MAME Project - Round 2....Fight!

[Chase]

Hey Everyone,
Back for "Round 2" and building a dedicated "MAME" cabinet for (of course) MAME, Other Emulators, Gaming, and all fun and goodness! 

Since I do not have the great experience in wood-working and the wife does not want to tear into a working game cab, she wanted to get a kit.  She commented on how they "look nice"

So....here is the list and rundown of what will be and end up in this mamma jamma.....(get it?)

Please note, this will NOT be a Review....just a "build-log".   I will write a review later when the project is completed.

The List!

• MAMEROOM.com's Ultimate Arcade II Kit
• ArcadesRFUN.com's Custom Control Panel
• Monitor (for now) - 27" Sony TV w/S-Video
• Audio - TBD
• Computer- Shuttle PC - TBD Operating System and FE

Control Panel Layout:




Control Panel Background:



All Pictures - Full Quality:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/allaboutchase/sets/72157605841825099/

Day 1 (5 hours)
Got the kit via FedEx on Monday, and with the help of my pal Jason, we got underway!











Thats the end of the first day.  I hope to finish the basic kit tomorrow evening.

More to come!  And if anyone has any questions or wishes to have pictures of a specific area, please let me know!

- Chase (and special thanks to Jason)

To be continued....

[GAtekwriter]

Chase,

A few questions if you've got a moment - I'm considering purchasing the bartop kit once I complete my cabinet so...

1.  I've put together furniture using this type of hardware before - you insert the cam, screw in the pin, insert pin into cam, and then use a screwdriver to rotate the cam, locking the pin.  Inevitably, my experience has been there are always 2 or 3 or more of these cam/pin connections that just don't "lock tight" and leave the furniture wobbly... any comments there about your assembly?

2.  I guess I can email mameroom.com and ask, but my next question is do they drill the control panel based on your request or do they only provide a standard pre-drilled CP with no options?

3.  Final question - are you going to paint the cabinet?  Does painting melamine (? - correct sp?) involve any tricks?

Thanks, and good luck!

Jim

[DaOld Man]

I have a question too.
In the T molding pic, it looks like the slots are cut wrong to make the bend that it has ahead of it.
Maybe Im missing something here, or maybe you are not finished with the cut, but shouldnt the t-molding spline have small V shaped notches to make a bend like that?

[Chase]

Chase,

A few questions if you've got a moment - I'm considering purchasing the bartop kit once I complete my cabinet so...

1.  I've put together furniture using this type of hardware before - you insert the cam, screw in the pin, insert pin into cam, and then use a screwdriver to rotate the cam, locking the pin.  Inevitably, my experience has been there are always 2 or 3 or more of these cam/pin connections that just don't "lock tight" and leave the furniture wobbly... any comments there about your assembly?

2.  I guess I can email mameroom.com and ask, but my next question is do they drill the control panel based on your request or do they only provide a standard pre-drilled CP with no options?

3.  Final question - are you going to paint the cabinet?  Does painting melamine (? - correct sp?) involve any tricks?

Thanks, and good luck!

Jim

Hey Jim,
Some great questions....here are some answers for ya!

1.  I've put together furniture using this type of hardware before - you insert the cam, screw in the pin, insert pin into cam, and then use a screwdriver to rotate the cam, locking the pin.  Inevitably, my experience has been there are always 2 or 3 or more of these cam/pin connections that just don't "lock tight" and leave the furniture wobbly... any comments there about your assembly?

These pin and cams are different from the typical type that you may see when putting together a cheap desk or a bookshelf.   They come in on the side and when you use the screwdriver they tend to lock in real tightly.   

The other cool thing is that as you tighten, it expands the "plastic" part of the screw and tightens it into the wood.   So far it's solid and all my connections and good.

2.  I guess I can email mameroom.com and ask, but my next question is do they drill the control panel based on your request or do they only provide a standard pre-drilled CP with no options?

Yes Mameroom.com does provide custom placement of your CP, and I believe they charge $ 20.00 for that custom placement.   They also have standard pre-drilled panels too.   I decided to get my Control Panel through ArcadesRFun after comparing the two, what pushed me over the top was the flush mounting option for the trackball.

3.  Final question - are you going to paint the cabinet?  Does painting melamine (? - correct sp?) involve any tricks?

No, I have not thought about it.  I kind of like the black, it will match the background of the panel and the Marquee that I will be using.


Thanks for your questions, I hope I was able to help.

[Chase]

I have a question too.
In the T molding pic, it looks like the slots are cut wrong to make the bend that it has ahead of it.
Maybe Im missing something here, or maybe you are not finished with the cut, but shouldnt the t-molding spline have small V shaped notches to make a bend like that?

We cut the small slots (by hand using a razor), it helped the T-Molding get around the corner without bumps or issue.

[8way]

I have a question too.
In the T molding pic, it looks like the slots are cut wrong to make the bend that it has ahead of it.
Maybe Im missing something here, or maybe you are not finished with the cut, but shouldnt the t-molding spline have small V shaped notches to make a bend like that?

We cut the small slots (by hand using a razor), it helped the T-Molding get around the corner without bumps or issue.

What he means is, you should cut V shaped slots for outer radius corners, and strait slots for inner radius corners.

[Chase]

Update: Day 2 - 1 Hour Total

Finished the basic shell and cabinet today, added the Keyboard Drawer and some small brackets for the soon coming control panel.

Cleaned up all the fuzz from the Styrofoam and wiped it down.

Next up: Light Fixture, Speaker System, Marquee, Coin Door, Computer, TV/Monitor

[GAtekwriter]

Chase,

Thanks for the responses - and MORE PICS PLEASE!  Thanks, good luck, have fun.

Jim

[Chase]

Chase,

Thanks for the responses - and MORE PICS PLEASE!  Thanks, good luck, have fun.

Jim

Will do!  It's good to know that someone is reading this!

I will post some pics from the completed shell, and don't worry, I will take more more pics! 

[Chase]

Update - Day 3 - 2.5 Hours

Hey Everyone,
The day was spent getting casters and wheels into postion on the bottom of the cabinet to make it easier to move.   What we did was purchased 2 Swivel Locking Casters and 2 Fixed Straight Casters.

We affixed them on the bottom of the cabinet using a custom template and a block of 2x4 to use as internal backing to add support.   Below are picture of the fun!

Full Quality Pics Here:  http://flickr.com/photos/allaboutchase/sets/72157605841825099/













Full Quality Pics Here:  http://flickr.com/photos/allaboutchase/sets/72157605841825099/

Thanks everyone!  More to come!

- Chase

[Chase]

Finally an update!

Well over the past couple of weeks, we added the Marquee from MAMEMARQUEES.com (w/ light), the Switch for the power to the cabinet, the bezel, and the coin door!

Also wired up the coin door lights to the computer.  Pics are below and the full quality is here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/allaboutchase/sets/72157605841825099/



















Next:  Wire Management, Possible LCD Install, Control Panel

[Chase]

Update!!!!

Well, Jack from ArcadesRFun is building my Control Panel for me as he has the equipment, know-how, and patience to do it right.   We are still about 2 weeks out from the Panel being complete, but here are some shots thus far:







Full Size Pics Here:  http://tinyurl.com/chasemame

Control Panel Maker:  http://arcadesrfun.com/

[tomdotcom]

Lookin nice..looking forward to your review of the cab kit

[HaRuMaN]

what kind of footprints are those on the top / back of the cabinet, in all the dust?   

[Chase]

what kind of footprints are those on the top / back of the cabinet, in all the dust?   

That was my buddy being funny and making some "footprints" with his hands.

Lookin nice..looking forward to your review of the cab kit

Thanks, once everything is complete, I will be sure to write of something both on here and the website I'm working on to put it all together.

[Chase]

Another small update....

With some more pictures:









Full Size Pics Here:  http://tinyurl.com/chasemame

Control Panel Maker:  http://arcadesrfun.com/

[pinballwizard79]

Wow, just wow.

Kudos.

[Chase]

Wow, just wow.

Kudos.

Thanks man....

Still trying to decide on a Front End.....

[Chase]

Another update is forthcoming and full review of the D9400 WG Monitor that I got in, complete with video!

I have also decided to launch my project blog and website!  Please tell me what you all think!

http://www.easyasmame.com

More to come later today!

- Chase

[Chase]

Hey Everyone,
Got my monitor in, and before I write I full review on it....I must say.....WOW!

But here are some pictures and a video.  My first for BYOAC!















More Pictures Here:   http://www.easyasmame.com

Note: The spot on the left side of the monitor was something on my camera lens and not the monitor itself!

[Chase]

Another update!

Whew! Another couple of weeks have gone by, and slowly but surely, its coming along!

Here are some new and updated photos of the Control Panel construction!









In a bit....the Monitor Mounting!

[Chase]

Well, I know it has been a while, but the project is about complete!  I have mounted the D9400 Wells Gardner monitor and the Control Panel from Jack @ Arcades R Fun finally showed up last week!   So below you will see pictures from the monitor mounting and the panel installed!









More pictures and information posted @:  http://www.easyasmame.com

[fronty]

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[Chase]

Hi there. How do you manage to hook up all those buttons with one ipac? Are you shifting?

Yes, but just for quitting the game.   

The top row is duplicated on each side.   I did it that way so player 2, could do what player 1 does.