Not a square box cocktail cab

[talkgeek]

So this is my first project (...well actually Topic/post on this site), I've done a couple of restorations:

an old Taito Space Invaders cocktail cab and a Low Boy upright - both of which I failed to either record the process or take decent pictures before on selling...    all to make space for a Sega Megalo 410 ... more on that project at some other time..   

So after struggling to modify someone else’s idea of a cab - and reading all the cleaver and amazing projects in this forum, I figured I should build my own from scratch... I mean how hard could it really be? 

.. anyway, parking reality to the side I decided to embark on a "modern" version of my favourite cocktail cab ...The Taito ... the style of which I had already owned and did up, been extremely happy with  (….wait What!)   .. Yes I deeply regret selling that cab...   

What I liked the most about that cab (from my youth) was being able to have your burger, chips and coke sitting on the side while you played, and then when it was the other players turn being able to chow down while watching them  ducking and diving (often physically) trying to survive the next alien onslaught..
 
I prob bought the machine several times over .. 1x 20cent piece at a time  (.. I might have liked arcades, especially Galaga .. but that doesn't mean I was any good at playing  )

For that reason I wasn't a big fan of the msPacman cocktail cabs (and the more boxy styled ones you can get today) etc - no real space on the side..

So this is my [ often stumbling] journey

[talkgeek]

So this is my inspiration...

[talkgeek]

I based my approach on the rough scale of the Taito (re ratio of screen to space on side) .. yes i know that seems flawed ... it was!

I had to replace the taito cab's CRT with a 17" LCD (the 13" CRT was dead, and I couldn't get a 14" to fit (no bezel available, and was 3mm too deep).

for this project I was planning to use a Phillips 19" 4:3 LCD monitor - based on some rough drawings I figured the correct table size would be 800mm X 600mm   ... Ok Ok, truth is should have been 670 deep, but I could get pre-cut sheets of 18mm MDF at 600x1800 (which easily fitted in my car) - so this convenience drove a lot of the following design decisions...    did I mention I was pretty lazy ..?

Why MDF?  - Well I have pretty basic wood-working skills (basic could be viewed as an overstatement), so figured it would be a cheap alternative that could easily be disposed of (quietly .. without witnesses) if it proved to be an aesthetic disaster.

[talkgeek]

So this is what I have built so far...

You will note: that the top image shows a smaller space for the screen than the 2nd image 

That old adage - measure twice cut once, really should be modified too - Measure correct screen twice then update design plan, then cut 

at least I caught it before painting

[talkgeek]

I was concerned it would be flimsy because I was only using 18mm MDF - turns out a fully grown man can jump on it (probably will be safest place to hide under during our next earthquake  )   ... oh did I mention it's heavy 

[talkgeek]

I couldn't help myself.. had to put the glass on, just to see what it looked like

I got a smokey grey coloured glass, 6mm toughened, as found this made the LCD screen seem brighter (when I did the Low Boy Cab) vs clear glass.

[Rick]

Looking good! Subscribed!

[cmoses]

Yes I like how this looks. I never like the vertical or near vertical controls on this style cabinet. Always seemed uncomfortable to play. I like the horizontal control panels you have fashioned.

Good Luck

[mcseforsale]

Hey!  Cut that out!

AJ

Looking good! Subscribed!

[Rick]

No problem. As soon as you stop replying before the item you're replying to in your quote, heathen!

Hey!  Cut that out!

[mcseforsale]

No problem. As soon as you stop replying before the item you're replying to in your quote, heathen!

Hey!  Cut that out!

Oh, alright.  It's easier to do this ^^ anyway.

AJ

[talkgeek]

Yes I like how this looks. I never like the vertical or near vertical controls on this style cabinet. Always seemed uncomfortable to play. I like the horizontal control panels you have fashioned.

Good Luck

Thanks for the feed back - Yes vertical controls where prob the biggest negative of the old Taito cab, however I think I have made my consoles way to big, my original though was I want to be able to rest my palms on it while playing, but now thinking the console sticks out too far from the table top   

Debating with myself if I pull apart and shorten length by 40mm each side... (console size is currently 180mm X 380mm)
 

[Richie_jones]

I like it but needs a bigger monitor...subscribed

[talkgeek]

I like it but needs a bigger monitor...subscribed

I had originally planned to use a 23" 16:9 I have, but was just way too big (and forced the width of cabinet out to 700mm) - and when I replaced the 13" CRT in the taito with a 17" LCD screen, the general feed back then was that it was huge (but that was in comparison to what we had been used to) - will just have to see if the 19" works or not,  thanks for the feed back though...  actually might see if I can find a square 20" or 22" LCD before I progress any further..

I think 4:3 ratio looks better for the older 80's games than 16:9 ratio

actually should have mentioned, i'm planning on going JAMMA not MAME - and vertical games not horizontal

I have an old Space Invaders and Donkey Kong board (though not strictly JAMMA wiring looms) - but wondering about using a multi-game PCB (basically because I really like Galaga and original boards in this country are rarer than hen's teeth).

[talkgeek]

this is probably getting ahead of myself... but i'm looking for suggestions re vector artwork for 80's themed games - Galaga, Space Invaders, Donkey kong and maybe PacMan (though have a couple of images I have traced for Pacman that are ok'ish )

I have a vinyl cutter that I picked up 2nd hand a few months back (a bit old school, but I sort of like that vinyl artwork look on the older Cabs, also lets be honest keeps my costs down a little as well), but lacking any really good arcade based vector images, so some suggestions on where to locate (or offers of assistance  would be appreciated).

 I know how to apply the vinyl to the cab, but is there a recommended method for protecting it once it's applied (e.g. applying some sort of clear coat varnish or something over it) ?

thanks for any feed back

Attached is a jpeg of the traced Pacman logo I cut last night - can supply EMF version of file if anyone wants it (what my cutting software uses re importing a graphic file from Corel or Visio)

[talkgeek]

Base painted - 1 coat black under coat, 2x top coats

[talkgeek]

Despite the earthquakes  (and a few support callouts  ), have been able to get a bit done this weekend.

Wired up the cab

[talkgeek]

I decided I wanted a little bit of lighting in the cab, so wired up a blue led 80cm fan (not convinced it's actually going to need it given the spare space inside the cab, and fact temps in my area don't fluctuate wildly even between seasons) and bought some led buttons to use as 1 and 2 player and a green rectangular button to use for adding credit.

[talkgeek]

Then I struck my first real (design) issue 

When I had decided on the depth of the console, I thought I had measured the buttons and joystick correctly and left enough depth (given I was also going to place perspex (plexiglass) on the top of the console (artwork underneath so it was protected - could easily be replaced without wreaking anything)

..but I failed to measure the buttons with the microswitch attached - so didn't allow for the ground connector    flipping  5mm (2mm once allowance for 3mm perspex)  fortunately a request from EOC came in, so got some time away from it to calm down a bit and think how to address.

Due to the EQ very few shops / businesses were open, and had mistakenly (thinking I didn't need) loaned my router to my brother-in-law (would have struggled to use it in that space anyway), opted to cut out 4mm using a lock hole cutter (yes really bodgy  ..but no-one other than me will see   (opps ....and you  ).

[talkgeek]

Powered it up - and got some Galaga time in... 

[talkgeek]

Thought I would post the last thing i've done this weekend - The DonkeyKong artwork won't be staying there...  but I needed some sort of bling on the cab for the interim so it felt a bit more Arcade than furniture (as will likely be another week or so before I can do anymore).

..and yes that is another one in the background getting painted, have been asked to make 2more (1 for a friend and 1 for my daughters youth group hangout zone)

will need to start doing some hard thinking about artwork (I want to use my vinyl cutter vs paying a printer - ideally), but i'm not that creative, so some suggestions would be great.

also need to come up for a name for this project - Not-a-square-box-cocktail (NotSq3) isn't impressing my wife   

[talkgeek]

Had a spare couple of hours so decided to experiment with the Console art (and family were making comment about how ugly the console looked (not realising I had left the paper covering the perspex on for a reason - stop scratching)

tried a couple of different joystick and button surround options - mostly aesthetically ugly or in my wife’s words "..to busy, ...or not going in my house!"

ended up settling (at least for time being) on below...  (seems maybe a bit too simple  )

The first image (arcade-017) also shows where I have put the volume control (on Player One side), will describe what I did here in a later post

[talkgeek]

quick update - below is pic of the Volume Amp board I got so you can adjust volume on the machine (a must when family room is off the lounge  )
it's perfect for this senario - a good level of adjustment (and real cheap!)
Took a bit of thinking re where and how to mount as it couldn't interfer with opening the console, nor be to high as to clash with the mounting of the screen

[dfmaverick]

this is probably getting ahead of myself... but i'm looking for suggestions re vector artwork for 80's themed games - Galaga, Space Invaders, Donkey kong and maybe PacMan (though have a couple of images I have traced for Pacman that are ok'ish )

I have a vinyl cutter that I picked up 2nd hand a few months back (a bit old school, but I sort of like that vinyl artwork look on the older Cabs, also lets be honest keeps my costs down a little as well), but lacking any really good arcade based vector images, so some suggestions on where to locate (or offers of assistance  would be appreciated).

For vector artwork, check out the Arcade Art Library. http://www.arcadeartlibrary.com/arcade_art/

[PL1]

Another art source to check out.

http://www.classicgaming.cc/classics/


Scott

[talkgeek]

this is probably getting ahead of myself... but i'm looking for suggestions re vector artwork for 80's themed games - Galaga, Space Invaders, Donkey kong and maybe PacMan (though have a couple of images I have traced for Pacman that are ok'ish )

I have a vinyl cutter that I picked up 2nd hand a few months back (a bit old school, but I sort of like that vinyl artwork look on the older Cabs, also lets be honest keeps my costs down a little as well), but lacking any really good arcade based vector images, so some suggestions on where to locate (or offers of assistance  would be appreciated).

For vector artwork, check out the Arcade Art Library. http://www.arcadeartlibrary.com/arcade_art/

Thanks heaps - had found this reference in other threads and had already had a crack at a few (see attached image)

Another art source to check out.

http://www.classicgaming.cc/classics/


Scott

this looks really good (initally just thought is was online classic games, but found graphic libraries) thanks heaps

[talkgeek]

The cab I’m building for my daughters youth group - they wanted the volume control hidden (not surprising), but didn't really want to have to unlatch and lift the table top to alter (not that I thought that would happen much.... but then I’m often wrong, according to my daughter  )

The problem was the Sound Amp had the volume control mounted back on the PCB, which meant it only extruded 12mm from the PCB edge - and the whole cab was built with 18mm MDF 
 

I decided the best approach was to drill a hole (in bottom of cab) 46mm diameter and mount through 3mm Perspex (love that stuff so easy to work with, yet quite strong), has worked out quite well, easy to get to from player 1 side (if you know where it is) but not easy to see unless you  lie down on the floor and look up) 

[blashyrk]

Very nice    now i really want to build one like it.

[talkgeek]

Very nice    now i really want to build one like it.

Thanks for the nice feedback

[talkgeek]

Pacman sideart, and got the feet on - not sure why, but doing that seems to have made it feel like a real piece of furniture 

[talkgeek]

Completed - This is actually the CAB for my daughters Youth group - but the other 2 builds are basically the same (just different side art)

[mcseforsale]

That turned out super nice.

How many games are on it?

AJ

[Acids]

I love the clean tidy sharp finish !!     AWESOME WORK.. 

[DaOld Man]

I like the way this turned out.
Good work!

 

[talkgeek]

I love the clean tidy sharp finish !!     AWESOME WORK.. 

I like the way this turned out.
Good work!

 

Thanks heaps guys, really appreciate the comments, i'm reasonably happy with it for my first scratch build, but I think I've caught the disease bad, ..already working on plans for another couple (dual screen fighter cocktail cab and a coffee table arcade/media centre 

That turned out super nice.

How many games are on it?

AJ

it's running the iCADE 60-n-1 JAMMA PCB (cheap and reliable) for my friends and the Youth group machines, but i'm going to put MAME in my one (using an Acer Veriton L460 Dual-Core2 Intel 4Gb mem, 250Gb HDU micro pc) as there is more than enough room in the cab to do this.

[talkgeek]

We whacked together a wooden top version - [but] feels more like furniture than an arcade machine to me - Vinyl artwork doesn't work with the wood (general opinion of those involved), but liked by those less into retro-arcades, so no shortage of hands up for it being at their place....

[matt4949]

I like the woody and I like cocktails . Looks good

[Nephasth]

Wait a minute... So this is a "not a square box coctail" in the shape of a square box?

[mann0mann]

OMG...I love the wood top!  That would be perfect for the house.  It would get the wife approval for sure.

[Rick]

Wait a minute... So this is a "not a square box coctail" in the shape of a square box?

Nope. Rectangular, baby!