the tinted plexi you used. My art board marquee isn't quite cutting it. I might be making the switch. Where did you get the plexi at?

It's actually a matte board and tinted plexi. It was from Home Depot. Bronze tint, which worried me, but it looks great for not much money. For $30 I got enough for The Spike, redid my bartop glass and still have enough to spare to do another VigoLix.

drventure · « **Reply #30 on:** May 25, 2012, 05:48:55 pm »

Nice job. I love the clean lines and simplicity.

dandare · « **Reply #31 on:** May 25, 2012, 10:19:06 pm »

wonderful!

RetroGreg · « **Reply #32 on:** May 25, 2012, 11:57:30 pm »

I love it. Great job

dandare · « **Reply #33 on:** May 26, 2012, 05:21:54 am »

forgive me if i'm being dense or scrolled past a post, but where are the speakers?

im guessing some could be tossed in the back easily enough without any holes needing cut (due to the backless design)

or does the monitor have built in ones?

Drnick · « **Reply #34 on:** May 26, 2012, 08:24:23 am »

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=119909.0;attach=185045;image

DrChek · « **Reply #35 on:** May 26, 2012, 08:55:19 am »

Quote from: dandare on May 26, 2012, 05:21:54 am

forgive me if i'm being dense or scrolled past a post, but where are the speakers?

im guessing some could be tossed in the back easily enough without any holes needing cut (due to the backless design)

or does the monitor have built in ones?

They are mounted in the back. Look at at the behind picture again.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #36 on:** May 26, 2012, 09:58:48 am »

Great build!

dandare · « **Reply #37 on:** May 26, 2012, 11:12:22 am »

oh yeah. there they are

the bad-ass colour scheme must of drawn my eye away!

once again great build

alfonzotan · « **Reply #38 on:** May 27, 2012, 01:30:17 pm »

That's really nice work. Strikes me as very Tempest-like visually.

swaffar · « **Reply #39 on:** May 29, 2012, 03:36:16 pm »

Very nice!


Main	Restorations	Software	Audio/Jukebox/MP3	Everything Else	Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements	Monitor/Video	GroovyMAME	Merit/JVL Touchscreen	Meet Up	Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing	Woodworking	Software Support Forums	Consoles	Project Arcade	Reviews
Automated Projects	Artwork	Frontend Support Forums	Pinball	Forum Discussion	Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board	controls.dat	Linux	Miscellaneous Arcade	Wiki Discussion	Old Archives
Lightguns	Arcade1Up	Try the site in https mode		Site News


Unread posts \| New Replies \| Recent posts \| Rules \| Chatroom \| Wiki \| File Repository \| RSS \| Submit news