Rapture, a Bioshock Themed Terminus Clone (Time to pick Joysticks)

[ViriiGuy]

Update 6/24/14
Ok, The wife has settled on a theme for this build. It will be based off the first two Bioshock games.
The working title for the time being is Rapture. Art work will come along eventually. For now I am just focused on the build of the cabinet itself.

Well guys, Since my NAMCO Cabinet build turned out to be WAY too big for our house... It requires double doors to get in and out...
It just kind of sat in the garage, never getting used.. and eventually got canabalized for my Virtual Pinball Build. So, now that Optimus-Pin is 100% Complete... It is time to build a new Arcade Cabinet.

I have a sheet of MDF 3/4" Sitting in the garage, just waiting on me to start. But I have yet to decide on a design. I have narrowed it down to some criteria though. I want a 2 player CP with 6 buttons each, so the Wife and I can play fighting games. I probably will not have a Trackball.. At least not at first. I can redesign the CP later if need be for that.
I will be using a 26" LCD that I originally bought for the NAMCO Cabinet. And I want it to be a space-saving Cabinet. Not too deep, and not massively wide.

I am liking a lot of the wall hugging designs I have seen. I am just not sure what I want to do yet. Any suggestions?

Ok, This will be a Terminus Build. Based of the brilliant design of MarkC74. Here is the original thread, http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0
Unfortunately, the original suffered terminal water soak.

Stay tuned!

[JDFan]

IF you have a space picked out for it already and don't plan on moving it much perhaps something similar to 2084's wall mounted units but with a fighting cab theme and look --



Maybe even just use the monitor section of your Namco build and figure a way to adapt the CP to fit in with it as a wall mounted unit.

[johnndeanna]

Love that Stargate cab.

I like the slimmer cabs as well. I just don't have room for a large cab now that I don't have a basement anymore. Mine is only 24" deep. One sheet of 3/4" MDF did both sides with some scrap left over. See it in my signature below.

[ViriiGuy]

I like those wall mount designs, they are very neat! but I actually have the room for a stand up cab.. Just the BIG NAMCO I have is WAY too big. It is over powering next to my two pinball machines.. and aesthetically, they should be the dominating structure in the room.

John, your cab is one of the ones I have been considering, design wise. You have done an excellent job!

When I finish this build, my next one will be a Cocktail cabinet, based on Ond's design.

[PL1]

The search term you're looking for is "Vigolix".   


Scott

[ViriiGuy]

The search term you're looking for is "Vigolix".   


Scott

Ya know..... I think I like that!

[EMDB]

The Project Mame (see image) based cabs are also quite thin (you could make them even a bit less deep) and still are a full upright cabinet. See my signature for an example based on this design...

[rockyrocket]

I have found that slim cabs tend to be a bit unstable due to the narrow footprint.
Not a problem if you are happy to fix it to the wall, but worth thinking about if you play fighters.

[ViriiGuy]

That is one concern I had with a slim line cabinet. Stability.

[Vigo]

Using heavy boards for the bottom of a slim cab go a long way. Anything to bring the weight down to the bottom. If all else fails, a cinder block on the bottom will do the trick.

[eds1275]

Mine is 21 3/4" at the bottom, 28 3/4 wide, never had a problem with wobble.

[johnndeanna]

I actually put casters under mine for ease of movement but have decided to eliminate them. My base is only 18" wide front to back and the other day whilst installing the monitor I gave a bit of a push from behind and it started to lean a bit since I reality it was only balancing on a point of the front wheels. I think by taking them out it will be more than stable enough. If not I'll add a footrest at the front for a bit more stability. Gives the additional benefit of a place to rest your feet while seated.

[ViriiGuy]

JohnDenna,
Not to sound like a commercial.. But with those mover's discs you can put under stuff these days... Casters are a thing of the past When I need to move a pinball machine around, I put one under each leg and I can push it with ease across my floor.

I am going to sit down this week with sketchup and some basic measurements and see what I can come up with. But please... keep the input and ideas coming. The more I look at the Vigolix, I really like the style, but I would to seriously upsize it. It looks like the design has the CP at a great height for a small child, but not and adult. I would also have to change it up a bit, to give it more flare.

I am a huge fan of the typical Cabinet designs from the 80's, but not opposed to wild either. When I built my Virtual Pinball Cabinet, I went with the Pin2K design, because it was a nice combination of both an arcade cabinet and a pinball machine. So it fit with the design.

[eds1275]

Mine is on laminate flooring and I just used hockey pucks for feet with those felt pads stuck to them. It's heavy enough to stay put when playing but easy enough to slide around if I need to. If it were on carpet I'd likely have two large wheels at the back so I could drive it around.

[charlieram]

I built this one a few years ago and its very stable, the build is on this forum and the sketchup files are available for download too. I originally had a 26" TV in but have since upgraded to 28". It is plenty wide enough for two players.

[ViriiGuy]

charlieram, is your CP the avg arcade cabinet height? Or a lot lower?
I guess I could go check your thread

[Rick]

I built this one a few years ago and its very stable, the build is on this forum and the sketchup files are available for download too. I originally had a 26" TV in but have since upgraded to 28". It is plenty wide enough for two players.

That ... is an awesome design. I like it!

[charlieram]

charlieram, is your CP the avg arcade cabinet height? Or a lot lower?
I guess I could go check your thread

I think the top of the cp is 90cm high

That ... is an awesome design. I like it!

Thanks, I would change a few things now but only so it was easier to make if I were to do another in the future, I even thought about making one out of varnished light and dark wood. I think that would look cool.

[ViriiGuy]

Ok... I think I found what I want
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0 Terminus is just flat out sexy!!! Now to see if I can figure out how to read his model file in Sketchup.. So I can print out some plans.

[markc74]

Hi chap - glad you like the build!

I uploaded the plans in different 3d formats here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,138122.msg1426352.html#msg1426352

So hopefully that should help you out!

[ViriiGuy]

Hi chap - glad you like the build!

I uploaded the plans in different 3d formats here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,138122.msg1426352.html#msg1426352

So hopefully that should help you out!

Awesome! Thank you very much! I have races the next couple of weekends, so I am hoping to start on this the weekend of the 4th

[pbj]

If you're looking for upright and thing, if they haven't exploded by around 27, you're usually good until menopause.

[ViriiGuy]

If you're looking for upright and thing, if they haven't exploded by around 27, you're usually good until menopause.

LOL!! Too late Been married for 15 years But the wife endures my racing hobby and my arcade hobby... so it is all good

[ViriiGuy]

Ok well, it rained today, which killed my plans to mow. So I decided to get started on the cabinet. Once I got the lumber home, I got busy copying the side of the cabinet from the plan to the wood. It took me about an hour and a half to get the design drawn on the wood just right.




I then took out the Jigsaw and started cutting. A carpenter I am not.. and I quickly found I was having an issue following the lines. So rather than botch up the wood, I decided to cut wide. I will go back with sandpaper and sand it to shape.



Once I get this side cleaned up, I will use the router to copy it to the other piece of MDF. I also think I will get a piece of 1/4 plywood and make a template.. Just in case I ever need to make another one. I might want a matching cab with a different controller layout on the other side of the doors in the living room.

Thank you MarkC74 for this awesome design!

[markc74]

Nice work chap. Sides are the hardest bit i think. Although the cp curve was a bugger as well :-)

I'll see if i can root out some of the original build pics. Might be helpful when you're putting it together.

Got an idea for a theme?

[ViriiGuy]

Thanks! That would be awesome! As for a Theme... I built a Transformers Themed Virtual Pin for myself last year, so I am letting the wife choose this one's theme.

Currently, she is leaning towards Bioshock, but I am thinking that is not going to turn out well. So we shall see.
If I build a second one, it will probably be a UT Vols Theme. (Local College sports)

[ViriiGuy]

Well... Time to go buy tools
I have the curves finished on the first side. But I can't get my jig saw to cut a straight line... Even with a straightedge. It is a very old Rockwood and the blade is moving around, side to side as I have found. So, Guess it is time to buy a Table Saw, so I can straighten up the very top of the side.. and start cutting the various other cabinet parts.

Also after standing with the side in front of me, I think I have decided to raise the machine 2.5 inches. My wife and I are only 5'6ish.. But the cabinet feels like it will be a bit short even for us. To achieve this, I am just extending all the base parts by 2.5 inches.

[ViriiGuy]

I finally have matching sides!


Man thus stuff makes a HUGE mess.

[JDFan]

I finally have matching sides!


Man thus stuff makes a HUGE mess.

Fixed the link for you !

[ViriiGuy]

Fixed the link for you !

Thanks, Was trying to post from my phone

Now to attempt to rip the model apart and make the rest of my measurements....

[markc74]

Looking good chap.

Uploaded the original build pics here for you here --> https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2XxpmZ16vfOa3hMNGJNMjloRzg&usp=sharing

The cabinet changed from a wall hanging design to a full size half way through the build which is why the earlier pics look like a different cab!

[ViriiGuy]

Those are great! They answer a few questions for me. Thank you very much

And, I found out about Sawboards today.... Building that as soon as this BORING meeting is over with!

[ViriiGuy]

Ok, today was all about lessons learned...
I learned that 1/8 inch paneling makes a horrible base for a saw board. Yea, way too thin. I thought the thinner it was the better it would be. Not so.

I learned that Sentimental value on tools is highly over-rated.

I also learned I can destroy a lot of wood by not making sure my saw blade isn't warped. Most of these tools have been in storage for a long time.

Ah well. Tomorrow I will pick it up and try again.

[ViriiGuy]

I finished ripping the model apart for my measurements. So I figured I would toss them here, so A. I do not lose them.. and B. so someone else can use them if they wish.
For the Base, I added 2.5 inches to the height.

Cabinet top 27 Inches x 18.25
Speaker panel 27 x 12.75
CP Top 27 x 15
CP Front 32 x 3.25
CP Bottom 27 x 15
Kick board 27 x 32.5
Coin door sides x 2 9 x 32.5
Coin door front 12 x 32.5
bottom front 10 x 10
Bottom back 27 x 9.25

This is a rough idea of how to get them all out of one board.

[ViriiGuy]

Ok! We have wood!
Everythibg but the back panels is cut. The cp top and bottom have to be cut and shaped. The cp fro t has to be kerfed.

I have to work late the next two days. So not much will be done for a few days.


Ok I lied.. I got a tiny bit more done I was on a conference call.. actually still am. So I muted it, went to the garage and cut the hole for the coin door

[ChanceKJ]

Update 6/24/14
Ok, The wife has settled on a theme for this build. It will be based off the first two Bioshock games.
The working title for the time being is Rapture. Art work will come along eventually. For now I am just focused on the build of the cabinet itself.

YES!! So ---smurfing--- cool.  You had me at Splicer.

[ViriiGuy]

YES!! So ---smurfing--- cool.  You had me at Splicer.

Glad you like it

I am in meetings until 9pm or so tonight, so I doubt if I will get anything else done today, but this weekend will be build time!
I didn't get out of my meeting last night until 12:30 am ... Ugg and back to work at 5 am.

[ViriiGuy]

Ok, well I did manage to squeeze an hour in the garage. The result?

Most of the base is assembled. Sorry for the crappy pic and never mind the jagged cuts for the coin door. I will clean it up with a router later, I just roughed it in last night with a jigsaw.

[ViriiGuy]

What can I say.. I can't seem to stay out of the garage. I finished up the front pedestal assembly and cut the back of it out, so I can have access to the full cabinet.


Next I have to slot the sides for tmolding.. and start trying to figure out how I am going to man handle them for assembly. I went thru 14 foot of 3/4 x 34 oak for added corner strength. Looks like I will need to pick some more up this weekend. I only have about 8 foot of it left.

[ViriiGuy]

Ok, time to start thinking about filler material.. Like sanding putty.

I will have some cracks to fill in, due to a warped saw blade. I know a lot of folks use Bondo.. But I hate that stuff so much. It stinks up the entire garage. So, I am hoping to find something better to use. I am planning to stop by SW later and see what they have. Any suggestions?