Capcom Bowl Galaxian Cab Conversion

[SirPeale]

I don't think I started an announcement thread for this project yet, so...

http://www.pealefamily.net/tech/arcade/?cat=7

[paigeoliver]

Hey, how did you get my first cabinet!!!

The first machine I ever bought was basically that exact same one, Capcom bowling in a pac-man cabinet with a dead monitor. It even looked pretty much the same, although mine was complete. Pretty sure it ended up in the dumpster eventually.

I don't think I started an announcement thread for this project yet, so...

http://www.pealefamily.net/tech/newmame/index.php?cat=18

[SirPeale]

This one is actually a Galaxian conversion (yes, I know, same cab).  It's structurally in good shape, but dirty and had a massively rusty coin door.

The wiring...wow.  Like spaghetti.  I should have taken a picture before I worked on it.

[paigeoliver]

I'd keep it as capcom bowling, sand and stain the cabinet. Galaxian cabs looks like a million bucks in bare wood form.

[SirPeale]

I'd keep it as capcom bowling, sand and stain the cabinet. Galaxian cabs looks like a million bucks in bare wood form.

I've done that with the two other Galaxian conversions I've got.  The second one I thought I stained pretty well, but then I took a good look at it.  Needs to be totally redone.  I'll do it in the future.

Nope...this one is getting painted.  Donkey Kong II blue.  I've got a DK I'm converting to DK2 and I'll have plenty of paint left over, so...

[SirPeale]

Finally painted it today.  I've cleaned up the wiring, replaced the G07 with a K4900 I had kicking around, and wired in the 48-in-1 PCB.  The coin door has been stripped and repainted.  Rewired a bunch of stuff.

Still to do:

• new marquee
• possible new CP as the old one is swiss cheesed badly
• possible side art - not sure yet
• new glass.  I smashed it when I was loading it into the truck.  The handtruck broke.  :(

More pictures on my site in the first post.

[SirPeale]

Installed T molding. 

Think I'm going to attempt to reuse the old CP.  Won't be the layout I want, but it will be functional if I do it right.  I plan to sell it anyway, Christmas is coming!

[Jack Burton]

Hey, I've got a Ms. Pac-Man that has been converted to Capcom Bowling that looks exactly like that!

Was somebody out there doing this conversion in batches or something?

[SirPeale]

When life gives you lemons...make lemonade.

I don't have the money to shell out for a new CP.  So what to do?

Old operators trick...use plexiglass or Lexan to make a surface.

I'm not leaving it like this, I've got Parts Express vinyl to cover once I clean it up.

Had to get creative with the button spacing, but it seems to work.

[SirPeale]

And here it is with the vinyl installed.    I'm not 100% happy with it, but I'll leave it be.  If I keep screwing with it I'll just make it worse.

[SirPeale]

Hey, I've got a Ms. Pac-Man that has been converted to Capcom Bowling that looks exactly like that!

Was somebody out there doing this conversion in batches or something?

Capcom Bowl was uber hot for a while there.  Ops were taking any old cabinet they could get (even better if it was already a vertical setup) and making Capcom Bowl conversions out of them.

The op I worked for had like a dozen.  He told me I could help him sell off his excess stock, but told me specifically "DO NOT TOUCH THE CAPCOM BOWLS."  I was like "er...okay..."

So I didn't.  I had a lot of interest in them when I was giving tours of the warehouse, but couldn't touch them, so I didn't.

Then the boss wanted to bust up some cabinets because he wanted to reduce the amount of space he was taking up.  Guess what cabs were the first on the chopping block?   

[SirPeale]

CP installed on the cab.  No wiring done at this point, other than rudimentary coin door wiring and admin panel stuff.

Yes, the Capcom Bowl marquee is still there.  Won't be for long.

[gatordad]

Great Idea with the plexi for the hacked cp.

You learn something new everyday here.

If I don't sell my galaxian cab which was also converted to capcom bowl soon I may do the same thing as I have a 48 in 1 laying around. now i can do a new cp on the cheap.

did you buy another harness or are you going to reuse the bowling one. is it Jamma?

[SirPeale]

I reused the bowling one.  It's JAMMA.  Missing most of its pins, but there were enough to get this done.  I just had to move them around.

I'm really excited to finish this.  I wish I hadn't broken the glass bezel.  Between that and the marquee it's the only expenses I have left on this.  Everything else is labor.

I do *not* like the joystick.  It's just a cheapie X-Arcade.  If it were a keeper I'd put a Namco Reunion joystick on there and turn off the 8-way games.

I still need to take pictures of the solution I came up with for the admin buttons.  I got creative.

[SirPeale]

Actually hooked up the controls today and played a game: Arkanoid.  Arkanoid sucks with a joystick. 

But I was able to confirm I got the controls correct.  Now I get to neaten the wiring and cut it off!  I'm installing a Molex connector inline for easy in removing the CP if you have to.

I got a bunch of used florescent bulbs a couple days ago and wanted to test them out.  I opened the marquee area and found the ballast just dangling there.  I tried putting it back in the fixture...and it dropped down and broke the wire off.    it wouldn't be a big deal if there was something to solder to, but it broke off clean.  A new ballast is about the same price as a whole fixture, so...

[SirPeale]

I chopped the control panel wires in two today.     Don't worry...it's so I can put a Molex connector inline.

[SirPeale]

Oh hey...a recent picture might be nice.