Author Topic: >>BLACKOUT<< A Year in the life. (Read 66981 times)

MYX · « **on:** January 07, 2006, 05:06:46 pm »

Hey all,
Here is my first draft of my CPO. I have included my CP Sketcher button layout on the second one. My idea is that the right player has button # 7 below to act as hyperspace / shield for Gravitar or Asteroids type layout. The left upper button is for Vanguard. I always liked vanguard but I really suck at it.

For the design, I tried to capture the feeling of 80's machines in general. It's kind of like an a abstract version of a space invader / galaga / what ever. My intention is to also make a stencle for this and then do a spray version on the side of the cabinet. I really like the look of the old williams games.

I may move the player 1 & 2 buttons up and add a spinner off to the left of them. The player 1 & 2 buttons will also be mouse buttons. (Can I do that?)

~~All buttons will be translucent.~~ <-- EDIT That was untill GGG Ice came out.

arcadefever · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2006, 05:22:14 pm »

that really nice,
i will like to see how it may look like with yellow buttons

have you tried?

MYX · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2006, 05:32:09 pm »

Well here is yellow buttons, but I am not sure about that. I was considering going with all red buttons and having the 1 & 2 be blue.

arcadefever · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2006, 06:15:20 pm »

look good too, i love that design cant wait to see the all project done

JonnyBoy · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2006, 06:20:54 pm »

I would put the buttons a tad closer together. The artwork looks great. Before settling I would try a mockup.

MYX · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2006, 07:18:49 pm »

I made a desktop CP that I liked, but the spacing was a little too close together. I need to look at CP Sketcher and make the grid smaller so I can scoot them a little closer and still keep the allignment.

JonnyBoy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2006, 07:20:30 pm »

Yeah, different strokes for different folks. Good luck with your project, the art kicks some serious butt.

MYX · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:28:39 pm »

So, I started the actual build. It is a bit humbeling when you are actually doing the build. I have watched so many people on this board build these things and I keep thinking how can it take so long?!? Well know I know. I had help getting the big pieces cut but have been going solo ever since. Today I learned how to split wood right down the center. I guess it is the nature of MDF to split so easily. Back to the saw and had to cut some more pieces. Part of me is thinking that I should be building the base out of ply.

I am taking a couple of ideas from my TAITO QIX cabinet. I am going to run a channel down both side pieces of the cabinet. It will be 1/4 in deep. Then when it is joined with the base I should get extra strength due to the extra contact, and it should be square (assuming my channel is square). I will also be channeling the top piece. When the MDF and wood glue dry I will essentialy have a solid MDF box to work from. I will have L brackets as well for extra strength. Here is the progress so far. I was hoping to have much more completed by the end of the weekend, but oh well.

c64rulez · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2006, 02:11:30 am »

Hey MYX,
That retro style cp is looking great.
Take your time with the build. I found this forum only after I've almost completed building my cab (just the box).
After I found this forum, there seems to be an unexplainable eegerness

to make fast progress so I can pile up my posts...
If I would have found this forum earlier, well, I don't even want to think about it

Your plans for the cabinet structure will indeed give you a solid build.
Keep up the good work and don't rush anything.

MYX · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2006, 10:54:02 pm »

Well, I am happy. I actually got to work on the cab tonight.
I guess it is my own fault, I wanted a lot of curves on this thing. I did not want any sharp corners.

So I was mister scroll saw tonight and I made a mockery of anything that was actually to be considered straight. After a lot of shaping I finally got it to come into to a nice form. The sander really does nice work to mdf. One near casualty. I was cutting the scoop for the monitor area and the cutting started to slow down. I applied more pressure and it became easier again. When the piece cut free I realized the reason for the slow down. Tomorrow, I will clamp the other side to this and route it into shape.

MYX · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2006, 10:54:28 pm »

more pix

TOK · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2006, 05:57:57 am »

The cab is progressing nicely. Funny that you cut through your saw horse!

Since you seem to be a fan of the 80's games, I suggest that you put another offset button close to the Player 1 stick to emulate the Defender/Stargate "reverse" button.
Your player 2 buttons 2 & 3 then can be mapped as thrust and fire, button 4 as smart bomb and your offset player 2 button as hyperspace. I did that on my panel, and it matches the Defender layout pretty nicely, though its a little more spread out.

MYX · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2006, 09:52:46 am »

I have been tinkerng with the lay out and trying different button placements because I think Jonnyboy is right about getting the buttons closer together. I have a reverse stagger that I am leaning towards which will get a button closer to the thumb area so I can do just that. Also lets me use my thumb for battlezone. Although I may make a hand held button like I saw on another post. This way you can hold the thumb trigger in your hand and fire more normally. (sorry and thinking out loud in my response). Also thinking about using an 1/8 or 1/4 in audio jack to plug and un plug the extra wired button. The hole will go under the cp.

MYX · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2006, 08:54:32 pm »

Saturdays work...
I got to use my router for the first time today. Holy Cow what a great tool. I started by doing a rough cut with the jig saw. Then I used a lamanant bit on the router and just traced the side I cut out yesterday. It mowed through the second side MDF like it was nothing. I thought that there might be marks or divits. It was just as smooth as the first side. It was too easy. With this confidence I went on to cut the slots for the t-molding. It was just as easy. My only gripe is that one has to love the tase of MDF if he undertakes this hobby. That dust went everywhere. I soon grabbed a face mask and continued. After much procrastinating I decided to try cutting my first channle for the base plate. It needed to be 1/4 in deep and 3/4 in wide. I clamped a board to the surface to act as a guide. I took a deep breath (this is the part I have been fearing since I decided to build it this way). It was easy. The line was perfectly straight minus a couple of divits when I stopped paying attention. It was a perfect size. I set the base in the channle and it fit great. I then did the other cab side and it went well as well. I then did a channle for the top boards. At this point it was getting dark and a little cold, so I called it a day. This is so much fun.

MYX · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2006, 08:55:45 pm »

Sat part 2

TravistyOJ · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2006, 12:06:11 am »

Lookin good man, keep up the good work

I want to play it sometime

c64rulez · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2006, 02:26:33 am »

Love those round curves. Profile looks great.
Router is indeed great. Just remember to treat it everytime like it's the first. It's the one tool that creeps me every time I'm using it.

MYX · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2006, 06:02:09 pm »

Work for Sunday:
Put in top channle for the other cabinet side. I then routed a 1/2 in. curve on the back and bottums of both sides. on the first side when I got to where the channle was the router dipped into the channle creating a lovely crater. I just stood there and stared at it for a while. I eventually filled it with wood putty and set it asside to dry. I could not put it together today because of this so deflated I cut out the kick plate and rounded the bottom of the piece and made some side braces (rounded... I love the router) for later in the build.

MYX · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2006, 12:03:17 am »

Friday Night...
I have been wanting to work on my cab all week long. I was getting very good at making measurements that were actually the measurments that they were supposed to be. Somehow that changed through the week. I was probably way to tired to be working or something tonight. I could not get a cut that was 25.5 in wide. This only works a couple of times before you've blown a whole sheet of MDF. Sure I can repurpose those pieces for the stuff that needs to be just a straight 25 in. It is more the frusteration of trying and trying and trying and it just keeps going wrong. To add insult to injury, I got a piece to the right size. Yeah!!! well sort of. I have a habit of needing to see how it is going to look. I put the sides, top and base together. Remember that it is channled so there is some natural strength without any glue or screws. I assembled it on its side. I got the hairbrained idea to see it standing upright. I really do not know what I was thinking but I started and lifted it to turn it sideways. MDF by nature dents and bends when dropped and it lands on a corner. Specifically the corner of the 25.5in piece that I spent so much time trying to get. Now I have a totally mashed corner, hurt pride and exhaustion from a totally F@#!ed day. So, it the spirit of keeping my sainity, I quit and rented Lord of War. Seemed to be a totally messed up movie to end the day.

Ok. weeping and nashing of teeth over. Your free to go now. I will write more later.

MYX · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2006, 06:39:00 pm »

SaturDAY...
Today was much more productive and less distructive. I will post some Pix when my wife gets home with the camera. I have been frusterated not having it during last nights drama.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2006, 12:03:41 am »

wow I like your cabinet design and your CP artwork looks great....

are you really sure you want to do translucent buttons if your going for the 80's old style look....

to me those buttons have been a turn off for so many cabs, but to each their own....

I'd experiment with different color buttons other than blue....

that's my 2 cents....

can't wait to see more constuction pictures and to see the progress.......

MYX · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2006, 08:41:53 pm »

Thanks MC. I think that I have actually settled for Electric Ice. This way I get psudo white and color when I want it. I am just waiting to see how the programing of MikeQ and Mahuti turn out. I will need to LEDWiz's to light it the way I want.

MYX · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2006, 09:17:51 pm »

I love the smell of sawdust in the morning. It smells like...cabnet making.

Ok I have form!!! it looks like a arcade cabinet cab is taking shape. I am more inspired than ever. I am findin that there are no true measurments any more. It is like 5/16's not 1/4 or 1/2. You get just enough things just a smidge too short, it adds up. Ok here are some pix. The cabinet formed and one of the rails I put on this morning for the kick plate. I also glued a guide on the actual kickplate. Tomorrow morning I will glue the kick plate to the cab. my only issue is that the left side of the kp is a smidge above the Control panel shelf while the right side is just under. looks like I will need to get crafty with the router.

MYX · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2006, 09:42:02 pm »

Cab w kick plate. So many clamps.

MYX · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2006, 09:43:39 pm »

Hey if this thing fails, I can turn it into an airplane.

whatzcrackn · « **Reply #25 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:22:14 am »

MYX · « **Reply #26 on:** February 08, 2006, 09:26:02 am »

Or a boat. Noah would be proud.

Sure I shold be actually working on it, but it is too dang cold outside and in my garrage.

MYX · « **Reply #27 on:** February 10, 2006, 10:27:01 pm »

Woo hoo!!! got my monitor and bezel today. Also picked up a set of CP clamps. Still chuckin along with the building.

c64rulez · « **Reply #28 on:** February 14, 2006, 02:45:47 am »

I say go for that boat, that airplane thing looks hydrodynamic to me

Your cab profile looks outstanding. keep it up!

Havok · « **Reply #29 on:** February 14, 2006, 04:09:41 pm »

Don't forget to put the t-molding on first, before sailing.

Also, prime and paint, because the MDF will soak up the entire ocean if left untreated...

MYX · « **Reply #30 on:** February 14, 2006, 06:22:56 pm »

Ok I got the back on it now. It is looking more and more like a for real cab.

I have one issue with the back door. It is like the door is warped. I was sure it was flat. So I am not sure if the hinges are off by a smidge or what.

Not something to get too concerned about as it is not that big of a bend.

MYX · « **Reply #31 on:** February 14, 2006, 06:23:58 pm »

More pix. The hinges area was routed out in several ways. I am loving the router.

jcroach · « **Reply #32 on:** February 16, 2006, 09:20:39 am »

Keep up the posts. This is looking great!

whatzcrackn · « **Reply #33 on:** February 17, 2006, 05:45:10 pm »

much better than tots...........

MYX · « **Reply #34 on:** February 20, 2006, 10:54:29 am »

I have not done a whole lot this weekend as I have been under the oppressive forces of a cold. OK, that was a little dramatic. This weenend I got a 96 inch long piece of heavy aluminum corner bracing. It is 1 in. I cut it to make a brace for my monitor. Since my monitor is going to be a vert set up, I can not just mount it on a shelf. After a lot of thinking about it and spending a lot of time in Home Depot (Oh darn

) This is the solution I came up with. I cut it into 2 - 25 in and 2 20.5 in pieces. I drilled 1/4 in holes in the ends and put it together with 1/4 - 3/4 in long bolts. This was a great place for my son to help. He got to put the frame together. I did the final tightening just for saftey sake. I measured the bolt holes on the monitor it's self and put holes at 8 1/8in in from the edges. I bolted the monitor on. A little nervous I grabbed the sides and lifted up the brace. It was solid.

. So now I have to put 2 carage bolts through the sides of my cab for the bottom of the brace and two more at the top. The hard part right now is trying to figure out what angle I want and how to figure in bezel height, and glass. I only want to put 4 holes in the side of my cab one time.

MYX · « **Reply #35 on:** February 21, 2006, 10:09:17 am »

Ok well it turned out to be 5 holes, but wood putty is your friend. I innitially did not take the CP as a factor. I was just looking at the frame through the place the CP would be. Last night when I was just about to sleep I shot wide awake with that realization. I had only made one pilot hole just to get an idea of height and look. So this morning I made new measurments and drilled away. I used a clamp to adjust the height for the top. This way I could adjust and go and look without hands on the frame. I found what I liked then I marked it and drilled. I bolted it together and I had a happy little moment.

<-- you see that, that was my happy little moment. I took out the top bolts and laid the brace down horizontal and measured it level. I then took 2 wood blocks (the same type as I have been using for my corner braces) and glued them for this just below the side rails. I stole this idea from my Taito cab. This way I can unbolt the top and bottom rails, attach the monitor to them, and then lay the monitor in the cab in a hoz position. I will then bolt the rails back on and raise it into position.

c64rulez · « **Reply #36 on:** February 22, 2006, 05:32:21 pm »

Quote from: MYX on February 21, 2006, 10:09:17 am

Last night when I was just about to sleep I shot wide awake with that realization. I had only made ....

Now that's something I'm familiar with

Good progress. Just wondering if that 4 bolt configuration is enough to sustain the monitor weight. Will there be any support from under the monitor ?

MYX · « **Reply #37 on:** February 22, 2006, 09:09:34 pm »

On my miss pacman there are only 4 bolts. I have pushed down on it and it seems solid. I guess only time will tell.

I am going to test it with the monitor tonight.

MYX · « **Reply #38 on:** February 22, 2006, 10:43:22 pm »

So I got the monitor in to test placement and angle. It looks great. So far the brace is firm and seems secure. I am still a little nervous as that is a $180 monitor on a $17 brace. $:-\$
So I was running around measuring the bottom and top to make sure it was centered and all that. Then I went to shut the door. Um the door wont shut.

WTF!!! I took into account for the depth of the monitor all the way back to the end of the stem. I did not take into consideration... The damn monitor frame shelf!!! The darn thing sticks 3/4 in. outside the back of the cab. I am totally befuttled. AND I DON"T EVEN USE THE WORD!
So it looks like I will be looking at a steeper angle. CRAP! I really wanted a laid back monitor. I am worried that if I have to make the angle steeper that it will be hard to look at as the monitor will be a very low vert monitor. I was too frusterated to really give it a look over tonight. I will look at it again tomorrow.

MYX · « **Reply #39 on:** February 22, 2006, 10:45:00 pm »

Hey if all the weight is on the brace, is that part of the shelf load bearing in any way? Can I take a saws all to it?


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