It's all these little things you choose to do that nobody would ever think of that make this so compelling to watch.
I'm glad you enjoy the extra stuff Jimbo. This cabinet has a number of peripheral 'extra' features. Things like the comic book which covers the RoToron backstory, the official project cap and some other novelty items. These things keep me interested and are a happy diversion now and then from the less fun rebuild/repair. I do make myself attack the difficult stuff though.
I love that not only are you making a key but also a custom case to hold it.
When the cab was in its initial design it had more of an automobile aesthetic - think red and chrome corvette.
I've been wanting to build a racing cabinet with that design for a while. Torch red with chrome. Just can't come up with a design I like.
One thing leads to another when I'm in daydream design mode. Working on little fiddly things is my therapy
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A slick curvy racing cab is way way at the back of my design ideas (may never happen) If you have some overall ideas, sketches, doodles whatever, send them my way. I can have a go at a design you may like.
I finally cut back the repair job I did to the top hemisphere. Its more like boat building than arcade cabinet construction but wuteva!
Fugly ain't it?
It's good to post up the hard work. When we get to the sexy stuff you'll all have made the journey with me.
For fun I made a start on the key & custom case.
I chose some nice rosewood for the case. The case will be cut from this single piece.
First angle cut the corners ready for rounding.
Round off the corners and sand smooth. Oh, look a wooden block of soap!
Cut the piece in half ready to route out the inside of case bottom and lid.
Here's some bits and pieces. Black acrylic sheet for forming parts from, small switch, and an aluminum rod.
Drill out a length of the aluminum rod to take wiring.
File and smooth three faces into the rod to form a triangular section.
Drill a hole in each face which will be enlarged. This will allow the insertion of a LED into the rod.
Here's the rod ready for wiring and LED.
Wired, ready to go.
Tiny headless screws and Aryldite hold the three acrylic 'fins' to the rod. It's in the vise waiting for glue to dry.
Here is the unit with the LED switched on. A small button battery and resistor will be used in the finished key.
My idea is to use this key for not only powering on RoToron but a few additional functions as well. Within the one lock, depending upon the position of the key it can also open the cabinet back hatch, coin door etc. Each unlock action requires a button press on the key and LED to light.