Arkanoid to Mame project.

[ablizno]

Just picked up my Arkanoid cabinet. Im going to start converting it this weekend. I will post pictures of the convertion, so don't worry. Just one question, there is a black push button next to the coin door, what is this for and is there a way to remove it and make it appear as if it was never there? Also i added a picture of this mysterious button (probably a credit button)

[javeryh]

next to the coin door meaning there's a hole in the plywood?  Use a plug and some bondo and sand it back (or just bondo if the hole is small enough).  If the hole is in the metal on the coin door, I can't help you there...

[ablizno]

Yeah, there is a black pushbutton in the wood near the coin box. I dont have my camera or i would take a picture of it.

[phishpac]

** offers ablizno flame retardant suit **

[ablizno]

@phishpac why would i need that suit?

[davieboynj]

folks 'round here don't take too kindly to people maming classic arcade cabs. 

[cue banjo music]

in this case, i don't think people will care too much...  arkanoid is a classic, but calls no cabinet home - - they're all conversions. 

[ablizno]

Don't worry the guy i bought it from said it has undergone several conversion. BTW what is the best paint to get the cabinet a nice glossy black?

[phishpac]

i used an interior semi-gloss latex

[ablizno]

What would be the best way to apply that without getting streaks? I want it to look very sleek. The Home Depot by my house sells a very shiny epoxy spray paint but that is for appliances.

[javeryh]

I just posted this somewhere else on the main page:

How much work are you willing to put in?   

[ablizno]

@javeryh im kind of on a low budget, but i still want it to look as nice as possible.

[javeryh]

@javeryh im kind of on a low budget, but i still want it to look as nice as possible.

I don't think budget has much to do with anything although the way I finished my last cab will run you a little more in terms of minor supplies like sandpaper, lacquer and rubbing compound.  You really need patience though because it takes forever.

[Lutus]

post a pic of the cab so when can see what it really is.

also, no one said it but my guess is the button by the coin door would be a

...................drumroll.........................................

credit button   

[ablizno]

@lutus i thought the same thing to myself. I cant find the damn battery to my digital camera. I will pick one up tomorrow and will be sure to take some pictures.

[Lutus]

Here in town there is an arkonoid in a bump-n-jump cabinet.   

with the bump-n-jump sideart somewhat still intact

[ablizno]

Just decided that i am going to go with a Phenomenauts theme.. anyone have suggestions to make the cabinet look like it has stars all over it?

[SirPeale]

Just decided that i am going to go with a Phenomenauts theme.. anyone have suggestions to make the cabinet look like it has stars all over it?

http://www.spacetoys.com/proddetail.php?prod=TGK59

[ablizno]

@peale i dont mean like that, i ment like a star field, as if your actually looking at the sky, but thanks

[ablizno]

How do i repair water damage?

[javeryh]

How do i repair water damage?

A pic would help greatly.  Most likely you would use a saw to cut out the damaged area, cut a new piece out of plywood, glue/screw it into place and use bondo and sandpaper to smooth everything out.

[ablizno]

Here is a picture of the water damage

[SirPeale]

@peale i dont mean like that, i ment like a star field, as if your actually looking at the sky, but thanks

I know.  I was trying to be funny. 


FUNNY NOT FOUND.

[ablizno]

Update: well the paint is hard as hell to sand off, im using one of thoughts electric rotating sanders, the outside coat is just too tough. Tomorrow my buddy is coming over bringing his belt sander, after its sanded ill post some pictures. Also the underlying coat is blue, cant make out any graphics, any ideas

edit: just thought i would add that i found 2 US quarters, 2 Canadian quarters, and 1 token jammed in the coin door. ALso whats the best way to get it functioning properly, its kind of hard to eject coins, and coins get stuck going in.... WD-40?

[SirPeale]

WD-40?

No!  No, no, no, no...no.  Noooooooooooooo. Just make sure everything is clean.  Possibly use some graphite.

[ablizno]

@peale whats so bad about WD-40?

[Paladin]

Ummm... am I the first one to notice what that cab originaly was?

[ablizno]

@paladin that would explain the blue underpaint

[SirPeale]

@peale whats so bad about WD-40?

It gums after a while.  Gum =  stick.  Just what you do NOT want a mech to do.

[ablizno]

Ok so the control panel is alluminum and has latche which hold it onto the cabinet. I think its pretty bad ass and would like to keep it. The problem is that when i re drill the holes, how do i fill in the old ones. I will be placing a new layer of plexi over the control panel once the graphic is applied. My concern is that the graphic will sink into the old holes, even if i put aluminum under them, makeing them visible once again. would bondo help.. the putty not the fiberglass stuff.

[Paladin]

You should offer the parts and/or whole cabinet for sale.  There's been talk on the KLOV forums lately about Journey cabinets, and your cabinet looks completely restorable.  I don't know what the value of an empty Journey cab is, but it may be worth your while to post it and ask for offers.  You never know, you may find someone in your area who would trade for another empty cab plus cash.

I'm suprised no one has posted about saving this cabinet.  Usually when someone wants to convert a semi rare classic cabinet everyone jumps all over them.   Personally, I think it's your cab to do whatever you want with - but as I said you might come out ahead if you post a for sale post making sure to call it a 'converted Journey cab'.

[FrizzleFried]

Yessirreee that is a Journey cab you have there.  It was a sin to convert it to begin with but to MAME it?   If you were smart,  you'd offer it up for TRADE...I bet you could get a cab with a 25" monitor from someone interested in restoring that Journey back to it's original glory.

Be vary wary of angering the arcade gods BTW...

 

[shardian]

Ummm... am I the first one to notice what that cab originaly was?

I just saw this thread and as soon as I saw the bezel, I recognized it. The bezel is worth some pennies, especially in that good of shape. I was shocked there were as many posts here without someone mentioning it.

[ArtMAME]

Hey ablizno,  If you are anywhere close to Atlanta GA, I will trade you a MAME-able cab for the Journey cab... or offer you cash or a new clean piece of bezel glass for the Journey bezel glass.  I am restoring a Journey and I don't have the glass, and the bezel artwork is not available anywhere.

Or you could try to get the glass artwork scanned somewhere and contribute that to the forums.

Just a thought...

[amadama]

I just PM'ed ablizno to see if he's open for a trade or sale (if he's local to me in NY).
I've been looking for a journey cab for a while now. At least a scan of the bezel would be nice for a home-brew journey.

[ArtMAME]

Yeah, I PMd him to see where he is... If he is in NY, then that is nowhere near me... oh well.

  I do have a Journey cabinet, all I need is sideart, bezel, CPO, and marquee...

[amadama]

I have CPO and marquee files, I need the bezel and sideart.
I have been asking around people to get good pics of this stuff (even offering $20 for the photos!) and no takers!
ArtMAME, can you post pictures of you cabinets? I'd like some measurements to make a blueprint for a scratch built one.
Thanks,
Alex

[ArtMAME]

Sure Alex.  I know that Buckethead also wants to do a scratch-built one.

My garage is packed to the gills right now but I am unloading a couple of cabs here in the next week.  I will be able to pull out the Journey cab (which I got as a Tetris conversion) and make a measured drawing of it.

Let me know when you finally get the bezel image file.  I am going to restore the cabinet with a cpo and marquee and maybe hold out for some accurate sideart and bezel repros.

[amadama]

PM me your email and I'll send you the marquee and CPO files.

[ablizno]

Sorry but i really like the design of this cabinet, it only cost me 75 dollars so it was a steal. Sorry that i am not restoring it but i feel that it is nothing compared to the individual converting a Galaxian cab.

[amadama]

Ablizno,
Can we ask you to take some good pics of the glass bezel (with the Arkanoid sticker removed)?
Also, does your machine have the original Journey side art? We need some pics of that too.
Thanks!
Alex

[hillbilly]

Not that I am some big Journey fan or anything but some would consider this worse then the guy who mamed the Galxian.

This game has a strong following not only in the Aracde circle but also with Journey Fans. So to follow basic economics, supply is lower then other classics like pac-man games, plus take into consideration demand is highed because it is not just ppl in this hobby who would be interested. Creates a cabinet that would be better off saved if possible.

once again just my two cents. I prolly wouldnt use condor eggs when making some scrambled eggs either

but welcome to the wild and crazy addiction of arcade games

[CheffoJeffo]

Not that I am some big Journey fan or anything but some would consider this worse then the guy who mamed the Galxian.

Absolutely ...

[csa3d]

Sorry but i really like the design of this cabinet, it only cost me 75 dollars so it was a steal. Sorry that i am not restoring it but i feel that it is nothing compared to the individual converting a Galaxian cab.

 

And... at least I know how to use the search function on this site, and post more then 2 word updates every few days...

Not that I am some big Journey fan or anything but some would consider this worse then the guy who mamed the Galxian.

 

How is this thread about my project?  You guys have issues.

[CheffoJeffo]

Well, you did say that you didn't want people junking up *your* project thread with stuff like this ...

 

[shardian]

So, are you saying that you won't even consider selling or trading with people who are offering?!?

And you wouldn't sell the Bezel?!? There is a guy on KLOV that paid like $120 for a beat to hell original marquee. There would be a battle royal over a nice original bezel.

[ablizno]

@shardian i never said i would not sell the bezel i can not find the damn usb cable to my camera or i would have uploaded the pictures

Untill i find the usb cable i will not be uploading any pictures. sorry i havent updated in a while but there is soo much paint on this cabinet it is hard to get off.

on a happier note my joysticks and buttons came in, im just waiting on the ipac.

[ablizno]

@amadama no the journey side art was removed then painted over black.

also here is a picture of the glass. the backside has some black paint behind the artword and a very small amount of flaking, but its on one corner. I wanted to be careful with it so i didnt clean it at all yet or remove the left over adhesive from where the arkanoid instructions were.

[gonzojoey]

Here's a link to an ebay auction that was for the Promo poster for this game...and it sold for $50 dollars. If the poster sold for this much, think how much you could sell the cabinet for. I'm sure you'd get enough to get another cab of your choice..but that's just my opinion
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260230882514

[SavannahLion]

Hey ablizno,  If you are anywhere close to Atlanta GA, I will trade you a MAME-able cab for the Journey cab... or offer you cash or a new clean piece of bezel glass for the Journey bezel glass.  I am restoring a Journey and I don't have the glass, and the bezel artwork is not available anywhere.

Or at least take him up on this offer. Or perhaps send off the bezel to him in exchange for the reproduction if you like the art that much... or something along those lines?

[ablizno]

@svannahlion i am taking him up on his over, it was discussed via pm.

[ablizno]

Still waiting on that belt sander and my I-pac, speaking of which, i looked everywhere today for a standard usb cable for the I-pac and i can not find it anywhere. Anyone have any suggestions.

I checked the following places and they did not have it:

-Radio Shack
-Best Buy
-Circuit City
-Office Max
-Target

[nuka1195]

isn't it a standard usb printer cable? Shortened Link

edit: by the way that price is very high.

[amadama]

It is a regular a-b usb cable. Here's a 6ft one for $3:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119004

[ablizno]

Thanks guys, i thought when it said standard it meant A to A but since its A to B i got some of them laying around somewhere. Now im just waiting for it to get here.

[ablizno]

Upon sanding some of the paint off today (still not very successful) i noticed that the cabinet was a little unstable, Any suggestions on where i can get replacements for those metal support legs, i would like something close to the original.

[ablizno]

Ipac came in today, now i just have to modify the cp and get these controls wired. Still waiting to paint the cabinet.

[Havok]

Poor Journey cab, the guys over at Klov would froth at the mouth seeing this thread. If that cab was complete, you'd get probably $1,000 for it...

You might want to post over there and see if you could at least get a couple hundred, and a trade - for some reason Journey is a very sought after cab. Personally, I think it isn't worth jack, but that's just my opinion...

[amadama]

I'm one of those guys who would love to have this cab....
Oh well, another one bites the dust. I just hope ablizno can make it look good in the end.

[ablizno]

Cabinet is partially primed white. Im going to paint it on Thursday, ordering T-molding right now. I just created a speaker mount without disturbing the original structure. I will post pictures either later tonight or tomorrow morning. I have been very busy with work recently sorry i haven't been more up to date.

Edit: any suggestions on the bezel with a rotating monitor. I originally planned to paint on the glass with spray paint and rotate it as i rotated the monitor but that will not work. The dimensions of the glass are 21x23 therefore the glass cannot be rotated. Should i just get two pieces of glass. One for horizontal, one for vertical? Also is plexi good or should i stick to real glass. Thanks in advanced.

[SirPeale]

Better yet, stick to one monitor layout.  All-in-one cabinets may seem cool, but they're not.  It's currently vertical?  There are a ton of awesome vertical games.

[ablizno]

@peale i know what u mean. The thing is that all i want to play are fighters and vertical shooters. I already have the whole rotating monitor thing handled.

P.s. NO im not making a frankenpanel

here is a picture of my speaker mount

[ArtMAME]

You could try sticking a black foam board directly on the face of your monitor with a rectangular cutout in the middle for the display area of the monitor, and the outer part circular, then put a secondary bezel up to the glass with a square cutout to accommodate H and V orientations.  That way it will be all black around the screen no matter what orientation.

[csa3d]

Edit: any suggestions on the bezel with a rotating monitor. I originally planned to paint on the glass with spray paint and rotate it as i rotated the monitor but that will not work. The dimensions of the glass are 21x23 therefore the glass cannot be rotated. Should i just get two pieces of glass. One for horizontal, one for vertical? Also is plexi good or should i stick to real glass. Thanks in advanced.

Do you ever hit the search button before posting?  Just curious..

Now to be helpful, you can See how I cut my bezel

The dark peice of wood is a circle, which is velcro'd over top the LCD screen.  This turns with the monitor rotation.  The lighter piece of wood is mounted to the cabinet, and does not move at all.  Because there is 1" of overlap with the dark, circular piece, you see no gap.

Others have done similar with foam board.  But you'd never know cuz you don't search.

-csa

[ablizno]

csa3d i do use the search function but im using a regular wall mount not a DIY. Sorry if i upset you
also i was a bit confused on how you did yours. Because wouldn't you see the seam still?

[csa3d]

csa3d i do use the search function but im using a regular wall mount not a DIY. Sorry if i upset you
also i was a bit confused on how you did yours. Because wouldn't you see the seam still?

If you're worried about seeing a seam, then you might want to consider paying for a laser cut plastic bezel solution.  I don't have the link in my current bookmarks, but I searched google for laser cut plexiglass.  You can get shiny black opaque.  You're next problem will still be that there will be a minor gap where light can seep through.  If you go the wood route, and wanted something more flush.. you could route the inner circle edge and outer circle edge down a bit so the top surfaces of both sit flush, but never touch.  When it's all said and done, and behind smoke glass, you don't even look at the 1/8" gap to be honest.  As for wall mount, who cares.  A bezel is a bezel, and the same construction principles and challenges will apply.

good luck.

-csa

[ablizno]

thanks csa but i think im just gunna buy two different pieces of plexi, one painted for vertical and one painted for horizontal. Thanks for the suggestions.

[csa3d]

thanks csa but i think im just gunna buy two different pieces of plexi, one painted for vertical and one painted for horizontal. Thanks for the suggestions.

I think you mean you want to buy 1 piece of plexiglass, and paint a black "plus" shape in it.  There are example of that technique on this forum as well.  If you ultimately go with 2 separately painted pieces of plexi, do take pics and show us how that worked out for you. 

Glad to help, good luck.
-csa

[mountain]

Why can't you just mount the screen behind a solid piece of smoked plexi? With my first MAME cab I did this and you don't see any hint of a monitor until it is turned on. Once it is on, all you see is the screen. I made a black bezel out of posterboard and blacked the entire area out. If I ever do a rotating monitor, this is how I would approach it.

[ablizno]

Worked on the cabinet for 5 hours today and got absolutely nothing accomplished. I was going to paint it but my friend desided he no longer was going to let me barrow his paint sprayer. I was going to build the CP but then my drill died. I seriously do not think I am any farther along today than i was yesterday. I am thoroghly pissed that of the 3 people "helping" me none would let me borrow a power drill. I may just take this thing on all by my self. So long nice paint job.

[ablizno]

Well the friend desided we could use the paint sprayer, under one condition. If he was the one painting. And let me tell you, it looks like  worst paint job i have ever seen. Im just going to sand it down and use rollers on tuesday.

[ArtMAME]

Hey, sent you the shipping box yesterday.  Let me know when you get it.  I also need some info (see my last PM).  Thanks.

[ablizno]

Ok so painting is done, (looks kinda bad but will post pictures when it dries). I can not find the marquee retainer. Does anyone have any suggestions. I would by the one from Happ but i kind of don't need 10 feet of retainer. Also if any one finds mine let me know.

[ablizno]

Just put the T-molding on and my Monitor mount. Here are some pictures. Still looking for my  marquee retainer.

[dislikedword]

Awesome. I always loved arkanoid.

[ablizno]

Thanks but that marquee is only there because it look nicer than without one. Trying to find my marquee retainer before ordering my custom marqee. Artwork should be ordered this weekend.

[Luigi]

I understood that you are not willing to sell the bezel so would you please scan it in hi-res or hand it over to someone else so he can do the scan and return it to you?

Please 

[ablizno]

@luigi... u mean the Journey bezal...? I did sell it.... to ArtMame....]


If u mean the Arkanoid marquee isn't that artwork all over the place?

[ArtMAME]

Luigi, I bought the bezel from ablizno and I just got it a few days ago.  It is in very nice shape, but there is one catch.  The Journey instructions are missing (which is not ablizno's fault.  It was that way when he bought the cabinet). 


The instructions were scraped off by whoever did the Journey to Arkanoid conversion (again, it was not ablizno).  So technically my bezel is not complete.  It is still very nice, and I do want to attempt to scan it or take a good photograph and make it available.

I have not looked into scanning it yet, but if anybody has any suggestions, please let me know.

[amadama]

Hi Artmame,
Here is a comprhensive tutorial on how to scan in arcade artowkr (or any other large artwork for that matter):
http://www.rotheblog.com/2008/04/arcade/tutorials-arcade/scanning-arcade-game-sideart/

I look forward to seeing your scans (and so do a lot of other people!!)
Good luck,
Alex

[ablizno]

Weren't most instructions on a piece of paper taped to the bezel? Of the ones ive seen thats the way the appeared, and the Arkanoid instructions attached to Journey bezel were attached in that fashion as well.

[ablizno]

So im gutting my pc to put it into the cab, for heat reasons, and im running into the problem of the perifial  cards (and some solder points on the motherboard) hitting the wood. No hardware store in the area sells spacers.  I was going to use metal washers but fear that that may cause a short, any suggestions.

[ArtMAME]

If you get a Bic pen like the one in the link:

http://www.wackypackages.org/stickers/4th_2006/realproducts/bicpens.jpg

You can pull out the cartridge, then cut the hollow plastic tube into 1/2" pieces and use them as spacers.  just use 1" wood screws or 1" sheet metal screws.

[GAJoe]

If you get a Bic pen like the one in the link:

http://www.wackypackages.org/stickers/4th_2006/realproducts/bicpens.jpg

You can pull out the cartridge, then cut the hollow plastic tube into 1/2" pieces and use them as spacers.  just use 1" wood screws or 1" sheet metal screws.

That's a brilliant idea.  That's going in the mental filing cabinet for future reference.

[ablizno]

Awsome idea i will try that later tonight if i get around to it.

[IDDQD]

I haven't read anything about this, but do most people take the computer out of the case and just mount it in their cab for heat reasons? I've seen a number of people do it, and come to think of it I haven't seen anyone not do it, so is that pretty standard practice?

[ablizno]

@iddqd i would say yes. This is my first mame cab and it just made sense to me to do so. Then upon wondering the forums i saw others had done so as well.

[ArtMAME]

I usually just put the whole PC in the cabinet and secure it in there.  I have not experienced any heat problems with my systems.  I usually get off-lease PCs which are ready to go. 

[IDDQD]

I usually just put the whole PC in the cabinet and secure it in there.  I have not experienced any heat problems with my systems.  I usually get off-lease PCs which are ready to go. 

Do you do anything about ventilation, like cutting exhaust holes in the back and putting the exhaust ports in the PC against those holes? Or is it fine without anything like that? I'm thinking I'm probably just going to put the whole thing in there, becuase my case has a bunch of fans and I'd like to use them.

[GAJoe]

My system was overheating and shutting off in the case.  When I took it out and mounted it bare the problem went away.  My cabinet already had ventilation built into it for the original PCBs and monitor, so that wasn't necessary.