Main > Project Announcements

A Mame machine in an antique buffet - USB probs solved (I think!)

(1/144) > >>

drventure:
I've been lurking around here for ages getting up enough motivation to start a project of my own, and I've finally done it. Just wanting to share, and maybe get some feedback/ideas.

Anyway, I've wanted to Mame cab for ages, but I don't have a gameroom, and I really didn't want a tall, traditional black arcade box in my house (just no good place for one).

We were browsing through an antiques shop one day and it hit me that maybe I could fold all the necessary components into an otherwise unassuming, normal piece of furniture.

I started doing to research, acquiring various parts, sticks, buttons, controllers etc.

I decided on a 4 player panel. In retrospect, I probably should have gone smaller, but oh well.

I did come across this thread here on the board
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=15128.0
but it looks like it died back in 2004<sigh>. Plus, he was doing a rolltop desk, which I'd considered at one point.

Anyway, I ended up finding an antique buffet in decent condition (queen anne legs, a bit roughed up finish, all walnut with a really nice solid 1" thick walnut top) for cheap on craigslist. The thing had been moved poorly and the front doors had cracked the veneer on both sides and needed repair, plus the finish was shot).

My project is underway but not completed yet. At this point, most of the major woodworking is complete (I had to extend the buffet back 4 inches for clearance, convert the top to flip open, like a piano, and rip out all the doors and drawers and convert them all to one big fold up door), the refinishing is done, etc. When folded up, it looks like a normal buffet again, so I could get it out of the garage and into the house without my wife complaining about "that ugly box"!

I've also got the control panel more or less finished. 4 player stations, lots of buttons, no Coin door (but that's ok, wouldn't look right on an antique buffet anyway), all hardwood, black ultra-sticks, 2 happ trackballs (for Marble madness), a spinner and a flightstick (heavily modified Logitech Extreme 3d digital USB stick). I probably went a bit overkill, but I also didn't want to get it built and then realize that I "really really should have just put in x"<g>.

Here's the rub, though. In the time that it's taken, I've kind of come to the conclusion that traditional arcade controls just aren't going to look right on this thing, so I've started considering a "steampunk" motif. Nothing over the top, but maybe using old ceramic or brass faucet handles for joysticks, a small solid brass knob for a spinner, some brass furniture tacks, some Victorian carving accents, wood inlays, etc.

Yeah, the flightstick won't exactly fit the bill, but maybe I can come up with some ideas for that too (something like those steampunk nerf guns I've seen floating around the net).

I'll post some pictures soon if anyone's interested.

Demon-Seed:
Hello,
I too have also been trying to come up with a way to hide controls...I would love to see photos of your project.

thx
Jim

Bender:
please post some pic... I gotta see this!

drventure:
Hi

Thanks for the note!

I'm pretty new to posting on this board. I'm not exactly sure how to get images into the messages. I know it can be done, but, if they don't make it, I'll try again.

At any rate, here's a few pics.

The first is of the buffet all closed up. Basically, it looks...um, like a buffet. In this pic, I don't have the cabinet hardware on yet (the original antique brass ring pulls that were on the unit). They're a whole other story. Because they're ring pulls, they flop around, so when you drop the front door, they'd catch on the bottom of the cabinet. I ended up using magnets hidden behind the pulls to 'latch' them to the front, so you can still pull with them, but they'll stay "closed" and not catch when you fold the door up.

The second is with the top lifted up so you can see the control panel in it's "nested" state. There's no monitor yet, but the plan is to frame one with a gilt victorian frame and mount it on the underside of the buffet top, along with some additional fitments, though I'm not sure what they'll be yet. I plan on using gas springs to lift the top into place, but they aren't there yet either.

The last is with the control panel fully "Up", though that's not where it normally would sit (the position is too high). Mainly that position is for working on it right now. Also, the panel will be mounted on short throw slides so it'll slide forward slighting for better playing position.

Those lifts will also be refinished (from the plain computer beige that's there now).


Like I said, in retrospect, going the "frankepanel" route may have been a bit overkill. If I did it over again, i'd likely go with a similar, two level approach, but used removable panels for each player station. Oh well. Live and learn.

The control panel itself is more or less finished, except that now, I'm wanting to "antique" it a bit to stay in keeping. So I'm considering doing some scrollwork carving on it, restaining and refinishing in a gloss like the rest of the buffet, with possibly some brass cornerwork, upholstery nails, leather instead of tmolding, etc. Just not sure what yet.

Bender:
right now this thing is kinda awckward...
but this has mad potential

you HAVE to steampunk that thing out!

and you need to keep the cp  lower and have an flat panel screen mounted to the bottom of the lid, man THAT would be cool
and while your at it make and oldschool ovalish frame for the monitor so it looks all steampunk like something from the movie Brazil

are those sewing machine lifts?
I was thinking of using those for a project too

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page