First MAME Cabinet Build

[abevigodasson]

Been wanting to build a cabinet for a long time. Purchased the controls and inners about a year ago - they sat around waiting for me to get motivated.

Finally started the build about 4 weeks ago. This is the final product.



I originally planned on taking enough photos to do a full "build thread" but a week and a half into the project, the weather turned from decent to freezing and terrible, so I tended to be more focused on the build than taking photos and documenting the progress.



Built mainly from 3/4" and 1/2" MDF. I designed the control panel and side art and had them printed at a local sign shop.

The working parts are a 21.3" Samsung LCD (the biggest 4:3 LCD I could find) and a 3ghz HP desktop running Windows 7. All controls are hooked up through an IPAC2.

It's running MAME with MaLa as a front-end (with a simple but custom MaLa layout).

[rablack97]

good execution, but the classy black white look, is kinda ruined with the collage side art, and you gotta have a coin door or a marquee to break up the monotony, leaving out both makes it look kinda unfinished.

[Whatthewhat?]

I like it!  The black and white enable the collage to work.  You don't have this riot of color that messes up the senses. 
Great job!

[abevigodasson]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was going for.

[rablack97]

the color isn't what i was referring to, black and white = simple clean, and then side art bammmmm, busy busy busy busy.

[abevigodasson]

I was thanking Whatthewhat?

Thanks for your opinion though!

[smass]

Love the shape.  Love the black and white collage on the sides.

You need a coin door for sure just to break up the lower front panel.  I like the shape of the marquee area - but would love to see some sort of traditional marquee.  I can't think of a way to make one work however...yeah on further reflection I would say just consider adding a coin door and leave the marquee area as is.  Its a clean classy look.  Great job.

[abevigodasson]

I considered something like this:



Dimensional lettering of some type - maybe acrylic - that form to the shape of the curve but have a flat face. The problem is, I don't like the typical "MAME" naming schemes or coming up with a personalized name for the marquee so I'm not sure what I'd have it read.

[yamatetsu]

I agree with rablack. I love the shape, but the style clash between minimalistic front and very busy sideart is a bit jarring. It makes the big white spaces on the front really stand out, giving the impression that on the front something is missing.

If this was my cab, I would go with the minimalistic theme, make the sides plain black and add blue and red stripes to the front.



Adding a coin door would also help to give the cab a more finished look.

Finally, using 3D letters instead of a marquee is a cool idea, if you can come up with a name that you like. I would use black acrylic, if that is possible.

[rablack97]

I was thanking Whatthewhat?

Thanks for your opinion though!

I was commenting on WhattheWhat's comment?

[rablack97]

I agree with rablack. I love the shape, but the style clash between minimalistic front and very busy sideart is a bit jarring. It makes the big white spaces on the front really stand out, giving the impression that on the front something is missing.

If this was my cab, I would go with the minimalistic theme, make the sides plain black and add blue and red stripes to the front.



Adding a coin door would also help to give the cab a more finished look.

Finally, using 3D letters instead of a marquee is a cool idea, if you can come up with a name that you like. I would use black acrylic, if that is possible.

This is what i referring too, just the lines and removal of the collage complete the overall look.   TBH, your execution is top notch and looks to be planned out, you mentioned not wanting a MAME type name, but you put a MAME collage on the side art.  Which is the ah screw it bailout art descision.

I would of called it

            E.L.E.
Elegant Level Emulation

[UEDan]

Digging the greyscale side art man!
It sure is different. Remember that it is your arcade in the end.

[8BitMonk]

[stigzler]

Like it - it holds it's own + quite striking. The collage approach turns some traditional concepts + subsequent 'it's passe' phase on it's head. Some good cabinet work on those curves, too.

[markc74]

I like it a lot. I love the curves. It's very cool to see something new, especially as well done as this is. I think your idea for an extruded marquee look awesome too if you could pull it off.

[8BitMonk]

I like the unique shape and the execution looks good, nice work.

I'd agree the front area looks a bit bare, especially since it contrasts so much with the montage on the sides. You don't end up with a design that looks totally finished or totally clean. It's all highly subjective though, overall it's a really nice build, do what you like best.

Personally I keep seeing a mouth when I look at the pic, how about an interchangeable kit of vinyl expressions. 




 

[n3wt0n]

I really dig the shape! It looks well executed and clean.

[testicle187]

I think it looks great!  It could use a coin door though.  What method did you use to round the MDF for the top and bottom sections?

[Ian]

I like the unique shape and the execution looks good, nice work.

I'd agree the front area looks a bit bare, especially since it contrasts so much with the montage on the sides. You don't end up with a design that looks totally finished or totally clean. It's all highly subjective though, overall it's a really nice build, do what you like best.

Personally I keep seeing a mouth when I look at the pic, how about an interchangeable kit of vinyl expressions. 

 

[Ian]

I'll say this... if this is your first Mame build you knocked it out of the park! I love it. I wouldn't change anything except for the very front. A coin door or kick plate... something needs to go there. But yeah I like the side art! If it was colored I think it would look a mess... but you nailed it. Great job!

[Ond]

Very nice indeed! Resist any temptation to put a marquee graphic on it - doesn't need it. I agree that a coin door would enhance the front. I was wondering if you'd picked a light shade of grey instead of pure white the plain panels may work in better with the monochrome side art.  Great build all the same.

[abevigodasson]

I like the unique shape and the execution looks good, nice work.

I'd agree the front area looks a bit bare, especially since it contrasts so much with the montage on the sides. You don't end up with a design that looks totally finished or totally clean. It's all highly subjective though, overall it's a really nice build, do what you like best.

Personally I keep seeing a mouth when I look at the pic, how about an interchangeable kit of vinyl expressions. 

I like it! 

[yotsuya]

Here's the funny thing, a lot of people here paint me as a purist, like it's a bad thing, but I absolutely really like this cab! There's just something about it that is very Atari retro to me. While I think a coin door would make it look better, I don't think it needs one cuz I think it knows what it is. And I hate character collages, but I think this one works because it's black and white. So congratulations, you softened this old purist's heart.

[abevigodasson]

I think it looks great!  It could use a coin door though.  What method did you use to round the MDF for the top and bottom sections?

I used 'ribs' in the curve shape throughout the top and bottom sections, covered them with bendable plywood, and finally covered that with high-gloss white laminate.

[abevigodasson]

Here's the funny thing, a lot of people here paint me as a purist, like it's a bad thing, but I absolutely really like this cab! There's just something about it that is very Atari retro to me. While I think a coin door would make it look better, I don't think it needs one cuz I think it knows what it is. And I hate character collages, but I think this one works because it's black and white. So congratulations, you softened this old purist's heart.

That's a great compliment - thank you! I was really aiming to create something that had a bit of a modern flare on what are clearly beautiful and classic designs that have stood the test of time.

[Jefferson]

Hey man, this cabinet ---smurfing--- rocks.  Looking at the pics, I first thought they were black and white because of the grey walls, until I saw the wood flooring.  Incredibly well oriented into your living space.

Normally- I'm not into character collages, but the muted tones make it work

Normally- I'm into coin doors and marquees, but you've got such a strong of a design sense you did it without.

And this is a first mame cab?!  Kudos my man.  You should be proud.

[yotsuya]

Another reason I give you props is that you went with a 4:3. You've earned my undying respect just for that, my friend.

[stigzler]

She doesn't strike me as a coin door type of gal...

However, I do get what people are saying about that large white space at the front. Of course - you should leave her exactly as she is, but given the 70s styling, I had to see her in 70s grey and orange! Or, indeed, with a picture of Billy Mitchell on the front.

[yotsuya]

It would be cool if you could find an old Gremlin or Taito coin door from the early eighties, not one of the brand new Happ coin doors.

[Mike A]

If you did what Yots said, it would look like someone in the eighties tried to design what they thought a cab in the future would look like. That would be cool. That being said, I like this the way it is too.

[Whatthewhat?]

Resist the urge to futz with it.  Live with it for about a month and see if the finished product still makes you happy.  I think you'll find that you've reached that "happy place" where adding anything will actually take away from your work.

[abevigodasson]

Resist the urge to futz with it.  Live with it for about a month and see if the finished product still makes you happy.  I think you'll find that you've reached that "happy place" where adding anything will actually take away from your work.

That's a good idea. I've been playing it everyday since it was "finished" and brought in the house. I haven't noticed anything that really sticks out as a problem or sore-spot yet. Also, I'd hate to try adding something like a coin door (which, as yotsuya said one from the 80's would be very cool) and screw up the high-gloss laminate. That would be a real pain trying to fix or replace...

[Richie_jones]

I think it looks better without a coin door, gives it a modern edge.
Great cab

[thomas_surles]

Love the cab design. If you are not willing to go coin door, then maybe some kind of vinyl logo or symbol on the front to take away from the empty space.

[yotsuya]

I actually don't think the empty space looks bad. I just think a big ass old coin door on it would make it look like a true artifact. But again, I'm actually a pretty big fan of this cabinet.

[emphatic]

Beautiful.

[Mr Wilson]

I come back on here after 3 years and I'm greated with this beauty 😍 Well done,top work mate

[GSXRMovistar]

Fantastic! But would like to see what it would look like with a coin door and a simple black written marquee (those eyes actually work).

Loving the curves!

[pbj]

Looks way too euro for my tastes.