Mission Control Project: 5 years on, what to do with the leftovers?

[Pixelhugger]

Unlike previous construction updates, this one involves actual parts of the final cabinet. WHOO HOO! I bought the actual plexi for the marquee today on my lunch break. 1/4" thick. 10.5 SQUARE FEET TOTAL! The marquee gets sandwiched between the two bent sheets. The rear piece is frosted to serve as a diffuser without diminishing light transfer as much white plexi would.

The guys at the plastic store said plexi would bend easier than lexan (polycarbonate)... in fact they seemed to think lexan would burn under heat which makes me think I've been dealing with plexi and not lexan all along.

These will be bent by the weekend or sooner. I've learned my lesson and will resist saying they'll be bent tonight.

[Pixelhugger]

where is this 84 dollar update...?

HEH- Boss walked in while I was updating. Had to wait a sec... So I guess modifying the subject heading generates a notification email. Wow.

[Flinkly]

i don't have this on notify...i do check the project announcements everyday when i'm at the comp.

[spriggy]

I like ... I like very much..!

I should have said it a lot earlier... How rude of me!

Anything with it's own flyer dares to be on top of the pile.

[Flinkly]

ok, now it says "houston, we have a marquee...", but no marquee.

[Pixelhugger]

Well despite the best efforts to catch the cool blue torch flames it's just not to be. In fact the torches look like they're turned off. But at least you can see how hot they are by looking at the brass flame spreader nozzle attachment thingie which looks like it just got pulled out of a blacksmiths forge.

This is the "inner" or back panel of the marquee. It's frosted to disperse the backlighting, but in thinking about it that's probably uneccessary, unless I print the marquee on translite or something similarly transparent.

[Pixelhugger]

This took significantly longer to bend than the test piece. This is a full 1/4" whereas the test scrap was actually 3/16".  Who'd a thunk a 1/16" would mae a difference.

Due to a bit of bowing in the test bend, I clamped a strip of wood along the edge to keep the bend more consistent. After the intial bend I pressed a metal yardstick against the down side and continued heating. Haven't looked at it in the daylight, but in the garage last night it seems to have made a huge difference.

[Santoro]

Looks like a nice straight bend.

[Pixelhugger]

wait, you spent 84 dollars on plexiglass?

With pride.

[Pixelhugger]

Looks like a nice straight bend.

[armax]

Yeah people usually complete planning before announcing a project.

[Santoro]

FWIW, my comment wasn't meant as a jab, but an actual welcome.  I liked the planning parts as well though.

[Pixelhugger]

FWIW, my comment wasn't meant as a jab, but an actual welcome.

[armax]

Don't get me wrong, I love progress pics.  But cmon, even you have to admit that is is pretty drawn out.  9 pages and you've got plexiglass.  I think people are interested (heck, I am for that matter) but I think you can leave out posts such as *I went to the store and looked at paint*, *Let me tell you my decision process on what type of woodscrews I'm using*, etc...

I love this project, but 99% is filler.  You could just as effectively condense all your posts into 1 post without loosing informative content.  Quality, not quantity.  That being said, the cab you are proposing is unique and very well thought out.  Kudos for the vision.

[Pixelhugger]

Well, yes there is some filler. Definitely. I suppose, for example posting a picture of the light diffusion is clearly unneccessary.   Point taken.   

[Wienerdog]

Pixel,
I'll be the first to say not to listen to armax, he is completely off base.

[Pixelhugger]

Thanks Wienerdog! I admit my responses can be a bit blog like. But as I told another BYOACer you never know what little comment will jog some idea or other in someone else's head.

[armax]

I'm not trying to put him down in anyway.

[dema]

The reason that there is so much "filler" is that this project is thinking so far out of the traditional arcade box that it's obviously reinvented the self-constructed arcade community. People have not seen this level of creativity or attention to detail before, and this screams innovation.

I personally love that he's giving a blow by blow because he's coming up with new ideas and walking us through them. For those looking for inspiration beyond the traditional rectangular cube this is exciting. For others looking for the basics this is drawn out. Wait until you see what he inspires the community to accomplish and you'll understand why this is such an extensive and widely read thread.

[Felsir]

Yep, I agree: this project reads like a blog which is great IMHO. The thought that goes into this project is a fun read. Also the enthusiasm Pixel has makes a lot of people follow this thread with great interest.
The 'open' communication (lot's of replies, questions and answers - and great idea's) make this a 'discovery channel'-like thread to me 

So, my opinion: Pixelhugger - keep posting!

[armax]

Well I guess the bigger question is.....is that right forum for a blog?   I would think that a blog would be better served on a personal website.  Take a look at the hall of famers, lots of creativity there but they have a website for blogs.  The goldmine was pretty lengthy but the thread was a literally a blow-by-blow account of his creative thoughts ALONG WITH construction.  Lots of thought has gone into most of these cabs along with ideas that has changed the boundaries of conventional construction (supercade, mom's arcade, goldmine, etc...).  It's his thread but I do sense that at this rate, the thread will end up getting locked which would be a disappointment for all of us.  I can honestly say that this is the first blog-like thread that I've read....

[nostrebor]

There is no conceiveable way to measure the impact that Pixel's cabinet and thread will have. I read this thread and instantly feel  "connected" to his thought process. It reminds me to pay attention to the little details, and of how I think through a project. It also reminds me that a really great piece of work takes time.

There are plenty of construction threads to read on this board. There is only one thread like this one. It is quite simple to skip over one thread if it is not your cup of tea

I personally say "keep the supposed mundane details coming."

Dave.

[Nocturnaloner]

All I can say is, "that's some tasty filler!"

Blog on, Pixel.  Blog on.

 

[AmericanDemon]

Pixel you should rename this thread....  "Thinking about Making a Unique Cabinet?  Same here, follow me on the journey."  Or yeah.  Just keep it up.  Watch out for those nasty bosses they take it right out of ya!

[armax]

Nostrebore and americandemon, cmon now.  No one is bossing him around nor is the "if you don't like it, don't read it"    mentality called for.  It's merely a suggestion.  I'm just saying that I don't think this project will get much respect from the veterans of the community at this point.  Overhype and underachievment don't fare well here as you can see from some of the other vets here.  I agree with others here with keeping up the good work, now let's just see some work.   He should rename it to "mission control project Blog" but it's his thread.  Like I said before, I don't want to see this thread locked for being inappropriate.

[nostrebor]

Nostrebore and americandemon, cmon now.  No one is bossing him around nor is the "if you don't like it, don't read it"    mentality called for.  It's merely a suggestion.  I'm just saying that I don't think this project will get much respect from the veterans of the community at this point.  Overhype and underachievment don't fare well here as you can see from some of the other vets here.  I agree with others here with keeping up the good work, now let's just see some work.   He should rename it to "mission control project Blog" but it's his thread.  Like I said before, I don't want to see this thread locked for being inappropriate.

I cannot understand the sensitivity of this forum's members to the...

 "if you don't like it, don't read it"    mentality"

When I walk up to a magazine rack, I do not read, cover-to-cover, every magazine. Some I know for a fact that they will not interest me. I will not be knitting anytime soon, so I do not pick up Knitting Illustrated. Others I browse through, and if their "format" or "content" turn me off, I put them back on the rack, never to be picked up again. Now I did not say "IF YOU DON"T LIKE IT... etc." I said it may not be your cup of tea. Just like Knitting Illustrated, you do not share in someone Else's interest in that particular field.

I'm not picking here. Just a bit confused as to why this is out of line?

 ...It's merely a suggestion. I'm just saying that I don't think this project will get much respect from the veterans of the community at this point.  Overhype and underachievement don't fare well here as you can see from some of the other vets here.

This comment is a bit stronger than suggestion. I think Pixel has more than demonstrated to the community that he is not an "underachiever" Just look at his artwork, or the effort he has put into bending 1/4" plexi! What you are witnessing is a passion for his creation, in convenient thread form.

but it's his thread.  Like I said before, I don't want to see this thread locked for being inappropriate.

You are absolutely right. It is his thread... and I predict that our friendly conversation is doing exponentionally more harm than his progress reports (or lack thereof as you contend ) It has been my experience that these types of discussions are the reason for thread locking in this forum. I have yet to witness a lockdown over a plexi bending demonstration.

 I, even more than you, would like to see this thread stay on topic - The topic of mundane details that make a good cabinet great.

That is all I have to say.

Oh, except it is Nostrebor. no E is required

[AmericanDemon]

My bossing comment was in regards to his real life boss.  Not as in someone bossing him around on the forums.  See he has some issues with authority at his RL job at times.  They just dont appreciate the amount of time and effort he puts into the BYOAC community.  Maybe they do, after all they pay him to do it. 

[Ghoward]

I like his renders and the plans of the cab myself however I wouldn't want to do all that extra work.

This cab has been going on since 2003 and still nothing built. I'm sorry I would have wanted to get it built so I could show it off to the world. But with that said their is nothing wrong with this thread he just wants to be able to visualize the cab before he builds it and make sure he likes the results. After all its not cheap making a cab from scratch.

I can't wait to see the finished machine, I hope he gets it done soon.....

Gary

[Santoro]

We seem to be losing sight of the fact that this is a hobby, and that no one owes anyone anything.  I can't believe people are actually whining about the lack of progress. 

Do you guys have new babies?  Do you have any idea what Pixels real life is like?

How much are you paying for his progress?  That is how much value you should expect in return.

[Pixelhugger]

I really appreciate all the support! I absolutely love that other people feel a part of this project - it's exactly what I love about being part of BYOAC. I've got a bunch of threads on autonotify because I look forward to sharing in others' excitement too. Armax... I know you're not ranting and I can understand your frustration. The lack of physical progress on the cab is more frustrating to me than anyone else, you can be sure of that!

As far as the chatty nature of the thread, if it is really that much more blog like than any other... that won't go away any time soon. It's just who I am and what this project is about. The thread will not get locked. It's one of the top ten most read threads in the history of BYOAC. Why lock it unless it gets offensive? At my worst I'm nowhere near as OT in this thread than I've seen regularly in many many many others. And going OT is no reason to lock a thread anyway.

As far as progress goes, I consider the marquee as much a part of actual construction as any other part. It is, in fact, the part of construction that most intimidated me... precisely because of how much actual construction it involved. These latest bends are not prototyping, testing or proof of concept. They are structural parts of the finished cab.

[quarterback]

9 pages and you've got plexiglass.

[armax]

That's exaggerating a little quaterback.  I'm simply saying (and would concurr with pixelhugger that it's not so much the potential for a locked thread as it would be OT....it may end up in arcade miscellaneous as a project announcement implies a project in progress....not so much brainstorming) actual progress of a cab would be appropriate in a project announcement, wouldn't you agree? 

Santuro, no drama please.  The melodramatic lecture overshadows even my "whining".

I can't emphasize enough how much I look forward to this project, but a thread that started in 2003 can hardly be called a project but rather idea tweaking.  Though the plexiglas construction is definitely a step forward.  I would love to see every single detail of construction, but idea tweaking is more formulating a project rather than starting one. 

Consider my dissenting voice on this thread a representation of many who eagerly await the inception of this concept albeit an impatient one.

[DrewKaree]

bluezero?  suboakleyz?  Meh, whatever, it seems to be a combination of the two, however you look at it

Pixel, thank goodness you showed us Toyworks in progress, as well as every other picture, and thank you for trusting us to not only offer you useful help, but to dish out shite, and for taking it in the spirit it was intended.

Change a thing in your process, and those who think you worthy enough of ripping on you to show you some lub will make you pine for those long-ago days of humor at your expense

[DrewKaree]

p.s.

thanks for your blogs for the token designs, shirt designs, CP designs, marquee designs, jukebox artwork designs, tutorials for Photodorkshop noobs, etc.

We look forward to the companion coffee table book which will complement your website, thread, images, and blogs.

[Santoro]

bluezero? suboakleyz? Meh, whatever, it seems to be a combination of the two, however you look at it

*Ding Ding Ding.*

[AmericanDemon]

bluezero? suboakleyz? Meh, whatever, it seems to be a combination of the two, however you look at it

*Ding Ding Ding.* 


 

Hehehhee

[armax]

Armax,

I feel strongly that you are not going to sway the opinions of those who watch this thread with interest, although you keep trying.

[nostrebor]

For the benefit of Pixel's post, can we get back to talking about building stuff? Please? It is obvious at this point the the discussion is deteriorating. Once the word "troll" comes out it is usually all over

I will personally start a new thread in the Everything Else forum to continue this "conversation" if armax would like, but let's stop slinging mud all over Pixel's project.

[armax]

nostrebor, sounds good.  Sorry If I dragged down the thread.  Pixelhugger, Do you have a tentative "to-do-list" on the project?  I'd like to see the planning stages on your order of events for this project.   Sort of like a NASA countdown checklist....lol...it's actually fitting given the name of the project.

[quarterback]

That's exaggerating a little quaterback.