First Cabinet from scratch - Operation "Preparation H"

[JackSparrow]

Having had many happy years in the 80s immersing myself in the warmth that only arcade games from this era can bring, and now I've got the space in my "Room of 80's computing nostalgia".

Its time for a MAME cabinet

Going with a Pentium 4 3ghz, 1gb RAM, 80gig drive running Windows 2000, MAME build and romset of as yet to be decided revision with a matching front end. 17"TFT bezelled monitor mounted behind toughened glass. Will be using Ultimarc joysticks and buttons and an IPAC board. 2x player, with 4/8 way switchable joysticks and 6 player buttons per player. All housed in an Asteroids style box, professionally sprayed gloss black but with yet to be decided artwork.

Constructed from 3x 8ft by 4ft 18mm MDF, held together internally using turnbutton + pin fasteners. She (as it contains a computer & all computers are female) will have both front and rear inset access doors, fully interchangeable control panel (if I need one just build another, slide in on the rail and lock from the rear), illuminated coin mech and marquee and will be 72" tall by 28"wide..

This morning the wood was delivered, and as you can see, by the close of play at 3pm, progress has been somewhat rapid.










Total time taken so far.. 5 hours
Total price for wood: £69.48

[Franco B]

I see its your first post, welome to the forum from a fellow UK addict!

Looking good, im loving the 'chunkyness' of the profile 

Looks like you have a nice workshop there! 

[waveryder]

At last another member finally admits all computers are female. All arcade cabs are female too! Great job for 5 hours!

[JackSparrow]

Computers and classic arcade cabinets are like cars, ships and railway locomotives.. All female

Thank you for the welcome, I cant claim credit for the workshop, as my Father is the Yoda of the woodworking field, so he is doing the carpentry, Im doing the electrickery and computer side.

Here are few of the current 80's objet d'art I have in the office to keep me company, I dont think a replica cab will look too out of place..







Some more work today..

Another 3 hours, taking the total to 8 so far..

Speaker and marquee housing almost complete and control panel module built and mounted.


Control Panel module


Module in place


Marquee almost complete

Monitor has now been ordered, as has a replacement main board for the base unit. Decided on a definate W2X build with GameEx as the front end.

Its coming together..

[JackSparrow]

Another 3 hours or so today..

Access doors, locks and power are now in, as is the outer bezel and cosmetic coin mech



Power and 120mm extractor fan mounted



120mm fan on rear door, this will be screened after spraying


Front Access Door


Rear access and Marquee access door


Can you see what it is yet?


Cutting for CoinMech



Coin mech in place, only a dummy though, maybe add a real one at a later date

So far, so good..

The spec has changed slightly, instead of going for a P4 Prescott, its been downgraded to a Socket 478 2.7ghz Celeron as my P4 was dead

[JackSparrow]

Project continues as we went on hold due to staff holidays


Front of cabinet, now with its first coat of paint, bezel and toughened glass installed, ignore the dummy marquee, this is just there for sizing purposes and light testing, a proper one will be fitted at close of play



Speaker pods fitted, using an Altec Lansing VS3251 remote controlled 5.1 system (The sub will go in the base)


Rear showing the 120mm powered vent, plus hinged top.

Still to be added

17" TFT monitor, 2x Ultimarc joysticks and buttons, I-Pac board and relevant PC trickery, which is already built but not installed as yet.

And of course bezel, panel, side and marquee art which is the very last job apart from powering it up and kicking the backside out of HyperSports

[JackSparrow]

and it goes on...

All PC trickery,speakers and monitor mounted. PC configured with Gameex front end, MAME and Daphne, plus a rook of MP3's as its jukebox function.

Sound is a 3.1 with the L&R speakers above your head, centre speaker behind the monitor and the sub down below.

Power on tests carried out satis, full sound test shakes the floor with the good old THX wav as a test file..

Intro gameex video has to be Arcade84, doesnt it


Front view with power on


Front door open with PC and Subwoofer locked down and mounted on foam


Rear view with powered extractor and mains strip



Speaker pod left mounted behind the marquee with the striplight



17" TFT mounted behind the bezel, with a bit of cutting this could be improved to a 21", but a 17" will do for my purposes

Still to do...

Purchase sticks and buttons from Ultimarc, cut and mount on panel, IPAC2 and final coat of paint and the side, bezel, control panel and marquee art

Its breathing.. its just cosmetics now

[Singapura]

Who says computers are female? My wife always says that computers are like men. They always do what you want them to do, never what you intend them to do. In that they're more like men (from a female point of view).

[MonkeyFracas]

Great looking cabinet and awesome PC collection.

I've got a small selection of historical computers around including an IBM System/36 that I use as a nightstand - no room for a proper display like you've got set up.


Am I correct in understanding that you've got a room dedicated to displaying your computer collection? Is it also your home-office ?

[JackSparrow]

Great looking cabinet and awesome PC collection.

I've got a small selection of historical computers around including an IBM System/36 that I use as a nightstand - no room for a proper display like you've got set up.


Am I correct in understanding that you've got a room dedicated to displaying your computer collection? Is it also your home-office ?

Yes, its my home office, and general room of computing..

There is a Commodore 8082 series Pet and its matching drive, Toshiba MSX, Mac Performa 450, Amstrad 386 SX Laptop, Research Machines 480Z, Atari ST, CBM 64 & Amiga, Atari Portfolio, 3 ZX Spectrums, a ZX81 and a little Sinclair telly, plus my 3 current machines and of course the Mame Cabinet.

Further software work last night, its now got Pinmame installed as well and a few tables , plus the fully registered Gameex front end and its got wifi functionality..

Marquee art has been ordered from Emdkay, going for a Tron themed one to keep with that 80's computing vibe

Who says computers are female? My wife always says that computers are like men. They always do what you want them to do, never what you intend them to do. In that they're more like men (from a female point of view).

Of course computers are like women, theres a little button to turn them on, if they dont work you kick them, if they still dont work you get another one

[ablizno]

Of course computers are like women, theres a little button to turn them on, if they dont work you kick them, if they still dont work you get another one

LOL that is some funny Sh T

[JackSparrow]

And we have a marquee installed...



Courtesy of Emdkay.. Lovely quality and exactly as ordered

Coming up over the weekend, control panel to be fitted.



2x Sanwa JLW-UM8's with Bat tops and buttons by Happ.

Nearly together now

Just need panel art, bezel and side art to go..

[JackSparrow]

and we have a operational panel, just the cosmetics to go now with the panelart, bezel and sideart..









Unseen are the two side flipper buttons when playing Pinmame and the plunger button right side of the belly plate...

Nearly finished now

[BUCKETHEAD]

Looks Great !

Should get alot of great game play out of it !

Love the TRON themed marquee.   

[JackSparrow]

The only thing ive found is the sanwa sticks seem a little slack, like my ex-wife its like moving a wooden spoon around in an empty oil drum.

I solved her problem with a golf ball, any ideas on how I do it with a Sanwa?

[Neverending Project]

I solved her problem with a golf ball...

...

    

[JackSparrow]

Think about it

[Neverending Project]

Think about it

I did... I think that's the problem.

[JackSparrow]

Doesnt work as well with a Sanwa..

[SavannahLion]

The only thing ive found is the sanwa sticks seem a little slack, like my ex-wife its like moving a wooden spoon around in an empty oil drum.

I solved her problem with a golf ball, any ideas on how I do it with a Sanwa?

 

Sounds exactly like my ex. Wasn't ever happy with just one.

What does Sanwa use for centering, rubber?

[JackSparrow]

great big spring down the centre..

[SavannahLion]

great big spring down the centre..

I guess the answer would be to sleeve it in a stiffer spring. I can't tell you where to get one though.