New Project.....MAME TREK to boldly go where everyone else has before

[Swatwolf]

Ok so it is corny and more than likely someone else has done it or something else like it. My basic idea is to use the Ultimate Arcade Template for the Cab, then a Custom MameRoom control panel with the few controls that I like or need. I have created the marquee and CP and some side art, any and of course all feedback is appricated painful or not.

I am also going to use some small EL panels under the CP to give the panel some blinking and look like the Star trek panels

[somunny]

That cp is really great looking!    So great in fact, that it kind of dwarfs your marquee in its shadow.  There has to be some nice hi-res Trek art out there, somewhere for you to use.

[Swatwolf]

Well I had all sorts of different ideas such as what came on the original Star Trek Arcade Marquee, and had a few other ideas. I see your point, thanks for the feedback and I will look at it.

[leapinlew]

Cool... you could use the grid effect from the holodeck - I think it could liven up the CP (especially if you tone it down the brightness)

[waveryder]

At last someone has the balls to produce a LCARS based Control panel. Looking great!! I personally wouldnt use EL to light the panel use UV LED's and connect em to an LEDWIZ or pacdrive. EL doesnt last long and begins to dull out after 14 days! Much better to use LED's and diffusing material (I use Hot Glue, great diffusion material!!!)

This cab will definetly secure your position in the "Star Trek Nerd" Hall of fame 

[spocktwin]

I sir, salute you!!!!
You deserve an IDIC
Spock

[WaRpEd]

I love it
Live long and prosper

[RetroBorg]

I love your control panel but don't really like your marquee that much.

Will your finished control panel show the trackball plate or is it just there for picture purposes?

That control panel would be awesome if it was back lit.

Not sure what would make a better marquee but I don't think the movie cover thing works, also maybe a later Star Trek font, one that thicker looking would stand out more.

Look forward to following this project.

[Swatwolf]

Seems like the consensus is that the CP does not match the Marquee....Not all that suprising if you look to the man hours behind the cp and side art to the hours on the Marquee.

I am always up for any suggestions and ideas for the Marquee, and also to add in the Trackball plate will be hidden uder the CP. The only main reason it is there is becasue of the CP program I was using.

Also to keep the role going here is my side art, hope ya all like 

I guess since I am the Star Trek Geek..........Live Long and Prosper

[RetroBorg]

and also to add in the Trackball plate will be hidden uder the CP. The only main reason it is there is becasue of the CP program I was using.

Cool that will look a lot better, what CP program are you usuing, is it CP Sketcher?

Also to keep the role going here is my side art, hope ya all like 

I like that! Though your Mame Trek isn't centred properly.

[Swatwolf]

and also to add in the Trackball plate will be hidden uder the CP. The only main reason it is there is becasue of the CP program I was using.

Cool that will look a lot better, what CP program are you usuing, is it CP Sketcher?

Using both CP Sketcher and Custom Control Panel Designer kind of as multiple views for the same problem.

Also to keep the role going here is my side art, hope ya all like 

I like that! Though your Mame Trek isn't centred properly.

Ya I noticed that when I converted it.....kind of a bit to the right..but thnx and will keep working it up

[Knievel]

Sweet looking CPO alright.

I've had an idea for backlighting a CP that I have yet to use. I think it would work well with your 'dash board' artwork.

Basically the idea is to use plexiglass as your CP material. One thick piece if you can find it would work best, or 2 thinner ones sandwiched and glued together. You would do all your joystick/trackball/button mounting as you normally would, and then apply your CP overlay.

Now the beauty of this is when you throw some lights in the CP box they would light up all 'gauge' areas, and your logos, etc. Sort of the same idea as modern pinball playfields. I don't think much light would make it through the black areas, you could always mask them off from underneath if so.

You'd have to experiment with lighting when you get to that point. LED's with an LEDWIZ making them all blinky would be really cool.

[RetroBorg]

I was thinking plexi too, the only problem I foresee are the graphics located around the joystick won't light up as the joystick base will prevent light from coming through.

[nuka1195]

Very nice.

Could you bottom mount the joysticks and mount leds above.

[BORIStheBLADE]

I like the CP.

[Swatwolf]

Ok finally have gotten back to work on this bad boy......decided to try a new marquee after seeing what others are and have done. I have just finished the wood working on the Ultimate Arcade 2 cab and will post pics soon. Here are the two ideas let me know how it looks and if the blue color on the type print looks good.

Also I decided to take leapinlew idea and make the bezel a holodeck looking grid with the yellow lines.

Still I am having problems with the illumination of the CP, dont want to give up on it but I dont want to break the back for a glowing background. I thought that the plexi panel might work out now just need to see about costs.

[Franco B]

Awesomes 

Im using plexi inserts and LEDs in my CP in the joystick base area. Im using round plexi rod inserted into the top of the CP but you could route out parts of the CP top and insert rectangular etc plexi shapes into the top. You can then mount the leds from the bottom and if you bottom mount the joysticks they will hold the LEDs in place.



Ive just quicked edited a drawing from my thread to give you a better idea:

[Kaytrim]

I would love to see you light up that CP.  You can get some nice LEDs with resistors from this seller on eBay.  eBay Linky

[kizer]

Personally looking at your CP and your Marquee its going to be really hard to even match.

However my comment would be on that current Marquee with all the ships would to lower the text size and place them in the bottom left corner because the text is making the Marquee look cheap.

Or

Intergrate the art work onto say the enterprise so it doesn't look like a last minute slap on. I know its not a last minute thing, but it just doesn't compare to the quality of the image.

[Swatwolf]

kizer point well made my wife who does not like arcade machines did not like it as much so I spent all night working with Adobe Illust, and made a LCARS marquee.....so I think that this will be my final concept I and I am going to move onto wiring soon

[Doctor Ugs]

i'd go with the last marquee posted, fits the theme much better. Looks really sharp. Nice work

[MK3FAN]

Great idea for a cab! It makes me want to go out to the club with these guys..

[Swatwolf]

geeks of star trek unite hehe, nice 

[Lutus]

Great marquee.  Fits MUCH better!

TNG!

[Havok]

Great marquee.  Fits MUCH better!

TNG!

TOS!

 

[Lutus]

TOS is pretty awesome though. 

Running time on TNG was around 42-44 minutes an episode, but when TOS aired there were less commercials and their run time was round 52 minutes IIRC.

Does anyone else think that TOS felt SOO much longer per episode even though it was less than 10 minutes more, it just felt like a lot.

I am rambling now..... must fight back sleep..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Swatwolf]

Seemed like the TOS had a bit more story (not always a good story) since the special effects were not as good. In the TNG and others they used alot more special effects (which I still liked) but it was almost a filler rather than what they used to have.

[Kaytrim]

Ok you have all the artwork set up now let's cut some wood. btw I like that last marquee much better you now have a complete set.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[Cero21]

Wow, you've got some serious skills.   

Love the last marquee as it goes really well with the cp.  Keep up the good work!

[amadama]

That is a wonderful marquee you designed there! Why do you not just say Star Trek instead of Mame Trek? Leave the multiple arcade machine emulator text below it however.
Alex

[Swatwolf]

Well just kind of came up in a conversation at work and kind of liked the Mame Trek idea, just to set it apart from a star trek title.....guess wanted to go geek 100%     

[Swatwolf]

Update, cabinet is completed will post pictures of finished bare wood shortly. Now trying to workout the illumination on the CP and wiring.