Discs of Tron panel finished!!

[1UP]

Finally finished my DOT-themed panel!  (With the possible future addition of a blacklight...   )



The real trick was the hole for the trackball, for which I had to make a custom 2 7/8" hole-saw...



I know, low tech, huh?    Actually worked out well, gave it a niced beveled edge!  I go back to 10 hour workdays tomorrow, so I don't think I'll be making much more progress on my cab for awhile...but it's 99% done!    I'll try to get all my progress up on my site during the evenings.

[Rahzel]

Looks REAL nice man! You managed to put that on your rotating CP?

[Tiger-Heli]

Awesome panel 1Up,  BTW, check your PM.

[Lilwolf]

f'ing sweet!

I thought it was rendered initially... then I was scrolling down to see how the real one came out!  

[bcard74]

That looks amazing ...  Good lord I have a lot of work to do ...

[Tiger-Heli]

f'ing sweet!

I thought it was rendered initially... then I was scrolling down to see how the real one came out!  

Don't let Howard Casto hear you say that, LOL!!!

[RacerX]

My God.    

That is one totally bad-acre panel, my friend.  I am in awe of your skills.  

[Donor]

Looks great. You time has been well spent! BTW how did you light those joysticks? It just give your control panel an awsome look!

[drabbit]

It looks really nice, is there a real DOT spinner on there?

Are you using NEON wire for lighting the handles?

Man, ading a black light NEON in the back might look good, but it might also be overkill. I think the lighted handles give it the perfect look. This is my opinion from the photo, I know it might look a little different in real life!

[Lilwolf]

Quick note...  or an idea...

Since the back of the cp is part of the rotary cp part.  You might be able to get a dot tron enviorment bezel parts to put along the back.  It might be sweet and really add to it.

something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=720600466

that would be on the back and the sides.

Just and idea.

man, I want to finish my cabinet.  I'm sick of having a hack job...

[1UP]

Looks REAL nice man! You managed to put that on your rotating CP?

Yep, the sticks clear with about 1/4" to spare...

It looks really nice, is there a real DOT spinner on there?

Are you using NEON wire for lighting the handles?

Man, ading a black light NEON in the back might look good, but it might also be overkill. I think the lighted handles give it the perfect look. This is my opinion from the photo, I know it might look a little different in real life!

The spinner is an Oscar Pro with the black skirted knob.  I pryed off the metal inlay glued on the top, and replaced it with a scaled-down and laminated printout of the original Tron spinner OL.



(This one's a rendering, my borrowed digicam finally ran out of juice last night...)

The sticks are internally lit with glowire that I got from the automotive section at Target.  The driver that came with it takes a 12v power source, but won't run off the PC +12v line, so I had to get a 12v power inverter from Radio Shack, which has a cigarette lighter plug, so the driver plugs right into it.  Probably would've been cheaper and easier to get a PC mod kit from www.glowire.com and it would also power on with the PC, without doing the relay/power strip hack...

The blacklight may or may not happen.  The panel looks a lot more lit in the photo than to the naked eye.  The artwork actually looks quite dark, so it may need something to make it pop.  I may just go with a couple well-placed LEDs (like the purple ones people put on their car hoods or dashboards, with the all-weather housing...)  The backsplash definitely needs something though (instruction cards?)

Quick note...  or an idea...

Since the back of the cp is part of the rotary cp part.  You might be able to get a dot tron enviorment bezel parts to put along the back.  It might be sweet and really add to it...

...that would be on the back and the sides.

Just and idea.

I'm not sure how that would fit onto the backsplash.  If I put parts of that on the sides, it would still be visible when I flipped the other panels.  I'll probably either go with instruction cards for the FE (printed with a DOT theme) and/or the blacklight/LEDs.  I'll probably buy the blacklight and just plug it in and shine it on the CP to see how it looks, then return it if I decide it's overkill.  I'd also need a transparent overlay to put on it, in keeping with the theme...

Thanks guys for the ideas and the complements!  

[Brax]

Is it possible to get some shots of the guts later?

I'm dying to see the wiring and how you routed them all out..... How you manage the slack to allow for rotation...... Where you placed the I-PAC..... You know, all the manly gory shots!!!!!  

Btw, I bought the first components today for my own rotating control panel. I've modified your idea already though! heh. Instead of PVC pipe to allow for rotation I'm going to use two 3" lazy susan bearings. Did you see any limitation in these that I don't? I think I have all the mounting and wire routing problems licked. I'm just wondering what your thinking was for avoiding them.

[Minwah]

Just wanted to add to your already large list of compliments, that panel is just great  

Someday I'll get round to STARTING my cab.......

[NIVO]

lokks great 1UP, very well done job.

[OSCAR]

Superb, as always, 1UP!

I can't wait to see your write-up on converting the Pro to a DOT spinner.  Did you use the same dual m/switch method like you did on your Model 1?

[1UP]

Is it possible to get some shots of the guts later?

I'm dying to see the wiring and how you routed them all out..... How you manage the slack to allow for rotation...... Where you placed the I-PAC..... You know, all the manly gory shots!!!!!  

Btw, I bought the first components today for my own rotating control panel. I've modified your idea already though! heh. Instead of PVC pipe to allow for rotation I'm going to use two 3" lazy susan bearings. Did you see any limitation in these that I don't? I think I have all the mounting and wire routing problems licked. I'm just wondering what your thinking was for avoiding them.

All will be revealed!  When I get the time...  I'm sick now, and my involuntary 5-week vacation is coming to an end (meaning, I'm running out of money...) so I'll just be doing stuff in the evenings.  You won't see anywhere near the progress I've been making in the last month.    Right now, everything is just duct-taped in place until I get all the space constraints worked out and everything's wired up and working.  I still need to do my modular Star Wars / Terminator 2 panel, but that's pushed to weekends now...

I fully intended to use 5" lazy suzan bearings, until I tried to put them into my model and discovered  a few problems.  For one, the 5" ones were too big, and would end up going past the edges of the CPs, so they'd be visible.  Also, lazy susans are made to receive weight from above, not from the side, so the bearings really wouldn't do anything.  Lastly, I couldn't figure out any way to mount two of them with the CPs in the way.  Somehow, you've got to get some screws behind the cp ends to connect them to the bearings that would have to be already bolted into the cab.  Also, I wouldn't have been able to build my roller-latch locking system with even 3" bearings.  The PVC is working fine, and would be cheap and easy to replace!  (BTW, it wast a BEEYOTCH to get the CP turnstyle mounted, even with just the frame, no panels.  Once you get a couple of the roller latches into the holes, though, it pretty much holds everything in place, so I can remove and replace the PVC tubes without any trouble.)

Superb, as always, 1UP!

I can't wait to see your write-up on converting the Pro to a DOT spinner.  Did you use the same dual m/switch method like you did on your Model 1?

I haven't done anything to the Pro yet...  It seems like you could do a much better hack with it though, since it has that whole frame now.  I was thinking of putting machine screws in thru the 4 mounting holes, placing a small spring on each screw above and below the plate, and then the whole thing would be on kind of a suspension, with the optics locked to the wheel.  But the thing is so nice as is, I don't really want to mess with it!  (Plus, I spent a bit more to get the Pro and the Optipac then I did on the Model 1...)  Anyway, I put the player start buttons close to the knob, so I might be able to use those as up/down buttons.  Might not work, but I couldn't get that high in DOT lately anyway.  But when I was 12, I whooped its ass!  

[Brax]

Lastly, I couldn't figure out any way to mount two of them with the CPs in the way.  Somehow, you've got to get some screws behind the cp ends to connect them to the bearings that would have to be already bolted into the cab.

I couldn't figure out how to do that either for the longest time....... Then it came to me. Mount the lazy susan bearing on the control panel end. Drill a hole above the bearing thats large enough to get your screwdriver and screw through. Rotate the 2nd half of the bearing so you can see the mounting hole through the hole. Mount screw number one. Now just rotate your control panel until you can see the remaining 3 mounting hole. Simple, simple.
I've applied pressure to the sides of these bearings and they still seem to rotate fine. We'll see. I decided on the 3" bearing so they could stay inside roller latches. So far it seems like it will work like a charm.

I was thinking of trying to get the I-PAC mounted inside the control panel. I'm not sure where it would fit though, but that would sure minimize the wires that would have to come out of the side...... It's a slick design, I can't wait to tackle it someday. It'll be loads of fun!

[dag2000]

Beautiful Panel!!

[Jeehemdee]

1 UP,

Your photos are great...
I'm to but a digital camera and I'm curious of what camera you used for taking snapshot of your marvelous project...

Thanks,

[1UP]

1 UP,

Your photos are great...
I'm to but a digital camera and I'm curious of what camera you used for taking snapshot of your marvelous project...

Thanks,

It was a digital Canon Elph (sp?) that I borrowed from a coworker.  It's nice, small, and takes decent hi-res pics (1600x1200).  Thinking of getting one myself!

[SNAAAKE]

NIIICE.... !

but level with me...those pics are BLEEEP (sorry).

The thing looks  ;Dcrezy .As usual,1up has done it again(seriouslly,just too cool).

By the way,I do not have a clue on what that tron game is?
Is it on mame?
How old exactly is this game?

[Xiaou2]

 Wow, snaaake... you are showing your young age : )

   Have you seen the Tron Movie??? !!!

   If not... do so.  Its very cool... and will allow you to understand the whole tron world that much more deeply.

   There are 2 arcade tron games.   Tron & Disc's of Tron.
The first, TRON, was made in 1982, and DOT 1983... both based off the famous Tron movie.

   Both used a control stick with fire buttons (to move) and a spinner (to aim more accurately).   This control system adds a lot of fun and depth to the gameplay.    If you dont have the correct controls, it will be nearly impossible to play well.

   Now... just just because a game is 'old' dosnt make it bad.    I had to twist this kids arm to get him to 'try' Two-Tigers... because he didnt like the primitive look of the game... yet, after playing for 5 minutes,  he was addicted, and we played untill good enough to reach the 10th level !!!

  Give them a try (yes, in mame).  Use the mouse to aim, mouse buttons to fire, and the cursors to move.

  They are also one of the most artistic cabinets made imop.  Look here:

  http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com/dot.html

 and for a cool new tron lighcycle game:

 http://www.lightcycles.net/

...end of line

 

[SNAAAKE]

Well,
It was already in my computer and did give it a try.
Its OKAY .grafic looks cheap and feels like the right controls are missing.But still fun game.

[Chris]

Its OKAY .grafic looks cheap and feels like the right controls are missing.But still fun game.

The graphics were AMAZING back in 1982!  This is the era of Bump N' Jump, Burger Time, Lost Tomb, Time Pilot, etc... classic games, primitive graphics.  Tron seemed to be light-years ahead of them all... but that had a lot to do with the blacklit control panel, translucent controls and monitor shroud that made you feel like part of that world...

Fun notes:

- Although the film was an initial failure, the arcade videogame based on it proved to be a tremendous hit and actually out-grossed the film.

- The game was actually made while the movie was in production, and the scene that the Grid Bug sequence was based on was actually cut from the film!

--Chris

[1UP]

More info on hte camera:  It's a Canon Power Shot S100 "Digital Elph" ( it looks just like those tiny Canon Elph film cameras).  Don't know how much it costs, but it has a built-in zoom and automatic lens cover.  It has both a view finder and a color LCD display, and many exposure settings.  I just used it on auto since I didn't have the manual.  I think the pics it takes are pretty good...

[ErikRuud]

There is one brief shot of some 'grid bugs' that is still in the movie.  

I wonder how much of the 'grid bugs' scene was even shot.  It was not included in the deleted scenes on the anniversary edition DVD.