Blip - 100% complete - Updated the Control panel

[markc74]

Hi guys,

Cabinet is now finished. Some final pics below.  There's loads of pics throughout the thread and some pictures of it switched on are here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137295.msg1452050.html#msg1452050.

In a nutshell, it's a Moon Patrol inspired retro styled cabinet with swappable control panels, funky LCD marquee and LED lighting. Was fun to make but now it's all about the playing :-)







Many thanks for all the comments and support throughout the build!

Original Post below...

I'm starting on a new cabinet called 'Blip'. This is to fill the gap left by the sadly departed ‘Terminus’ which I foolishly moved to a not-quite-waterproof shed. Doh. At least I managed to salvage the parts.

This is one of those cabs that started with a name and then the design sort of evolved from that.  When I did a search to see if anyone else had already used this name for a cabinet I came across this tabletop game from 1977.



Whilst the game is supposed to be pants (I’d never played it) I love the retro style of it so I’m using this as a basis for the cabinet graphics.

My original plan shape-wise was for it to be based on Moon Patrol but a bit less ‘blocky’ so I started from that shape and added a few curves and tweaked the angles a bit to match my height. Whilst it doesn’t resemble Moon Patrol as closely any more I think it still retains the classic shape which I want for this cabinet.

I’ve got my hands on a shallow 25” CRT for this build and will be using a coin door to try and ‘keep it real’. It will also have some modern jiggery pokery with servo sticks, a light gun and swappable panels - assuming I can get them working without too much of a headache.

Anyway, obligatory renders follow. If it looks closer to this render than a 6ft high box with nails poking out of it I’ll be very pleased so if anyone has any questions, criticisms or suggestions then please post ‘em. I’m fairly thick skinned so can take it…

I also don't have more than a few hours a week to work on it so it's probably going to take me a few months to complete it

Updates

• 27 Jan 2014 - Mounting the TV
• 03 Feb 2014 - Speaker box
• 10 Feb 2014 - Sides - it begins!
• 06 Mar 2014 - Speaker panel / Admin Panel
• 13 Mar 2014 - Gun mount
• 30 Mar 2014 - Dry build - it's standing!
• 19 May 2014 - Coin door v2, Power, back door, Marquee mounting
• 21 July 2014 - Loads of small jobs, control panels etc
• 22 July 2014 - LCD marquee added
• 01 Aug 2014 - Finished

[BAMBOO]

I like it.  Simple and stream lined.  I had a Blip when I was a kid, I remember it being a blast.

[yotsuya]

I loved Blip! as a kid. Awesome idea!

[wp34]

I loved Blip! as a kid. Awesome idea!

+1   I love the black and white retro look!

[Vigo]

Nice!  I love themes like this! My only suggestion at this point is to see about doing red start buttons, maybe even number your buttons. If you want to get crazy, you could put a white line boarder around the monitor on tinted plexi/glass, but that might be redundant with the white t-molding.

[markc74]

Cheers for the comments chaps!

I do intend to do some funkiness to the control panel. The plan is to use the white lines from the original Blip console and have something very retro looking.

As I was designing the control panel in Photoshop I had a bit of a lightbulb moment (literally). Using this design I can use some funky lighting to indicate the controls used for each game without lighting up the whole button/stick/trackball whatever.

Anyway - I'm still quite a way away from the control panels as I intend to do them last but this should give you an idea of what I'm thinking of, first unlit, then as a 2 button stick game...

[spoot]

Trackball that close to the side of the case leads to smashed fingers/hands imho.

[markc74]

Trackball that close to the side of the case leads to smashed fingers/hands imho.

Very good point and thanks for bringing it up. While it feels good on paper I obviously haven't tried it in the flesh so don't know what problems may arise. I intend to mock the panel up before i do it for real so hopefully this will help refine the layout.

[Superfrog]

Very nice cp layout 

I like the retro look and it's fresh 

[Le Chuck]

Some much for my "Bleep" theme 

[Monkeyvoodoo]

Some much for my "Bleep" theme 

Same for my Bloop theme

[yotsuya]

I'm still on for "Blap!"

[Vigo]

Blip, Blip, BLAM!

I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND

[markc74]

Bah. Now I think I may have inadvertently got the idea from Saints book!

I'll be tv decasing this weekend so I should be able to confirm the profile of the cabinet then. Assuming I'm not staggering about dazedly with young Einstein hair anyway. 

[markc74]

Just a small update as I’ve actually started something now.

The profile of the cabinet is quite shallow and I was a little worried that the TV wouldn’t fit so I’ve started by decasing the TV and putting it into a frame – then I could see if I need to change the plans at all.

Did all the usual – discharged with a screwdriver/croc clip combo and took a ton of photos to make sure I knew where everything went.

Quickly realised that even without the frame (which was pretty heavy) a 25” tube still weighs a decent amount so had to be very careful moving it around and into place.

I’d estimated this to take about 5 hours. In the end it took 10 which I have a feeling is going to be the norm for this build!

Turns out that it will fit ok but I’m adding another inch on the back anyway just to give me a bit of leeway and allow more air to circulate just in case.

Next job will be either the sides or the speaker panel – depends on the weather at the weekend and if it’s too cold to be outside or not!

[yotsuya]

Nice job on the frame there!

[jdbailey1206]

If you are using red on your CP I would like to see all the markings have red dots.  IE the spin, move, buttons (1&2) and for your spinner.  Good work on making something that was generic for it's day a lot more interesting. 

[yotsuya]

Blip! was pretty fun. I remember taking one camping when I was a kid and playing it with my mom. Mechanical Pong FTW!

[Superfrog]

Just a small update as I’ve actually started something now.

The profile of the cabinet is quite shallow and I was a little worried that the TV wouldn’t fit so I’ve started by decasing the TV and putting it into a frame – then I could see if I need to change the plans at all.

Did all the usual – discharged with a screwdriver/croc clip combo and took a ton of photos to make sure I knew where everything went.

Quickly realised that even without the frame (which was pretty heavy) a 25” tube still weighs a decent amount so had to be very careful moving it around and into place.

I’d estimated this to take about 5 hours. In the end it took 10 which I have a feeling is going to be the norm for this build!

Turns out that it will fit ok but I’m adding another inch on the back anyway just to give me a bit of leeway and allow more air to circulate just in case.

Next job will be either the sides or the speaker panel – depends on the weather at the weekend and if it’s too cold to be outside or not!

Yeh, it took me also that long for my Popeye crt bartop.
Long live the photocamera, I use it a lot.
But in the end it fits perfect, so take your time and don't rush.

Very nice project 

[markc74]

I didn't realise how many peeps had the original game - I should try harder not to to mess the build up and insult the name!

jdbailey1206 - the plan is for all the controls to have grey dots -but underneath each dot there will be an LED which will light up when the control is used per game. Got some better pics here to try and show what I mean. I've got to try it on a test piece properly but found some leds which look pretty good and not too 'in your face' like some lit controls look (not dissing - just aint my thing)

yotsuya - cheers - took my time as was constantly aware of the possibility of getting a massive zap! it's only the second time i've discharged a crt so still very aware of how careful you need to be.  Lots of standing and staring and making sure I only touched things when I needed to!

Superfrog - gotta admit - your Popeye bartop is my favourite bartop ever. It hadnt already been nominated twice before I read the boards I woulda nominated it

[mgb]

This build is gonna be sweet. I was a big fan if terminus and so far I'm a fan of this build.

[DarakuTenshi]

When you first posted this I thought of the early 80's magazine by the same name. I suggest that your side art is a picture of Matthew Laborteaux

[wp34]

the plan is for all the controls to have grey dots -but underneath each dot there will be an LED which will light up when the control is used per game.

Brilliant!

[yotsuya]

Love what you're doing there! Keep it up!

[dfmaverick]

Sears Christmas Wish Book 1980

"Blip Alone or with a friend."

Only $10.79!

[yotsuya]

Dammit- resisting the urge to hit eBay looking for a Blip!...

[wp34]

Found this is my basement this weekend.  I think it was my wife's.  Let me know if you need measurements.   

[yotsuya]

Found this is my basement this weekend.  I think it was my wife's.  Let me know if you need measurements.   

How much shipped to 85015?

[wp34]

Found this is my basement this weekend.  I think it was my wife's.  Let me know if you need measurements.   

How much shipped to 85015?

She'd never let me sell it---plus it doesn't work so I don't think you would want it.

[yotsuya]

I would build a majestic display case worthy of Ond to show it off.

[wp34]

I would build a majestic display case worthy of Ond to show it off.

 

I did end up getting it partially working.  The Buttons are really stuck though.

[yotsuya]

I would build a majestic display case worthy of Ond to show it off.

 

I did end up getting it partially working.  The Buttons are really stuck though.

Someone probably spilled Teem on it back in the day!

[markc74]

Speaker box

Told you it was going to be a slow build!

The weather in the UK has been a little bit ‘variable’ recently so rather than dashing in and out of the house every 10 minutes lugging an 8’ by 4’ piece of MDF I thought it might be safer to work on the speaker box instead.

The speakers that came with the TV are pretty good so I’m using those. When I took the TV apart, the speakers came in their own case but I couldn't find a nice way to attach it to the cab so decided to make an easily mountable speaker box instead.

After spending the best part of an hour trying to find my hole cutter I cursed my disorganised ways and improvised using a spare PC fan cover. A bit of a dremel and I had a nice template that would work well enough with the router.

Gotta say at this point - a router, jigsaw, dremel and a bit of elbow grease and you can pretty much bodge anything together! One day I’ll pick up a proper saw but at the moment I’m not seeing the need. Anyway…

Cut a box in the usual way people cut up boxes. Screwed together and countersunk everything so it wouldn't snag on anything. Also ran a roundover bit around the speaker holes which was completely over the top as it’s going to be covered with speaker cloth but made sense when I was doing it.

That’s it for this weeks folks. Definately going to work on the sides next - or at least make the template for the sides depending on how much time I get/whether the incessant bloody rain stops.

[Santoro]

Subscribe .  Love the idea and vibe you have there.

[KevinFlynn]

Great work on both the idea and everything you've come up with thus far.  Love it! 
Having played most all the handhelds when I was a kid (Mattel Football 2 was my absolute FAVORITE) I am surprised I don't remember the Blip!  Now I'm mad at my mom for not getting me one

[Vigo]

Great work on both the idea and everything you've come up with thus far.  Love it! 
Having played most all the handhelds when I was a kid (Mattel Football 2 was my absolute FAVORITE) I am surprised I don't remember the Blip!  Now I'm mad at my mom for not getting me one

Mattel Football 2 was pure awesome, and if you had someone to play against, Coleco Head to Head football was the best. I hope your mom got you TomyTronic Tabletop Tron as a kid.

Man I miss those old games, and even though I didn't own Blip! as a kid either, I am loving this homage to the game. Can't wait for more progress. It gets me all nostalgic. 

[yotsuya]

Mattel Baseball was THE BEST.

[wp34]

Great work on both the idea and everything you've come up with thus far.  Love it! 
Having played most all the handhelds when I was a kid (Mattel Football 2 was my absolute FAVORITE) I am surprised I don't remember the Blip!  Now I'm mad at my mom for not getting me one

Mattel Football 2 was pure awesome, and if you had someone to play against, Coleco Head to Head football was the best. I hope your mom got you TomyTronic Tabletop Tron as a kid.

Man I miss those old games, and even though I didn't own Blip! as a kid either, I am loving this homage to the game. Can't wait for more progress. It gets me all nostalgic. 

Mattel Football 2 really was pure awesome.  So much joy from being able to pass and run backwards.  I have one of the repro models and my son and his friends love to play it.

[markc74]

Tomy (grandstand if you're UK) Tron is probably the greatest tabletop game ever - which is probably why they're so stupidly expensive on eBay now. Blip blip blip blip blip blip blip blip didledah! Pure awesome sauce

Looks like I've derailed my own thread! Sorry - actual real build update due next Monday.

[markc74]

Sides

Started by sketching the profile from my 3d drawing onto an 8’ x 4’ sheet of 12mm MDF. I used a thinner sheet for this as it was going to act as a template which I could get perfect before touching the 18mm stuff.

Once I had the outline done I drew in where all my supports were going to go and made sure (again) that everything was going to fit. This meant me getting the TV frame and speaker box and laying them sideways on the template to make sure - it's definately close but there's a good inch or so to spare  . I also tweaked the curves around the front of the cab near the screen as they didn’t translate well from the 3d drawing. Drawing around a dinner plate worked well for these!

I then cut my template using a jigsaw for the curves and a router with a flush bit for the straight parts. A lot of sanding later and I had something I was happy with.

This done, I traced the template onto 18mm MDF. Started by doing a rough cut outside the line using a jigsaw and finished off with the router and a flush bit. Nothing terribly exciting but I’m happy as it’s now starting to take shape   

No woodwork next week as have folks down but will probably do some work on the Mala layout instead so I feel like I'm making some sort of progress...