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A Mame machine in an antique buffet - USB probs solved (I think!)
polaris:
--- Quote from: drventure on January 29, 2009, 01:32:56 pm ---Yeah, that could be tricky (that, and I'm not really an electrical engineer, more a software guy).
But I did find some Alphanumeric nixies online. The prob is, they're freaking >20$ +EACH+.
Ugh.
I may or may not go that route... Especially since I was considering a name that included
"Perceptuo-Emulatron"<g> Yikes, I'd end up spending 600$ on tubes for the Marquee!
--- End quote ---
how about just glowing valves lighting a clear marquee with a bold print on it
SavannahLion:
--- Quote from: drventure on January 29, 2009, 01:32:56 pm ---I may or may not go that route... Especially since I was considering a name that included
"Perceptuo-Emulatron"<g> Yikes, I'd end up spending 600$ on tubes for the Marquee!
--- End quote ---
How about some orange EL wire? If you can source some glass globes, a bit of patience from Jobes and some fine modeling-type construction skills, you could build fake Nixie tubes. Even if you just restrict yourself to a fixed letter arrangements (therby saving yourself building complex circuits to show every letter of the alphabet many times over), you might be able to construct something very convincing looking.
Just an idea. A quick Google search shows some shops selling ten feet of wire for about $50. Much lower than the $600 you're pricing for Nixies.
drventure:
Very interesting. Actually, I'd really intended on the marquee being a fixed message, so the alphanumeric tubes were really only to be able to light individual letters.
This EL wire is pretty sweet. I'd have to get some pretty thin stuff and it'd need to be bent pretty tight, but it looks like that should be doable. And a WHOLE LOT cheaper than real nixies.
I'm seeing a set, mounted horizontally, (like the horizontal nixies that have the letter/number shown on the TOP of the tube rather than the side) mounted directly into a hardwood framed polished brass plate.
Thanks for the heads up on the EL Wire!
drventure:
I got the EL Wire and transformer in a week back or so. Very cool stuff, although the "Orange" comes out more yellowish if you ask me.
Still, it'll work for now.
I'm in the process of figuring out how to disassemble vacuum tubes without completely destroying them. I'll post pics as soon as I have something concrete.
In the meantime, here's a few from the build process of the control panel itself.
drventure:
Oops. Hit post with no pics.. Here they are.
First up, the raw panel cutouts.
Next, the panel, underside, prewiring. Yeah, it's not hinged :(. My original design was for it to be a semi portable CP I could stick the closet. That didn't pan out.
Next, a detail of the pinball plunger. Works a treat!
And finally, the whole thing, minus the flightstick.
Yes, those are hole plugs<sigh> I'm not sure exactly what I was on that day, but I couldn't measure right to save ---my bottom---. Eventually, I'll likely rebuild the whole panel, now that I know more. But, for a first attempt, it didn't turn out too bad.
It's not as, shall I say, colorful, as most of the Cp's ive' seen here, but since it's going in a old buffet, that just keeps in line with the aesthetics.
I do plan on making a few additional mods. Mainly the replacement of joystick handles (already discussed on this thread) and likely adding some carving/moldings, and brass button nails with possibly some leather.
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