Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: XNIF on July 01, 2010, 08:58:39 am
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I just ordered the first stuff for my first (lowboy) build. After long reading (this forum and "the holy book") i've now finally done it.
I've ordered a minipac kit from Gremlin Solutions. And this weekend i'm gonna get a 25" trinitron tv (with scart) and the MDF.
The high pressure laminate will come when the MDF is turned in a cabinet :cheers:
I'm using the lowboy from RXII ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68962.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68962.0) ) as a reference. However it's gonna be different in a lot of ways. I'm using HPL like i said for some nice art on the side and the CP. I really liked the Street fighter cabinet from here, i wanna do the same for my lowboy in a Metal Slug theme. This SF cabinet: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84649.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84649.0)
I'll keep you posted !
A strange thing happened when i placed my order, i started to sweat and shake ! Is this normal, or is this the feeling of an addiction comming? :lol
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A strange thing happened when i placed my order, i started to sweat and shake ! Is this normal, or is this the feeling of an addiction comming? :lol
Arcade building is like Hotel California. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave >:D
Welcome to a life long addiction buddy :cheers:
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Just a small update:
Got my package from gremlin! It look great. I will make some pictures later today. Just to get more colour in my postings :)
This weekend i picked up a Sony Trinitron flattube CRT 25". I want to connect this with a VGA -> RGB scart cable i am going to make. I am not completely sure about how to proceed here... i want to run PC games and Mame with soft 15 khz.
Things to find out:
* Can i set in the frontend to use mame with soft 15khz and normal pc games without?
* Will soft 15khz work with a 9800GTX or a 8800GT (those i have here on the shelf)
will post pics later.
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take a bit of advice,when you cut your panels for the cab,sides,front etc laminate them before you put it together.far easier to do and better to handle this way.
:)
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Little update with the pics!
The kit I ordered from Gremlin with 18 buttons
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2161/p1040371.jpg)
The buttons, orange and yellow, the idea is to also use orange T-molding:
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4912/p1040372.jpg)
The PCB and the harness, thank god i have a harness. Soldering those wires would take forever:
(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/3627/p1040373u.jpg)
Big-ass 25" sony trinitron for 25 euro(32 dollar):
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/6126/p1040374a.jpg)
It will be big :)
(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1639/p1040375j.jpg)
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I made a basic 3d model with the measurements i am using. It's always tricky to start something without seeing how it looks. So i made this (with some models i imported from google ;) )
(http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1903/arcadei.jpg)
Not bad for a first try, i'll make this better soon. But by the looks of it, it's nice. It has a 20cm control panel at 85Cm height. The total height is 151, i think i just keep it at 150 when it's for real.
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I did not really like the last model i made. It was just not elegant. I know lowboys are just little boxes, but i wanted to add some of the nice designs some cabs have. Also i do not like the way controlpanels look on lowboys so i made one that would have a "normal" CP.
On the model i did not mount the controlpanel yet, but to give you an impression:
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/200/arcade3l.jpg)
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I like your new design much better. The CP changes were a good idea. Your design should be real comfortable for playing "classics" like Pac Man where the monitor is more at an angle.
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I like your new design much better. The CP changes were a good idea. Your design should be real comfortable for playing "classics" like Pac Man where the monitor is more at an angle.
Thank you. I hope the design changes will improve the way games will be played. I'm building a lowboy only because it's smaller and easier to fit in my house. So i want to create a hybrid version of a lowboy and fancy normal cabinet.
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Welcome to a life long addiction buddy :cheers:
everyone said that about slot car, but that was before i built my first cab!
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everyone said that about slot car, but that was before i built my first cab!
Yeah well i am still in the design phase. It's a lot of fun to do a lot of research. I think every part of making the cab has it's own ups and downs.
Look look i made a controlpanel.... spending hours learning Google Sketchup :
(http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/2070/arcade3.jpg)
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Ok new update, i started to cut the side panels, you can now see how the design will look like. I know OSB is not the best material, but i am on a tight budget. So i am using cheap wood and a lot of wood i already have. That way i can save money to laminate it, and have nice artwork.
It's a tight fit, but i have measured correctly the CRT will fit with the right angle.
As you can see i have cut out a piece of wood in the back so it's symetrical, and the wheels will fit nice. The wheels will always hit the ground so it should be sturdy enough.
I am a little worried about the control panel, i do not know how to attach it (it will fit on top) maybe i should make a little adjustment by cutting a little deeper in the front so it will fit inside.
(http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9192/p1040825w.jpg)
And after a lot of sanding they are identical twins:
I did not use that saw for cutting by the way. I used that saw for the corners because they were not identical, sanding that difference was too much!
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8392/p1040822i.jpg)
Tonight a friend will help me with the TV (so i won't kill myself) , i'll post more pics soon. if i do not post anything anymore, he did not help me enough ;)
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Tonight a friend will help me with the TV (so i won't kill myself) , i'll post more pics soon. if i do not post anything anymore, he did not help me enough ;)
Just curious if you're still alive ;)
This is the reason I'm working at a slim cabinet with an LCD in it. So I don't have to mess with high voltage tubes.
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Off to a great start. I really like the lowboys so am looking forward to seeing this develop :cheers:
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i'm still alive... the tv is uncharged! i'll post an update soon!
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Thats a great looking design for a cabinet. good luck with it.
discharging a crt is a nerve racking thing the first time, then you get use to it.
whenever I work on someones monitor, they always stand far back as I discharge the monitor and then they say "thats it"
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Tonight a friend will help me with the TV (so i won't kill myself) , i'll post more pics soon. if i do not post anything anymore, he did not help me enough ;)
Just curious if you're still alive ;)
This is the reason I'm working at a slim cabinet with an LCD in it. So I don't have to mess with high voltage tubes.
yes but LCD just doesn't look right for to with 15khz games. It's not bad or anything i just prefer CRT , i'm planning a bartop when this is finished with a 15" LCD.
I guess it's just what you wanna play. PC games look great on LCD.
Gonna cut the front and backpanels right now.
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yes but LCD just doesn't look right for to with 15khz games. It's not bad or anything i just prefer CRT , i'm planning a bartop when this is finished with a 15" LCD.
I guess it's just what you wanna play. PC games look great on LCD.
Gonna cut the front and backpanels right now.
That's the reason I have a dedicated MAME cabinet for the 15 Khz, with an ArcadeVGA videocard. The new one will be PC and consolegames (with some MAME games too)
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yes but LCD just doesn't look right for to with 15khz games. It's not bad or anything i just prefer CRT , i'm planning a bartop when this is finished with a 15" LCD.
I guess it's just what you wanna play. PC games look great on LCD.
Gonna cut the front and backpanels right now.
That's the reason I have a dedicated MAME cabinet for the 15 Khz, with an ArcadeVGA videocard. The new one will be PC and consolegames (with some MAME games too)
yeah you're lucky ! I do not think my wife will agree when i tell her i must have more than one ;)
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I told her it is a surprise for my son......it's all about strategy!
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ok update, test fitting the panels:
(http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/8698/p1040836p.jpg)
used construction glue for the bottom.
(http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/8136/p1040840.jpg)
A control panel is missing :)
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3757/p1040838.jpg)
from the inside:
(http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9484/p1040837u.jpg)
Next is test fitting the TV. Then when all panels are done, í'll start with the C.P.
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And some more progress. Made the bottomplate and the backside. And i started to with the marqueeholder.
(http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6540/p1040841.jpg)
(http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2255/p1040842w.jpg)
I left the bottom frame uncovered for the wheels. It seemed more stable than mounting the wheels with OSB plate in between.
(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8707/p1040843o.jpg)
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You're going in a great pace. I like the shape too. And I see you're getting help from "Duke Jan"
Why did you choose that wood? It will be hard to get it smooth.
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You're going in a great pace. I like the shape too. And I see you're getting help from "Duke Jan"
Why did you choose that wood? It will be hard to get it smooth.
I cannot do anything without "The Duke", too much shaking of the hands :) That is how i keep pace! Just an hour here, and another two hours there. :cheers:
About the wood... uhm.... well i'm laminating it so it does not have to be smooth. But you are right, i should have used MDF.
We'll just see how this holds. Worst case scenario: i'll cut the two sides again out of MDF. But this OSB is not that bad.
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Ok new update! Fitted the screen it's starting to look cool. It's a slim fit. I like big screens in little boxes :P
It was almost impossible to lift it by my own and a friend helped me out. Thanks a lot Mayko! Really happy now :)
(http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1553/p1040871n.jpg)
Did i say it's a close fit? Angle is 30 degrees.
(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1/p1040872.jpg)
Just enough room :)
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8012/p1040873x.jpg)
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Nice clean woodwork here, not just the cuts but joinery as well, looking good!
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Yeah, this looks great!
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Nice clean woodwork here, not just the cuts but joinery as well, looking good!
comming from you this is a real compliment! Your project is insane! Every detail you do is the best you can do, where I just wanna finish is fast as good as i can in the time i have. I just want to finish it as soon as possible and play! When my project takes too long i am afraid i will never finish it. So i have set myself a goal to finish the exterior this month.
@emphatic thanks! I'm trying hard!
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The more I look at this, the more I like it. The extra contouring on the side really adds to the overall aesthetics. You're tempting me into building another cab......
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This thing ever get finished?
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Following with interest. Keep up the good work.
Lowboys are the new bartops. :D
edit.
Just noticed this was started 2 years ago not sure how I missed it. Hope it was completed.
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Ya, neat project. I am considering building a Lowboy to replace the Dynamo HS-09 I have now. It is a great cab but is a bit overpowering in my small office. The footprint isn't a problem but the volume makes it look a lot bigger than it is.