Author Topic: Mario Bros. Arcade Reproduction - Now with POW Block Stool (Read 18281 times)

wilef · « **on:** November 28, 2005, 05:12:45 pm »

Added some pics of my new coin mechs and a custom POW Block Stool to compliment the cabinet!

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2005, 01:30:12 pm »

Looks great ! Are you planning a coin door ?

Cheers.

wilef · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2005, 02:46:13 pm »

Yeah, I'll have to do that later becaues I can't find an original Nintendo coin door. I may eventually settle for a generic coin door, but I'm going to keep looking for now.

JonnyBoy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2005, 10:10:19 pm »

I really like the shape of that cab too. Custom design? I'm not very good at being able to tell what kind of cab it's based off of if it isn't a custom design.

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2005, 06:53:35 pm »

Since nobody answered ... check his entire blog for the "original cab" answer ...

Cheers.

markrvp · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2005, 01:00:53 pm »

Quote from: JonnyBoy on December 01, 2005, 10:10:19 pm

I really like the shape of that cab too. Custom design? I'm not very good at being able to tell what kind of cab it's based off of if it isn't a custom design.

Johnny Boy, you are showing your youth

. Everybody from the 80s instantly recognizes that as a Nintendo cab, the kind Donkey Kong, Popeye, MARIO BROTHERS, and many others were in.

JonnyBoy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2005, 06:31:09 pm »

Yeah...I was born in '88...figures.

Tahnok · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2005, 08:50:34 pm »

Quote from: markrvp on December 03, 2005, 01:00:53 pm

Quote from: JonnyBoy on December 01, 2005, 10:10:19 pm
I really like the shape of that cab too. Custom design? I'm not very good at being able to tell what kind of cab it's based off of if it isn't a custom design.

Johnny Boy, you are showing your youth . Everybody from the 80s instantly recognizes that as a Nintendo cab, the kind Donkey Kong, Popeye, MARIO BROTHERS, and many others were in.

I was born in '89 and I recognized it no problem. It is more a matter of how much time you have pathetically put into this hobby.

BTW, good looking cab.

wilef · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2005, 06:20:22 pm »

Updated the website, nothing huge, but I got the routing done:
http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

tahnok100: thanks for the compliment. Aside from the button layout, I want it to look very much like an original cabinet.

JonnyBoy: Thanks, I wish I could take credit for the cabinet shape. It's my favorite cabinet although it was a tough choice between the Nintendo cab and the Pac-Man cab. The Pac-Man yellow just looks real sharp, but maybe that'll be my next project.

wilef · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2005, 02:40:01 pm »

I updated the site again:
http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

TV shelf in place, keyboard tray done, ready to prime next weekend.

subcriminal · « **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2005, 01:49:26 pm »

Hey wilef! I'll get those paint swatches posted to you by the weekend. I've had proper flu so haven't been up to much lately sorry. I have to say the colour doesn't look as bright on my cab as in the photo's. The flash really lights it up! I can't remember ever seeing a real Nintendo cab but I'd go more of a turquoise or slightly lighter shade than mine if I was you. Some of the pictures on here have a really light turquoise colour on them and others are darker.
I reckon you should get a small brass plaque screwed on it somewhere stating you built it because whenever someone asks how much it was, where'd you get it? they don't believe you when you say I built it and you have to boot the PC to BYOAC to prove it. Right chore

duckpatch · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2005, 02:14:02 am »

Heya wilef,

I've already started emailing but these forums are great. I have designed my panel but I'm not sure it will fit: http://duckpatch.blogdns.com/temp/controlpanel.jpg. I found the art for the control panel and I think it may be possible to make it work with 6buttons... it will be interesting how it turns out.

wilef · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2005, 06:00:49 pm »

Yeah, I don't think that will fit on the Mario Bros CPO. What you have to realize with the artwork, is that it's not all usable space. Some of it wraps under the CP plus there is clearance needed on the bottom for the piece it rests on (the speaker grill piece). The CP piece is actually only 7.875" deep (mine is a little smaller than that), so it looks like you have too much going on that way. You could modify the design and have the front of the cabinet protrude a couple inches farther. That would give you more room.

duckpatch · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2005, 06:40:38 pm »

Well if you did the control panel like this: http://mame.velociworks.com/finish1.jpg

then I suppose it might work? What will you be doing on the software side of things?

wilef · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2005, 01:12:56 am »

yeah, certainly when the CP is built outside the width of the cabinet, you have all the room in the world to place buttons galore. Software...I haven't given it much thought. I'll tryout the different front ends out there, and see what I like best, and same with the versions of mame. See what's best for my setup.

wilef · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2005, 06:58:14 pm »

Small update, nothing to get excited about: http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

duckpatch · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2005, 05:04:38 am »

What's priming about?

wilef · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2005, 12:39:30 pm »

a primer is a paint that you put on before the final color.

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2005, 10:16:05 am »

Looking good ...

Cheers

ptpeter · « **Reply #19 on:** December 27, 2005, 10:52:09 pm »

hey, when are you going to update this or your blog next? i really want to see what you do with this. I'm inspired by this and want to make a similar mario case. keep up the good work man!

wilef · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2005, 05:31:09 pm »

I updated the blog, but not because I made progress. I saw a beat up Mario Bros. arcade machine in an actual arcade and was pleased by how close mine is to the original. I also got an original nintendo coin door in the mail yesterday and will be cutting the hole in the cabinet to fit the door tomorrow. Thanks for the compliment.

duckpatch · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2005, 11:37:38 pm »

Where on earth did you get a hold on one?

wilef · « **Reply #22 on:** January 03, 2006, 02:44:39 pm »

eBay is where I got the coin door, after shipping it was $45, which isn't too bad considering I don't see these very often. Anyway, the site is updated, check it out:

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

duckpatch · « **Reply #23 on:** January 09, 2006, 08:01:58 am »

I see you have progressed. It is looking very good! I need plans badly so I can rig this baby up

wilef · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2006, 07:01:40 pm »

Finally got somewhere with the cabinet. My brother has pretty much caught up to me, but check out the cabinets here: http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

wilef · « **Reply #25 on:** April 13, 2006, 01:51:09 pm »

The painting should be finished this weekend, so I'll post pictures of the final painted cabinets next week.

mj147 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 13, 2006, 02:16:17 pm »

Man Ive always loved the Nintendo cab shape, maybe Ill do a another mini cab....

Great work BTW

mj147

wilef · « **Reply #27 on:** April 14, 2006, 02:06:21 pm »

Thanks! Yeah, I've always loved the shape of the Nintendo cab as well, and the artwork for DK and Mario is very cool. I can't wait to finish because these will be very close to being perfect reproductions of the cabinet (with original marquee, bezel, side art and modified control panel), except for Mame inside.

nullb0y · « **Reply #28 on:** April 15, 2006, 11:29:06 pm »

if it wasnt for me over compensating for having a small.... ::cough:: joystick id prob build a nin replica

wilef · « **Reply #29 on:** April 17, 2006, 05:50:27 pm »

Painted it blue this weekend, take a look:

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

Hiub1 · « **Reply #30 on:** April 17, 2006, 06:01:56 pm »

Looking goood! I'm doing a restoration of a Nintendo R-type, similar to this one.

wilef · « **Reply #31 on:** April 18, 2006, 10:57:44 am »

Yours looks like a real interesting project. A lot of work, but restoration projects are fun because of before and after pictures.

wilef · « **Reply #32 on:** April 24, 2006, 02:52:19 pm »

Anyone have experience ordering from mamemarquees.com before for control panel overlays? I hear that this is better than classicarcadegrafix.com. Any consensus?

spriggy · « **Reply #33 on:** April 24, 2006, 06:05:21 pm »

Quote from: wilef on April 24, 2006, 02:52:19 pm

Anyone have experience ordering from mamemarquees.com before for control panel overlays? I hear that this is better than classicarcadegrafix.com. Any consensus?

Yep..... mamemarquees do great digital prints. classicarcadegrafix nearly always do not.
nuff said..... a search of the forum will find references to cag's quality issues and mm's great services.
good luck.

wilef · « **Reply #34 on:** April 27, 2006, 04:44:02 pm »

thanks spriggy,
I guess I'll be going with mamemarquees!

wilef · « **Reply #35 on:** May 02, 2006, 12:52:13 pm »

Check out the site for around 15 new pictures of this weekend's progress:
http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

Attached is a sample.

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #36 on:** May 02, 2006, 12:56:52 pm »

That really is beautiful (and you brother's is nice too!) ... really welldone!

Cheers

wilef · « **Reply #37 on:** May 02, 2006, 01:04:46 pm »

Thanks CheffoJeffo,
It's been a really fun project and a great learning experience. There's still quite a few little details to finish, but I certainly see the light at the end of the tunnel.

mj147 · « **Reply #38 on:** May 02, 2006, 04:48:26 pm »

Wow , cab is looking great!!!

Thx for your blog as well, lots of hi res pics and documented nicely ;0

Quote from: wilef on April 24, 2006, 02:52:19 pm

Anyone have experience ordering from mamemarquees.com before for control panel overlays? I hear that this is better than classicarcadegrafix.com. Any consensus?

As far as mamemarquees, they are great. I had a marquee and a CP overlay printed and both surpassed my expectations.

Once again beautiful cab

mj147

SithMaster · « **Reply #39 on:** May 02, 2006, 05:00:04 pm »

what cab is the third one in this pic

and where did you get the marquee retainers? thanks.

o

and it looks very well done and cant wait for the cp.

wilef · « **Reply #40 on:** May 02, 2006, 06:20:43 pm »

Good eye!
The third cabinet is a Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting that my brother picked up at a garage sale for $150. The cabinet will get some much needed cosmetic restoration, but the important part is that the monitor is crisp with no burn-in, and the board looks brand new.

I was meaning to do this for awhile now, so your post made me do it. I just made a blog for this project too: http://streetfighterarcade.blogspot.com/

The marquee retainers are L-shaped brackets that I got at Home Depot. They came in 4 ft. pieces so one piece made 2 retainers (4 needed for each cab, 2 for marquee, 2 for bezel). The brackets cost about $4 each and the ones I got were 1/16" thick and 3/4" for each side (they come in many different sizes, widths, and thicknesses). I primed them with Rustoleum Clean Metal Primer spray and then painted them black with Rustoleum Painter's Touch black spray paint.

And the CP will be the best part, I can't wait either!

Hiub1 · « **Reply #41 on:** May 03, 2006, 09:51:05 am »

Holy crap man! That looks fricking awesome. I am guessing a nice 19'' arcade monitor is going in this puppy right? What are you doing for the control panel?

Keep up the good work.

wilef · « **Reply #42 on:** May 03, 2006, 02:48:33 pm »

Actually I'll be using a 20" PC monitor, the CP will look like the attached picture below, a modified version of the original (also attached). The rearranging of graphics will allow for a 6-button layout. What do you think?

wilef · « **Reply #43 on:** May 03, 2006, 02:53:04 pm »

Here's the CP with the outline of buttons/joysticks.

Hiub1 · « **Reply #44 on:** May 03, 2006, 03:41:37 pm »

The overlay looks sweet! Any particular reason why you're going with the PC monitor? I recently was able to configure an old Radeon 9200SE (not an ArcadeVGA) to display the 15 KHz for an arcade monitor very easily. Let me know if you want to know more!

wilef · « **Reply #45 on:** May 03, 2006, 04:23:20 pm »

The main reason is cost. I was able to snag a 20" PC monitor for free and am going to see if I'm satisfied with that solution. What's the benefit of using an arcade monitor? I don't know much about that. Thanks.

Hiub1 · « **Reply #46 on:** May 03, 2006, 04:28:37 pm »

The advantage of using an arcade monitor is that the picture will be faithful to the original. Look on the Wiki, there is a load of information there about arcade monitors. As nice as your cabinet is coming out, I think that it deserves to have a nice arcade monitor, but you can always make do with the PC monitor until you can scrounge up enough cash for the arcade one. You can pick up a brand new 19'' monitor from 8 Liners for $110 plus shipping of around $50, so you are looking at around $160 for a good one.

wilef · « **Reply #47 on:** May 03, 2006, 04:30:35 pm »

Alright,
Thanks for the info, I'll take a look at that.

wilef · « **Reply #48 on:** May 15, 2006, 02:38:47 pm »

Got the locks in the mail and installed the coin door lock. Just need to drill the hole in the back door for the door lock (which is a little thicker and deeper for the depth of the wood). I hope to get a lot done this coming weekend.

SithMaster · « **Reply #49 on:** May 15, 2006, 05:01:02 pm »

what type of bolts did you use for the coin door? i have a nintendo one as well and they are square which i think is odd.

and for your retainer was it custom cut in the home depot for the length and did they drill holes?

wilef · « **Reply #50 on:** May 15, 2006, 05:19:48 pm »

The retainer I cut at home to the desired length (a hair under 22.5"), then filed down the rough edges, painted it and then drilled the holes. It may have been better to drill the holes before painting, but it worked out for me.

The bolts were really hard to find. Home Depot, Lowe's and Osh didn't have them. I got them at an Ace hardware. They were 1" long and the square portion was 3/16" to a side. The nuts are size: 10-24.

wilef · « **Reply #51 on:** May 22, 2006, 09:13:55 pm »

The cabinet looks great, side art applied, worth checking out!

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #52 on:** May 22, 2006, 09:16:42 pm »

Looking great ... this has been one of my favourite projects to watch.

Cheers.

Hiub1 · « **Reply #53 on:** May 22, 2006, 09:47:02 pm »

Dude, you better put that arcade monitor in there! AWESOME!

wilef · « **Reply #54 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:51:04 pm »

Thanks guys, it's so great to see it come this far. Every time I walk into the room I just have to stare at it for a minute. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, there's no way it could have gotten done without my friend Marc or my dad (thanks guys!), but it's pretty rewarding to see it go from a couple sheets of MDF to a beautiful cabinet in six months time.

Hiub1, I hear you...I'm going to get it up and running with the PC monitor I have and then start convincing my wife that an arcade monitor would be better. I just need to do it one step at a time

mccoy178 · « **Reply #55 on:** May 23, 2006, 02:44:25 pm »

That machine looks great!

Awesome work, as it looks very professional.

psychopanda · « **Reply #56 on:** May 25, 2006, 03:46:02 pm »

Really good work all around! Everything looks so clean and perfect.

Between your cab and Bones', I'm about 90% convinced that I will paint the sides of my cab a different color. I was originally going to do the basic black and blue t-molding thing. The other day I decided to pick up some blue paint, can't remember the color but it's a light blue similar to what you've used. Only problem is that I have to figure out what t-molding color to go with now.

wilef · « **Reply #57 on:** May 29, 2006, 04:17:46 pm »

I got my CPO last week, but I wanted to know if anyone had tips on applying it. I was thinking of lining it up with the control panel and drilling pilot holes, then taking it away and drilling the real holes through just the control panel. Then applying the CPO and cutting the holes in it. Is that a good process or is there a better way?

wilef · « **Reply #58 on:** June 02, 2006, 05:02:56 pm »

Anyone? Another question I have is do I apply a thin layer of plexi on top to protect the surface? On some machines I've seen, that looks really slick. Any help would be appreciated.

theCoder · « **Reply #59 on:** June 03, 2006, 12:01:15 pm »

Quote from: wilef on May 29, 2006, 04:17:46 pm

I got my CPO last week, but I wanted to know if anyone had tips on applying it. I was thinking of lining it up with the control panel and drilling pilot holes, then taking it away and drilling the real holes through just the control panel. Then applying the CPO and cutting the holes in it. Is that a good process or is there a better way?

I'm no expert but I'm rapidly approaching this phase on my project. There are lots of comments on the topic in this forum as well as in the Arcade Project book. Your approach lines up with what I've read so far. Cut the wood to the artwork, not the other way around.

wilef · « **Reply #60 on:** June 07, 2006, 08:49:48 pm »

Updated pictures of the Donkey Kong 3 cabinet...

http:\\mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com

Crafty · « **Reply #61 on:** June 07, 2006, 11:49:06 pm »

Both these cabinets look amazing.

It's hard to build a cabinet harder to produce an authentic reproduction.

Kep the photo's coming

dweebs0r · « **Reply #62 on:** June 09, 2006, 12:16:41 am »

These are my favorite two cabs in some time.

Keep up the photo updates everything is looking awesome!

-D

wilef · « **Reply #63 on:** July 19, 2006, 07:19:35 pm »

I have some photos I need to upload of the control panel coming together which I'll try to do soon. However, I'm running into a problem as I'm wiring up the CP. The problem is that the buttons and joysticks are too far 'down' on the control panel that they hit the front speaker grill panel when closed. I can't believe I didn't realize/measure this beforehand, but I will need to dremel out chunks of the inside of the speaker grill panel for this to work. I'm not about to rebuy a CPO or redrill a CP, so this is my best option. I need to wait until Marc (the guy that helped me with the project) gets back from his honeymoon to borrow his dremel.

dweebs0r · « **Reply #64 on:** July 19, 2006, 07:35:00 pm »

Glad to hear that some progress pics are forthcoming. I have really enjoyed watching this build.

-D

leapinlew · « **Reply #65 on:** July 19, 2006, 11:18:02 pm »

Quote from: wilef on July 19, 2006, 07:19:35 pm

I have some photos I need to upload of the control panel coming together which I'll try to do soon. However, I'm running into a problem as I'm wiring up the CP. The problem is that the buttons and joysticks are too far 'down' on the control panel that they hit the front speaker grill panel when closed. I can't believe I didn't realize/measure this beforehand, but I will need to dremel out chunks of the inside of the speaker grill panel for this to work. I'm not about to rebuy a CPO or redrill a CP, so this is my best option. I need to wait until Marc (the guy that helped me with the project) gets back from his honeymoon to borrow his dremel.

Ya know... I had this same problem. My solution was to take a dremel to it. I ended up disliking the results and wishing I never did it. I'm sure your dremeling skills will be better than mine... Eventually I couldn't take it and what I ended up doing was building a new CP and moving the joysticks. higher up. Here is a pic before I redid my cabinet:

It wasn't pretty. Your call! Either way, I'm sure you'll do a good job with it.

dweebs0r · « **Reply #66 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:05:05 pm »

Is that an original monitor bezel and marquee?

If its not, post some details on them please, I have to do a monitor bezel soon and I could use the info.

-D

wilef · « **Reply #67 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:33:11 pm »

Yes, they are originals I found off ebay. I just thought they would look better than anything I could have printed up. I do have a marquee I had printed that I'm not using if it's something you're interested in. It was printed on a plastic material and looks nice, but would need to be placed between or behind some thicker plexi to give it 'weight'. Otherwise just keep checking ebay or quarterarcade.com.

wilef · « **Reply #68 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:34:31 pm »

leapinlew,
Thanks for the picture and the warning. I may go ahead and try it anyway. I'll post the results when I go for it.

wilef · « **Reply #69 on:** September 13, 2006, 05:34:34 pm »

A few new pictures and updates for the Mario cab on my blog: Mario Bros. Arcade Reproduction

I'm almost done!!!

wilef · « **Reply #70 on:** November 28, 2006, 06:34:31 pm »

New DK3 Reproduction pics up: http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com

And I've finished the Mario cabinet, look for pics soon!

wilef · « **Reply #71 on:** January 23, 2007, 02:15:08 am »

Another update to the site. Final pictures of the Donkey Kong 3 cabinet are up. It's wired and playable now and it's a beautiful machine.

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com

Naru · « **Reply #72 on:** January 23, 2007, 02:26:00 am »

Wow....pretty!
That's Donkey Kong 3 looks great.
Man, that's just great!

wilef · « **Reply #73 on:** February 02, 2008, 11:52:29 pm »

Final pictures are finally up.

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

leapinlew · « **Reply #74 on:** February 03, 2008, 12:21:25 am »

Awesome looks great... Mario Bros. was one of my favorite all time games.

All the Nintendo machines I've had had a black cardboard bezel that laid across the monitor to hide all the brackets and everything else inside the cabinet. You may want to do the same.

Here is a shot of my donkey kong, notice you can't see anything inside the cabinet:

wilef · « **Reply #75 on:** February 03, 2008, 12:38:59 am »

is that a part you found somewhere or did you make something that fits?

leapinlew · « **Reply #76 on:** February 03, 2008, 03:45:45 am »

Quote from: wilef on February 03, 2008, 12:38:59 am

is that a part you found somewhere or did you make something that fits?

I just used some black poster board. The bezel in the nintendo machines seemed to be just normal paper - maybe it had a little more plastic feel to it and it was glued to the monitor (I didn't glue mine to the monitor).

Once it's in - it's invisible and the image appears to float in the middle of the game.

javeryh · « **Reply #77 on:** February 03, 2008, 08:29:15 am »

These cabs are stunning.

Lutus · « **Reply #78 on:** February 04, 2008, 01:42:26 pm »

I also have a donkey kong machine and the original black cardboard bezel was in it. VERY dusty though, so I took it out and spray painted flat black again. I also put some thin velcro on the corners where it touches the monitor (and put corresponding velcro on the edges of the monitor itself) so that way the bezel sit firmly against the monitor, won't shift, and can be easily removed.

Velcro is like 2 dollars.

And this post is worth 0.02 dollars.

wilef · « **Reply #79 on:** February 04, 2009, 05:08:55 pm »

It's been a long while, but I've added new coin mechs and a custom POW Block stool to compliment it!

http://mariobrosarcade.blogspot.com/

DaOld Man · « **Reply #80 on:** February 07, 2009, 08:47:08 am »

Wow, great work!


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