Author Topic: UK Dig Dug Bartop (Read 12994 times)

shrunkenmaster · « **on:** October 06, 2009, 05:02:08 pm »

After completing my first project, The Mystery Machine (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=88316.0), I thought that'd be the end of construction. However, a couple of months ago my dad upgraded his PC and gave me his old eMachines tower, uttering the words "I'm sure you can make something out of it"...

So, here goes. I decided that I would make a vertical bartop straight away, scoured the forum for some ideas, then settled on a mini Donkey kong shape. I don't know how I went from DK to Dig Dug, but I'm sure spending too long on this forum had something to do with it.

I'd already been told by my wife that I'd spent too much time (and money) on the Mystery Machine so I set out to reuse/recycle as much as possible. I picked up some MDF offcuts from a local wood shop, added a few bits I had lying around, coming up with the basic cab, then arranged the PC components inside.

LeedsFan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:07:44 pm »

Sounds cool. DugDug is one of those games that I never really got into. Might give it some more attention and see how I like it. I've seen the artwork for the cab and yeah... looks good. I like bartop projects. They seem more "practical" even though the full size cabs are more authentic. I will be watching.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:09:06 pm »

Two coats of primer, plus three/four coats of gloss spray paint on the insides, as the sides are going to have artwork. The finish is nice and shiny, having wet'n'dry sanded between coats.

Printed out a black & white marquee showing me where the artwork would overlap the basic rectangle, so I could check it wouldn't interfere with the screen.

IG-88 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:10:53 pm »

Love these bartops! Yours looks great so far. Keep the pics coming!

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:15:05 pm »

This machine is only for vertical games with 2 buttons, so the CP is pretty simple. I got an Ultrastik from Ultimarc (amazing as usual, cheers Andy) as I wanted this to be as simple as possible to use, plus I wanted to play Q*bert without any bother. I got a couple of leaf switches for the action buttons from arcadeshop.de and wow - NO joystick clicks, NO button clicks, it's great!

Applied the first graphics from Nigel at arcadestickers.co.uk - it's that great textured vinyl, self adhesive and no need to cover with plexi. Also wired up the coin button switch which is going on the vertical panel beneath the CPO.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:17:38 pm »

Slapped in the CPO, plus a coin button on the front panel, which also has the speaker holes cut out.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:23:01 pm »

Found some LED strip light on eBay - this isn't the actual one, but it was about £2.00 and arrived within a week (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/white-12V-30cm-Flexible-Waterproof-SMD-LED-Light-Strip_W0QQitemZ200391163437QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea83e7e2d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) - it's super bright and being 12V was easy to hook up to the PC board. A bit of hot glue and viola!

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:26:50 pm »

A couple of construction pics.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:32:14 pm »

Applied the side art, again from Nigel at arcadestickers.co.uk - I have to say Nigel's printing is spot on. I got the textured CPO, backlit marquee, plus both the self-adhesive sideart parts for under £50.00 - the quality of everything is outstanding. Alongside the quick turnaround and very good packaging I would recommend him to anyone in the UK.

LeedsFan · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:34:17 pm »

I was gonna go LED on my project, but decided on fluorescent from B&Q simply because I didn't trust buying from China on eBay.

That CP looks awesome... so simple. The artwork really makes these projects.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:38:33 pm »

I'm using MALA for the frontend. Player One button is the shift key, allowing action button 1 for "config", action button 2 for "quit to menu" and Player Two for "pause". The machines turns off by pressing the coin button while on the game select screen in MALA. There's a separate power on/off button on the back too.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:40:38 pm »

Quote from: LeedsFan on October 06, 2009, 05:34:17 pm

I was gonna go LED on my project, but decided on fluorescent from B&Q simply because I didn't trust buying from China on eBay.

That CP looks awesome... so simple. The artwork really makes these projects.

I know, Chinese suppliers scare me too, but for the sake of a couple of pounds it was worth a punt. Checked the trader's rating, he had a zillion sales and a 99.9% record so I figured it was a safe bet!

Hewskie · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:45:18 pm »

Wow! This looks great. Love the artwork and thanks for posting so many pics!

Great work

Hewskie

drventure · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:52:55 pm »

Yeah, i was debating picking up some ELWire from China, but after a few emails with the guy, I decided what the heck.

Shipping took forever (well, 2 weeks, but still). Very happy with the end result (although it looks a little more green than orange in real life).

If the sellers got high feedback and lots of sales it's probably safe.

LeedsFan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2009, 06:54:39 pm »

That speaker grille cutout looks really cute!

emphatic · « **Reply #15 on:** October 06, 2009, 07:07:39 pm »

Looks luvely next to your SL-1200.

You should try to find a smaller dustwasher though, as it's huge.

LeedsFan · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2009, 01:22:13 am »

Did you supply the art files to Nigel at arcadestickers.com? I've been to look at his website and to be honest there isn't much choice on there as regards reproduction art. Or has he just not got it all on his site yet? Looking at the high resolution pics you have supplied here I would give him a try whenever I do a new project.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:03:08 am »

Quote from: emphatic on October 06, 2009, 07:07:39 pm

Looks luvely next to your SL-1200. You should try to find a smaller dustwasher though, as it's huge.

The Ultrastik's got a smaller ball on it, probably making the washer look even bigger. I don't mind it though.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:06:21 am »

Quote from: LeedsFan on October 07, 2009, 01:22:13 am

Did you supply the art files to Nigel at arcadestickers.com? I've been to look at his website and to be honest there isn't much choice on there as regards reproduction art. Or has he just not got it all on his site yet? Looking at the high resolution pics you have supplied here I would give him a try whenever I do a new project.

I made up all the artwork in Illustrator and supplied it to Nigel, yes. There's a 10" Xevious bartop on the board with his printing too, have a look.

jmike · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2009, 07:50:14 am »

Awesome work! I was a fan of your Mystery Machine and now this. Great job.

Franco B · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2009, 07:54:18 am »

Looks great from what I can see from the thumbnails. I can't open them all due to my uber l33t 256k connection

I'll have a propper look when I'm at work next.

Thanks for recommending arcadestickers.co.uk. I opened one of the CP shots and the quality looks great and the prices seem good too. I need to get the artwork for Pinky done in the next week or two so I may give them a go.

Btw, if you do want some smaller washers I have some gloss black 38mm OD ones that fit the U360.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2009, 10:48:25 am »

That sounds great Franco, PM me with a price!

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2009, 10:50:24 am »

Quote from: jmike on October 07, 2009, 07:50:14 am

Awesome work! I was a fan of your Mystery Machine and now this. Great job.

Glad to have a fan! Just wish I could make the insides more tidy - you wouldn't believe the inside of the Mystery Machine.

retrofuture · « **Reply #23 on:** October 14, 2009, 08:32:32 am »

No one is going to ever see my wiring 'job'

Really nice cab

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #24 on:** October 14, 2009, 02:26:50 pm »

Cheers retrofuture,
Your Xevious bartop motivated me to get this done. Although I like the Dig Dug bartop's LCD screen, I'd still like to do a vertical CRT screener. Nigel's printing looks great on yours too.

saleem · « **Reply #25 on:** October 14, 2009, 02:39:46 pm »

my god shrunkenmaster!that avatar gave me one wicked idea.a bartop slab thingymibob tm (i have trademarked it now) so dont go nicking my ideas!.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #26 on:** October 14, 2009, 03:10:38 pm »

Hey Saleem,
I was thinking along the same lines but didn't get very far. It was a dead heavy sixer so I gutted it and resprayed it. Gonna put a hidden hinge on it and use for storing the six remote controllers in the lounge!

Minwah · « **Reply #27 on:** October 16, 2009, 05:50:05 am »

Sweet

My only minor suggestion as someone else mentioned is a smaller joystick dustwasher. The one's Franco makes are very nice

Franco B · « **Reply #28 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:34:18 am »

He should have a pair of gloss black ones wth him by now

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #29 on:** October 16, 2009, 07:45:46 am »

Yes Minwah/Franco,
thanks for those, very nice. Will post updated pics later!

versapak · « **Reply #30 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:28:35 am »

Looks nice, but why go with a vertical monitor if you are just going to lie the whole cabinet on its side anyway?
You're as bad as my wife with the stupid non-rotated pictures. It takes all of 2 seconds to hit the rotate button in windows.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #31 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:32:34 am »

Quote from: versapak on October 16, 2009, 08:28:35 am

Looks nice, but why go with a vertical monitor if you are just going to lie the whole cabinet on its side anyway?
size=2pt You're as bad as my wife with the stupid non-rotated pictures. It takes all of 2 seconds to hit the rotate button in windows. /size

Hey Versapak,
I appreciate the first part of your comment, it made me laugh. But why try to hide an off-the-cuff remark in 2pt text? Let's all be friends

versapak · « **Reply #32 on:** October 18, 2009, 09:22:23 am »

Quote from: shrunkenmaster on October 18, 2009, 08:32:34 am

Quote from: versapak on October 16, 2009, 08:28:35 am
Looks nice, but why go with a vertical monitor if you are just going to lie the whole cabinet on its side anyway?
size=2pt You're as bad as my wife with the stupid non-rotated pictures. It takes all of 2 seconds to hit the rotate button in windows. /size

Hey Versapak,
I appreciate the first part of your comment, it made me laugh. But why try to hide an off-the-cuff remark in 2pt text? Let's all be friends

Wasn't trying to hide it. I was just trying to type it as a bit of walking away grumbling.

I didn't mean for it to be as jerkish as it reads.

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #33 on:** October 18, 2009, 09:36:02 am »

No worries V. Here's a celebratory pic of Franco's smaller dusty, in glorious Round-The-Right-Way-O-Vision:


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