N00b build: Taito cab

[PIZZ]

Ok noob build here. First time building one of these. My goal is to try and keep this under budget and pretty lightweight yet sturdy as ill be moving this around.
I went with hardwood ply, it's sturdy has a nice finish. Also didn't want to kick up a toxic mdf dust storm. My only tools for the project are a jigsaw, circular saw and a screwgun.. oh and the trusty dremel.  BTW how do I add images to a post?? it keeps redirecting me to my HD

[darthpaul]

I am in the process of putting together a budget as well for a new cabinet and 'm looking at between $600 - $700, not including the monitor and PC.
To add pictures go to the top of this forum and go into the "Re: NOT A PROJECT - Thread for Posting Images to Link in our project threads" thread, post a reply, click on "Addition options" and add your pictures, then post them. When you want to add those pictures to a thread, Post a reply, click on the "insert image" icon, go back to where you added your pictures in the Not a Project thread, click on the picture, copy the address and paste it into your reply.       

[bigmatty77]

Good to see someone else building a Tait-O-Rama clone with limited tools  How will you tackling the cp? Mine is quite different from the original as its all wood. Will you be doing it metal? Good luck with your build, i will be following your progress 

[PIZZ]

Thanks. Ok side panels cut. i freehanded with the arc with a jigsaw. The arc was a little tricky to get right at first but turned out good I think.
Excuse the crappy cell phone pics ill have my other camera soon!



I got the base done. Left a 4" lip to cover the bottom. The door will be 4" shorter then in the plans.
Also added casters. I had regular caster wheels but returned them for these locking ones instead. I didnt want to have the cabinet wobbling around.

[PIZZ]

Good to see someone else building a Tait-O-Rama clone with limited tools  How will you tackling the cp? Mine is quite different from the original as its all wood. Will you be doing it metal? Good luck with your build, i will be following your progress 

Im going to do it in MDF and cover that with a steel plate. Not sure if ill make a hinge or have a detachable CP...planning this as I go along!

[bigmatty77]

Yeah cutting that curve can be nerve-wracking but looks like you nailed it, excellent start 

[Louis Tully]

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[PIZZ]

finally been able to make some progress on the cab. Been busy with this and that so Its been slow moving.
After multiple trips to Home depot...






The real magic happens with this stuff


Those cabinet latches were a real  pain in the ass to get on correctly! Since im using 1/2" paneling I had to drill a hole all the way through the paneling. The latches sit just flush with the hole. Lots of putty should cover things nicely.



So far its coming along, slowly albeit. Now just sizing up the top board and trying to get my CP art done.

[bigmatty77]

Coming along nicely man, woodwork looks a lot cleaner than mine  but yeah wood filler is definitely your friend 

Have you chose a colour scheme /theme yet?

[PIZZ]

Thanks ya there are a few little things here and there that could be covered up with putty but overall for a first time build im pretty satisfied so far. As for the theme, I want to keep the old school Taito but it's still up in the air right now..

[PIZZ]

Im working on the CP and beginning a teardown of the x-arcade stick thats been lying around collecting dust. I might upgrade later but for now this will do. I also had a few marquees printed. I decided to go with a generic CP art and have rotating marquees.

[PIZZ]

inching along... I got the CP built. I went with a piano hinge in the rear. No bolts, gravity takes care of the rest. Im glad it works well because I didnt want to have to use clamp hinges.






Im using a 22" monitor because I plan on using my PS3 along with my laptop to run 16:9 games. I wanted to easily take out the monitor if I needed to so I decided not to bolt on the monitor bracket, instead using support braces and letting gravity keep it locked down. Because of the angle that it sits on, it stays in place pretty solid.

[Scott87z]

It's coming along nice.  I especially like the curves and contemplating doing something similar wuth my cab.   

[javeryh]

I would figure out how to secure the CP closed.  Once people start playing they are going to be pulling it up all the time.  Cabinet looks great by the way.

[wp34]

Looking good.  I like that it is slim but still looks like a Taito.   

[PIZZ]

Thanks, ya I like the Taito style. I like that Its lightweight yet sturdy. I live in a condo in the city and have limited space so I didnt want to have a huge cab weighing a ton.

Javeryh: ya I think I agree, I might have to add some sort of lock to the CP. The standard latches wont work though because of how the CP sits in there. Ill have to figure something out?!

[DCsegaDH]

I like the design, its slim, but it keeps the classic arcade look too.

[bigmatty77]

Great work so far PIZZ. For holding down the CP, have you thought of using industrial strength velcro? I know i've seen it used succesfully in other builds on here?

[PIZZ]

Great work so far PIZZ. For holding down the CP, have you thought of using industrial strength velcro? I know i've seen it used succesfully in other builds on here?

Thanks I might give it a try. Ive used it before on other things. That stuff definitely has amazing grip. I was thinking of using those swing type latches too. 

[PIZZ]

Got some things done on my cab. One of them being the vent covers. I got the idea to use these PVC ones from WP34 on his cool Tron cab build:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=116519.0



ALso added the Plexi monitor front and speaker hood. Im giving new life to the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers I was using on my TV.These babies sound amazing for the size they are. massive bass! I plan on adding a Jukebox function to the cab so these would be pretty sweet.

[PIZZ]

Few more pics of my half assed cab. I got most the major stuff out of the way.

I tried to bend the plexi for the CP but kept screwing up the bend with the heat gun. After alot of frustration, I decided to cut the plexi in two and use a beveled steel piece across the CP.


For the marquee light I found these outdoor LED christmas lights I had lying around. Not pretty but it works  






I wrapped the CP in black leather-ish vinyl until I can figure out what to do with the art but actually kind of like it all black.







A few finishing touches needed on the paint. Still need to add the monitor bezel. A little nip and tuck on the wiring too.
As for the side panel art im thinking of stenciling the Tatio cab art like this..

[Louis Tully]

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[Le Chuck]

The CP looks great as is.  Plexi can be tricky to work with the first few times.  I always use dowel rods and a propane torch to make my bends, once the heat penetrates all the layers it starts to bend on it's own so you end up using a lot less heat than you think you would need.  Depending on how the piece is going sometimes I have to clamp it down to avoid warping but that is only if I heated the center more than the ends.  I think the Kram or Pirate Pete colors would be really sharp, so would doing red rather than black in the Pirate Pete.  Keep it up 

[bigmatty77]

Looking good PIZZ, you've made some great progress on this, i like what you did with the CP, though i'm glad i didn't attempt the curve myself now 

Is your cab playable now?

[wp34]

Im giving new life to the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers I was using on my TV.These babies sound amazing for the size they are. massive bass! I plan on adding a Jukebox function to the cab so these would be pretty sweet.

You ain't kidding there.  They are the best sounding computer speakers I've ever heard.  I'm using those in my cab as well.   

Your cabinet looks great so far.  I like your marquee light solution.  Does it light up fairly bright?

[PIZZ]

That's a bummer about the plexi... I've never tried but always assumed it would be a PITA to bend that stuff. Although it still looks f'in awesome with the metal bar.   Very clean looking build. Something to be proud of for sure. Cool way to reuse the Christmas lights.

Thanks ya it funny how many things I thought about trashing at one point that actually came in handy

Is your cab playable now?

Its playable...somewhat. Im waiting on the Smart strip I ordered. I have some wiring issues to iron out because I had a few friends put it through its paces and one of the joysticks gave out  

I think the Kram or Pirate Pete colors would be really sharp, so would doing red rather than black in the Pirate Pete.  Keep it up  

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Im leaning towards the Kram but I like the Pirate Pete color idea too

I like your marquee light solution.  Does it light up fairly bright?

Ya those speakers are awesome, I had to go in and adjust the keyboard tray because the bass was rattling it like mad  
The lights are just right. Not too bright or too dim. Since the marque comes up about eye level I didnt want it so bright that it was distracting while playing

[PIZZ]

Just started by side stencil. Will post pics

[PIZZ]

Just have a issue hoping someone can solve here, I have everything hooked up to a Smartstrip and have my PS3 as my console of choice running in the cab right now. When I turn on the PS3, the whole cabinet turns on. 

Question is I want to add a coin door to the cab and want to have it so when I add a coin the whole cab turns on instead of using the PS3 power button. Does anyone have any advice on how to do this??