Mago Nostromo - UK build

[stigzler]

Hi folks,

First time build here. Wood ordered today, so no going back now! Due to start building next week.

Brief: Slimline; swappable control panels; good sound (); pimped with LEDS. Initial draft:



Design etc on own website - would really welcome any feedback from experienced builders/members before I go full steam ahead into schoolboy errors!! Link to the design page:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/sub-projects/cabinet-design

Also, just seen the Alien thing has been done before for a design - pretty likely I suppose, hey ho!

Now onto thinking about artwork etc for the panels... does the research never end!? Is full sized printed vinyl expensive?

Cheers

Steve

[Drnick]

I see that you are doing an OND based build.  Nice choice, I may be doing the same later in the year.

Advice I can give you,  always check, double check and then check measurements again before putting saw/router to wood.
Be prepared for setbacks,  don't let them get you down. Cutting MDF Is messy, do it outside and wear good protective gear
Do not install the computer and or control panel until the very end.  Playability ruins plans to complete things 

I saw you were looking for a monitor, Did you eventually find a 4:3 Monitor for it?   If not I can get hold of a 21" 4:3 monitor. I Will grab the details on it tomorrow as it is currently under my desk at work. I am fairly sure it's a samsung syncmaster.  It doesn't have a stand though as that got lost at some point. (Not exactly an issue for the job you would be using it for).  PM me if you are interested.  (As there are currently 8 of them which are about to become redundant if I manage to get hold of them I will undoubtedly put the rest up in B/S/T)

[stigzler]

Cheers Dr Nick - eventually settled for a 24" 10:9 (?) monitor. Good width for the cab - 21" horizontally. Couldn't find 4:3 at that width.

@ £20 a sheet of 4' x 8' I am going to be VERY cautious when cutting

Enjoy disneyland!

[stigzler]

Quick update. Love reading others' trials and tribulations with their cabs, so thought I'd update mine....

 
The general idea...

   
Most of cab constructed... just lots of fiddly jobs left...


Modular CP taking shape...


Some of the CP artwork.

 
Custom made skin for GamEx to match the cab design

 
Sideart mockups.

 
Random custom Bezels for MAME.

 
Some Hacks (Lightgun/Keyboard)


BIIGG project that is having to wait (Button/label mapping database to use with CPWiz etc to display game/cab/controller specific controls on second monitor)



Wiring fast approaches :/

Cheers troops.

[stigzler]

Painting Finished! Just awaiting vinyl side and CP art. Spray Guns rule (once you get used to the setup ans paint selection!)

Started wiring today.... 5 hours in and only just finished the power runs... whoa... time, time time...

[stigzler]

Hopefully last update before finish! Finally decided on artwork - let me know what you think:

[Curse dropbox!!!]

[EMDB]

Hopefully last update before finish! Finally decided on artwork - let me know what you think:

The images don't show...

[Generic Eric]

Hopefully last update before finish! Finally decided on artwork - let me know what you think:

The images don't show...

The drop box is not dropping them.

[s_busby_uk]

Question: what's the deal with the speaker in the bottom of the cab? Is it a subwoofer? What is it?

[stigzler]

Whoops. Bad Dropbox!! Remedied and posted.

Busby - yeah - it's a sub-woofer in enclosed, ported housing at bottom of cab. Gives it some real "umph"

The space invaders Duh...duh..duh sounds awesome

[s_busby_uk]

Whoops. Bad Dropbox!! Remedied and posted.

Busby - yeah - it's a sub-woofer in enclosed, ported housing at bottom of cab. Gives it some real "umph"

The space invaders Duh...duh..duh sounds awesome

I suddenly want to put one in my cab. Is it just a car one?

[stigzler]

Yerp - was a car one bought from local car boot for £30.

Some details on site - should get general idea here:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/sub-projects/wiring

Basically, ran car stereo and sub amp off a separate 500W (i think) PSU - also took all lighting etc off this. Works a treat.

You have to put some research into the sub box design if you're gonna port it. There's some details on how to calculate the length of the port on the sub-projects section somewhere.

Good luck, brother

[stigzler]

Few more pics:

[s_busby_uk]

Yerp - was a car one bought from local car boot for £30.

Some details on site - should get general idea here:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/sub-projects/wiring

Basically, ran car stereo and sub amp off a separate 500W (i think) PSU - also took all lighting etc off this. Works a treat.

You have to put some research into the sub box design if you're gonna port it. There's some details on how to calculate the length of the port on the sub-projects section somewhere.

Ha, might give it a skip then. Was sort of hoping it would be a simple plug-in-and-go job but I've just about reach my limit on things I'm willing to add to the machine and even if a subwoofer would pass, hacking in a car stereo is where I draw the line! (And frankly, my neighbours would hate me even more if I had that noise blaring out.) Hats off to you though, that's going to sound sweet!

[stigzler]

Why not just get hold of a home cinema sub? Just case of running from pc audio out to sub and pluging into a power strip?

Will be considering this for my next. Save lots of hassle!

[s_busby_uk]

Well yeah but only if it can work rehoused and attached to the cab base like that. I don't just want a loose speaker at the bottom. I'm too OCD!

[Generic Eric]

Few more pics:

I'd like to know more about this.  Can you post another pic?  How do you light this?  It looks sharp.


Also, what is going on with the little screen? what do you use that for?

[stigzler]

Cheers Eric. Lighting is just 12V Led strips - got a reel - you can cut to size and place around your cab. Dead cheap too!

Use GameEx as a front end. This has facility for a second display. Also use a plugin for GE called GameInfo by Adultery.

Means 2nd display displays any info about the game - hi-scores, last played, publisher etc etc. Also, you can press shift-space and it displays the controls for the game.

Crappy Vid here (but it gives an idea):



oh, and one handed Tekken to boot

[stigzler]

Some pics of the "guts":



More wiring details here:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/sub-projects/wiring

[markc74]

Liking this cab a lot - especially as it's a UK build :-)

If I could offer some constructive criticism then I reckon the marquee looks a bit like the sort of 'Multicade!' style that was popular a while ago.  If you're gonna use the Aliens theme then I'd personally go for something where the cab name was in that style of skinny font and bigger, and make the manufacturers names smaller and more subtle around the edges in the same font.

Kudos on the swappable controls - I'm doing swappable panels on mine and already dreading the amount of soldering/burnt fingers that lays ahead!

[stigzler]

Cheers Mark. Yeah, torn over the marquee...

The "Nostromo" is the original font used on the original logo - so wanting to preserve this. My custom GE frontend is all built using Alien type fonts so hope this will balance it out.

See what you're saying about the logos crowding it out. Am torn between just pure simple and keeping them in. Really would love to include those lovely vectored logoson the cab somewhere, though, and to have them backlit will be sweet. Also, adds colour to an otherwise two-tone cab.

Food for thought though, thanks. I could always have two marquees

Ah! A changeable marquee system....that must be possible... Mechanical...transparencies on a roll... or maybe even a bespoke lcd.... [<minds whirs]. I must stop.



Good luck with your build + I'll check your CP system.

[stigzler]

@ s_busby_uk - you a cab builder in the UK, chap? I'm trying to build up a network of builders and UK resources/supplies/retailers - would you like to add yourself to the map?

[s_busby_uk]

I certainly am! It's my first go. Just at the painting stage. Add away!

[stigzler]

Heh @ Busby. Was more an invite to contribute your own details to the UK builder's community as I don't know them!

Got a build thread?

[s_busby_uk]

Ha, sorry, didn't see the link before! Have added myself now.

[Brian74]

This is very impressive  ! I love the second screen!

[stigzler]

ta brian. easier than predicted

[jimmer]

I'm not liking the artwork at all.

The side art is just 3 pictures that don't even match thrown, well, not even together. Ideally someone with the skills would put together a nice blended montage of alien art. Or I might look for a single piece of Geiger art that could cover the whole side.

The marquee is just bleurgh. I wouldn't have anything except the image.

I'm not a professional art critic, and this might just be a question of taste. Ignore as you please    You could chance your arm over in the artwork section, for some professional critique.

[Gatsu]

instead of side art, hit up a hardware store or a scrap yard and see if you can get some nostromo looking panels and make the sides look like sections of the hallway.

Just an idea.

[Thestoney]

Stig where in England are you based ? Not many of us on here interested in your location , nice build

[stigzler]

Not many of us on here interested in your location , nice build

  You gotta love this forum some days...

 

[Thestoney]

Stig my apologies beer and typing are not my thing ......clearly !!!! I meant to ask where in England are you located .... Guess I am a great advert for not building a home bar and arcade and just using one .... The bar !!! My appoligies

[stigzler]

 

Brilliant. No worries.

On the contrary - what a great ad for bar + arcade machines

I'm from Lincolnshire - UK builder yourself?

[jimmer]

A quick search didn't bring up any particularly good Giger art that would work. I had something in mind but it must be images from the film. Something like the background of your bezels. I'd whack that on the side.

Shame you've got a coin door, I'd put an egg there.

[Thestoney]

Yeah based down in sunny Devon

[stigzler]

Great Thestoney - another UK builder!

Trying to pull together the UK builders and UK resources - fancy adding yourself and any good resources you know? If so > Here

[stigzler]

OK. After some welcomed (and some brutally honest!) feedback, decided to revisit my artwork.

Sideart:





Marquee:



What do you think. Also - sideart - with or without xenomorph?

Lastly - just playing around with another - what about this?

[stigzler]

Whoops. 2.5 years since last post. Damn my bright idea 2 years ago to 'learn coding and knock together some software to make dynamic displays - like, how hard can it be, right?' 2 years later and only just getting it finished :/

Marquee update:





So - needed a surround/bezel for it. Designed one in sketchup, sent off to UK firm who produced .5mm thick folded aluminium version and even got it black powder coated for me:




Behind, the 5mm marquee plexi - I was very happy with how cheap plexi is - ordered this, another tinted piece for the bezel + a piece for the inside to make a viewing window for the guts (whilst also making sure nothing falls onto the mobo!)