Malenko's MK4 to Open Ice MAME: TOURNAMENT EDITION! (new pix 6/19/15)

[Malenko]

Ok so I bought this deer hunter game, sight unseen, for next to nothing and the guy said he'd deliver it. So I bought it. Heres how I got it:


Now there was an issue with the monitor that pretty much made the game unplayable. So my plans of having a shooting cab got changed to having a MAME cabinet again. I knew this was an MK cab , either 2 3 or 4 but, we all know what I had to do next in order to find out:





Rat Farts, its an MK4. Was *really* hoping it was an MKII in better shape than the one I already had.

[Slippyblade]

This may sound stupid, but I've been super curious.  I've seen several threads where a layer of paint is removed leaving the underlying paint intact.  How the hell does that happen?  I mean, wouldn't any solvent being used break down through layers?  I just don't get how that happens.  How do the under colors still look so vibrant after being exposed to the solvents in the covering paint and then more solvents from whatever chemical you are using to strip?

[Malenko]

This may sound stupid, but I've been super curious.  I've seen several threads where a layer of paint is removed leaving the underlying paint intact.  How the hell does that happen?  I mean, wouldn't any solvent being used break down through layers?  I just don't get how that happens.  How do the under colors still look so vibrant after being exposed to the solvents in the covering paint and then more solvents from whatever chemical you are using to strip?

The solvent I use breaks the bond of the paint. Its a very mild solvent. the stronger stuff like the gel type strippers can eat through the existing art underneath very easily. the milder the solvent, the more elbow grease you need to use.




First job? Patch the TWO INCH HOLE they drilled into the front to run the wire for the gun. the actual wire was *maybe* 3/8th of an inch, and that sized hole would have been MUCH easier to repair.



Wire mesh in the back to hold everything in place:


Cut a 2" hole into a piece of scrap, sanded down the edges, put it in place:


couple of rounds of bondo and.....

I also filled in the bolt hole for the lock bar near the coin box door.

[Malenko]

next thing to fix? This busted up corner on the back:

I cut a spare piece of black molding, to fill in the gap

the majority of the corner was gone, so I made this a 2 pass bondo fix:


a little piece chipped after the fix, but I was out of bondo, so this is good enough:

[Malenko]

So the front is done and painted:


Yes , I appreciate the irony of spending about 10 hours scraping black paint off just to cover the sides in black vinyl. The black sides are just a place holder until I can afford to get my custom sides printed.


Here is the actual NBA Jam CP (covered in blue vinyl) mounted to the front for a test fit:

and yes, you can see the 2" hole is back, thats just because these pictures are not 100% in chronological order.

[yotsuya]

Looking good, brah!

[Malenko]

Once all the sides were covered with black vinyl, had to apply the Flyer's Orange T-Molding:





Not previously picture, but obviously done, was painting the inside of the cab. Well, primering.

[Malenko]

Now that I had a solid and swell looking base, I decided to figure out the controls I wanted.  Ive always preached how NBA Jam had the right idea on squeezing 4 players around 1 machine, I decided to put my money where my mouth is.

I started by cutting a blank CP the same size as the NBA Jam top panel.  I then aligned the sticks to all be on the same horizontal line. This was done so 2 player Smash TV, Karate Champ, Total Carnage, etc could be played.  Player buttons were moved slightly, and adjust to what felt most comfortable. I did make a minor mistake with player 4 buttons, which you will see further down.

Here's the final layout, as compared to an NBA Jam panel:


And here is my player 4 boo boo:


So instead of plugging the button hole and redrilling, I just clipped the joystick base:


counter sunk the joystick nuts, so there will be no bolt holes showing:


and here they are patched:

[Malenko]

So I decided to go ahead and prime then paint the CP. I don't have the cash flow to get the art printed up at mamemarquees for the CP (you can see it here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,138619.0.html
looks something like this:


primed:

painted:


And test fitted (LIKE A GLOVE!)


buttons installed, I was 1 orange button short:


ground loop installed:

with just 1 wire looking that messy I just knew that once the rest was wired, it'd be a total rats nest.


and I was right:

[Malenko]

Other things Ive been working on include, the instruction card:

Its just an edit of the "Vortex Instruction Card"

This will replace the front "NBA JAM" banner under the CP:

printed, just waiting for delivery.

started a MaLa layout, set for 1920x1080


just need to tweak it a bit. Yes Im using an older MAME (for now)


When its done, I will put it up for download.

[DaOld Man]

Looking good.

[MK3FAN]

Looking good indeed!

[Vigo]

Talk about good news/bad news. There is not much more glorious in this hobby than buying a cab and stripping the paint to find that it perfectly preserved the side art. Too bad it was an MK4. So far so good! 

[BadMouth]

lol at the mini pump shotgun in the pistol holster.
Hey, as long as people put quarters in it.

I like the controls layout and will steal it if I ever build another cab.

[MK3FAN]

Too bad it was an MK4. So far so good! 

Yeah. Midway WAAYYY over estimated the sales of MK4 and there were so many cabs left over that ALL of the Radikal Bikers and Mace: The Dark Age machines are housed inside dedicated MK4 cabinets.

[Malenko]

Didnt get a ton done this weekend, cause I picked up this cab:

Traded my UMK3 and Bad Dudes for it. Realized my arcade isn't just for me now that I'm getting married, so I want to get more games that Bonnie will actually play. And my MK1 has run buttons so I can just get another MK3 PCB if I get the hankering to play it on a dedicated cab. Next goal is to get a shooting game cab, like maybe a Time Crisis or something. Faster than Speed needs a new marquee , and I'm going to give it the once over, like removing the lock bar bolts and touch up the paint n stuffs. Looking into putting new pots on the pedals and wheel, just so I have no future maintenance to worry about.

So I took the busted up 25" bezel I got , and trimmed out the inner CRT curve part:


And I picked up a 28" LED LCD (cheapie insignia brand) for $150 and got it mounted in the cab:

pretty good amount of screen real estate for the price. Next up is to paint the glass (or buy a piece of plexi to paint) to hide the screen gap. Bezel is stayin in there to hold the AIM Track light gun LED (if you look really close you can see it, purple dots).

Not pictured but done is all the control wiring, and the KeyWiz40-ST is programmed. I just need to figure out what "Shazaam!" buttons I want to use. And yes, the KeyWiz40-ST is EXACTLY enough inputs for this panel, I use the shazaam button + each start button to coin up and theres exactly 40 inputs on my panel. And I gotta say, I am loving my MaLa layout, it just need some tweaking then I'll put it up here for download.

[wp34]

That monitor looks great.   

I'll be starting a restore of a destroyed TMNT/NFL Blitz into an NFL-themed MAME cab soon.   As such I'm really enjoying this build.

[Brian74]

Keep it up Malenko, looking good as always 

[DGP]

Interesting... I tried to use that same exact Insignia 28" led lcd in my Midway cab and it would not fit (really close), did you sand the sides of the cab or something?

Jason

[Malenko]

Interesting... I tried to use that same exact Insignia 28" led lcd in my Midway cab and it would not fit (really close), did you sand the sides of the cab or something?

Jason

Nope. I was thinking I would have to dremel / route / sand the sides to make it fit, but the TV fits the opening without a millimeter to spare. I put the TV in through the back not the front, and slid it forward against the monitor frame wood. Then I sorta cheaped out and just put a lath screw under it on each side, and behind it on each side. The TV is locked in place with friction.  I'll take some pix tonight if I get around to prepping the monitor glass.

[gbeef]

Hey how did that NBA layout work out? I'm planning on doing the same with my KIller In cab and move to 4 players also. but worried about room.

[Malenko]

Hey how did that NBA layout work out? I'm planning on doing the same with my KIller In cab and move to 4 players also. but worried about room.

its just as tight as the real NBA Jam panel.  I should have moved the player 4 buttons up just a smidge (maybe an inch , inch and a half)  I'll give it a real test with 4 adults when the cab is in a more finished state. I should have the bezel done by tomorrow, and then hopefully the AIMTrack in a lethal enforcers gun wont take long to set up.

[wp34]

I like the controls layout and will steal it if I ever build another cab.

Me too.  The one I'm building needs to fit 4 teenagers comfortably and more importantly play 2-player Smash TV.  I like how the joysticks all line-up yet the panel looks stock.   

[Malenko]

So here is the back of the TV. Its 95% held in my friction (it takes some muscle and finesse to get the TV to come out) and 5% held in place by lath screws.

yes, that is a pole position marquee sitting in the marquee area of my MK1, and yes the LED bar for the aimtracks is just sitting there for now.


and heres how I paint the bezel:





after I pull that, I'll tape off the sides and paint them too. More pix tomorrow. maybe.

[Malenko]

Open Ice: Flyer's Edition marquee installed.

[Malenko]

Added Malenko CP box sides. These need to be reprinted, they are too big. I just assumed the MK and NBA Jam CP sides were the same size, and they arent, by like an inch and a half.
Will probably get them printed in Flyer's Orange instead of Midway red.


Added the Broad Street Bullies banner across the front, it too will probably get reprinted. The orange I used is FLyers orange, but it doesnt match the stick or tmolding very well.


Now to finish all the front end crap.

[Slippyblade]

Love the "Malenko" logo on the CP ends.   

[Cobolisdead]

Awesome work as always man!

[pbj]

Boring cabinet is boring.

[yotsuya]

PBJ gotta X2.

[dkersten]

PBJ gotta X2.

Nah, if he as gonna X2, he would have to take 4 pages to say "boring cab is boring" because the shading in the "malenko" logo is off, which would somehow relate to martial arts, which would lead to a summary of how it isn't really an arcade cab because it doesn't have original leaf switches.  Perfectly logical and full of facts.

[yotsuya]

PBJ gotta X2.

Nah, if he as gonna X2, he would have to take 4 pages to say "boring cab is boring" because the shading in the "malenko" logo is off, which would somehow relate to martial arts, which would lead to a summary of how it isn't really an arcade cab because it doesn't have original leaf switches.  Perfectly logical and full of facts.

You forgot an analogy that misses the mark, bro.

[pbj]

It's like wanting a Cadillac when all you can afford is a hamburger?

[Vigo]

I would like to reference one of my favorite X2 analogies.

If I put a hot dog shape over the top of my car - does that make it a hot dog?!   No.  Its
still a car.   An ugly looking car... but still a car.     Samely, a spinner mounted horizontally
with a strange top to it - is still a spinner.

                                               - X2 on Designer Spinner Tops

[dkersten]

People are looking at me funny because I am in my office alone laughing, and I am not even watching a cat video on youtube..

[yotsuya]

People are looking at me funny because I am in my office alone laughing, and I am not even watching a cat video on youtube..

You mean you THINK that's why they're looking at you funny... 

[yotsuya]

I would like to reference one of my favorite X2 analogies.

If I put a hot dog shape over the top of my car - does that make it a hot dog?!   No.  Its
still a car.   An ugly looking car... but still a car.     Samely, a spinner mounted horizontally
with a strange top to it - is still a spinner.

                                               - X2 on Designer Spinner Tops

Wouldn't that make it a homemade Oscar Meyer Wienermobile? BYOOMW?

[dkersten]

Wouldn't that make it a homemade Oscar Meyer Wienermobile? BYOOMW?

OMG It's STILL not a hot dog, didn't you GET the analogy!!!!???11!!   

[yotsuya]

I would like to reference one of my favorite X2 analogies.

If I put a hot dog shape over the top of my car - does that make it a hot dog?!   No.  Its
still a car.   An ugly looking car... but still a car.     Samely, a spinner mounted horizontally
with a strange top to it - is still a spinner.

                                               - X2 on Designer Spinner Tops

I had to track down the thread that was the source of this quote. Oh. My. God. You mean he's always been that way? 

[Malenko]

welp, I'll have to take some pictures of this as is soon. Cab is sold pending payment.  Pulling the Open Ice stuff and putting the MK4 CP back on it and wiring that up for some 2 player action. Luckily, Im keeping the PC so I dont have to bother setting everything up again.

[pbj]

So you went dedicated MK4 -> MAMEd Open Ice -> dedicated MK4?

[Malenko]

So you went dedicated MK4 -> MAMEd Open Ice -> dedicated MK4?

I bought it as a MK4 cab converted to Deer Hunte.
I stripped the black paint and swapped the CP box.
themed it to MAME/Open Ice
swapped the Open Ice CP box back to the MK4 box and pulled the solid black vinyl off the sides.

still going to be MAME'd cause no one likes MK4; I'm just not supplying the PC (or ROMs)

[johnrt]

Nah, if he as gonna X2, he would have to take 4 pages to say "boring cab is boring" because the shading in the "malenko" logo is off, which would somehow relate to martial arts, which would lead to a summary of how it isn't really an arcade cab because it doesn't have original leaf switches.  Perfectly logical and full of facts.

HAHAHA! 

We need a X2 check list...

[Malenko]

so the buyer tire kicker backed out, so project is still on.  Sadly, I need to now re-apply black vinyl to the left side to cover up Clown Chi, again.   Hyper spin sure is pretty, but I think Im gonna stick with Mala for the FE.



CP art should be here this week, weut!

[yotsuya]

welp, I'll have to take some pictures of this as is soon. Cab is sold pending payment.  Pulling the Open Ice stuff and putting the MK4 CP back on it and wiring that up for some 2 player action. Luckily, Im keeping the PC so I dont have to bother setting everything up again.

Wait, what?

[Malenko]

Wait, what?

Friend of mine had a buddy who wanted the cab, I was considering making the 4player CP a pedestal so I saw if he wanted it.  He said he did but then later retracted , saying the spot he had in mind wasnt big enough. So project is back on like donkey kong.

[pbj]

Every laughs at a "cash in hand" offer until some limp wrister loses his balls and backs out of a deal.  Cash in hand ain't no joke.

[yotsuya]

Every laughs at a "cash in hand" offer until some limp wrister loses his balls and backs out of a deal.  Cash in hand ain't no joke.

I will NEVER laugh at cash-in-hand. I'm a believer!!!

[dkersten]

as our old debt collector used to say "That guy can only buy from us if he has cash with a co-signer."

I can't tell you how many times I lost money in the past because someone backed out of a deal.

[Malenko]

so I started removing the buttons and sticks.......


applied the custom made "Wells Fargo Center" ice rink CPO:


cut out all the holes:


and reinstalled the hardware:


Next up is to re apply the front "broad street bully" art, and get that tmolding around the CP, and clean off the glass, its filthy.

[yotsuya]

I'm glad you're keeping this one!

[BadMouth]

applied the custom made "Wells Fargo Center" ice rink CPO:

The mistakes continue to pile up. 

[BadMouth]

Maybe you should switch the CP to the Consol Energy Center.
They seem to play their best games there. 

[Malenko]

Maybe you should switch the CP to the Consol Energy Center.
They seem to play their best games there. 

HA! Flyer's won the inaugural game there too! You arent a........ Penguins fan are you?

[Cobolisdead]

I understand your desire for authenticity, but why have a company logo like that on your control panel? It'd make me want to go check my balance every time I play Donkey Kong. 

[Malenko]

I understand your desire for authenticity, but why have a company logo like that on your control panel? It'd make me want to go check my balance every time I play Donkey Kong. 

I *ALMOST* modeled it after the old Spectrum rink, but they play at the Wells Fargo, so I left it at that.  I don't bank with them anyway
I did leave the McDonalds , Toyota, Deitz&Watson,etc logos off and just put the NHL Sheild and Players Association logos instead (much like the open ice CPO)

Im hoping to apply the reprinted art tonight, and maybe slap the tmolding on; but things are hectic at teh casa de Malenko.

[BadMouth]

HA! Flyer's won the inaugural game there too! You arent a........ Penguins fan are you?

Yeah, it's why I've been knocking your theme. 
I'm just a casual fan.  I usually don't start watching until the playoffs.
IMO there are too many games in the hockey season.  It dilutes the importance of each game.

[Malenko]

IMO there are too many games in the hockey season.  It dilutes the importance of each game.

82 games, same as the NBA. I think its a good number of games considering the number of teams. Baseball, now that's a sport with too many games.

[pbj]

Get one of these, slap it on the top:

http://www.staples.com/NHL-15-inch-x-27-inch-x-3-4-inch-Wooden-Team/product_SS3661226?cmArea=home_box1#id=%27dropdown_3739849%27

[Malenko]

so I started working on the MaLa skin, this is basically what its going to look like:


Somethings will still need to be tweaked. And yes, once its done I'll attach it for everyone to use.

Beyond that Im also working on the game lists, which will also be attached when done. Im 1,300 games through the "all games" list.

I will also probably be switching from the GGG KeyWiz over to an IPAC2. I originally wanted to use the keywiz because I was going to have it reprogram itself on a per emulator basis, but my MAME PC just doesnt like it.

[pbj]

You sure like hockey

[Malenko]

You sure love hockey

FTFY.

I love hockey the way other people love football, I just think its a better sport, and I get to watch 82 regular season games a year instead of 16. I also have much more faith in the Philadelphia Flyers than I do the Philadelphia Eagles AND Dallas Stars fans are FAR less annoying than Dallas Cowboys fans.


1700 games done through the list

[Vigo]

AND Dallas Stars fans are FAR less annoying than Dallas Cowboys fans.

I'm still of the mindset that Dallas stole my hockey team. Wild? WTF is a wild? I hate team names that are adjectives. 

[pbj]

I had the misfortune of spending some time in Minnesota after Dallas got the Stars.

Two observations:

Minnesota - not even once.

It's just sports.  Get over it.

[AzureKnight]

You sure love hockey

FTFY.

I love hockey the way other people love football, I just think its a better sport, and I get to watch 82 regular season games a year instead of 16. I also have much more faith in the Philadelphia Flyers than I do the Philadelphia Eagles AND Dallas Stars fans are FAR less annoying than Dallas Cowboys fans.

I'm a hockey fan too, I just have the current misfortune of being a Sabres fan...

[grippie]

I will also probably be switching from the GGG KeyWiz over to an IPAC2. I originally wanted to use the keywiz because I was going to have it reprogram itself on a per emulator basis, but my MAME PC just doesnt like it.

I had the same problem. Mine kept losing connection to the keywiz on boot so I said screw it and i'm using the stock programmed keys and remapping all of my emulators to match the keywiz. I'll probably get an ipac on any future builds.

[Malenko]

Im not dead set on swapping over to the IPAC2 just yet, I dont know how much more work that will add :/

Anyways, I finally got through the "all games list" and made my lists for MaLa. They are attached. Haruman should be sending my last 2 pieces of art soon, and Im super psyched! Pictures will be updated after they arrive and are applied.

[yotsuya]

Im not dead set on swapping over to the IPAC2 just yet, I dont know how much more work that will add :/

Might I suggest a KADE?

[pbj]

I've got some Lono nonsense from Paradise Arcade gathering dust.

 

[Malenko]

Might I suggest a KADE?

Are we impersonating mods now?

I've got some Lono nonsense from Paradise Arcade gathering dust.

 

well I have a spare IPAC2 so unless the lono is dirt cheapo its a no go.

[pbj]

I should probably test the darn thing.  IPAC2 is a superior encoder in the sense that it emulates a keyboard and doesn't require a Windows environment (though none of us seriously do DOS cabinets anymore).

[Malenko]

Ok, so I finally got the bezel art printed and applied:


and here is the CP box before adding the new art:


And with the Broad Street Bullies art on the front, and the Malenko art on the sides, done in the style of Midway:


I still need to put the t-molding around the top of the box, I cut the slot too wide so it'll need to be hot glued or something. But here I am faking it, by propping the molding across the front:

[dkersten]

My first slot was too wide, so I ended up cutting strips of sandpaper, folding them in half lengthwise and wrapping the t-molding with the folded strips (sand side out) and hammering it in, and it worked great.  No hot glue mess and if need be it can be removed.

[Malenko]

I'll probably use silicone or caulk.

[Cobolisdead]

What did you use to cut the slot?

[Malenko]

table saw, I'm more hill billy than you think! I just forgot to swap in the thinner blade first.

[pbj]

My first slot was too wide, so I ended up cutting strips of sandpaper, folding them in half lengthwise and wrapping the t-molding with the folded strips (sand side out) and hammering it in, and it worked great.  No hot glue mess and if need be it can be removed.

This trick works really well.

[yotsuya]

table saw, I'm more hill billy than you think! I just forgot to swap in the thinner blade first.

I heard the banjo music when you made this post...

[Deadpool]

I have to say, that MK art underneath came out very well!  I would at least thought some of it would need repaired or replaced.   

[opt2not]

Nice logo, Malenko

[Malenko]

Nice logo, Malenko

totes worth like $2.50 a letter     You left some artifacts in the file you send me, but it was an easy clean up. Cant argue with the results!

I have to say, that MK art underneath came out very well!  I would at least thought some of it would need repaired or replaced.   

Yeah but its still MK4 art, so it still needs to be replaced or repainted black.

[opt2not]

totes worth like $2.50 a letter     You left some artifacts in the file you send me, but it was an easy clean up. Cant argue with the results!

I did??  Oh noooooo!

What kind of artifacts?  That ain't good...I must be more diligent.

[yotsuya]

Nice build ! 

Please consider posting a pic in the I completed my project! I posted a pic and a link to my project thread sticky, so that people can easily find your thread.

[Vigo]

 

[yamatetsu]

yotsuya : STFU 

[Malenko]

So Im upstairs in my office, putting the final touches on the software side. MaLa config is done for MAME, but now Im going through and adding a couple consoles. Not that I'll even get nominated for a UAC, I'd still like to have this cab done before end of the year.

[Malenko]

So yeah, its done.  I mean yeah maybe in the future I'll make some full sized side art or add some guns, but Im gonna consider it done because it supports 4 players at once 

Here is the custom MaLa skin:


And some 4 player simultaneous TMNT:Turtles in Time:

[Malenko]

OH NOEZ!

ITS TIME FOR Malenko Open Ice: TOURNAMENT EDITION!
LCDs are great for MAME cabs, you dont need a super expensive one to enjoy the cab. This change in the lineup has nothing to do LCD vs CRT it was just an experiment that didnt cost me any money.
As you might know, I pulled the trisync out of my faster than speed and put the LED LCD from my MAME cab in it:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141857.0.html

That left me with no monitor in my MAME and a trisync sitting on the garage floor, I can tell you know where this is going!

First, a little tutorial.  I will be making a separate thread thats going to duplicate a lot of this post. But this is how you mount a 27" CRT in a 90s Midway cab WITHOUT drilling any holes into the side of the cab to relocate brackets.

I started by measuring the distance between the holes vertically on the 25" monitor, then the 27". I took the difference between the 2 and divided it in half. This is how far down the new holes go on the old bracket.

The old holes have the circles around them (from the washers pressing against them):


Here is how to be sure the holes are exactly the right distance on both after drilling one:


Here is the bracket mounted back into the cab. Existing bolts go in the new holes, 1/2" lath screws go in the old holes:



Here is the just the top right bracket installed with the new holes:


and here's both top brackets relocated:


Not pictured because I forgot to take one, is the bottom brackets being done as well.


And finally, the tri-sync installed (and I did it by myself, ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?---)

love that screenburn! Also, please note that I had to measure and drill new holes in the monitor frame as well.

srsly, the burn in makes it really feel like an arcade game to me:

[Malenko]

Some NHL Open ICE on the screen:


And I have the 25" bezel back in place, but I do need to pick up a new one.

[yotsuya]

Now THAT'S an arcade machine!!!! Looks great! 

[Peabo]

Agreed, great looking machine!

[Malenko]

So I switched out the Groovy Game Gear KeyWiz ST for an IPAC 4. There was nothing wrong with the GGG encoder (in fact I gave it to Jakobud for his cab) , I tried to use a 2 player encoder for a 4 player machine and it just didnt work.



then I cleaned up my rats nest of wiring:


Here is a shot of the insides:

That PC is probably going to be replaced, and this is showing where I mounted the power strip. I just open the coin door, flip the switch, then turn on the PC and speakers.  To note, I dont have the speakers in the traditional spot, I like them right where they are. The cab acts kinda like a bass tube and the sound still comes out of the speaker grill up top. Sounds great. Originally I planned to move the speakers to the traditional location, but now Im thinking I wont.

And yes, my Flyers cab has an ORANGE power cord now.

[yotsuya]

Yeah, I like this so much better this way as opposed to the widescreen LCD.