2 PERSON COCKPIT MAME CAB ANYONE? ..ANYONE?

[rackoon]

I took the kids to a movie last week and the theater had a cockpit game that caught my eye, Star Trek Voyager, (I think). Those things are like a magnet for kids. And, to be honest I get excited climbing into one also. That's when I decided to build a two person cockpit cab this summer (I got the space). I will call it the TIME POD!

I KNOW, I KNOW, its all about the classics,  and trust me I am with you on that. Let me explain. I often play hard for hours. My back is shot from construction work ( I was a carpenter for 10 years) and it kills me when I slouch on a stool, in front of a cab at the local pizza parlor for more than an 1/2 hour ( I love Metal Slug#1) . SOLUTION : semi- enclosed sit down cockpit cab. (similar to the red Sega cockpit racing cab on the example page)
 
Just think of the sound of a quarter dropping in a Mrs. Pac-Man game in one of these sucker( KAWHAAMP!). The sound would bounce of the walls. OH YEA!
 
FINALLY, I believe that the isolation from the rest of the game room would help take me back to the 80's. Ill throw some different color LED's with some mirrors inside the walls and ceiling to get the arcade feel. Must be two player in order to share the experience with my kids.
                     My keg party's will never be the same.
                                LONG LIVE MAME!

[Jabba]

I'm with ya so far...

Not sure where you're gonna find that game though (Star Trek Voyager), I don't think it is in MAME.

You might find it a little difficult to play with the controls being far away. You may need to build some device where you can slide the control panel in place after you sit down.

Being a carpenter, you should have that BABY done in a weekend.

Good luck, keep is posted...

[flyguy1821]

Hey keep me updated with the progress and your design.  I am currently in the design process for a 2 person cockpit.  Mine will be open on top instead of closed.  I think I am going to incorporate 2 arms that will have a logitech steering wheel mounted on the ends that can be lowered for driving games.  I may put a mercury switch in them so when they are lowered they will automatically turn on.  I just bought my seats from an old supra.  Just finishing up on design and ready to go.  You have gotten me wanting to work on it now!!!  Lets see what you have got!

[rackoon]

No, No, No. I dont care for the game ( Voyager) that much. I want to copy the cab and use it for MAME. Acualy I want to copy the red Sega cockpit cab on the example page. BUT, I want to make it wide enough for two. ( 4 feet should do it.)
I think I can make the foot print about 4x6.
Only problem is how to get it out the door. But I will overcome that.

[rackoon]

Yo (FLYGUY),
This might help. I saw some sweet racing seats for $40.00 at Jcwhitney.com
They would work great if you dont have a top
A top will require folks to scoot in from the side so thy wont work for me.

[flyguy1821]

Sorry we are kind of hijacking raccoons go at it here.  I had seen those seats in jcwhitney in a racing shop here in Lincoln, ne but the sliders are about $30 too.  My supra seats have the sliders, are all leather, adjustable bottom pitch and LUMBAR INFLATION!!!  I just might not ever get up!!

[oldsage]

About the racing seats (this is aimed at rackoon and flyguy), I've opened a thread about this lately, and jcwhitney was where people pointed me to, but then nostrebor suggested summit racing, and they have better prices and (supposedly) better shipping... I'll be ordering from them... Just thought that might intrest you...

[rdagger]

Here are some specs on the voyager cab:
39" Sitdown, height: 70" width: 48" depth: 82" weight: 525 lbs.
This site has a reconditioned voyager cab for $5,875 along with a collection of other large sit down games.

[oldsage]

Here are some specs on the voyager cab:
39" Sitdown, height: 70" width: 48" depth: 82" weight: 525 lbs.
This site has a reconditioned voyager cab for $5,875 along with a collection of other large sit down games.

I might be wrong, but i think you can buy it new at BMI gaming for less then 5K...

[psik0tik]

OOoooo thats my next project..a sit down cab. And i never consodered a 2 seater side by side. Kinda like san fransisco rush. hmmmmmm

[Katana Man]

rackoon,
  Are you planning on making the controls interchangeable?  If I was going to design something from scratch, I'd want to be able to swap out the joysticks for steering wheels.  That way you could do all kinds of games.

[rdagger]

I might be wrong, but i think you can buy it new at BMI gaming for less then 5K...

New, they charge $8,475.
Seems like a nice profit margin for a big monitor, a fast computer and a lot of MDF.

[rackoon]

yo RDAGGER, You area a freaken stud! Thanks for the pics
 Looking at that pic has helped me figure out how to build a cab that will break down into pieces and fit through a door

1. monitor cab with removable controls
2. two seat cab
3. step up bottom that holds seat cab and monitor cab together
4. top that also holds them together
 Being in pieces will let me adjust them also, before I bolt it all together.
 
    As for the control, I want a steering wheel, But cant figure out how to make a removable one yet.

[oldsage]

I might be wrong, but i think you can buy it new at BMI gaming for less then 5K...

New, they charge $8,475.
Seems like a nice profit margin for a big monitor, a fast computer and a lot of MDF.

Lol... I was probably mixing something up... I'm almost sure i saw it for $4800 or so somewhere...
Nevermind, my bad...

yo RDAGGER, You area a freaken stud! Thanks for the pics
 Looking at that pic has helped me figure out how to build a cab that will break down into pieces and fit through a door

1. monitor cab with removable controls
2. two seat cab
3. step up bottom that holds seat cab and monitor cab together
4. top that also holds them together
 Being in pieces will let me adjust them also, before I bolt it all together.
 
 As for the control, I want a steering wheel, But cant figure out how to make a removable one yet.

Lol... That's very similar to what I'm doing, just that mine is open ceiling, and instead of bolting stuff together, I'm just using heavy duty latches...

[flyguy1821]

Rackoon, do you have a diagram of your design yet so we can see.  I am thinking along the same lines as you for the brackets so it can be taken apart if need be.  A two person sit down is just  a smidgen to big to go through a doorway.

[rackoon]

Yo, FLYGUY,
    I going to the theater this weekend with a tape measure and a protractor in order to copy the Voyager cab.
   I will have to make some mods because of cp location. It needs to be real close to the players mid-section in order to feel like a stand up. With the controls this close, they might block the entrance.
SO, I will need to cut out the side panel to the shape of the seat so two folks can slide in.
 
   On the inside, I Will put up LEDs and mirrors to make me feel like I am in an arcade.
   On the outside, I will put up dark walnut veneer and diamond plate to match my Foosball table and pool table.
   Also, I want the seat and floor slightly tilted back in order to make one feel like they are in a space ship or [TIME POD].
                         
                Any more cool ideas would be great to hear.

Hey FLYGUY I don't know how to post pics and diagrams. They are on paper and I have know scanner. We will find a way.

[spocktwin]

  forget the game check out the pic of Jerry Ryan on the side art.....those are some great joysticks.....on the game I mean.
Spock

[flyguy1821]

This is kind of like the design I am going with.  I just laid out my side panels tonight on MDF.  It is gonna be big!  I may have to call it the BoheamithCab. 

p.s. to post pics click on the additional options tab below when you post.

[flyguy1821]

I also found a user, sorry cant remember who, but they did their foot pedals like this.  I am not sure if you are wanting to even have a wheel and pedals in your cab.  But very cool idea to hide them away when not using them.  Could use magnets or Velcro to hold them up or down.

[menace]

Hey those look familiar    If you want pedals but only part time I give this this method 2 thumbs up.  By using magnetic push locks they push up and lock an and then another push unlocks them and down they swing--they are the same thing that are used in stereo cabinet glass doors.

Also regarding the wheel if you make the wheel and the spiner interface as a stand alone item, you can add and remove it from your panel on a whim--you'll need an optipac or other some such device that keeps the wheel "always on" so that they are hot swappable.

[oldsage]

Man, I'm so glad people are starting to make sit-downs... I wanted to make one myself, but i just couldn't give up on an upright, so i did something in between... I do believe my third project will be a sitdown though (already have the beginning of the second project - first is on hold at the moment )...
Please document every step! This is important!
BTW, flyguy, i hope you don't mean you're doing the exact same thing as that picture, that would be a pain to build! If you came up with something else, please post!

[Katana Man]

Here's a thought, why not make 2 cockpits and put them side by side. This would allow you to fit them through doors.

[flyguy1821]

BTW, flyguy, i hope you don't mean you're doing the exact same thing as that picture, that would be a pain to build! If you came up with something else, please post!


What I am thinking of is very similar but without that dome thing on top and the back part wont be separated into two pieces like that one is.  I will however have 2 arms attached in the middle of the cab by the back wall.  When not in use they will be straight up, when in use they will be lowered, with a piston or a screen door closer.  I will however only have 1 27 inch TV in it.  I am making the front panel removable so if I do purchase another and want them side by side I can do it.  This is all in my head at this point.  The only part that is done at this point is the side templates.  By the way is it time to work on this yet???  Hmmm, I need to check my watch.

[oldsage]

Cool, that was mostly the part i was worrying about... Let us know how things work out when they do...

[Timstuff]

I really liked the Jurrassic Park lightgun game, but I'm not sure if there are any emulators that can run it at this point.

[rackoon]

I am limited to a 27"  TV becuse of cost. I might be able to sport a D9200 27" but still it seems small for two to share. I will have to make the screen as close to the player as a stand up does. (will need to check on these specs.)
 
I was thinking that I would make a three person cp. On games like pac-man and tempest or centiped, the center of the panel will be used and one player will need to scoot over about 10", when it is the others turn. On two player games, the outside controls will be used.

If I use a 36"TV insted of a 27"  D9200 then I might be able to skip the center controls. Need more reserch into TV's  and Mame. I have seen many pics yet I would be willing to get a good TV that I can surf the net with.