Australian style cocktail cab

[LordDamo]

Hi all! Ive been looking around for a set of cabinet plans/ dimentions for an Australian style cocktail cab for quite somw time, with no luck.
Ive searched the city in which I live (Wagga Wagga, Australia) to try ans *sneek* some measurements off, with no luck.

Ive included a pic as part of this post, to help describe what im looking for. If anyone out there can help me in any way at all it would be most appreciated (even if its only dimentions).

Thanks in advance;
Damian Cross

[LordDamo]

Sorry, forgot to add, take note of the control panel, this is the main part im having probs finding - sorry if I appear a little dim, but im new to this.

Thanks;
Damo

[Trenchbroom]

May I ask why you would want the controls almost vertical, my Auzzie friend?  I remember playing the Nintendo cocktail tables way back when (not the double screen but the real DK-era cocktail) and having just one stick and one button at that angle was almost too much.  

If you want this cab design because that's what you grew up with and that's what you want to play on again (comfort be damned) then my hat is off to you!  However I would be surprised if plans for that type of cab are out there.

[LordDamo]

Yeah, thats why im wanting this kind of CP - its what I remember playing on (comfort be damned!). Me and a few mates would sneek into the back of one of the local pubs to play galaga at the age of 10. It cost 20 cents a game, I came to like yard work at this time cause it ment I could play more games  

This kinda died off once I got a Commodore 64. Im going to keep searching around for one so I can make some plans, and get them online - ive seen a few other Aussies request some plans for this style of cabinet on various other boards - but this one is one of the best so I thought I would toss it out there.

If I made one, I would make one small addition, and inclde a spinner as well, so you have the option of using it.

Its not too hard to use, its all in how you hold your joystick and in which corner of your mouth you put your tounge.  

[paigeoliver]

Just start building as you are never going to make an exact replica of one of those without a wood shop and machine shop. They are all angles, it is a tough build.

[Raven..]

I sold one like that with a bootleg Ms Pac in it for $200.   They're pretty neat because the legs extend far enough for a short person (like my wife) to stand and play.

[captainpotato]

This is what you want:

http://www.aleax.com/personal/alias/arcade/cabinet_overview.php

I was going to make something like this until my partner and I worked out that we don't have enough space for one At least my bartop is coming along nicely

[danny_galaga]

im glad my memories lie with the other type of 'aussie' cab  

still, it looks quite do-able. the type i made required a jigsaw, drill and router only (and some dodgy cabinet making practices!) granted the type above looks a LITTLE trickier to do but i reckon you could get away with borrowing any extra  tools required. happy building!!

[captainpotato]

Just start building as you are never going to make an exact replica of one of those without a wood shop and machine shop. They are all angles, it is a tough build.

It shouldn't be too difficult - the ends are verticals, and only the sides are angled. With a circular saw that can be titled to cut angles, those parts shouldn't be too tough, assuming the measuring stage is done accurately.

[Grasshopper]

Those "Australian style" cabs were quite common here in the UK as well, and I have to say they were pretty uncomfortable to use.

I agree with the other comments and suggest you go with a horizontal control panel.

[paigeoliver]

What about the curves and all the metal? Can't do that with simple tools.

[LordDamo]

Yeah, I see what your saying Paigeoliver, but I could pull off the metal bits as the only ones you really need the same are the legs. I could make those with a few lenghts of pipe of diferent diam. and some RHS.

Weld a nut on the side over a hole in the outside peice of pipe so you can lock it at the height you need .

As for the rounded edges on the tob section of the bottom, your could use a router to take off the square edges once that section has been assembled. Just use nice thick MDF for that section only and good strong joints.  Ive got a dove tail bit for my router that ive use to make some drawers.

Yeah, I  know what your saying Grasshopper, but it wouldn't "feel" right any other way for me. I last used one of these cabs about 2 1/2 years ago when I was at Uni. Thats in Nothern NSW an I live at the other end of the state, a good two days drive from here - bit too far to go just to measure a cab (ive considered it though). Ive seen designs with horizontal CP's, but I just dont like the look of them, they look like what they are, boxes "tacked" onto the side of the cab. If I built it, I would always be unhappy with the way it look.  

As for the confort factor, this was the first kind of arcade machine I ever played, so I guess it comes down to what your used to. You kinda lean over it and hold the stick between your middle and index  fingers. Fire with  your thumb on the  other hand. The one in the pic has euro style tops on the joysticks. Dunno about there in the UK, but here we had ball tops.

Mega thanks to Captainpotato - you rock man!!! Im currently building my upright cab, this one is going to be the  my next project, but I will post here once it is underway, in the new projects section.

Thanks to all who responded here, keep this thread going if anyones got any ideas that might help.
 

[captainpotato]

As for the confort factor, this was the first kind of arcade machine I ever played, so I guess it comes down to what your used to. You kinda lean over it and hold the stick between your middle and index  fingers. Fire with  your thumb on the  other hand. The one in the pic has euro style tops on the joysticks. Dunno about there in the UK, but here we had ball tops.

Likewise, which is why I wanted to build one. I remember thrashing my younger brother, but still being totally crap, at Galaxian in the local shopping centre arcade in suburban Adelaide. I'm still no better at Galaxian, but that should change when I finish my bartop

Mega thanks to Captainpotato - you rock man!!! Im currently building my upright cab, this one is going to be the  my next project, but I will post here once it is underway, in the new projects section.

No problem. I'm envious, as I really need a larger house before I can start on mine. Speaking of which, I suppose I should announce my bartop at some point

 

[LordDamo]

I'd invite you over for a few beers and a games day captainpotato, but seeings your from Adelade, might be a little too far to drive. I currently live in Wagga Wagga, but I am moving to QLD soon - which is where i'll be building this cab, sorry man.  

As for your bar top, my little brother was wanting me to help him build one when I move to QLD (thats where he's living at the moment) - so I would love to hear about your project some time. Im a little bamboozeled when it comes to bartops "How the hell do they fit it all in such a small space???"      

[javeryh]

Is that an ashtray in the bottom on the right side of the cab?

[Bgnome]

looks like a coin bucket to me

[LordDamo]

Yeah, its a coin bucket - I just zoomed in on that section of the pic, theres coins in it. I thought it was an ashtray too till I had a look.

Wouldn't be good to have an ashtray in there thinking about the PC inside, but its a good spot for one I guess.

[danny_galaga]

ooh, ooh!!


http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6127240976&fromMakeTrack=true

if nothing else it gives an interesting insight into the insides (",)

[captainpotato]

I'd invite you over for a few beers and a games day captainpotato, but seeings your from Adelade, might be a little too far to drive. I currently live in Wagga Wagga, but I am moving to QLD soon - which is where i'll be building this cab, sorry man.  

Oh well, I haven't been that way for a while, but when I do...

As for your bar top, my little brother was wanting me to help him build one when I move to QLD (thats where he's living at the moment) - so I would love to hear about your project some time. Im a little bamboozeled when it comes to bartops "How the hell do they fit it all in such a small space???"      

I'm going to do a website for it, so stay tuned. As for how everything fits in, I'm not using a motherboard with onboard graphics and sound, so I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for it This is on top of something else that may well be a first for a bartop, so I won't disclose that yet because of the speed I'm working at