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Bartop build - complete
vizzinni:
This is my first real build, after doing a simple desktop controller a couple of years
ago. It's not exactly a masterpiece, but it came out OK.
Dimensions are 19.5" wide, 24" deep, and 29" high. Spray painted. Inside there's a 15" Gateway monitor and a PIII/256MB/15GB computer, decased. I used an old CPU fan as an exhaust fan, and wired a spare Happ competition button for computer power. The monitor power button is on all the time. I stowed a keyboard and mouse inside with velcro.
vizzinni:
I gave up trying to insert pics in the middle of the post... :dunno
Controls include an 8-way Happ w/ leafs and a 2 1/4" Wico trackball. Admin buttons are
Exit (esc) and Pause (P), plus shifted Tab, Enter, L Shift and F7. The left mouse button
(from the minipac) is wired into the credit button on the front of the cab. At first I
had it shared w/ button 1 but mame/mamewah were locking up so I switched it to the 2P
start, but that didn't work in mamewah because that button brings up the menu and it
didn't like getting a mouse click at the same time. No problems yet where it is now. If that doesn't work I'll just give up use the real mouse in the back.
Software is Windows 98SE, MAME .61 and MameWah, with a Mr. Salty layout.
I used a Mini-PAC (remember the deal Andy had for BYOACers a while back?), plugged into
USB so I could have a trackball. Note: I never figured out how to program the mini-PAC
thru the USB port; kept getting errors, and not the usual "time out" error. I ended up
doing it with the PS2 connection without a problem.
vizzinni:
Marquee came from EMDKAY, and the marquee light is the NovaMatrix from GGG. Also got
the speakers, T-molding, and some ButtonBlaster LEDs from GGG. I'd planned on using the
LEDs for the start buttons, but I really just ran out of time.
I started out with every intention to have clean wiring on the CP, but in the end it was
just too much. It pretty much looks like a rats nest, but the splices are all soldered
and heat-shrink wrapped, and I can unplug everything to remove the panel when needed.
I did the bezel and CPO artwork using the trial version of Corel Draw and lots of visits
to the Arcade Art Library. Printed at Staples (I don't have many options where I live)
for $25.
vizzinni:
There's a few things I wish I'd done differently. The "overhang" above the monitor
(where the marquee is, and where the speakers are mounted) should really jut out closer
to the front edge. I kept it where it is because I thought that a tall person standing
at it might have his view of the monitor blocked a bit.
Also, I don't really like how the monitor bezel and CPO art meet. The art for each were
done separately and never put together until the first time I put the CP on the cab. I
think it needs something, even just a black 1" space between them. And I'd try harder
to match the cab colors with the artwork.
And I'm not entirely pleased with how the bezel art transitions to the monitor. I
basically cut the art work with about a 1/8" overhang over the hardboard backer.
Painted the monitor front black, and placed some black foam rubber in the space between,
set back about 1/2", to block any light leaks from inside the cab.
HaRuMaN:
Looks good... going to put on any sideart?
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