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The Bar Top Trio + Donkey Kong Junior MAME+MaLa project w/ video
mike boss:
Bar top two of three painted.....and just about fully back together.
I got this wrapped up lastnight and began to assemble it today.
I'm hoping to get some white t-moulding for this cabinet.
The color is Krylon "Gumdrop" it looks a lil pink, but its a light purple (as picked by my wife).
The top will remain black as will the control panel (not shown). The buttons will be black and ball top for the Hori stick will be translucent purple.
Any thoughts on the white t-moulding ? Will it look good, bad, should I stick with black ?
(again the top of the cabinet, as well as the back and control panel will remain flat black)
mike boss:
I hit a major snag in this project, which to be honest seems to be the way this hobby goes for.
But I can't lie I'm never really in a rush to complete anything, that's one of my faults.
Speaking to a co-worker one time I discovered he shared a mutual interest in arcade games and MAME.
He like myself was a hobbyist, but his other hobby was working with wood.
The computer side of MAME he knew nothing about.
After talking for sometime we worked out an arrangement that would benefit us both.
I would install and configure MAME on both his and his brothers arcade cabinets and he would
build me two control panels for my bar tops.
Long and short of it I thought it would be easier to bring the bar top to him.
This would ensure a custom fitting control panel.
He stalled, and stalled, and stalled. I even gave an "easy out."
Letting him know that completed or not I'd like the stuff back.
Anyway four months went by, I truly think he was hoping I would just forget and move on.
I finally got my stuff back, only thing was he didn't do a thing. Not one piece of wood cut, not one
hold drilled, not one screw screwed. The only thing that got screwed was me !
Now with the bar top back at my house all three units have been painted and assembled.
I just got in some JLF wiring harnesses from China, and picked up all the wire and parts I need to wire these up.
I had a few questions with respect to the AC power but they have been solved.
This week I plan on getting my jamma harnesses bundled a-la-Bob Roberts. And I'm hoping that next week
my father in law can help me cut out some new monitor supports and build the control panels.
Once that is done I'll be bringing the bar tops to my brother who is an electrician so he can help wiring up the power.
All the buttons and joysticks, monitor connection, etc I will do myself.
Anyway here are some pics of the progress.
solidteezme:
--- Quote from: mike boss on April 04, 2010, 12:31:37 pm ---
I would install and configure MAME on both his and his brothers arcade cabinets and he would
build me two control panels for my bar tops.
Long and short of it I thought it would be easier to bring the bar top to him.
This would ensure a custom fitting control panel.
He stalled, and stalled, and stalled. I even gave an "easy out."
Letting him know that completed or not I'd like the stuff back.
Anyway four months went by, I truly think he was hoping I would just forget and move on.
--- End quote ---
I hope you didn't hold up your side of the bargain ;) That guy sounds like a :tool:
I think there are always gonna be people like that in a hobby like this, like the idea, but are not willing to give it any time, effort or hard work. :cheers:
crip102468:
Aww i feel for you hoping to get your bartops back and to only have fun and play games. Its a shame that people say they gona help or do favors and never do them. Feeling left out in the cold sucks i hope you do finish these project i would love to see how it comes out thx for sharing. :applaud:
mike boss:
Long time since I posted about this project.
I've made a little progress, but things around the house have really taken top rank.
That's one thing I will say, I lack passion. Too many other interests, or really just not enuff interest in one thing.
The idea with these bartops was keep one, sell two.
Funny considering its July 25th, that I had wanted these done for X-Mass 2009.
None the less I didn't "need" the money, so it wasn't a big deal that they didn't get done & sold.
I got F*CT for 4 months with the promise of control panels that never even got done.
I've enlisted the help of my father in law to help me with this. (I also have my brother on stand by)
However I will say this, I've learned a lesson. I shouldn't need to count on anyone for this hobby.
And that was %100 my fault. So some good has come of this.
I've decided like many local guys in my area that I should make this hobby pay for itself.
Many of them making and selling 48-in-1 or 60-in-1 machines on the local Kijiji/Criagslist.
And with that it's about time I get my own tools. I have your basic, VERY BASIC tool kit.
But perhaps some better saws, router, etc would be a worth while investment.
So none the less, alotta time was wasted, but a valuable lesson was learned.
So here is whats new.
On the keeper (the purple cabinet) I broke the neck of the monitor.
This really sucks, as I recall that one of the monitors was a little off.
It was possibly something that could have been fixed with some easy adjustments, but I'm unsure.
The keeper had a good monitor, that is until I got a little ruff with it.
I'm hoping I can discharge it and use the chassis on the other monitor should it not be fixed after some tweaking.
I've cut two new monitor supports.
I've purchased a 15" LCD monitor for the keeper.
I purchased some side art printed on 12"x18" sticker stock.
It needs to be hand cut, but that will be for the keeper cabinet.
I'll have the option of side art and LCD monitor upgrades when selling the cabinets.
I've purchased the materials I need to have the control panels built.
The hope (fingers crossed) is to get a free day one weekend that either the father in law or brother are available.
Bang those out, paint em, install em.
My brother in an electrician and he is going to help me wire up all the cabinets.
The jamma element of it I have no issue with. But as far as the power goes I want to be sure.
With the cabinets getting sold I'd rather feel they were done well.
I spoke to a guy I work with that was an electrical engineer. He asked me to draw a diagram
for what I was planning. He said technically it was all correct, the voltages, the amps, etc.
So I feel good. But even at that, I'm sure my brother could do it three times faster.
** in the meantime pics can be seen on my blog http://www.mymissiontomame.blogspot.com/ **
thanks