Vectrex Mini-Cocktail

[opt2not]

Tried it with an overlay and it looks great!

It really does! I can't wait to see more pictures of it finished and in action. 

Did you do anything to get the sound cleaner? Vectrex's have a bad habit of audio buzzing, I've read a few tips on how to reduce this but I haven't tried it out on mine yet.

[AGarv]

Any concern about the level of glare?  The video on a Vectrex isn't all that strong as it's not made to be viewed through anything other than a cheap overlay.  Even the cheap overlay can dim the pic quite a bit.

I don't think it's a problem, the glass is tinted but not particularly dark. I haven't tried it with an overlay yet but I'm sure that won't be a problem. Looks pretty good!:

Awesome retro lines! 

Looking great, IMO keep any artwork on this to a minimum.

[Minwah]

Did you do anything to get the sound cleaner? Vectrex's have a bad habit of audio buzzing, I've read a few tips on how to reduce this but I haven't tried it out on mine yet.

Well...not electronically. But I'm just using the built-in speaker, and so with the lid of the table in place, it filters out a lot of the buzz. It works quite well, you can still hear the buzz but it is certainly not as obvious as usual!

[Minwah]

Awesome retro lines! 

Looking great, IMO keep any artwork on this to a minimum.

Thanks! Yes I am planning just the Vectrex US style logo as on the model pics at the start of the thread. Unless I think it looks better without...

[blueznl]

I actually like the controls on-top, they will add to the 'vertigo' effect I guess. I wouldn't worry too much about the screen being 'too deep'.

This brings back memories... I did play some games on a Vectrex machine ages ago... damn, I was young then 

(Though, frankly, dark grey or black would have perhaps looked better, I'm not too much into woodgrain myself, to be honest.)

[Minwah]

(Though, frankly, dark grey or black would have perhaps looked better, I'm not too much into woodgrain myself, to be honest.)

But cocktails *have* to be woodgrain don't they? 

[ChadTower]

Usually a cap kit and some small ground mods clean up that audio buzz.  It is by no means necessary, though, if the audio is decent as it is.   

[opt2not]

Usually a cap kit and some small ground mods clean up that audio buzz.  It is by no means necessary, though, if the audio is decent as it is.   

^^ Yeah, this and I've read about replacing the audio cable connected from the power board to the logic board with a heavy-duty shielded coaxial cable to block the feedback from the yoke circuit.
I haven't got around to doing that myself, so I'm not sure how well it works.

[blueznl]

(Though, frankly, dark grey or black would have perhaps looked better, I'm not too much into woodgrain myself, to be honest.)

But cocktails *have* to be woodgrain don't they? 

Cocktails have never been very popular over here in Europe, I guess. That might explain why I'm not partial to woodgrain... besides, it's not civilised 

[Rick]

That might explain why I'm not partial to woodgrain... besides, it's not civilised 

Rabble! Rabble! Rabble!

[Minwah]

Cocktails have never been very popular over here in Europe, I guess. That might explain why I'm not partial to woodgrain... besides, it's not civilised 

I'm in Europe (UK) and I've seen a fair few cocktails...always woodgrain. I think it is essential for that late 70's / early 80's look 

[ChadTower]

It could also be said that the Vectrex itself is not woodgrain and it's a Vectrex cocktail.  I would have considered making the cabinet a satin black finish like the Vectrex casing.

[opt2not]

Vectrex mini-cade bartops are wood-grained...only 7 of these are known to exist though:


Just saying, it's not totally farfetched.

[ChadTower]

I used to know a guy who had one.  Played it quite a few times.  It's just a vectrex with a coin switch wired to the start button.  The controller is on a countdown circuit.  After about two minutes the controller cuts off and you get to watch the game end whenever your guy dies because you can't move him.

I actually don't remember if you could continue.  I wonder if putting in another coin would do anything or if it would just press the button firing off a missle or something.

[opt2not]

Chad's right, just a case with a timer board and a vectrex installed. I wonder what these things are worth?

Some more pictures of the insides and additional info:  http://vectrexmuseum.com/collection/vectrexminicade.php

*sorry for the slight derailment Minwah.

[ChadTower]

Probably not a ton more than an actual Vectrex.  It's just a generic bartop with a CP that has a hole in it for the Vectrex controller.  There really isn't anything at all unique in it besides that timer board and I remember that being almost breadboardy.

That dude thought he had solid gold, though.  He wouldn't accept less than a grand for it at a time when you could get a NIB Williams DMD game for $1500.

[Minwah]

Bit more progress...more woodgrain ;-)

Hoping for good weather this weekend - if so I should be able to get most of it finished.

[ChadTower]

Very sweet.  Going to put artwork on the sides under the glass?

[koolmoecraig]

That thing is sweet as hell.  The woodgrain is beautiful.

[yotsuya]

I love woodgrain. 

[Minwah]

Very sweet.  Going to put artwork on the sides under the glass?

Yes...just need to find someone that can make me some die cut stickers.

[Minwah]

Had a bit of luck with the weather and managed to get most of the table top finished. Pretty much just need to glue the two woodgrain laminated pieces of wood onto the main table top panel. Then install the controls, bit of wiring, t-molding and get the front lock/catch working.

Hope to have it working by the weekend...

[rockyrocket]

This is an absolute triumph minwah  .

[Minwah]

This is an absolute triumph minwah  .

Cheers! 

Wired up the stick & buttons:

[Minwah]

Had an hour or two playing on it last night, and I'm quite pleased. Controls work nicely and I was able to get my 4th best score on Protector and beat my top score on YASI.

You do need to lean forward to see the very bottom of the screen. Not an issue in some games, but in others (eg Gravitrex) it is critical. So based on that it is more comfortable to play some games than others. This is sitting on a chair...I have a stool which is higher which I haven't tried yet...

[HaRuMaN]

What did you use to interface the controls to the vectrex?

[Minwah]

What did you use to interface the controls to the vectrex?

I made a small circuit to do it, and used a PC serial cable with the plug modified to fit.

I found the circuit schematic online somewhere, it is just 4x resistors (take the +/- 5v down to ~3.4v IIRC) and 2x pots.