Just started playing with sketchup today, tell me how my cab looks so far?

[Arc Kalocal]

Never used a CAD before, but I'm trying to build my own cabinet in sketchup so I'll have an easier time figuring out the dimensions I need for my cutouts. Can any of you critique what I have so far? Be brutal. Bottom half of cabinet is pretty much finished. I'm also looking for suggestions on a good angle for the monitor, not really sure if there's a standard. I'm going to be using a 29" widescreen monitor and its a 4P cab.

[ark_ader]

Got a jpeg of that?

[Arc Kalocal]

Here you go

[Dawgz Rule]

I think you will have issues with 4 people playing on that CP.  With a straight across cut such as you have, your requiring all four people to effectively stand side by side.  Depending on the size of the screen, the outermost players may also be looking directly at the bezel.  My suggestion would be to look at some of the successful commercial four player games (Gauntlet for example) and try to model your CP in a similar fashion.   

Of course, I would suggest a two player over a four player as the logistics of it are a lot easier (including monitor layout). 

[Arc Kalocal]

I think you will have issues with 4 people playing on that CP.  With a straight across cut such as you have, your requiring all four people to effectively stand side by side.  Depending on the size of the screen, the outermost players may also be looking directly at the bezel.  My suggestion would be to look at some of the successful commercial four player games (Gauntlet for example) and try to model your CP in a similar fashion.   

Of course, I would suggest a two player over a four player as the logistics of it are a lot easier (including monitor layout).

I did try modeling the CP a bit after TMNT Turtles in Time. It's a 36" CP while the one I drew up is 42". I thought 42" would be plenty but I could certainly be wrong.

Just finished with the top half now, going to edit my posts with the newer cab.

[Arc Kalocal]

Here we go. I'm wondering if I should increase the angle for the speaker so they aren't firing at my hands?

[lcmgadgets]

I also think you'll have problems with 4 players. Other than that, that looks like a solid design to my uneducated eyes.

...how long have u been working with sketchup? U seem to have mastered it way faster than I have/am. Then again, I've been trying to do some things that're probably nuts, like sketching a u360 to exact scale, complete with wires...

[Arc Kalocal]

I just started using sketch up last night. I spent probably 8 hours on this. How wide do you think I'll need to make Tue CP?

[Arc Kalocal]

Looking for some more feedback. I made a few adjustments on my first design. I tried extending the panel out another 3 inches on either side but I was really unhappy with the results. I think I might stick with 42" for now until I can figure out something else.

I extended the depth of the cabinet a bit so I could lower the angle on the monitor to 45 degrees from 67.5 and I extended the size of the CP as well to make for a better viewing angle.

I'm not sure what to do with the marquee and speaker mounting, or really how to go about doing it at all. I would really appreciate some advice here.

Also I just realized that I should probably have posted this in the Project forum.

[Minwah]

It's starting to look a bit like a Gauntlet (which I like). Personally for me your control panel hangs over too much. If you are determined to go 4 player why not make the CP deeper and not so wide...ala Gauntlet? (edit just realised Dawgz said the same...sorry)

For marquee and speakers, again think Gauntlet and you've got no problem

[severdhed]

4 player panels are tough, but if you are like me, you have to have one.  42" is doable for a 4 player panel if you layout the controls properly.  on most 4 player panels, the two outside players stand off to the side and the buttons are above or below the joysticks...this allows for enough space for 4 people to fit around the panel.  In order for this to work, the panel needs to be deeper than a 2 player panel.  I recently sold my 4 player showcase cabinet to make room for something else...the panel on it was 45"wide x 18" deep. a few inches could have been saved if needed, but i left space in the middle for a trackball.  This panel was shaped in an odd manner, that's just how it was when i bought the cabinet.  it is 45" at the widest part at the back.  you can see how the player 3 and 4 buttons sit in relation to the joysticks. this layout is quite comfortable, even for 4 adults.  It will be a little different since you are not building a showcase cabinet, but the control layout should work for any type of cabinet.



i really like the shape of the cabinet.  I'm going to have to learn to use sketchup..i messed with it the other night, but i was really struggling.  i guess i need to find a tutorial or something

[PL1]

I'm going to have to learn to use sketchup..i messed with it the other night, but i was really struggling.  i guess i need to find a tutorial or something

Here are some tutorials you might find useful.   

There are more playlists on the left of that page once you get through the basics.


Scott

[Arc Kalocal]

Thanks for the picture! Unfortunately, the cabinet really as to stay in a space saving size to keep the wife on board. I'm using a 27" monitor and the width of  the cabinet matches the size of the monitor to keep it as small width-wise as possible. With that, I looked at widening the CP even further but it looked really silly at the current depth. I had no idea how much my drawing looked like Gauntlet, I never really thought about it while drawing. Gauntlet has a crazy deep panel and I think it would be out of the question as far as footprint size of the cabinet, but my next idea was to mimic the CP for gauntlet legends. My panel is 4" larger than Gauntlet Legends (40.5" now), with the width of the cabinet itself almost exactly the same. Gauntlet angles in the sides, where the front is 6" smaller than the back, and brings the midsection of the front to a point, so as to loosen up the shoulder space between P1 and P2, as well as adding a little bit of depth for all players for a bit better of a viewing angle.

On a side note I really like those turquoise buttons and all the other more pale colors too! I plan on painting my cabinet a dark grey with purple T-molding and I think those would fit beautifully.

As for sketchup, its really easy. I just sat down and starting drawing. If I had a question I googled it. Google is the best. I drew that first draft in one day in about 8 hours, and the second draft in a few hours the next day from scratch. Drawing something like a cabinet with a lot of flats and straight angles is a super easy way to get into the program too; I'm really enjoying it.

[Dawgz Rule]

If space is an issue, have you considered shifting from a 4P to a 2P?  A lot of folks immediately go down the 4P path (I almost did) when a 2P may meet the need.  I originally was focusing around my favorite game, Gauntlet but after reading and researching more, I ended up going 2P.  Another option that some have suggested is to use gamepads via USB for player 3 and 4.   

You have to do what is right for you but I am throwing some suggestions out there having been down the path of 4P versus 2P?

[Arc Kalocal]

I have thought about 2P, and it certainly would solve issues really easily, but alas 4P is a non-negotiable. This cabinet isn't just for myself. I entertain alot, and often children. On the norm, it would be me, my wife, and my son playing. On the weekdays my wife babysits up to three other children and there's just no way having a 2P cabinet would NOT cause problems.