Arcade Bones (Marquee & Dashboard graphics finalised)

[SirPoonga]

Pixel, why not just screw into the wood from the bottom?   The glued bolts look like an accident waiting to happen.

Depends on how thick the wood is there, might not be much to grip to.

Instead of glueing nuts why not use a T Nut?  Speaker cabinet builders use them for the speaker holes.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=081-1073
Drill a hole the size of the middle part and pound into wood like a nail.

[c64rulez]

Kind of a late comment, but they say better late than...

Just wanted you to know that I think the way you're documenting your project is admirable. I have seen nothing but the quest for perfection, and finally I confess that this project is the reason I became a BYOAC member.

So, if anyone's to blame, it's you 

[Timoe]

update pics?  What color tmold will you be using?

[Bones]

Thanks C64.

update pics?  What color tmold will you be using?

No updates at this moment. I had a hand operation two weeks ago and still recovering. Hoping to return to construction in a few weeks.


There is very little left to actually do. I need to finalise my marquee and dashboard graphics then I will attach the t-molding (black), and we are pretty much done.

There will still be sideart but I am not treating this as a priority at this time.

[Bones]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

[HoopstarsGarage]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

Nah..   

But I reckon you should stop changing your sig and avartar - it gives me headspins everytime I log on and see that it's changed

[Pixelhugger]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

Not possible.

[Zakk]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

Not possible.

Quiet you! 

[DrewKaree]

soooo...........

[BobbyG66]

17.............................now?

[AtomSmasher]

uh...theres 40 posts per page, which means there needs to be 21 more posts before page 17

[Stingray]

I don't have anything to contribute. I just wanted to pipe in and let you know that I'm still following your progress, Bones. Oh and also to belittle you for being the reason that C64 joined.

-S

[Bones]

Just to add something project related to this page......

I have pretty much recovered from my op and I have started again fooling with my marquee design. I am also having mixed feelings about the black t-molding and I am keeping my eye out for some white stuff.

I am hoping to make some progress again over the next month although I am putting a hold on the sideart for now. I want to get it finished and photographed so I have a better chance of matching the sideart to the overall appearance.

However, the really good news is last night I got over 700,000 on Rygar! 

[Bones]

I heard Clark Rubber might sell the stuff but I haven't had a chance to check them out yet.....

Maybe your company has a distributor in Sydney?

PM me with company details if this is the case (if I can get something local). Discount is great but I am happy to pay retail if I can get it close to home.

Thanks man. 

[cagey]

Firstly, I'd just like to say your CP looks really great. One of the few 4+ player CPs that doesn't look like a candy coloured minefield.

Did you get the CP printed in Sydney (I think thats where you're from)? If so, where exactly? Also have you been sourcing other parts from Australia as well? I'm having a bit of trouble finding places that look trustworthy.

I don't think you've printed your marquee yet so I hope its alright to comment on this. To me, the font you chose doesn't really look suitable. It just doesn't seem right for the space invaders artwork, but you've most likely put more thought into it than me.

Cagey.

[Bones]

Yep, I am in Sydney and a company called Etude Promotions & Marketing did the printing for me.

http://www.etudepm.com
My contact was John. (Very nice and helpful bloke in Parklea.)

I purchased the encoder, buttons, joystick, trackball and VGA card from Ozstick.

This thread is as long as they come but if you flick through it I am pretty sure I have recorded where most of the major parts were sourced.

When I am finished my project I will put together a list of credits which will detail local suppliers. This should make it a little easier for the Aussies to find what they are looking for.

[cagey]

Great, thanks alot. Now I guess I'll trawl trough your thread, or maybe it'd be faster just to wait for that list

[jbox]

This should make it a little easier for the Aussies to find what they are looking for.

Thank God for that. All this time I've wasted climbing the highest mountains and scaling those damn city walls...

[Bones]

This should make it a little easier for the Aussies to find what they are looking for.

Thank God for that. All this time I've wasted climbing the highest mountains and scaling those damn city walls...

And you still haven't found what your looking for?

[Santoro]

Little known trivia.. The Edge revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that that song was written after searching supermarkets for Boo-Berry cereal.

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ConanOBrien

[fiscap]

So that's it?? February 4th hits and no more updates? C'mon now - how's the progress coming along?

[NiteWalker]

Phew....Just finished reading all 16 pages.  I am tired. It's 6:42 am here. I did not get up that early...(hint...).

Anyway from start until now I've seen the progress you've made in your cabinet and your skills. Your cabinet is definitely something to behold. Some very unique touches (the home brew speaker grills, the gigantic 4 player aircraft carrier..er control panel, the admin panel, etc.) that beg to be emulated. I'm a ways off of building my first cabinet but I'll keep all your progress and mistakes in mind. Good work documenting it thus far. Now finish it already so we can see some $$$ shots...

WOW! Very cool. That's a lot like what I've been planning on for the instructional marquee on my cab. Here is a sketch of how I'm approaching it to hide the bolt heads.

That's a sweet idea.
*noted in mame arcade cabinet journal*

[M3talhead]

All 'Bones really cared about was hitting the "20k views" mark...

[psychopanda]

Love that orange color on the sides. It makes me rethink the whole 'basic black' cab look that so many people are using. The nice thing is that it's a more neutral color for inside the house.

[Bones]

Thanks for the interest guys.

This year has been pretty crazy for me and cabinet construction has been put on the back-burner with other things taking priority.

However, just 2 days ago I got the urge to get my cab finished and re-visited Illustrator with the intention of finishing my marquee and dashboard graphics.

I am painfully slow in the graphics department so it is difficult to estimate when I will be complete but things are happening again now.

Hopefully in a couple more weeks I can make an update of significance.

Cheers,
Bones

[nullb0y]

ah finally an update (somewhat) i was following this a while ago glad to see it built ^_^

[DrewKaree]

He's actually done.  We just haven't caught up to his "present" yet.  He's from the future, ya know

[M3talhead]

He's actually done.  We just haven't caught up to his "present" yet.  He's from the future, ya know

[Bones]

I have now completed my final marquee design.

Also completed my dashboard design. This is the section that will cover the access panel. The crosses indicate where the six acorn nuts will hold the two pieces of Lexan together (with the print sandwiched in between).

All I have to do before sending the files off for printing is confirm the exact size of the acorn nuts. I want something small and subtle but haven't checked on available sizes as yet......

I had played with the idea of back-lighting the dashboard graphics but my testing shows that the monitor glass will bounce the reflection so I have decided against it.

[M3talhead]

I like it. 

[MYX]

Dude, that's great. My only nay is the stars on the right. You have all this great debris flying away on the left and even on the right and then you have 6 little stars. the whole thing works except for the stars. Really nice job.

Is that illustrator or PS?

[Santoro]

Looks good to me, I can see your point about the stars, but to me that's a nit that I doubt many would pick up on.

[Boz]

Hey bones-man. Something I've been kind-of hoping you'd put up is a list of parts that you acquired for the control panel or, even better, a complete parts list. I'm sure it would probably take you a while to do a complete parts-list so obviously that would be just an optional thing. But, I have often wondered what [specific] controls you selected and why. Why the joystick you installed over others that are available, etc.

[BobbyG66]

Little known trivia.. The Edge revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that that song was written after searching supermarkets for Boo-Berry cereal.

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ConanOBrien

Sorry to go off topic here...but

I just checked out the above link.
The background is orange and the text is blue.
After carefully reading all the stuff about U2, I came back to this site.

All of the black text is brown! That totally screwed up my eyes. WTF.
It reminds me of the REM CD cover that was called GREEN but was actually ORANGE in color. You were supposed to stare at it for a minute and then look at a white wall, you would then see the image in GREEN.

Weird stuff...

[Santoro]

cool, me too, but only the line I am reading.  very odd.

I never knew that about the Green Album cover, I need to go look at that.

[ginno]

Bones,

She looks great, and the stars on the right look good, they are not overpowering and if someone that knows what they represent is looking at them they can easily tell what they are.

Good Job, you must be pleased that you have finally settled on a design after what seems like forever  now...

go aussie.

[Bones]

Is that illustrator or PS?

All my artwork is done with Illustrator CS.

Hey bones-man. Something I've been kind-of hoping you'd put up is a list of parts that you acquired for the control panel or, even better, a complete parts list. I'm sure it would probably take you a while to do a complete parts-list so obviously that would be just an optional thing. But, I have often wondered what [specific] controls you selected and why. Why the joystick you installed over others that are available, etc.

Hmmm.... I started designing this CP well over a year ago so the thought process behind most of the decisions is no longer fresh in my mind. I wanted a four player CP with a trackball but also wanted dedicated controls I could use for Karate Champ. My design evolved pretty much around this criteria.

As for the joystick preferences etc..... I read Project Arcade then did some research in the forums. When equipped with knowledge I went shopping for CP parts but realized there really wasn't much choice if I wanted to buy locally so ultimately what decided my choice of joysticks was what was readily available.

I ended up with Sanwa 4/8 ways and if I ever build another cab I would be happy to use these again. I really dig the way they feel.

[waldo]

nice work on the cab so far Bones. Inspired myself to make my own now heh.

In fact according to my email my arcade book just arrived downstairs

Side: note, was over in Aussie in the weekend, in Vic. and went to find Ozstick, but it appears the address on there website is wrong , and they dont return calls :/ when was the last time you delt with them? I like you would like to order all things locally for some reason, and with myself in NZ I consider Aussie just another state lol

[Bones]

I haven't dealt with Ozstick in over 12 months so sorry dude, can't help you here.

I will say this though.... If I could do it all again I would have purchased all CP parts directly from one of the overseas distributors.

[waldo]

Yeah, as it is now, im planning on getting all the parts shipped to a mate in the states and then sent over here all at once... one draw back to living in these 3rd world countries is the distributors I guess.....ohh well at least there are strip clubs to keep me entertained until it all arrives...(*looks over shoulder for the wife)