I'm no longer a lurker, I have a scratch-built Tempest cab!

[1030]

Hello everybody.
Since early 2000 I've lusted for a MAME cabinet – and have been lucky enough to actually start my MAME journey this year.
I'm an artist, and managed to weave the theme of gaming into my last exhibition so the people I was working for paid for the fabrication of a cab. A cab that I got to keep after the project was complete. 
Here in Scotland, there aren't many existing cabs to use as a conversion and I don't have a workshop to build my own so this is really the only way I could obtain one.
It's based on the Tempest blueprints from the jakobud site, as I find the shape and definition of that cab to be simply beautiful. Aesthetically, I wanted something that looks 100% authentic but could also pass as a stylish piece of furniture. I wanted the 'Eames Ottoman' of arcade cabinets. Faux woodgrain was an absolute MUST. It saddens me to see people on this forum cover up some really nice authentic fake wood with lightning decals, but each to their own.

Anyway, my camera isn't working at the moment so I can't show pics of the real cab just now, but I do have a 3D mock-up that I gave to the fabricator along with the jakobud plans. It looks much better than this. The build quality is better than I could ever have imagined.


For a 360 video.

So I've started my journey!

The CP is going to get modified. Right now there's just one joystick (Sanwa JLF) that was hooked up to a laptop inside the cab via a USB gamepad hack which worked well. I now realise that for a 2 player CP, the tempest cab may be a bit cramped but I think I can live with that.
I like to keep things streamlined, neat and simple so I'm only going to have 2 joysticks, 6 buttons for each player (arranged like the Viewlix) and a P1 & P2 start.
If needed, I may also add an "escape" button to get back to the Front-end, although I'd like to have this function mapped to "P1 start + P2 start" pressed at the same time.

My next step is to get a better monitor in there. It currently has an old television (which does have a SCART) but it doesn't power on automatically. I've spent days trying to get the VGA-SCART cable working on it, but it plain refuses to sync. So, I'm getting a new one before I do anything else. The tube already touches the back of the cab, so I don't think I can go for a bigger one. It will be horizontal btw.

If anyone could shed light on this matter, I'll be grateful: My TV has a black border all the way around, and the corner comes to a definite square end. I really want a monitor that has overscan, so that the image goes all the way to the edge and the corners are curved. Will I find this in a TV, or do I NEED to get an arcade monitor?

Thanks everybody, I'll post pics of the real cab as soon as I can.
James

www.1030.co.uk

[1030]

Just managed to grab these pics:



Forgot to mention - I'm getting some chrome T-track to replace the black rubber stuff.

[J.Max]

That's really cool...but why does a Tempest cab have a joystick instead of a spinner?

[saurian333]

Welcome to the forum!  Nice design, there!

I have to ask, though; are you sure about the chrome?  I really like the sort of minimalist look of this one; I think chrome would "pop out" a little too much.  Especially if you still want it to "pass as a stylish piece of furniture."

Just my thoughts, though; do as you like, of course!  I've been surprised at when/where that chrome molding ends up looking really good.

[1030]

Thanks for the comments.
The reason it has a joystick just now is because it was featured in an exhibition I've just completed. Basically, the visitors to the exhibition could control a real-life actor elsewhere in the building, and see a FPS style video feed from a camera mounted on the actor's helmet.
If the joystick was pushed left, the actor got a sound-cue to move left. So, in effect the visitors could play a FPS with the most realistic graphics ever - as they were playing real-life.
The reason it's a Tempest cabinet is because it's my favourite shape of cab, and we had the plans from the jakobud site already.

I'm not 100% sure about the chrome, but I'll definitely buy some to test it. There's a chance it could look really cheap, but I like the combination of chrome edging and black glass on the iPhone so it may work here.

One of the main problems I've got is that the cabinet builder didn't know I was going to MAME it afterwards. So the CP isn't removable and is made out of thick MDF so it's going to be a challenge. But a challenge I'm looking forward to.

I'm still really excited.

[Havok]

Well you're definitely going to want some buttons - but otherwise, very clean looking. I know most aren't a fan of it, but I love the woodgrain sides!

[drventure]

Normally, I'd say blech to "faux woodgrain", but, you know, with the gloss black, it does seem to work on this cab.

And I definitely like the shape. Nice job!

[wp34]

Love the woodgrain.  Goes with the retro look.  Now you just need to add red shag carpeting!

[Gorotsuki]

Very classy!

[saurian333]

Love the woodgrain.  Goes with the retro look.  Now you just need to add red shag carpeting!

   That would be awesome.

[spystyle]

Sweet cab

I'd move that joystick to the left and add 4 buttons to the right, like a one player Neo Geo layout, but that's just me.

[gnateye]

very slick and futuristic, just right for the 80's     i really like hte lower area where the coindoor would go being shiny like that, really makes the minimalism shine in my opinion.

nice job

[Blanka]

I like to keep things streamlined, neat and simple so I'm only going to have 2 joysticks, 6 buttons for each player (arranged like the Viewlix) and a P1 & P2 start.

Guess that is default on ultimarc's pacs already!

[RayB]

Love it! But I'd even go so far as install black buttons and black joystick with black shaft.  Then add just a faint glow behind the marquee area...

[jimmy2x2x]

What it needs a coffin like control panel stretching out like the wings of a 747

Congratulations, that is an excellent minimalist cab

less really is more

love it!

[Bender]

Beautiful Project!!!!!

I agree with the comments about the chrome t-molding I think It would actually take away from the simple clean design
the Iphone doesn't have wood grain it's just chrome and black so it works
I like your design how it is now because it's just black and woodgrain
Just my 2 cents

couple of questions

How on earth did you finish the MDF CP to look like Plexi with no seam at the corner???
And what program did you use for that render in the first post?

[jholman76]

I'm going to guess 3DS Max with HDRI lighting...