Dynamo cab - converted for the classics - update finally!

[dweebs0r]

Okay, I need a control panel for this cabinet.  A Former "Buster Brothers" conversion and before that it was a "Gals Panic II".     Good times.

Please note that the cab doesnt look this brown in real life.  Although, I am going to repaint it because I'm not happy with the color this turned out (supposed to be satin black).

Anywho, I want this cab to be aimed at primarily for playing the classics.

Any suggestions on a control panel layout?

I dont exactly want to try to cram 2 joys, 12 buttons, a trackball and a spinner on the thing.  The control panel is only 23 3/4" wide so I dont have much room to work with.

Because its a dynamo, I can turn the monitor horizontal or vertical with ease.  When turned vertically, the monitor frame pokes out the back a little, so if I keep a vertical config then I'll have to modify the frame or the back door.

Last, the monitor I bought has a vga input and I have one of those Ipac to Xbox things that Ultimarc sells, so I could always stick a modded Xbox in the thing with a VGA2Xbox adaptor.

Any input and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks!
-Dweebs

Edit:  Added original cab picture

[SirPeale]

I don't see anything wrong with it's current layout, although I might add another butto per player, for a total of three buttons per player.

[dweebs0r]

I dont like the way there is one button on each side of the joystick.

If I was going to keep that, I would want the buttons all lined up.

When you play games with more than one button (Moon Patrol for instance was a pain), its just not comfortable.

-D

[dweebs0r]

I literally just wired up the preexisting buttons and I've been playing ever since.

Its time for a proper control panel though so I can finish this off and move on to the other one.

-D

[SirPeale]

Are there any holes under the plexi that you can re-use, and fill the rest?

I have to agree, that setup would be good for one button per player, but not two.

Mine has three per player.



Doesn't *quite* look like that anymore, but close.  Plus, you can see how the CP is.

[dweebs0r]

I pulled the plexi off of it today and flipped the monitor horizontal.

The holes underneath arent in much of a good pattern.

I think I may have talked Knievel into putting me togther a simple wooden replacement panel.  Now I just have to settle on a control layout and decide if I want a trackball or spinner, etc.  Thats why I am posting for suggestions.

Attached are Kneivels Dynamo cab and control panel:

Edit:  Added pics to thread

[Timoe]

I would recommend finding some artwork first (that is if you are going with artwork for this one)

then design your layout based on the art. 

But definitely three buttons per player and ball top sticks if you can get them.

[dweebs0r]

Yeah, I wanted to go with some kind of classic arcade character artwork.

I also was thinking a 3 button setup, but I really want two joysticks because Robotron is one of my favorites.

I also want at least the leftmost joystick to be a 4-8 way switchable so that I can play 4 way games as well as 8 way games without any problems.

So at this point, 2 joysticks, 3 buttons, and then should it be a 2 1/4" trackball or a spinner?  which would get more play?  I'm on the fence.  I like vertical trackball games (centipede, etc) and also Tempest.

Also, should I go horizontal or vertical for the monitor?

-Dweebs

[dweebs0r]

Actually, I may just forget the idea of adding two joysticks or a trackball/spinner and set this up like a Donkey Kong.

DK was one of my favorites growing up and the 4 way with one button would add a fair number of games to add.

That would mean turning the monitor vertically but I'm cool with that.

-D

[Timoe]

(for me) the ideal set up would be to have 2 cabs.  One vertical smaller cab for the classics and one massive mame cab with a horizontal monitor.

As for the spinner and t-ball.  I would say skip em.  You can get all those games to play with a stick and you dont want to cram all that into a 23" space.  Plus you'll have your massive cab for that stuff.


my $0.02 - but then I dont even have A cabinet.

[dweebs0r]

my $0.02 - but then I dont even have A cabinet.

Not yet, that should be changing any time now, right??

I think your right.  I'm gonna set this control panel up just like this one -->  http://www.retrospieler.de/e-cpdk.html

Flip the monitor back vertically, add this control panel, add some Donkey Kong side art and red t-molding and it should be killer.

Edit:  I want to use another 4 way j-stik for this one.

You're right, I'll have the big cabinet for everything else.

-D

[Timoe]

Here's an idea.


For most classic games you're just going to be using one stick and one button.  But there is the occasional game like defender where you'll want more buttons.  This layout would serve you for simple 2 player and for Robotron.  I might be able to find the Vector art for this CPO, some sideart and a marquee.

Let me look, I might have the DK also.  I mean, I might "know a guy"

[dweebs0r]

Hmm, I like it.

If I do this set up, I would leave the monitor horizontal (which would mean it would fit as is with no modification).

Decisions, decisions.

I am also trying to get the DK art from the guy that built the CP linked above.

-D

[dweebs0r]

Here's an idea.


For most classic games you're just going to be using one stick and one button.  But there is the occasional game like defender where you'll want more buttons.  This layout would serve you for simple 2 player and for Robotron.  I might be able to find the Vector art for this CPO, some sideart and a marquee.

Let me look, I might have the DK also.  I mean, I might "know a guy"

Thanks Tim.  Appreciate your help.

-D

[dweebs0r]

Okay,

I got the Donkey Kong image from Carsten Wessels the original builder of that cabinet I linked above.
Heres a link.
Thank you very much Carsten!
I plan on modeling the control panel around this art.  I attached a smaller version so you guys can check it out.

I want to use a 4-way/ 8-way switchable mag stick (with ball top upgrade) and regular Happ buttons.

I am debating using translucent buttons and the Ipac LED harness?

Anyone have any comments or suggestions?

-Dweebs

[dweebs0r]

Just an update on this Dynamo, its pretty much complete. 

Its not perfect!!  Many, many little things need to be fixed but it was a great learning experience for me.

I need to:  refinish the wood and get alot of the imperfections out, redo the t-molding slots, fabricate a back door (the new monitor's frame sticks out a bit), fine tune the computer to hide Windows better, upgrade the computer or downgrade the OS, etc etc...

The things that are done are:

It has:  one button to switch everything on and off,
a vertical monitor orientation --> monitor is one of these,
credit buttons, pause buttons, escape buttons,
4 way joystick (j-stik),
tinted plexi (I want to replace this with smoked glass),
lighted marquee,
lighted coin door buttons,
functional coin doors,
replaced coin mechs with mechs that accept tokens and quarters,
maybe more stuff...


Thanks to the following people for helping me out:

Kneivel        --> built the control panel
Timoe          --> kept telling me to not burn the thing
Arcadenerd --> coin mechs that take quarters and tokens

[Knievel]

Well the CP matches in with the cabinet nicely but why is it sticking out like that? 

[dweebs0r]

Well, it didnt quite match up with the cabinet because of the monitor framing and other stuff,

All in all, I am pleased with it.

I learned alot and it'll help me with me next one.

-D

[Timoe]

Dang, a year later and he finally updates the thing! 

Hey congrats on selling the wife on more than one arcade cabinet.  I'd love to have a dedicated vert cab.  Especially with a Knievel CP! 

[dweebs0r]

Its been at its current state for a while.  I just havent bothered to go outside and take a picture of it.

As for my wife, she doesnt care if I have 100 cabs, as long as there outside in the garage.

Future plans now include enclosing the garage for a full sized gameroom. 

-D

[theCoder]

If you've got the time & money, turning the garage into a gameroom sounds like a great idea.  Go for it.

[Knievel]

Dang, well if you ever want to tackle moving the cabinet guts around so you can sink that CP in further just let me know.

It sure does look sweet on there. Scott did a nice job printing that CPO.