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Author Topic: Blue Light Special!  (Read 22594 times)

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RetroACTIVE

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Blue Light Special!
« on: September 26, 2005, 05:06:06 pm »
Completely modular using post and cam latching.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2006, 07:07:26 pm by RetroACTIVE »
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2005, 05:37:12 pm »
questions...?

Why not in Project Announcements ?

 ;)

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2005, 06:24:06 pm »
Yes... this does belong in project announcements!  I'm sorry for posting it in the wrong place.  I got a little ahead of myself.

moderator...please move this post.
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2005, 06:25:32 pm »
BTW -- cabinet looks great ... kit or DIY ?

Cheers
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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2005, 06:25:59 pm »
DIY..
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2005, 06:28:24 pm »
Looks very tidy. 4 player cab is it?

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2005, 06:34:40 pm »
Nice laminating job ... look forward to construction pics.

Also be good to see documentation DIY post and cam ... that would be useful to lots of people.

Nice work.

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2005, 06:39:40 pm »
I'm writing a doc now... plan on producing an entire DIY package
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2005, 06:40:34 pm »
yes... it will be a 4 player cab when I'm through...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2005, 08:14:23 pm »
I like.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2005, 08:22:02 pm by TurboC-- »

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2005, 06:45:22 pm »
more pics
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2005, 06:45:53 pm »
and the back...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2005, 06:48:17 pm »
I am digging those castor wheels on the back. Dunno if that is original but it is a good idea.

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2005, 07:11:52 pm »
I'm a total hack.. I took ideas from different cabinets and basically built it around a common midway shape.
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2005, 07:18:49 pm »
I'm a total hack.. I took ideas from different cabinets and basically built it around a common midway shape.
There is nothing wrong with that. With so many before us it's becoming impossible to ever claim originality.

The main thing is your cab is looking sharp so stand proud.  ;)

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #15 on: September 28, 2005, 07:21:12 pm »
yeah... that is pretty much what I did... I cant wait till its done....

btw I will be painting all the bare wood before I'm done...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #16 on: September 28, 2005, 09:45:54 pm »
I am digging those castor wheels on the back. Dunno if that is original but it is a good idea.

Many "real" cabs have casters and grab handles on them. I'm able to move my Bally cab around by myself very easily. It's a great setup.

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #17 on: October 07, 2005, 07:34:40 am »
Look ma... no bolts!
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #18 on: October 08, 2005, 09:57:38 am »
WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SPEAKER GRILL MESH!?!?!?
Coming soon: 4 player mame cab and Scratch built Moonwalker....Hall of Fame, here I come!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #19 on: October 08, 2005, 12:43:16 pm »
coolerguys.com

its 120mm fan grill material... I sandwiched it between the formica and wood.
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #20 on: October 08, 2005, 02:42:05 pm »
I am digging those castor wheels on the back. Dunno if that is original but it is a good idea.

Many "real" cabs have casters and grab handles on them. I'm able to move my Bally cab around by myself very easily. It's a great setup.


My Mortal Kombat is set up like this.  Makes it much easier to move around.

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #21 on: October 08, 2005, 05:42:35 pm »
Franken-panel at its ugliest... somebody round up the lynch mob!
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #22 on: October 08, 2005, 08:18:35 pm »
Where'd you get your post/cam hardware?  Do they give suggestions for how far apart to place them, and are you referring to using them throughout the entire cabinet to make it easy to disassemble?
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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #23 on: October 08, 2005, 09:41:03 pm »
Yes I wanted to see if I could build a "kit" type cabinet which would allow me easy assembly and if needed disassembly.

I got my post and cam (aka knock down connectors ) from:

http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?offerings_id=348

you'll find the technical documents there.

There are better ones like these Rafix type:

http://www.thermwood.com/shop/products.nsf/ItemMasterLookup/pHF-26312705?OpenDocument

I did not go with the Rafix brand because they require a bit more jigging because of the 2 bores per cam lock assembly.

However...The ---smurfette--- with the Blum connectors is you pretty much need to sandwich the whole thing together all at once, making sure each pin is aligned with each cam.  The Rafix allow you to put each panel in at any time (ala SlikStik cabinet, if you have ever seen how those are constructed).
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #24 on: October 11, 2005, 11:05:01 am »
Before I drill any holes....

I've decided on 4 player (see above pic) w/a pseudo-stargate form.  Spinner is directly above the track ball, all other stuff is pretty standard not very original... but just looking for quick comments.

For those who don't like the all-in-one franken panel.. feel free to insult you won't hurt my feelings one bit.

either way... thoughts/ideas are appreciated.
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #25 on: October 11, 2005, 12:00:44 pm »
My suggestion on your control panel is to make all of your joysticks orient the same way.  True up should be directly up toward the monitor.  I had mine oriented the way you did at first (where the UP is relative to the positioning of the buttons), and got nothing but complaints from people playing it.  So I redid it and now people seem to be happy.  Just a suggestion.

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #26 on: October 11, 2005, 12:19:27 pm »
Quote
My suggestion on your control panel is to make all of your joysticks orient the same way.  True up should be directly up toward the monitor.  I had mine oriented the way you did at first (where the UP is relative to the positioning of the buttons), and got nothing but complaints from people playing it.  So I redid it and now people seem to be happy.  Just a suggestion.

good point... I had thought of that but originally dismissed it,

thank you
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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #27 on: October 24, 2005, 07:23:51 am »
more progress!
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #28 on: October 24, 2005, 07:24:28 am »
and more...
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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #29 on: October 24, 2005, 07:25:12 am »
and more...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #30 on: October 24, 2005, 07:26:00 am »
more...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #31 on: October 24, 2005, 07:26:45 am »
...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #32 on: October 24, 2005, 07:27:47 am »
...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #33 on: October 24, 2005, 07:31:13 am »
...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #34 on: October 24, 2005, 07:31:47 am »
...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #35 on: October 24, 2005, 07:32:48 am »
...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #36 on: October 24, 2005, 07:33:28 am »
putting it back together...
Happy Gaming!

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Re: Almost completed... (no more dust!)
« Reply #37 on: October 24, 2005, 01:05:59 pm »
All that I have left to do now is to wire the control panel, hook up the marquee light and cut the plexi for the marquee.  I totally underestimated the amount of work to be done.... for those who don't have a dedicated work-shop... I feel your pain.

Anyway, I am very happy with it and can't wait to get it running now.
 :D

This forum has been invaluable to the process.  I'm really impressed with everyone's work.  Doing this has really left me with a great deal of appreciation for the amount of effort it takes to do it right.  For those of you who create your own theme/artwork... totally jealous... If I could do one thing differently... it would be to at least create custom panel artwork.  But for now I am very very pleased with mamemarquees.com prints and the "atomic" (Pixelhugger) theme.
Happy Gaming!

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #38 on: October 24, 2005, 06:36:06 pm »
Very nice, I like the black laminate. Must of been a pain in the ass on those angled pieces to trim properly.

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Re: My first (and not so original cab)
« Reply #39 on: October 25, 2005, 09:08:05 am »
Quote
Must of been a pain in the ass on those angled pieces to trim properly

Yes... I tried a few techniques.. heating it, using a miter saw to cut the proper angles... in the end overlapping the edges and using a file to trim it flush turned out to be the best approach. 

I almost decided to paint the control panel base but was happy with the final product.

I'm waiting for 7/8" t-molding now to finish it.
Happy Gaming!