Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear - Done for now

[Dervacumen]

In late 2005 I acquired a Tempest cabinet that was totally stripped with the exception of a coin door / coin mechs.  I'll be posting progress on the conversion to an emulator cabinet in this thread.  This is not a restoration project.  If I wanted to restore this, I'd start of with a machine that has *some* of it still there.

The artwork in in decent shape - lots of dings and scratches around the edges, scrapes here and there, but mostly it's really dirty.  To be expected I guess.  There's a sticker with someone's tag on it slapped on the side, and the T-Moulding will need to be replaced.  There is a good sized chunk of the left upper rear corner that's been busted off.  The coin door has been kicked a lot, giving it a nice concavity.  All in all, the cabinet is sturdy and solid.

Since I want a panel that will let me play most classics, I'll be designing a new panel with 2 8-way Supers, 1 Ms. Pac / Galaga Reunion, 4 buttons each player, a 3" trackball, and an Oscar Vortex spinner.

My aim for this project is to use anything I've got on hand and keep costs down.  That means a lot of compromises, but since I'll be the only one playing this the vast majority of the time, I've come to terms with them.  I hope you do too.

Since this is my first attempt, I'll mention things I deem "important to know" for noobs like myself.

I'll add to this as I can.  I've actually gotten pretty far in the conversion process already.

[leapinlew]

I'm curious how you plan on installing all this on a tempest sized control panel.

1 last thing - to make it compatible with as many games as possible add buttons 5 and 6 for all the fighting games out there.

Have you done a mockup of the cp yet? To see how it all fits? If not, I highly recommend it.

[leapinlew]

Also, is the new monitor going to be a computer monitor in a horizontal or vertical configuration?

[dweebs0r]

Good looking cab.  Expect some heat from some of the folks on here for Mameing a classic like Tempest.

Good luck with the conversion.  Post lots of pics.

-Dweebs

[Dervacumen]

All those controls won't fit on a stock Tempest CP.  I spent a few months playing with different configurations until I settled on my required controls.  Then I put the word out for an empty cab, and this one was graciously provided.  After mulling it over for a few weeks, I decided I needed to someow put a larger CP on there.  Look, I'm not emotionally tied to this cabinet or anything, but I still thought it would be nice to try and work with the original motivation.  So I came up with these side extensions, which allow me to place a 11 3/4" deep CP on there, and I don't think it looks too hideous.   Unless you know what the original CP is supposed to look like, I'm hoping this looks stock.

As for mocking up the CP in cardboard, I did that for the final layout but found that cutting a piece of black felt the size of my CP, and then using white felt cutouts in the shape of buttons, joysticks, etc. gave me a lot of flexibility.  I was able to discard a lot of initial layouts by "pretending" to hold the joysticks and pressing buttons, roll the trackball, etc.  It's amazing how quickly you can determine what doesn't feel right with this method.

Also, is the new monitor going to be a computer monitor in a horizontal or vertical configuration?

Here's where I pulled a cheap --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- move, and though I'm totally fine with it, everyone else will probably disagree.  I'm aware of what wrath I invite.  It's a computer monitor, only 17", and a flat trinitron tube.  It was laying around, and though I could have bought a used 19" or 21" for well under $100, first and foremost was to do this project on the cheap.  I'm not decasing it (more on that later) because it fits in the cabinet just fine without doing so.  (Of course it does, it's frickin' miniature, after all.)

Good looking cab.  Expect some heat from some of the folks on here for Mameing a classic like Tempest.

The redeeming factor is that the parts that didn't come with this cab did find their way into another Tempest restoration, so not all is lost.

[SirPeale]

Good looking cab.  Expect some heat from some of the folks on here for Mameing a classic like Tempest.

I'd be one of the first in line if it warranted it.  This is a completely empty cabinet.  Mame away.

[miles2912]

I would loose no sleep maming that cab.  Now I would try my best to keep all the artwork... and for the record a 17" monitor is a joke.  I would wait untill you have the funds to d a 19" vertical and just use a 17 as a quick fix.  Keep us posted on how you are going to attach a bigger CP.  It looks like you will have to rip a good chunk of the side out to do it.

Don

[dweebs0r]

Cool.  Not trying to start an argument or anything.  Fine with me if you Mame it.  I dont care if you Mame an original one off cabinet thats never to be duplicated again.  I'm not a collector.  I am just a guy trying to build a couple arcade games for me and the kids.

I was just trying to forwarn the guy that some people around here get kind touchy with that sort of thing.  I am definitely not one of those folks.   

-Dweebs 

[Dervacumen]

Now I would try my best to keep all the artwork... and for the record a 17" monitor is a joke.  I would wait untill you have the funds to d a 19" vertical   

Don

I know it's going to be the laughing stock because of the monitor size, but for me, it's fine.  I've got the funds, this is about using parts on hand to give me a bit of fine time playing the classics.  How fine a time, you ask?  Well, fine enough by me.

My -hope- is that others who want to get into this hobby see some different approaches.

But I knew this was coming, so no hard feelings. 

[Dervacumen]

Cool.  Not trying to start an argument or anything. 
I was just trying to forwarn the guy that some people around here get kind touchy with that sort of thing.  I am definitely not one of those folks.   

-Dweebs 

No worries.  I appreciate the heads up; I know it may come. 

I just want to build my OWN arcade controls.  Hee hee.

[theCoder]

Do yourself a huge favor and spend a few hours reading the write-ups people have posted in the "Examples" section.  There are countless "don't do what I did" pearls of wisdom and lots of "I did it this way because...".  Some of it you should take with a grain of salt (or in some instances a pound or two), but for the most part there's a lot of good info out there.  It's also a great place to stretch your imagination and question your assumptions.

[Dervacumen]

Do yourself a huge favor and spend a few hours reading the write-ups people have posted in the "Examples" section.

No doubt.  I've gone over a couple hundred of these in the past year and a half.  That, in addition to the "search" function has not only been enjoyable, but educational.

Here are a few pics of the CP.  I used 5/8" plywood and 1/8" polycarbonate for an overlay.  I'll use a slot cutter to mount the T-moulding to the front of the CP.  The sides of the CP are contained within the sides of the cabinet, so no T-moulding is necessary there.  The controls on the CP will be wired to a DB-25 connector that will in turn plug into a DB-25 connector on the cabinet, providing swappable panels.

You can see I've routed out the CP to make the trackball mounting plate flush with the top so I can put artwork and an overlay on it.  I also top mounted the Ms. Pac / Galaga Reunion stick by cutting a hole for the base then routing out where the "lip" is.  I freehanded the routing so you can see my handywork there.  I figured it would be covered up by the art anyway so why make it perfect?

The controls are as follows:

TOP LEFT - Ms. Pac / Galaga Reunion for 4-way games
TOP RIGHT - OSCAR Vortex Spinner
BOTTOM RIGHT - Player 1 Happ Super 8-Way and 4 buttons
BOTTOM MIDDLE - Happ 3" trackball
BOTTOM LEFT - Player 1 Happ Super 8-Way and 4 buttons

You can see I chowed up the trackball mounting plate while trying to route the trackball hole in the polycarbonate.  I'll be giving it a shot of black spraypaint for my own peace of mind, even though it shouldn't be visible because of the artwork.  I sort of saw this coming before I started (there's a recent thread about this problem somewhere) but again, the thing is going to be covered up with artwork so I'm not losing any sleep over it.  Unless it turns out looking like Poo Poo, then I'll lose a little sleep over it.  The backup plan if that happens is to keep the polycarbonate overlay, cut a new CP, ditch the mounting plate all together, and just mount the trackball to the CP without it.

[Dervacumen]

Got some real progress on the cabinet - the CP is done and now I can get to wiring it.  I'm having trouble with my oscar vortex spinner, though.  When I spin it it rubs slightly.  If I turn it upside down, it spins freely.  I'm going to check to see that the C-clip isn't wedged against the hole somehow, but has anyone else run into this?  Any advice?

Another way to describe the problem: 
The Vortex is mounted in my CP.  If I pull gently up on the shaft, there is about 1 mm of play there.  When I pull up (same as turning the thing upside down) the rubbing goes away.  When it's right side up, the rubbing starts.  It's very slight. 
I think the bottom of the encoder wheel is rubbing against the frame near where the encoder board is mounted.
Hmmm.

[Dervacumen]

 
I think the bottom of the encoder wheel is rubbing against the frame near where the encoder board is mounted.
Hmmm.

That was it.  Just in case anyone else runs in to this problem, here is a pic of where the encoder wheel was rubbing, and a pic of the encoder board.  I loosened the two screws, moved the board down a bit, and my spinner spins like there is no tomorow.

[Dervacumen]

A few pics of the CP and how the cabinet is taking shape.
You can see the polycarbonate, my admin button panel and the CP all fit together.
I don't have the speakers or marquee done yet.

[TOK]

I love the control panel art, but have you held it up to the cabinet? Looks like it might not really go with the original Tempest art.

[Dervacumen]

I love the control panel art, but have you held it up to the cabinet? Looks like it might not really go with the original Tempest art.

You don't think that purplue-blue T-moulding won't tie  the Tempest color scheme with the purple-blue rose on the upper left of the CP?

Actually, you have a point.  This is really a temporary thing until I score some vectorized Tempest CP artwork, of which a wonderful offer has been given by KonkeyKong .
Cabinet progress has already been delayed for about 4 months because of my artwork skills.  I got tired of waiting.
I got the ground loops wired up last night.

[Glaine]

Saw an empty Tempest case go for $80 at auction. Wish I coulda grabbed it too. Woulda mamed it but still have it use only its spinner/button setup. For tempest and all the other spinner games. Cuz its gorgeous just the way it is.

[theCoder]

Have you decided how you are going to mount the monitor?

[Dervacumen]

Have you decided how you are going to mount the monitor?

I really struggled with this, since I'm freaked out about messing with the internals of a monitor.  I think that goes back to sticking my finger in a light socket a couple of times as a kid.  So I didn't want to mount it without the case.

I decided to take a monitor and build a shelf.  But how to attach it so it wouldn't move was a problem.

Check out the pics for some insight.  I'll provide heavy details if someone wants to know.

I used only what I had on hand including an old bed frame, and the rails from a glass shower enclosure that were waiting to go to the dump, and some aluminum bracing leftover from a water heater replacement.

I'll see if I can get a pic of the shelf in place.

[theCoder]

I've worked around decased monitors before.  You just need to stay away from the "big red" wire.  They usually have a metal frame towards the bottom.

[Glaine]

I'm freaked out about messing with the internals of a monitor

I am so totally in that club too! We should car pool to the meetings!

[Dervacumen]

Back in the saddle!

Summer has taken it's toll, but the motivation is back.  Hoping to have this pretty much done in the next week or two.

Got a lot done, including completing the CP and the one woodworking piece of this conversion that has had me on the sidelines for WAY too long because of the angle cuts.  It took a few go-arounds and a cooling off period before I got it right, but it's in!

I'll post pics and deatils in the next day or two.

I've also spent a lot of time struggling with the finish, ie, laminate, paint, etc.

I'm going with FUR.

Open the floodgates!

[Dervacumen]

I've worked around decased monitors before.  You just need to stay away from the "big red" wire.  They usually have a metal frame towards the bottom.

Intellectualy, I fully get it.  I have no qualms with the process.  Just seems that with the angles this cabinet affords, I have no real reason to screw with it.  Since the front of a tempest cab slants back at such an angle, I can't fit much monitor in there anyway.  I'm not going through the trouble of decasing for a small amount of real estate.

[NightGod]

Fur!?!

I don't even know how to respond to that...

[Dervacumen]

The CP, admin panel and a little extra artwork all done.  Also finished the bezel.

Lots of detailed pics coming soon.

[Dervacumen]

The Wiring Job.  This is a mightly small CP for all the controls I have in there.  It's removable via a DB25 cable.  The trackball and Vortex spinner will attach via USB cables.  I had to add the wooden block to lower the point at which the cable extend from the CP because of the construction of the original cabinet.

[Dervacumen]

The first bit of my overlay has been applied.  The t-molding is not permanent yet, I just stuck it on there quickly to see how the color looked.
I'll be installing the coin door lock soon.

The i-pac is installed and wired up to the other end of a DB25 cable so I can take off the CP.
The admin buttons are also wired in.
Next step is installing the computer, configuring the ipac and making sure it works.

I've also got most of my rely built for one button on-off action.  I have not yet tested it.

[Dervacumen]

Have you decided how you are going to mount the monitor?

Here are some more pics of how I kept this monitor on the shelf without moving around a lot.  You can see the rail that I attached to the top of the monitor case.  It has screws that stick up.  I used some strapping that was lying around to attach those screws to a piece of wood in the cabinet.  In addition, I took some more of the strapping, shaped it to fit around the outside of the monitor case, and bolted it down to the shelf.

My monitor does not move.

I hope you can tell from the pics how I did this.  If not let me know.

[theCoder]

Fur...I think you've got the first cab that includes vacuuming as part of the regular maintenance. 

[Dervacumen]

Almost complete.

I've installed the coin door lock and found that a 9" square aluminum cake pan fits perfectly in the hole that is already cut out for the coin box.  How fortunate.  I picked up a package of 3 cake pans for $1.00.  So add 34 cents to the total cost of this conversion.

I have installed the bezel (which I made out of black poster board).  I cut the bezel to fit one side at a time and glued the edges together.  I then taped the entire thing to my monitor to keep it from moving around or bowing.

I have also installed the smoked acrylic in front of the monitor.  It looks great, despite the relatively small monitor size.

Hooked up the computer to test it out a couple of days ago, and everything is working well, except I'm trying to figure out why my spinner isn't detected upon boot up.  I currently have to unplug and then replug the spinner USB connection for it to register.  I think I'll next try hooking my trackball via PS2 and Spinner via USB and see if that clears up the conflict.

Last night I hooked up the coin door lights.  I live near an electronics surplus store and was able to find two 14.2V bulbs @ 65 cents each, and two holders for those lights @ 15 cents each.  Chalk up another $1.60 plus tax.

I also got a few cold cathode lights.  They came two bulbs for each inverter, for $3.99 a pack.  I'll use those for the marquee.  I also got some UV colored ones, which I'll probably mount under the CP so UV light shines down on the light gray fur threads on the coin door.  I'll have to see if it produces the intended effect of making them appear to glow purple, which will help tie the color scheme to to t-molding.

Just waiting on the marqee, installing the computer permanetly in the cabinet, cutting a back panel, and putting in the lights.

I have also wired up an switched outlet using Spystyle's tutorial form a while back.  This will provide me with a one button power on.  That button is installed on top of the cabinet.

[Dervacumen]

I've installed a black light to illuminate the front fur around the coin door, and would like to show pics but I can't seem to get a good shot in the dark.  With flash it lights up the whole room giving no indication of the glow, and without flash you see nothing much.

Any suggestions on photography?

[Dervacumen]

Here's the current pic.
The cable hanging in the front is just becuase I haven't permanetly mounted the UV light.  I'll run the cable through the cp into the cabinet once I decide on placement.

[missioncontrol]

I think I'm going to be sick....

I love the Tempest cabinet design and the artwork looked good, and you put fur on it? 

WTF

I mean seriously building a cabinet doesn't take rocket science.... why ruin something that had the potential of being restored? 

[Chris]

I think I'm going to be sick....

I love the Tempest cabinet design and the artwork looked good, and you put fur on it? 

WTF

I mean seriously building a cabinet doesn't take rocket science.... why ruin something that had the potential of being restored? 

I've seen people make shelving units out of an old Tempest!

There was nothing left here that was Tempest except a Tempest-shaped wooden box and some damaged art.

[Chris]

Dervacumen: Great job on that CP extension!  I'm in a similar boat; I've never been happy with my control panel but I could never think of a good way to extend it without looking even worse than it does now... I may have to steal some of your ideas!

--Chris

[Brumaz]

haha now thats original! love the fur mate! 

[nullb0y]

::feels sick::
 

[WunderCade]

FURR !?!?!?!?!

What the heck else are planning on doing with that machine besides playing games? Why else would 'fur-up' the coin slots? 

[Dervacumen]

Glad you're having fun, 'cause that's the idea, right?

In the meantime, I've mounted my hardware in the cabinet and there are a few minor issues.  Works fine, but I'm puzzled as to why my switched power supply isn't working right.  And I still have issues with the spinner not working until I plug it in again after boot up.  I'll post pics soon.

BTW...Gotta love the UV light on the fur.  Very nice.  Very nice indeed.