First Cab, First Project! *Updated 12.6.07*

[gjm]

Hello fellow enthusiasts.

First of all Id just like to say its great that there are still so many people keeping the  golden age of gaming alive. This site really has some great info and talent on it so thanks for  having me.

Since my addiction for video games is reaching an almost unhealty condition, I picked up my  first cabinet up last night for $150. Its now a Tekken Tag kit conversion cab (even has the manual), and used to be an  old Mortal Kombat cab as I can see the impressions the side art made before they were stripped  off.The coin collection bin even says Mortal Kombat on it so it must have been at one point.
The joysticks are pretty much shot, but they do work and so do the buttons. The marquee lights  up as well as the coins slots. As for the monitor, it works just great and the color looks good  still. I want to make this a Mame cab full time, so I might just part with the PCB in order to  restore the cab.

Dimensions

The cabinet is about 72 3/4 at its tallest X 41 wide

The control panel is about 28 1/2 X 14

My Plan

1. Clean up and paint the cab. This will also include getting new plastic trim to go around the  edges of the cab, unless I can just paint those as well.

2. Modify the Control Panel. This *almost* has a Street fighter II layout for the CP, but its  missing the sixth button, I will have to add a few more buttons to make the full SFII layout. I also want to add the following without having to make a whole new control panel top.

*Trackball>>I would like to get one that is illuminated. If you guys can reccomend one thats  not too pricey let me know. I want to mount this towards the bottom middle of the panel

*Spinner>>Again If you guys have any good reccomendations, I want this to be mounted in the  middle, but more towards the top of the panel

*Sticks and buttons. I have the happ perfect 360s in another CP and like them alot, but I have  been thinking of trying the Happ supers. I lke alot of fighters, but still love the classics.  Can anyone vouch on the noise issue? Is it enough to deter concentration, or is there a better  option? As for the buttons, I want to go Japanese style convex maybe more of a smooth feel.

*Panel Overlay. This really needs to be fixed. I will have to get some art for this as well,  but i really want to hide all the rivits holding everything down I want a smooth top if  possible. Would I just have to make sure the sticks I get can be mounted from underneath?

3. Add new Marquee, Bezel, and Side art. I really, like the Centipede art, and I found some  good stuff here.
http://www.mamemarquees.com/centipede-marquee-p-671.html
http://www.mamemarquees.com/centipede-sideart-conversion-black-p-461.html
http://www.mamemarquees.com/centipede-bezel-horizontalmonitor-p-336.html

4. Wiring. I know this could be fun, but I might just use whats there, everything appears to  work, so might as well stick with it for now, but I will have to add for a 6th button, the  spinner and trackball

*JPAC>>will this be enough to encorporate a SFII layout plus a spinner and trackball or is  there something else i should be using that would be better suited? I also want to hook up the  coin sensors as well

* Making quick disconnects to go back to Jamma>> this part really freaks me out the most. I  don't mind soldering, but I really cant find a good wiki or how to, on doing somthing like  this. If anyone can help, or has done this as well, Id really appreciate it. I found some posts  about this, but none really made me feel like I could *see* what it needs to look like.

5.ArcadeVGA Adapter. Since I want to keep the original monitor in here, and have the right  resolutions etc, I read this might be the best choice, any thought here?

6. Mount pc components. This shouldnt be too bad.

7. Power setup. This I really don't understand, i need to power my pc, and I know the JPAC will  be powered from the keyboard going off the pc, but do i need to also keep the power supply of  the arcade going as well to power the monitor and the cabinet lighting etc?   

8. Cup holders for beer   

So I think that should be a good enough plan for now. Please feel free to offer any suggestions  or answers to the above. I really appreciate you time. I will attempt to attach a few pics here although they arent too great, but I will post updates every time I complete something. Really excited about this, so much so I am putting off finishing my basement for this, and the wife informs me that I will have plenty of time to play with my joystick as a result.

[gjm]

Heres a few more..

[Pops]

Hi Gjm, nice cab.
You should have no problem fitting the 6'th button, trackball and spinner might be difficult, the layout seems to be spread out and taking all the space up.

What's the measurements of the CP?
I got a 6 button, trackball and room for a spinner when the time (and money) comes. My TB is a 2and1/4 couldn't fit a 3'' in unfortunately. The panell is 10'' by 25''.
Pic below, buttons are all correct, ignore the background it's just an idea I was toying with.

[gjm]

Pops, that looks great. I have added the dimensions in my above post.

It looks like I might just have to bite the bullet and get a new piece of wood, then re-drill everything. Not a big deal i guess. The thing that looks crazy at the moment with all the wires in there. I think I would be better off just buying a new Jamma loom and starting from scratch.

[gjm]

Well I have cleaned up the cab and will be sanding it before applying some new satin black paint. I really want to keep the ability to use as a jamma arcade and MAME.
If anyone can reccomend a good way to do that let me know. I have also realized that I will have to make the CP bigger to fit everything I want to have on it.
Here are some more pics.

Found alot of these in the cab, looks like they used them to splice the CP to the Jamma harness and other wires of the cab. Maybe these will be useful to wire up the cab to support MAME and Jamma ?


Heres how the CP was routed out on the original


This was definatley a Mortal Kombat Cab orginally


Inside the coin door, is that a TILT sensor on the door there in the upper left?


Found this dangling in there, Looks to control the volume and test switches. I dont think it was part of the original jamma harness though.


Jackpot! Found some treasures from the past in the bottom of the cab.


Inside of the cab


Shot of the speaker setup


The aftermath of the stripdown


Ready to sand, paint and design my new CP


More to come soon.

[KDOG]

Congrats on start you Mame cabinet. Midway style of cabinets is a real good choice. wiring the cab is pretty easy you search the board for some diagrams.

Trackball>>I would like to get one that is illuminated. If you guys can recommend one that's  not too pricey let me know. I want to mount this towards the bottom middle of the panel

I have a 2-1/4 blue illuminated  happs Trackball i can sell you  for $45 +shipping.

[gjm]

Ok, I think this will do for the control panel layout. I cant really think ahead to know what admin buttons i will need. All I figured was an escape and pause. If you guys have any other suggestions please let me know. I just want to use a JPAC and then hopefully a USB SPinner and Trackball. Then I should have enough leftover button terminals on the JPAC with this layout. I would like to add a pinball button on each side of the panel as well. I don't have a ton of space to work with, and I have decided to keep the original shape of the Cabinet and CP.
The actual wood for the CP will have to stay 26.5 X 14. The only problem is that the trackball mounting plate takes up a bunch of space so the 7 button layout is pretty far towards the bottom. I'm not sure how this might feel to play on.  Also, KDOG if that trackball comes with a mounting plate and is USB I am interested.
Please feel free to make a comment or suggestion!

[KDOG]

Could you take more pics of the inside of the cabinet please. I plan on doing a replica so of that syle of cab.

[gjm]

Sure,
any shot in particular you need?

[KDOG]

Like inside of the control panel. Also the front angles and the back around the wheels. Monitor and speakers are good too. Thank you the pic would be much appreciated.

[brandon]

where did you have that steer wheel mounted?  I take it that wasnt stripped off of the MK

[gjm]

No I wish that came with it
I built that 3 years ago. It works with one of those gaming rocking chairs. I'm really into car games as well, and this gave the best setup for the poor mans price.
Great for Gran tourismo etc.