Jamma cabinet conversion to Mame (working on artwork)

[Automark]

Hi there, a couple of months ago I decided that I needed  an arcade machine. So I visited a lot of online forums and webshops to figure out how to build one. It was clear that it would be an mame based machine, so I could play all the oldies.  Finally I made a nice design for it and bought all the necessary mdf and arcade control stuff. But when I came home after buying the wood I found an online ad from a guy selling old jamma cabinets for nearly nothing (€ 56,- / $70,-). So I had a look at his shop an bought an old dirty cabinet 

This is how it arrived, no monitor and no locks, but with a cool cupholder on top, 2 ashtrays, coin doors, speakers etc.


The old jamma wiring and a lot of dust.It looked like it was repaired like a million times. A lot of soldering and tape.
Cool, a maintenance guy's light, I will use that again


Marquee holder and lighting




Start builing the new control panel, I used the old joysticks although I have a nice set of Sanwa's as well.

I replaced 4 play buttons because they broke while I tried to remove them, and put 2 new 1/2player start buttons, because the old ones where really dirty.

[Automark]

Ready cp with the ipac 2

Reusing the old power connector, switch and fusebox





Reinstalling the electronics, this is the old service control panel. From an old pc amplifier on 12V, I used the pcb to attach to the control panel via the potentiometer so I could use the old volume control knob.

To power the amp I used a seperate 12v adapter, because using the pc's psu caused a humming noise. The terminal block on the right I put there so in the future I have there a 5v and 12v connection.


Made of the Mdf I already bought  a monitor support frame. I used a NEC Multisync LCD2170NX. And the top I covered with black paper.

Installed the motherboard of an old pc (HP DC5000 Sff PIV HT 3.0 Ghz)

[Automark]

Rewired the coinmech, and glued 2 leds on the coin return button. On the back an extra fan to get some cool air.


Yeah we have power , the 2 service buttons are now pc on/off and the other to show the voltage 


And yeah, finally ready to play


The next step is replacing the t molding, the molding on this one isn't the nicest anymore, and I have ordered nice shiny black Tmolding for this.

Maybe I will repair the sides as well, because years in an arcade left a lot of bruises.

So the next steps will be:

- maybe paint the sides
- side artwork
- marquee, I like the original defender one

[Automark]

yeah, i finally got the Tmolding, so I this weekend I'll make a start with it 

But, .... I forgot to thank you all 

Without this forum I'd probably never finished my arcade in such a short time.

 

[Automark]

Now the machine is more or less finished, I'd like to build something else, but I really don't know what to build.
The guy who sold me the old cabinet now sell some more cabinets,

now he also sells these, has anyone an idea for those?



but he tripled the prices since I got mine 

Or a bartop, or a ..... 


edit: to bad that here in spain there are no classic arcade cabinets, Id like to have an old donkey kong and especially a defender

[Automark]

After a couple of months playing  i got annoyed with the outside of the cab, it has been for years in an arcade so it's very battered.

So it is time for a little makeover 
I like the artwork from the big names from the good old times, and after a quick round-up I decided to go for the space invaders look. I like the midway artwork more than the artwork of taito, but not the sideart of the midway cab, so after some    illustrator work, I came up with this, not finished yet, but it gives a good impression of what I want:



ok, it is not original for the space invaders cab, but hey my whole cab is just a cheap a*s jamma cab, and I think I will like it a lot

[Malenko]

I'd get rid of the pizza buttons and put some regular ones on there.

[Automark]

You're right, they are pretty ugly, and don't play very nice as well, but i need 4 buttons for some games, and i do not really want to drill in the CP.
Maybe better to make a complete new CP and than only single player and right a trackball. I never play fight games or play with 2 people so I think that shouldn't be a problem.

[Nephasth]

You're right, they are pretty ugly, and don't play very nice as well, but i need 4 buttons for some games, and i do not really want to drill in the CP.

They make the same style button as your triples in a double. Still, they don't play that nice, but just a thought. The Beast had the same style as yours when it was just a fledgling. They're great for ops converting games, but not so great for players. I went the whole new CP route, and I'm glad I did.

[Malenko]

yeah I didnt just mean aesthetics , for me they were never great to use. Look at my ShoRyuKade thread and what that control panel looks like under the paper and plastic of the overlay 

[Automark]

Maybe I really should replace the whole cp, I am also not a big fan of the current plexiglass on top. But I also want to replace the lcd with a brand new 19" philips crt I found online. Man, are you ever finished with these machines ? 

But first working on the side-art, I just made a little mock-up of how it will look like with the design I made, it is all in vectors so now rearrange all the elements so it will fit on the side, but in general I already like it.

edit, new mock-up with slightly improved design