Main > Project Announcements
Galaxian Mame Conversion
csa3d:
Update 101606: Gutting the Cab
Today I decided to begin by removing the innards. The cab is as dirty as one would expect a cabinet made 20+ years ago to be. Honestly, I've seen worse photos on this forum. This being said, there was obvious some mold smells coming out, and the wife was sure to let me know that it's not coming inside until I rectify the issue. I need to search these forums and see what others are doing about that other then painting with a thick latex base.
Removing the insides was not as scary as I had imagined, and I was able to do it all myself. I read the warnings about monitor discharging. I used latex rubber gloves, and removed it by touching only the metal frame. The CRT now sits on a tarp with the remainder of the elements from the disection. I don't plan on using any of this stuff except for the glasses and coin door, maybe some of the wires, switches and fasteners.
After removing some excess staples, scraping off some sloppy glue drippings, and sanding a layer of dust, mold and gunk I am left with a cabinet begging for some bondo and an electric sander. I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave the front kickplate and the bottom back pieces in tact, and see how some clamping and bondo work out. I think i saw some threads on the board about fixing this type of damage without cutting new wood. Just the bottoms are chewed, the wood seems relatively strong.
The cab now sits on sawhorses, awaiting next weekend. Next priority is to purchase the LCD monitor (http://www.viewsonic.com/products/desktopdisplays/lcddisplays/proseries/vp2130b/) and construct the new control panel box and keyboard drawer as the mockup above. I figure I should work out the specifics before hiding surface flaws.
The coolest part of today was removing the power block to discover some handwriting on the cabinet floor. Looks like this cab has always been a Galaxian and I am not yet sure of what Bolloms is. Could be the manufacturing plant and the production number from that lot, I don't know. Fun history I would like to keep with the finished cab.
Obigatory pics to follow:
csa3d:
--- Quote from: Knievel on October 15, 2006, 11:26:02 am ---Like the hinged CP/keyboard drawer idea, very cool.
From the looks of that mockup you have waaay too much time on your hands.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, I really want to keep this thing looking largly stock. Hiding the keyboard tray seems like a good start. The reason for the complex CAD is because I do it all day, seemed only right to plan it out completely before buying materials and what not. Like I said before, originally I was going to do this all from scratch. Guess we'll see how this turns out.
csa3d:
--- Quote from: Peale on October 15, 2006, 11:47:56 am ---Here's my Galaxian conversion.
http://www.pealefamily.net/tech/newmame/index.php?cat=7
--- End quote ---
That inside has got to be one of the dirtiest cabs I've seen. How did you get rid of the funk smell from years of neglect?
SirPeale:
--- Quote from: csa3d on October 15, 2006, 07:59:58 pm ---
--- Quote from: Peale on October 15, 2006, 11:47:56 am ---Here's my Galaxian conversion.
http://www.pealefamily.net/tech/newmame/index.php?cat=7
--- End quote ---
That inside has got to be one of the dirtiest cabs I've seen. How did you get rid of the funk smell from years of neglect?
--- End quote ---
It was dirty, but not smelly. A vacuum cleaned it out nicely.
Why aren't you going to use the arcade monitor?
csa3d:
--- Quote from: Peale on October 15, 2006, 08:17:11 pm ---Why aren't you going to use the arcade monitor?
--- End quote ---
I'm not using the CRT because:
1. The CRT would not turn on when I powered up the cab. My lack of skill found nothing obvious as to why not. Fuses and connections seemed good.
2. Galaxian has a vertical monitor orientation, and I want to play a lot of horizontal games as well as vertical ones.
3. So therefore, I plan to rotate the LCD to play vertical games, and LCDs are lighter and set up to do this by default.
The 3D mockup above is animated when you enlarge it. I've animated it to show my intensions.