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New Cab Builder! A few questions.....
johnnyr:
--- Quote from: Turnarcades on March 20, 2009, 11:26:13 am ---If you're concerned, add some extra wood underneath for strength. We make even our 4-player cab with castors, fitted into the base which is mounted 'up inside' the bottom so there is just a little clearance from the floor with the sides. Our 2-player upright weighs about 80kg so we use castors rated at 360kg/set. Don't be fooled into getting castors where the entire set can only just take the weight of the cab - as I once found out the hard way, you need castors that can take the full weight of the cab at each corner if needed - when moving the cab the weight distribution can change slightly and if it tips onto 2 or worse still, 1 wheel it needs to be strong enough not to buckle.
The X-Arcade probably comes in at around 100kg (close to 250lbs) so look for some castors that can take that.
--- End quote ---
Sorry, what I meant was I'm worried the bottom panel will rip out from the sides and the whole cabinet will explode, because it is now supporting the entire weight of the cabinet, wheras before the sides were. (On the UAII the bottom panel is recessed and doesn't touch the ground) Am I making sense?
slapaham:
Well, I'm reasonably new to cab building myself but I found getting a powerstrip (one like the smart strip in America) that powers everything on when the PC is booted really adds to the feel of authenticity. As for the one button thing - well, I just did mine the other night and I will tell you, it is very, very easy to do and doesn't require hacking/modding your PC at all! You just need buy a replacement wire (available on ebay) for the power button in your PC... attach a pushbutton to the wire and unplug your current one from the motherboard and replace it with the new one - feed it through the back of the PC and voila you have a power button for the whole cab and you havent damaged the PC - if you want to revert back you simply unplug the replacement wire and put the old one back in!
Can't really comment on lightguns as such, apart from I have got a LCD Topgun which I still havent got around to sorting out - its a pain in the arse to configure but I've been told once its done, it is good.
Instant sheller is what I use to hide Windows and it does a grand job - no problems at all! Combining that with my PC power strip, by the time the power kicks into my monitor it shows my custom boot screen and powers straight into Mala... no boot screens, no windows, perfect!
Other questions are probably best left to other people but a bit of planning goes a long way is a very good piece of advice and look other people's cabs for inspiration!
Benevolance:
I built a modified version of the UAII and it is on casters. There have been no problems. I built mine from eyeballing the Heavy Metal cab, not from actual plans, so I'm not sure what the actual UA2 specifications call for. I built a small 2x4 frame around the inside of the base. It adds some extra support to the bottom and sides. I installed the casters underneath the 2x4 frame. There have been no problems with supporting the weight on casters.
Here is a photo so you can see what I mean. The casters are already installed in that photo, thought it's impossible to tell.
johnnyr:
--- Quote from: Benevolance on March 20, 2009, 02:43:54 pm ---I built a modified version of the UAII and it is on casters. There have been no problems. I built mine from eyeballing the Heavy Metal cab, not from actual plans, so I'm not sure what the actual UA2 specifications call for. I built a small 2x4 frame around the inside of the base. It adds some extra support to the bottom and sides. I installed the casters underneath the 2x4 frame. There have been no problems with supporting the weight on casters.
Here is a photo so you can see what I mean. The casters are already installed in that photo, thought it's impossible to tell.
--- End quote ---
Ah I see! That photo helps a ton. I can see how that would help distribute the weight. Thanks!
johnnyr:
--- Quote from: slapaham on March 20, 2009, 02:41:25 pm ---Well, I'm reasonably new to cab building myself but I found getting a powerstrip (one like the smart strip in America) that powers everything on when the PC is booted really adds to the feel of authenticity. As for the one button thing - well, I just did mine the other night and I will tell you, it is very, very easy to do and doesn't require hacking/modding your PC at all! You just need buy a replacement wire (available on ebay) for the power button in your PC... attach a pushbutton to the wire and unplug your current one from the motherboard and replace it with the new one - feed it through the back of the PC and voila you have a power button for the whole cab and you havent damaged the PC - if you want to revert back you simply unplug the replacement wire and put the old one back in!
Can't really comment on lightguns as such, apart from I have got a LCD Topgun which I still havent got around to sorting out - its a pain in the arse to configure but I've been told once its done, it is good.
Instant sheller is what I use to hide Windows and it does a grand job - no problems at all! Combining that with my PC power strip, by the time the power kicks into my monitor it shows my custom boot screen and powers straight into Mala... no boot screens, no windows, perfect!
Other questions are probably best left to other people but a bit of planning goes a long way is a very good piece of advice and look other people's cabs for inspiration!
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the tip! I just bought that smartstrip and grabbed a power wire+connector from one of my old computer cases. I will get some butt connectors and splice it to the length I need, then connect a pushbutton.
I will also check out Instant Sheller!
Thanks!
John