Jungle Fever-First Build

[wirenut]

Well here we go!!!  I am excited to begin of my first project ever, “Jungle Fever”.  I had the idea to build an arcade cab about 8 months ago.  At the time I knew nothing of this community or even Mame.  That feels like ages ago!  Fast forward to now and I am ready to get started.

A little background.  I currently live in the jungle outside of Pekanbaru, Indonesia.  (This is where the jungle theme comes from)  I went back to the States at Christmas to visit family and that is when I acquired most of the parts.  My mom came on a visit in March and brought me some more.  It’s always funny trying to explain to Indonesia customs what I plan to do with a suitcase full of joysticks and buttons! 

So here is what I have planned:

*A natural look cab simmular to the famous “Woody”
* 2 player with 7 buttons each and a trackball
*Rotating Monitor
* LED lit buttons and Servo Sticks
*Going with Mala for my F.E.
*Will be Mame/Golden Tee Complete (2006) (Will now be using this for a second project)

So for the sake of my relationship with my wife and the fact that labor is VERY cheap where I live, I decided to contract out the building of the shell of the cab.  I took a Sketchup drawing I found from “EvilNuff” and changed it to fit my needs.

Here is what I gave the furniture maker....

   

And Here is what I got in return....



And Stained....





Thank You List: (I will expand as I go):   
1.All the innovators before that made this hobby possible for us who are less talented.
2.Mike Boss for your awesome work on my Mala layout!
3.Andy with Ultimarc for helping me get my Pac 64 back on track.
4. ChanceKJ for this: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,135459.0.html

And here we go! 

[Le Chuck]

Dude, awesome, Indonesia cab FTW!  BTW, this totally goes with the "Yellow Fever" cab, now we just need some other double entendre cab to round out the trifecta!  Can't wait to see it come together. 

[mike boss]

Hard to believe that just months ago you had no info on MAME, this forum, etc................now you have a cabinet.
I know it can be daunting...but your off to one heck of a start.
Cant wait to see how it all turns out.

[ChanceKJ]

Dude, awesome, Indonesia cab FTW!  BTW, this totally goes with the "Yellow Fever" cab, now we just need some other double entendre cab to round out the trifecta!  Can't wait to see it come together.

my ears are burning.....

[yotsuya]

Dude, awesome, Indonesia cab FTW!  BTW, this totally goes with the "Yellow Fever" cab, now we just need some other double entendre cab to round out the trifecta!  Can't wait to see it come together.

my ears are burning.....

That's the sound of Flynn's Arcade gently weeping in the corner...

[ChanceKJ]

No, my ears are really burning! I wanted to see inside so I lit a Q-Tip.

 

[wirenut]

Thanks for the encouragement! 

Ok I've found my first newbie mistake....  The Marquee header is too shallow I think.  I just cut the back plate for the LEDs and I realized that there will not be enough room for the speakers unless I push the lights within about 2" of the Marquee.  My idea was to just drill a pattern of hole and mount the speakers on top so you would not see them.

I'm using Ultimarc LED strips:



And this is all the room that I have:



Any ideas???

[wirenut]

While I was thinking about the Marquee, I decided to do some prep on the buttons.  No scratching my head on this one since ChanceKJ posted a sweet how-to already.. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,135459.0.html

[ChanceKJ]

Screw speaker grills.

Not even kidding. Use a couple of these...

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10975

I'm using one in my Yellow Fever built (link in my sig)  check out halfway down page 3.

[wirenut]

Screw speaker grills.

Not even kidding. Use a couple of these...

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10975

I'm using one in my Yellow Fever built (link in my sig)  check out halfway down page 3.

This is a sweet idea!  How loud do they get?  Could I get stereo sound out of them?  My biggest issue is getting them.  Most everything I get people mule into me when they are visiting.  There is a town nearby, but I just have to work with what I can find.

I do want this thing to rock.  I live on a camp and this will be the center of many parties!

[ChanceKJ]

Depends,
 
I mean, if you plan on using your cab as the sound system for a rave you might want to build in additional, switchable audio.  The video in my thread is using one transducer in place of a 4ohm 3watt speaker, on an "IKEA" like particle board desk i bought 15+ years ago from Staples, and producing some 8-bit game sounds. You'd be installing them into a solid hardwood surface. You'd want 2-4 of them if you were to use these cheaper Sparkfun ones. Milage may vary. If you really want to go this route look for a higher end version.

I just did a test with the one i have on my desk and cranked up some Bobby Darin (not kidding).  It's not great, but its also one channel, on that desk, through a $99 TV... It was "ok".

You could still cut a few slits in the wood and mount some small rectangular drivers in there...

[wirenut]

Depends,
 
I mean, if you plan on using your cab as the sound system for a rave you might want to build in additional, switchable audio.  The video in my thread is using one transducer in place of a 4ohm 3watt speaker, on an "IKEA" like particle board desk i bought 15+ years ago from Staples, and producing some 8-bit game sounds. You'd be installing them into a solid hardwood surface. You'd want 2-4 of them if you were to use these cheaper Sparkfun ones. Milage may vary. If you really want to go this route look for a higher end version.

I just did a test with the one i have on my desk and cranked up some Bobby Darin (not kidding).  It's not great, but its also one channel, on that desk, through a $99 TV... It was "ok".

You could still cut a few slits in the wood and mount some small rectangular drivers in there...

Ok I'm going to look into this further.  Most likely for now, I'll have to go another route since it would take me so long to get them to even try them.  I'll be back in the states in July so I think I'll pick some up for a tabletop idea that I have....

[ChanceKJ]

there are a few other companies that make some higher end versions. One company out of the UK, Feonic Technology Ltd for example.  http://www.feonic.com


(everyone reading this thread is like "Oh, here Chance goes again about the bloody transducers, he's gonna lead someone astray with these silly things...") 

/looks at Scott...

[wirenut]

there are a few other companies that make some higher end versions. One company out of the UK, Feonic Technology Ltd for example.  http://www.feonic.com


(everyone reading this thread is like "Oh, here Chance goes again about the bloody transducers, he's gonna lead someone astray with these silly things...") 

/looks at Scott...

I actually am really digging this.  I think it would be sick in a Cocktail or Pinball build.  I am going to see if I can find something nice that is semi-feasible.

[ChanceKJ]

Ah yes SolidDrive. I'm 99% sure they were the booth i was drooling over at CES in 2008....




CES Solid Drive Speakers by levelbest, on Flickr


...looks like they were!  Yeah those were DOPE!

[wirenut]

Question.....

Should I use DVI or VGA for the Mame hook up? (Or even HDMI?)   I was thinking it might be cool to buy one of those VGA scan line generators but I also might be playing some newer games at some point. Like the Mini SLG...





 The Golden Tee board will have to run through one of these bad boys....

[mike boss]

In all of my cabinets I use LCD monitors.
Cost, simplicty, readily available, all of which make them a go to.
With the exception of one cabinet where I have a 21" CRT PC monitor.
I also LOVE the scanline generators. I've used the T-SLG and the MINI-SLG sold here on BYOAC.
I like them both, but I say the MINI-SLG from Craftymech is the way to go.

[Le Chuck]

I was thinking it might be cool to buy one of those VGA scan line generators but I also might be playing some newer games at some point. Like the Mini SLG...

Craftymech's SLG is a great product and if you're worried about newer games just run them at a resolution not supported by the SLG and the signal will pass through without getting adjusted - it really can be a no switch no issue implementation. 

[ChanceKJ]

+1 on the SLG Mini. Mines awesome,  I'm gonna use his SLG's on all my projects that I can.

[yotsuya]

I just did a test with the one i have on my desk and cranked up some Bobby Darin (not kidding).

 

[PL1]

/looks at Scott...

What?? 

Do I have something stuck between my teeth? 


Scott

[ChanceKJ]

  Cyborg Call centers have teeth?  Or for that matter need to eat?

I was just assuming you'd weigh in on the transducer idea.

[PL1]

Cyborg Call centers have teeth?  Or for that matter need to eat?

I was just assuming you'd weigh in on the transducer idea.

   

I try to let those with hands-on experience speak when my knowledge/experience on the subject is purely theoretical.   


Scott

[ChanceKJ]

Huh,

Well, I'll be damned. You may be human after all.


...or Skynet posing as a human. 

[keilmillerjr]

Cab looks amazing. Looks like you can fit some 4" round car speakers if they are easy for you to obtain.

[wirenut]

Cab looks amazing. Looks like you can fit some 4" round car speakers if they are easy for you to obtain.

Hey man thanks!  I can get my hands on the speakers no problem. (They like their car stereos over here!)  My biggest question is how close can I mount the LED to the Marquee.  I know it depends on a lot so next week I'm going to get it printed and just see what it looks like.

Today I am working on the monitor.  I have a 22" LG that i found in town that I'm going to throw in.  I'm trying to have it rotating today but, I'm spending more time than I thought I would have to leveling the damn thing.

[ChanceKJ]

If you have something to diffuse the light you can pretty much put it right up to the marquee.  Think about how the LCD display that you're probably reading this off of right now works...

Backlight|Diffuser|Translucent LCD.
 

Contain the marque space with a panel about an inch in. Cover the whole inside with reflective aluminum tape, mount the LEDs, use a layer of opaque plastic, mount the art to the plastic.  Done

[wirenut]

If you have something to diffuse the light you can pretty much put it right up to the marquee.  Think about how the LCD display that you're probably reading this off of right now works...

Backlight|Diffuser|Translucent LCD.
 

Contain the marque space with a panel about an inch in. Cover the whole inside with reflective aluminum tape, mount the LEDs, use a layer of opaque plastic, mount the art to the plastic.  Done

Sweet!  That is the answer I was looking for.  I'll give it a go and report back.

[talkgeek]

Looking good,  definitely on my watch list

[wirenut]

Looking good,  definitely on my watch list

Thanks!  Right back at you! 

Today was rather productive considering the fact that I downed 4 martinis last night.   

Got the monitor leveled, lazy Susan attached and motor mounted.



And got it all mounted to the back plate and the adjustment slides cut for the limit switches.



Hopefully tomorrow my wife will give me time to set the switches and try it out!

[Malenko]

Dude, awesome, Indonesia cab FTW!  BTW, this totally goes with the "Yellow Fever" cab, now we just need some other double entendre cab to round out the trifecta!  Can't wait to see it come together.

Bonnie's Pink Box, Hung Donkey......



cab looks good man, that stain turned out great!

[brucelee00]

Nice build! Love the finish! Keep up the good work! I am also thinking of getting the mini SLG too... I've heard nothing but good things.

[wirenut]

I am also thinking of getting the mini SLG too... I've heard nothing but good things.

Yeah I'm pretty pumped about the Mini SLG.  I won't be able to get mine until I'm back in the states in July but it will be fun to plug it in when I get it!

[wirenut]

Bonnie's Pink Box, Hung Donkey......



cab looks good man, that stain turned out great!

Thanks man!  Encouragement from a true veteran is nice! 

[EMDB]

Nice build so far. Any more details on the art? Your marquee (is it a marquee?) makes me curious 

[wirenut]

Nice build so far. Any more details on the art? Your marquee (is it a marquee?) makes me curious 

Thanks!

The art is going to be minimal.  I'm going for a more furniture like approach on this one.  My sig below is what I'm using for my Marquee.  Mike Boss put it together for me along with my Mala layouts.

I am thinking of having some wood carvings put together for the side and maybe the control panel but that will take a couple of months to pull off.

[mike boss]

Super cool project.
Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together.
I gotta say...........for someone new to the hobby this is a super advanced cabinet.
LED buttons, rotating monitor........................nice !

[wirenut]

Super cool project.
Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together.
I gotta say...........for someone new to the hobby this is a super advanced cabinet.
LED buttons, rotating monitor........................nice !

Thanks Mike!  Yeah I might have got in over my head.....We will see!   

Taking today off for Mothers Day.  Should have the monitor installed and rotating tomorrow.

[wirenut]

Quick update....

Chest deep into this thing now.    Got the monitor rotating with MaLa.  Pretty straight forward after I read this post.  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=112254.0   

For future builders I'll lay it out.  I created this .bat file and named it monitor.bat and put it on my desktop.

Code: [Select]

If "%1"=="1" goto rotateh
If "%1"=="2" goto rotatev
goto end

:rotateh
smccmd --resume --speed -3000
goto end

:rotatev
smccmd --resume --speed 3000
:end

(This is for use with a Pololu simple motor controller.  Set up the controller and limits as the Pololu docs say before messing with the .bat file)

Then I put "startcom" in the MaLa plugins folder and set it up this way....



And done!  Now here is my "Hey look at me, I made a monitor rotate" video....




Now off to build a test control panel.  See you soon!

[ChanceKJ]

Now all you need to rotate is that camera when you film something 

Good job with the monitor. you made that look a bit more easy then it probably is. 

[wirenut]

Now all you need to rotate is that camera when you film something 

Good job with the monitor. you made that look a bit more easy then it probably is. 

Yeah, I'm as amateur in photography as I am in arcade building. 

[mike boss]

Did I toss in a custom desktop for you when I did the layout ?
I do not recall......if not, no worries, I'll be sending one your way (no charge).

[wirenut]

Did I toss in a custom desktop for you when I did the layout ?
I do not recall......if not, no worries, I'll be sending one your way (no charge).

Yep got it! I have a few new ideas that I'll email you about in the next few days....

It's been a busy week so, I hit a little of a wall, but I should have an update of the monitor installed in the cab really soon......

[wirenut]

Update time.  Things have moved slower this week do to that thing called life.     A little progress was made though...

I've read a lot about people have trouble getting their monitors mounted in the center of their cabs so, I thought I would share how I addressed it.

First, I found the vertical and horizontal centers and pulled some strings.....



Then I put a horizontal and vertical string on the monitor and just shimmed it unties the strings lined up.




So the monitor is mounted.  This week I'm going to set the computer and get the control panel wired up.

I also decided to build a dedicated pedestal for the golden tee instead of cramming it in the cab.  I'll start on that one as soon as I finish "Jungle Fever".

[AlienInferno]

Ok I've found my first newbie mistake....  The Marquee header is too shallow I think.  I just cut the back plate for the LEDs and I realized that there will not be enough room for the speakers unless I push the lights within about 2" of the Marquee.  My idea was to just drill a pattern of hole and mount the speakers on top so you would not see them.

I'm using Ultimarc LED strips:

And this is all the room that I have:

Any ideas???

You should be fine if you do like ChanceKJ says.  On mine I have a bit more space (3 inches) but all I did was cover a piece of cardboard with aluminum tape, tape that piece of cardboard into the machine using duct tape, mount the LED's with double sided tape, and mount the marquee.  My art is sandwiched between two thin pieces of plexi.  I've got 3 strips of LED's in mine and it lights it up nice and even.

It's an old picture of a marquee I no longer use but it shows the lighting.

[wirenut]

Ok I've found my first newbie mistake....  The Marquee header is too shallow I think.  I just cut the back plate for the LEDs and I realized that there will not be enough room for the speakers unless I push the lights within about 2" of the Marquee.  My idea was to just drill a pattern of hole and mount the speakers on top so you would not see them.

I'm using Ultimarc LED strips:

And this is all the room that I have:

Any ideas???

You should be fine if you do like ChanceKJ says.  On mine I have a bit more space (3 inches) but all I did was cover a piece of cardboard with aluminum tape, tape that piece of cardboard into the machine using duct tape, mount the LED's with double sided tape, and mount the marquee.  My art is sandwiched between two thin pieces of plexi.  I've got 3 strips of LED's in mine and it lights it up nice and even.

It's an old picture of a marquee I no longer use but it shows the lighting.

Thanks!  The picture is worth a thousand words.  This helps out a ton.     

[wirenut]

Ok.  Long overdue progress report.  I have been rather distracted with my new idea of taking the Golden Tee Complete and making a portable unit with a built in projector.  But that is for a different thread....

I have finished assembling the control panel.  Not as clean as I would have liked, but it will be out of sight/out of mind. 



And the finished panel



Today I will work on finishing the install of the Power button, usb jack, fan, computer, and power supply.  We'll see how far I get....

[AlienInferno]

Control panel looks great.

[wirenut]

Ok this update is wayyyyy overdue.  I've been really busy getting this one done and I am about 95% there!  So basically since the last post I've put everything together.  I'll hit the highlights.....

First, I installed the monitor and cut and painted a circle to block everything out.  I made this inner-bezel with thin acrylic and painted the back side with black Plasti-Dip. 



Next I installed the power button, usb hub, and volume knob (Powermate that I plasti-diped black) under the control panel.



I then drilled the speaker holes and mounted the speakers to the back of the marquee lights.  Then I just screwed in the marquee light board.





Next I mounter the computer parts. (I need to clean it up......)



So without further ado...





Now some testing.........




One big boo boo I made was burning up the motor controller by getting in a hurry and hooking it up backwards. 

I'll pick a new one up when I'm in the States next month and throw it in.  Still need to work out some software kinks.  AKA Get Ledblinky dialed in and set up games lists ect ect.....

Now onto project number 1a .......Golden Tee Complete Portable!!!!  Yes it will have a built-in projector and yes it will have a stand and integrated wheels to make it truely portable..... 

[ChanceKJ]

 

Wicked. Great job.

[mike boss]

Awesome work!
Looks great!

[yotsuya]

I commend you for building that out in the jungle. What is it that you do there?

[wirenut]

Thanks guys!  I'm really enjoying the hobby.  So glad that I found it.

I commend you for building that out in the jungle. What is it that you do there?

Yeah I would say the hardest part was sourcing material and tools that I needed.  You should have seen the holes that I went in only to dig through a pile of stuff to find two perfect sheets of acrylic! 

Right now, I build arcades out here.  My wife works for a major oil company and I sit at home looking for things to do....