Author Topic: Blue Light Special! (Read 27703 times)

Mark70 · « **Reply #80 on:** November 16, 2005, 09:33:52 pm »

Oh, we'll all be doing the same thing too.

zaphod · « **Reply #81 on:** November 17, 2005, 08:31:06 am »

Any pics of the cam-and-post jigs you used?

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #82 on:** November 17, 2005, 08:44:52 am »

Quote

Any pics of the cam-and-post jigs you used?

Actually... it was pretty simple... I did not get any pics...

and I accidentally chucked my jig... I can't seem to find it anywhere... I made my own with the exception of the Jig-IT tool I got from rockler.com... you can see pics of the Jig-IT tool in my control panel images, it was invaluable for proper allignment and depth of the forsner bit (since I don't have a drill press).

Here is an excerpt from the paper I was writing on how to build my cabinet....

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #83 on:** November 17, 2005, 12:19:08 pm »

Got my coin mechs to accept my BYOAC tokens last night.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #84 on:** November 17, 2005, 12:46:29 pm »

Here is a pic on how I marked all of the locations of the post / cams.

zaphod · « **Reply #85 on:** November 17, 2005, 02:24:16 pm »

Thank you for the pictures. A very simple, elegant solution to placing them, IMO.

IG-88 · « **Reply #86 on:** November 17, 2005, 02:25:11 pm »

Great job on that cab! I hope you get a chance to finish that paper, I'd relly like to see it also.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #87 on:** November 17, 2005, 02:33:46 pm »

Thanks IG-88!

I hope to finsh the paper as well... I've got so much cr@p around the house from building this thing... once I clean up a bit, I can justify some more "me" time....

BTW: IG-88 sooo kicks Boba Fett's --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- IMO...

IG-88 · « **Reply #88 on:** November 17, 2005, 05:27:00 pm »

There is actually a short story written about IG-88 and how he came to be along with IG-88B,C,D and an IG-72! I just stumbled across it a few months ago. Kinda cool to find out some background on him/it

subcriminal · « **Reply #89 on:** November 18, 2005, 12:45:12 pm »

You should change your post title! Your project looks immaculate, hype the thread up some more!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #90 on:** November 18, 2005, 01:05:01 pm »

Quote

You should change your post title! Your project looks immaculate, hype the thread up some more!

Thanks, that means a lot to me, as your Kong Cab is IMHO "immaculate" as well. I did not want to be to proud... all of the custom themed projects around here put me to shame...

However I am very proud of the fact that my cabinet does not look home-made at all... there is not hardly a gap or imperfection on any joint and it is rock solid... my goal was to home build a "kit" type and I achieved it.

I've cleaned it up, put it in place and will take some final parting shots to end the story...

Anyway... that's about it on the ego trip!

nipsmg · « **Reply #91 on:** November 18, 2005, 03:50:57 pm »

I agree, your cabinet looks excellent.

The cam-post locking mechanism is excellent. I really badly wanted to build mine like this so that I could take it apart and move it up/down stairs. It looks like it's rather difficult to do however.

Congratulations tho, it looks excellent.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #92 on:** November 18, 2005, 08:51:55 pm »

A couple of final shots...
I wish I knew more about photography!

Pixelhugger · « **Reply #93 on:** November 19, 2005, 01:42:54 am »

Check PM for propositioning.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #94 on:** November 20, 2005, 11:17:35 am »

PM sent

Santoro · « **Reply #95 on:** November 21, 2005, 10:30:07 pm »

Hey, where'd you get those kewl tokens?

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #96 on:** November 22, 2005, 09:32:28 am »

Quote

Hey, where'd you get those kewl tokens?

Let me tell you something... they are kewl...

My kids are actually using them

! I was shocked... I didn't think they would appreciate them, much less use them....

Its easy to get so used to pushing the credit button.... I didn't think the average 13-14 year old would expend the energy to plunk a token in the coin slot... but THEY DID and it was very natural for them....

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #97 on:** January 03, 2006, 10:52:04 am »

Ok... Now that the machine has been getting some play time... I've realized I made (at least) one critical design flaw with the control panel (see pic)...

the spinner placement...

I was showing GT to a friend and told him before we stared ... be carefull this thing isn't GT friendly... on the first drive WHAM! I thought he broke his finger... my tornado spinner now has a bit of a crunchy sound when I spin it. I felt so bad for my friend, I thought for sure he busted his finger...

so... I will be re-designing my panel soon.. MOVING THE SPINNER!, adding illumination (LEDWiz) and a 49 way joystick (w/GPWiz49)... I may drop the tstick plus... I don't really see the need for a switchable 4-8 way since I have dedicated p360s everywhere else. I will use the GPWIZ49 to handle 2, 4, and diagonal modes instead. I'm not sure I care for the action on the tstick plus anyway, honestly it feels kind of chincy to me...

Anyway... here is to never being done!

BTW: Also I received 4 illuminated ball top handles for Christmas... and they look un-freakin-believeable! I now have an Atomic theme for mamewah.. thanks to PH! Once I get it installed, I'll take another pic with all of the blue leds and the new front end...

Lookin good Billy Ray!

markrvp · « **Reply #98 on:** January 03, 2006, 02:45:10 pm »

On the 49-way, cut the hole for the shaft 1" or 1-1/8" to enable the wood to act as a "restrictor" for the joystick. It doesn't take much travel to activate the motion, but the overtravel is very big (read: very long throw). For 2-way and 4-way games I think you will like the restricted movement better.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #99 on:** January 03, 2006, 03:59:20 pm »

Quote

...the overtravel is very big (read: very long throw)

I wasn't sure about this, since I have never used a 49 way before. I figured somebody would chime in... thanks for the input!

I've found the whole switching the joystick very frustrating for people (other than myself). After seeing the cabinet in action it was very obvious to me how unrealistic it is to expect the average user to know what control to use never mind the need to switch between 4 and 8 way modes...

Hopefully the auto switching capability of the 49 way coupled with leds to indicate the appropriate controls will make the whole thing that much easier to use...

teetu · « **Reply #100 on:** January 04, 2006, 12:31:32 am »

how are the wheels on the bottom supported? I was thinking about doing something similar, but i'm afraid if I dont support them properly they will rip right out when i tilt the cab and put weight on them (or the wheels stay in place and rip the sides of the cab up!)

KrawDaddy · « **Reply #101 on:** January 04, 2006, 01:04:46 am »

Trust me....the best of both worlds. Up front and center for Pac-Man (The way it should be!)

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #102 on:** January 04, 2006, 08:50:09 am »

Quote

how are the wheels on the bottom supported? I was thinking about doing something similar, but i'm afraid if I dont support them properly they will rip right out when i tilt the cab and put weight on them (or the wheels stay in place and rip the sides of the cab up!)

I built a separate floor unit and the wheels are anchored into it. The floor/platform of the cabinet is built like a small deck. The sides are anchored to the floor unit using oak cleats (see pic on post 35) and the sides hold the front and rear panels together... so the wheels are not going anywhere.

KrawDaddy:

Thanks for the tip... I love your cabinet, I came across it many moons ago... very innovative.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #103 on:** January 05, 2006, 01:21:03 pm »

Now now... don't laugh too hysterically...

Here is a first cut at re-vamping my layout...

Things I absolutely don't want to give up:
Defender / Asteroids layout

Things I want to change:
Move the dang spinner
Add a 49 way switchable for 2 / 4 / diagonal games
Add dedicated front-end navigation buttons
Get the 4 way stick closer to the operator... I cant stand it so far away (original design)
Move credit/player switches closer to actual controls.

KDOG · « **Reply #104 on:** January 06, 2006, 12:04:50 am »

Player one button layout looks like a dinosaur(brontosaurus)

It looks a little jumbled together in my opion.

RayB · « **Reply #105 on:** January 06, 2006, 12:13:03 am »

Select? You don't need a select button. Map player 1 start to do that!

You also could map existing buttons to be "L" and "R" too.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #106 on:** January 06, 2006, 08:12:24 am »

Quote

Player one button layout looks like a dinosaur(brontosaurus)

I agree it is jumbled... I (like many others before me) am trying to accomplish the "all in one" with some real specific requirements... causing the jumbalia....

Quote

Select? You don't need a select button. Map player 1 start to do that!

Absolutely... that is pretty much the defacto-standard (and what I have today) but after watching people play the thing and having to explain it (basically because there is no artwork to indicate what button does what)... I thought it would be convienient and easy to use if all of the front end controls were separate from the "arcade" controls.

ThanX!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #107 on:** January 06, 2006, 03:38:57 pm »

Ok... I'm letting go of Defender and Asteroids for now... so nothing too fancy... I've changed the button layout to "curved" style.... Some like it some don't as for me I'm not sure... I felt like throwing some curves into it...

versapak · « **Reply #108 on:** January 06, 2006, 03:53:57 pm »

My control panel is all curved, and honestly I wouldn't go that route again.

When playing solo it is more comfortable, but when playing with others, where you don't have the space to have your elbows out, then the curve is very uncomfortable.

The straight layout is easier to compensate for.

markrvp · « **Reply #109 on:** January 06, 2006, 09:18:00 pm »

I concur. I made a curved layout on one of my multi-panels for fighters and StreetFighter is a lot easier to play with the buttons layed out straight 3x2. My future panels with 6 or 7 button layouts will have the buttons straight.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #110 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:44:17 pm »

Thanks Markvp and Versapak... comments appreciated!

I'm convinced... curved is out.

.....

Ok... I've beat this thing to death... and honestly... this it isn't all that interesting to me or anybody else for that matter. I've decided to implement a psuedo Defender/Asteroids layout... I just can't seem to let it go.

I've put the 49 way right above the spinner. I thought about jettisoning the analog flight stick all together, but after a few reads... it appears 49 way raw doesn't really work well for StarWars... so it stays for now. The real question for me will be how well does the GPWiz49 play with the Apac... not sure how Windows and/or MAME will be able to handle various inputs...

DrewKaree · « **Reply #111 on:** January 09, 2006, 08:05:15 pm »

I don't think there's room on there for a dead horse

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #112 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:16:18 pm »

Quote from: DrewKaree on January 09, 2006, 08:05:15 pm

I don't think there's room on there for a dead horse

I just don't want it to turn into a pile of horse sh*t... Allthough I'll be the first to admit... its clolse!

DrewKaree · « **Reply #113 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:21:58 pm »

Which are your "O" and "K" buttons?

I think it looks fine, m'self. A bit more than I'll have, but if it makes sense to you.....

DrewKaree · « **Reply #114 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:23:36 pm »

Waitaminutejustasecond.

What's with the fistful of buttons you added off to the left there and a few other places?

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #115 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:08:11 pm »

Its not immediately apparent, but I've included an "Asteroids / Defender" layout.. Two of the 6 buttons on the leftmost (player 3) are used for asteroids cw and ccw buttons, and the other two extra above the player 1 are the thrust and fire (used both for Asteroids and Defender)... And now that I look at it AGAIN the two buttons to the left of the spinner could be removed, they are not needed.

Thanks for forcing me to explain it.

c64rulez · « **Reply #116 on:** January 11, 2006, 11:19:47 am »

There hasn't been, isn't and will not be any game that's not playable with such
a panel.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #117 on:** January 11, 2006, 07:15:22 pm »

Ok... PH offered to do skin for Mamewah for me based on his Atomic theme... I FREAKN' LOVE IT! Couple that with blue SlikStik illuminated joystick handles, super bright leds for the coin door and trackball... and BAM!

The only thing left (besides a respin of the panel) LedWiz! Illuminated buttons! I have to take a break for a while... I've reached my salary cap.

I've purchased the GG 49 way controller, the 49 way stick, a ball top, Druin's rotary interface and Mark Oats rotary adapter...

to be continued...

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #118 on:** January 11, 2006, 07:16:15 pm »

One more gratuitous pic of the 49 way controller, cable and stick.. don't mind the paper buttons strewed about, I forgot to remove them before I snapped it...

mj147 · « **Reply #119 on:** April 14, 2006, 05:17:41 am »

RetroA

Not sure how I managed to miss this project. Must of been during my off time in this hobby...

Your cab is freakn nice!!!

I love that Mamewah skin, is that layout available anywhere or is an exclusive from Pix?

I think it would go perfect with my ol' lil cab

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=35490.msg310042#msg310042

Finally after about a year its ready for the side art.

hehe I guess my cab just found its long lost father

mj147


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