Author Topic: Vertical Mini-Cabaret (un-named) (Read 14261 times)

Minwah · « **on:** May 16, 2013, 10:01:20 am »

I've been planning this for several months, and at times the weather in the UK is almost good enough to actually do something outside, so I'm thinking about getting on with it at last...

Basically a mini-cabaret mainly inspired by the Atari woodgrain cabarets of the early 80's. It will have a vertical screen (de-cased Scart 14" CRT TV), driven by Soft15khz from an old P4 PC I have.

I'm not 100% sure about the ergonomics but it's intended to be played sat on a 'normal' chair, so it's pretty low. Dimensions are 376mm (W) x 1040mm (H) x 635mm (D). The height figure doesn't include the base, which I will need to try out to find the best height.

The model is not completely accurate but good enough. Most of the panels will be laminated black, with the side panels of course being woodgrain laminate.

Termin8tor · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2013, 10:38:01 am »

Looks good to me. I hear what your saying about the weather.

emphatic · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2013, 05:55:18 pm »

That's a cool looking cabinet.

dextercf · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2013, 06:27:27 pm »

Cool idea there!
One thing draw My attention, the spinner is hard to reach comfortable perhaps?

Superfrog · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2013, 06:32:36 pm »

Very nice looking design.

I'm also using a 14" crt tv in Popeye build that I working on right now.
So it's gonna be a big beast

Looking forward to your w.i.p.

PL1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2013, 06:45:37 pm »

The trackball and spinner look like they're way too close together.

What size/style of trackball are you planning on using for this?

Scott

Minwah · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2013, 04:05:04 am »

Quote from: dextercf on May 16, 2013, 06:27:27 pm

One thing draw My attention, the spinner is hard to reach comfortable perhaps?

Quote from: PL1 on May 16, 2013, 06:45:37 pm

The trackball and spinner look like they're way too close together.

I hear you, and would usually agree. However with such a small control panel (340mm x 140mm) they cannot be any further apart (the only space below the panel is around the buttons). Obviously I could get rid of the trackball and/or spinner (originally I was just going to have the spinner), but there are just a few games I would like the trackball & spinner for...and I'm not going to try to play Golden Tee or anything like that.

Quote

What size/style of trackball are you planning on using for this?

This one:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118979.0.html

Honestly I don't know if the controls will work ok or not until I try it - if it's no good I will make a sacrifice.

Minwah · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2013, 04:07:31 am »

Quote from: Superfrog on May 16, 2013, 06:32:36 pm

I'm also using a 14" crt tv in Popeye build that I working on right now.
So it's gonna be a big beast

Love it - extra kudos for using a CRT! Look forward to seeing that finished.

404 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2013, 10:48:18 am »

Awesome project!

Been looking for something similar in my area for a long time now.

Minwah · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2013, 05:54:18 pm »

I've slowly been making progress, all the rectangular panels cut, and one of the side panels (not quite finished).

With the exception of one panel which is a few mm too big, I seem to have cut everything correct...

Minwah · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2013, 06:52:53 pm »

Finished cutting the panels and t-molding slots. Dowel joints next...

Minwah · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2013, 06:04:42 am »

Dowel jointed the front/base/rear bottom, and top/rear top panels together (not glued yet).

Cut the marquee, coin mech & screen cutouts. Also drilled a hole for the power button on the top panel.

Need to do a few minor woodworking jobs and start laminating panels. Getting a trifle annoyed with the weather - every time I get my work bench & tools out it starts raining.

Minwah · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:08:50 pm »

Had a week off work and the weather has been scorching for a change, so got quite a lot done...

Top panel laminated both sides, glass groove cut, and dowelled to monitor support panel:

Minwah · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:10:17 pm »

Assembling:

Minwah · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:11:28 pm »

Assembled...sides need to be laminated:

Minwah · « **Reply #15 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:12:09 pm »

Laminated side:

Minwah · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:13:32 pm »

Done!

I've put the PC in, just need to finish the mains, speaker and power button wiring.

Minwah · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:14:43 pm »

(Plus of course marquee, control panel, glass and bezel. I've put the t-molding on).

404 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2013, 08:34:04 am »

Absolutely love it. I'd love to make a horizontal version.

Minwah · « **Reply #19 on:** July 16, 2013, 05:59:05 pm »

Thanks 404!

It lives!

Minwah · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2013, 06:20:12 am »

The guts:

markc74 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 17, 2013, 07:34:35 am »

Love this cab!

Building a vertical cab is the only way to play the classics

Always good to see CRT and loving that laminate. Can I ask where you got it?

Minwah · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2013, 07:42:12 am »

Quote from: markc74 on July 17, 2013, 07:34:35 am

Always good to see CRT and loving that laminate. Can I ask where you got it?

Thanks!

Sure, I used Formica Jet Black (F6468 Shell) and Sombre Walnut (F5147). Got it from here (Swindon branch):

http://www.idsurfaces.co.uk

Very expensive (especially the woodgrain) but it does give a great professional looking tough finish.

markc74 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2013, 09:01:29 am »

Thanks for that

I'll ping them a mail and get some (probably extortionate) costings but I don't really see anywhere that sells it for a sensible amount in the sunny UK.

That woodgrain takes it to another level though!

Minwah · « **Reply #24 on:** July 17, 2013, 09:56:22 am »

Quote from: markc74 on July 17, 2013, 09:01:29 am

I'll ping them a mail and get some (probably extortionate) costings but I don't really see anywhere that sells it for a sensible amount in the sunny UK.

I'll tell you that I paid £29 + VAT (not bad) for the black sheet, £69.20 + VAT (gasp) for the woodgrain sheet. Sheets being 3050x1220mm (11x5 feet ish). Other places I contacted were more expensive.

You may want to ring one of the IDS branches instead of via web - I didn't get a reply via web but they were very good on the phone.

Minwah · « **Reply #25 on:** July 25, 2013, 05:28:02 am »

With the machine built I've been able to plan the control panel a bit more practically...I think envisaged joystick/spinner/trackball positioning were too close the the sides to be comfortable, so I've lost the spinner/trackball and moved everything in a bit.

Tad gutted as I wanted to play Tempest & Tac/Scan but this should be quite comfortable to use. Just waiting for a ServoStik to arrive before I can get on...it's going to be quite a squeeze fitting that on too, there's not a lot of depth to play with as the glass is supported underneath the control panel.

UFO · « **Reply #26 on:** July 25, 2013, 08:04:05 pm »

sabreerbasAlpha · « **Reply #27 on:** July 26, 2013, 03:04:05 am »

Ive got to say that's one pretty sweet looking Cab my friend.

Minwah · « **Reply #28 on:** July 30, 2013, 03:59:15 am »

Thanks chaps

Made some more progress...got some bronze toughened glass, and made a card bezel. I've also made the control panel and got it working, so had a few games at last

Have taken this apart again now though to paint, and get artwork printed...

Minwah · « **Reply #29 on:** July 30, 2013, 04:01:13 am »

Control panel artwork just about finished (it has excess on right/bottom edges for printing):

opt2not · « **Reply #30 on:** July 30, 2013, 01:02:52 pm »

This is a really cool project! Love the progress so far.

Minwah · « **Reply #31 on:** August 01, 2013, 04:58:22 pm »

Thanks opt!

Made a marquee tonight. Its just a bit of perspex with a sticker on the front. I spray painted the back black around the edges as the sticker doesn't quite fill the perspex.

I was planning to do something better at some point, but it actually looks pretty good!

Minwah · « **Reply #32 on:** August 14, 2013, 06:03:32 am »

Did a few boring PC related things:

Replaced some bad capacitors on the motherboard.
Added a fan to the fanless CPU heatsink.
Replaced the standard noisy fan with a quieter one and lowered the speed (fan came with a voltage lowering cable).
Added some ducting to guide hot air from PSU / fan to cabinet vents.
Reinstalled XP from an nLite install, did registry tweaks etc.

404 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 14, 2013, 09:12:39 am »

Quote from: Minwah on August 14, 2013, 06:03:32 am

Did a few boring PC related things:

Replaced some bad capacitors on the motherboard.
Added a fan to the fanless CPU heatsink.
Replaced the standard noisy fan with a quieter one and lowered the speed (fan came with a voltage lowering cable).
Added some ducting to guide hot air from PSU / fan to cabinet vents.
Reinstalled XP from an nLite install, did registry tweaks etc.

Let me guess. Dell or HP?

I'm the same way to be honest. I don't let a few measly caps get in my way in salvaging pc stuff. At least someone else down the line may find a use for it if i don't. Good job there.

Minwah · « **Reply #34 on:** August 14, 2013, 02:16:05 pm »

Quote from: 404 on August 14, 2013, 09:12:39 am

Let me guess. Dell or HP?

Hah yes it is a Dell! I'd made my mind up to use it before I noticed the bad caps. It's ideal really, AGP slot which I need, and powerful enough (P4).

But yeah, no big deal, I hate throwing things away!

Drnick · « **Reply #35 on:** August 14, 2013, 03:01:30 pm »

Dell gx270's Bless em and their cap issue. Lost count of the number of those I've swapped out in the past 5 Years,

The woodgrain laminate makes this look like a true classic

Mr Wilson · « **Reply #36 on:** August 14, 2013, 04:36:00 pm »

great cab,you don't hang about mate just get it done ,big up the UK

Minwah · « **Reply #37 on:** August 15, 2013, 05:53:57 am »

Quote from: Mr Wilson on August 14, 2013, 04:36:00 pm

great cab,you don't hang about mate just get it done ,big up the UK

Thanks! Well my last cabinet took me 8 years to finish so I wanted to get my arse into gear for this one! Plus I was very lucky that I booked a week off which turned out to be scorching weather so I was able to get a lot done. Back to crap weather now of course though...

Minwah · « **Reply #38 on:** September 09, 2013, 05:20:08 am »

Just received my control panel overlay (ended up getting it done at Game on Grafix), and it looks great. This just about finishes things off

For controls I have used:

Servo-Stik (with longer shaft, and Seimitsu dust washer)
GGG ClassX True-Leaf Pro buttons
Atari start buttons with repro cones
Cheap (£5) SNES-style USB joypad hack

Gave it a good play test on Saturday night and am very happy with it. I hadn't used a Servo-Stik before and so far it is proving to be great. Likewise the True-Leaf buttons, I love them so far, great for rapid fire games.

Will try to take some decent photos of the finished article at some point.

opt2not · « **Reply #39 on:** September 09, 2013, 01:51:18 pm »

Looking sharp!


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