Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: CREDO on October 02, 2011, 09:55:51 am
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Hello all, Ive been reading these forums for a very long time, looked about every project there is and finally its about time i did my own.
I got the arcade bug way back when headkaze built his Soul Calibur cab. At the time we had a new baby so time and money was a bit tight.
One afternoon I hacked up an old cupboard and threw together this.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_00.jpg)
This old girl has served me well, but its time to do it right.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_01.jpg)
6 years later, hes all grown up. raised on 1942 and Pang. hes raring to go.
Tomorrow we start cutting.
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Looking good! Looks like you're using MameWah in your old "cab". Maybe you should considering using Wah!Cade on Linux for your new one? :)
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Never considered Linux. i was thinking of moving to gamex or something like that. dunno yet, ill worry about a new front end once the things up and running.
well we got a bit done today
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_02.jpg)
Yup, its straight
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_03.jpg)
And spot on.
I'm glad he approves.
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Good luck,
Its good to see you've got a little helper there. I hope all goes well with the project.
keep us posted
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Yeah the little helper only helps if its not noisy.. and its generally noisy. At the moment hes working on a name for the thing.
didn't feel like i got much done today, lots of working out on paper, but i got started on the control panel while waiting for my T molding to show up.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_04.jpg)
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how many mm thick is that mdf? looks heavy !
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18mm MDF, and yeah, its bloody heavy.
I cant actually lift a sheet, had to to shimmy/drag it. :p
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Well it seems i jumped the gun a bit. last few weeks Ive had a router and a drill die on me. and waited for ages to get my slot cutter, but finally.
Progress
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_05.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_06.jpg)
I had to go with the 19inch crt because i have two of them. its nice to have a backup, and later down the track an lcd will still fit in.
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Amazing what you can get done on your days off.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_07.jpg)
My favorite tool at the moment. my adjustable circle cutter. :)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_08.jpg)
The speaker shelf is got some love today.
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(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_09.jpg)
Its really hard to get a good shot of this but you get the idea. A bit of a blue glow going on there, looks better in person.
That took waay too long for a little glow. Eventually I suppose ill hook it up to a sound sensitive module get some RBG's in there for mp3's.
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looks good so far! I think its fantastic that your son is so enthusiastic about the project and is helping out. My nephews just want to play the end result :/
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I scrapped the speaker shelf and started a new one.. it seems i forgot to take into account the thickness of the wood. I'm an idiot. 10 days of work on that, test fitting over and over, and it wasn't until i actually screwed it in that i noticed.
Also had a major disaster with my monitor, i scratched the screen while investigating if i could decase it. It turned into a bonus though, i ended up scoring a 22 inch CRT!. It only has 2.5cm clearance to the sides.. wikked. Those extra couple of inches make all the difference.
thats what she said.
Anyway finally some real progress. I spent all day in the shed.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_10.jpg)
new speaker covers arent fnished but thier magneticly held on. i liked that.
Saw somewhere on the forums someone made thier pc slide out the front, i thought it was a great idea. havent fully mounted that yet till i snazz it up a bit.
the new monitors not in there yet either. still need to put hinges on the doors need to get started on the sound, tidy up the pc, monitor front, marquee, start the CP.. soo much left to do.
Well thanks for looking. im off to the shed again.
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looks good so far! I think its fantastic that your son is so enthusiastic about the project and is helping out. My nephews just want to play the end result :/
it is his son who is building it and trying to teach his dad.
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it is his son who is building it and trying to teach his dad.
:laugh2:
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Ho ho ho, I got time in the shed this christams.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_12.jpg)(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_13.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_14.jpg)(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_15.jpg)
Sound system, sorted.
With a handy little channel at the back for cable management
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That speaker setup looks good.
Is it going to be enclosed by the lower part of the machine?
If so, I think it would be neat to leave it exposed, let it be the base of the machine.
You could leave the wide back for added support, maybe move the speaker stand to the center of the top part.
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Should have taken a shot of the back before, the sub box is completely enclosed with a chanel for my power boards adaptors and stuff.
Eventually ill have a big volume knob on the front for the bass.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_16.jpg)
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Ive been doing heaps and it still pretty much looks the same, so finally i got something (nearly) completed.
the tunes are ready. Covered in curtain material.. which is a hint of whats to come.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_17.jpg)
and the monitor bezel is done, 4 layers of 3mm mdf sandwiched together.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_18.jpg)
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Looks great, keep it up!
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That layered bezel is a really nice effect. I'll definetly be taking a page out of your book in the future. Great attention to detail thus far. The "slow" progress is a welcome symptom of that.
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I like your bezel design. :)
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That layered bezel is a really nice effect. I'll definetly be taking a page out of your book in the future. Great attention to detail thus far. The "slow" progress is a welcome symptom of that.
Yeah im being really picky about stuff you cant even see, thats slowing me down alot. I decided early on that the inside will be as pretty as the outside. (i hope)
The bezel idea i nicked from Mission control http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=13118.msg723941#msg723941 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=13118.msg723941#msg723941) so credit to Pixelhugger for that.
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Well thanks to the stupid weather, ie: over 35c (95F) im not going out in the little garden shed.
housework and general life getting in the way i finally got back to work on this thing.
The rear is sorted, venting power network access handles and stuff
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_20.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_21.jpg)
Coin door, hidden usb, power switch
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_19.jpg)
And overall nearly finished actual building
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_22.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_23.jpg)
A few little bits and peices to do and i can start the final assembly and wiring.
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Getting ready to put it all together, but i got sidetracked this weekend with this.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/tvstand.jpg)
Its a basic box covered in material with a HTPC inside for my sons room.
I know its just a box, but geez it makes his room look snazzy.
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Well its been ages, but i have been busy all this time working away, just not taking pics till i had something to show.
The inside pretty much finished, needs a vacuum.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_24.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_25.jpg)
Front finished, yay.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_26.jpg)
And to finish, some close up ventilation grill porn.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_27.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_28.jpg)
Covering the entire thing in black curtain material sounded like a good idea at the time, oh my god what a pain in the ass its been, but at the end of the day, im happy with the results. When its 100% done ill grab a decent camera.
well thanks for looking, back to work.
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The bezel is really cool, great idea :applaud:
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Wow! Really nice! :applaud:
Did you cover these pieces in fabric?
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Wow! Really nice! :applaud:
Did you cover these pieces in fabric?
Yup, the entire cab inside and out is covered in a heavy black and blue curtain fabic and the open areas inside is a fuzzy black, kinda like sub woofer box material.
Very slow and time consuming.
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Small update
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_31.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_32.jpg)
The slide in and out PC is in, works a treat. still need to tidy it up though. I hate the mess.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_29.jpg)
This is my solution to locking down the CP because i didnt work it out at the begining. A good push locks it down and it needs a real good shove to pop it open again. im happy with it.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_30.jpg)
Ahh dont make it playable.. damn kids. Beat my high score and your a dead man.
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_33.jpg)
And lastly an overall where im at shot.
A couple more weeks and she might actually be finished.
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Looking good, I like the fabric finish! Clean on the inside with the PC components also, well done.
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Looking good, I like the fabric finish! Clean on the inside with the PC components also, well done.
+1 There's a lot to like on this cab!
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well moving house slowed me down a lot, im going to finish this thing eventually.
in the mean time I have been messing about in Photoshop.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_34.jpg)
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_35.jpg)
Im not happy with the styles not matching at the moment. I might have to dirty up the marquee.
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I spent all day in the shed.
Mmmmmmm sheeeeeed.
Seriously, it's cruel to talk like that.
Love the fabric.
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Some cool ideas in the build, but playing 1942 stretched to horizontal is a bad one.
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Subscribed.
AJ
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Lusid-esque cab design. CRT PC Monitor. It's new old-school. I like the attention to detail. (Though I'm not big on the angled controls - but at least the it's parallel to the cut.)
Overall good job!
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Some cool ideas in the build, but playing 1942 stretched to horizontal is a bad one.
Ahh well it doesn't impact on the gameplay and makes use of the wasted screen. I like it. I stretch out my SD tv too :p
Lusid-esque cab design. CRT PC Monitor. It's new old-school. I like the attention to detail. (Though I'm not big on the angled controls - but at least the it's parallel to the cut.)
Yeah that was a very hard decision, I think that's the third cp design I went through (actually built and played for a bit) I tried a curved button layout and a straight with the screen layout, what I have found is that it makes people approach the cab at a slight angle and gives them more elbow room, two adults sitting on stools, knees up a bit from feet on a stool rung, sitting side by side comfortably. it does throw you off a bit at first, the angle is enough to notice, but not enough that its annoying.
if I was to do a straight side by side I would want a slightly wider CP base with cup holders :) , and then I think it would look odd on the cab, I dunno, it just wouldn't be in proportion to me.
The whole CP unbolts pretty easily so once I can call the project finished, I can play around in the shed with new layouts. I am coming into a large chunk of cash in a few months so I should be able to finish this cab in style. I want to go all led buttons and all that fancy jazz.
I have a lot to do around the house still, paving landscaping painting and stuff, but ive looked at that half finished cab for about a year now and its time to get it finished.
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If your interested and have the room on the cab, I have the Kneivel templates for both 6 and 7 buttons in photochop that I could email to you. They're layouts and as long as you don't sell the cabs and NOT give him some proper English pounds, I can email them to you.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/mcseforsale/MAME_CAB/IMG_1637.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/mcseforsale/MAME_CAB/IMG_2189.jpg)
AJ
Some cool ideas in the build, but playing 1942 stretched to horizontal is a bad one.
Ahh well it doesn't impact on the gameplay and makes use of the wasted screen. I like it. I stretch out my SD tv too :p
Lusid-esque cab design. CRT PC Monitor. It's new old-school. I like the attention to detail. (Though I'm not big on the angled controls - but at least the it's parallel to the cut.)
Yeah that was a very hard decision, I think that's the third cp design I went through (actually built and played for a bit) I tried a curved button layout and a straight with the screen layout, what I have found is that it makes people approach the cab at a slight angle and gives them more elbow room, two adults sitting on stools, knees up a bit from feet on a stool rung, sitting side by side comfortably. it does throw you off a bit at first, the angle is enough to notice, but not enough that its annoying.
if I was to do a straight side by side I would want a slightly wider CP base with cup holders :) , and then I think it would look odd on the cab, I dunno, it just wouldn't be in proportion to me.
The whole CP unbolts pretty easily so once I can call the project finished, I can play around in the shed with new layouts. I am coming into a large chunk of cash in a few months so I should be able to finish this cab in style. I want to go all led buttons and all that fancy jazz.
I have a lot to do around the house still, paving landscaping painting and stuff, but ive looked at that half finished cab for about a year now and its time to get it finished.
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Yeah cheers mcseforsale, they might be handy for reference later on.
Here's a better "where I'm at" look.
There's really not a huge amount left to do.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_36.jpg)(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_37.jpg)
I chucked in an Iron Maiden poster in the CP just for the hell of it till I got around designing something. which is off at the printers atm.
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Looking nice!
How secure is that CP to the rest of the arcade and how exactly did you attach it? I only ask because that seems like a very narrow ledge for it to be resting on. The arcade I'm designing has very limited depth and I am going to have to have a similarly narrow ledge for the CP, and I had assumed that I would need to reinforce it with something in order to make sure the CP was stable. If you were able to just secure it as is you've given me some hope!
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yeah I had the same thoughts when I did it, I didn't want a cab too deep and absolutely must have leg room under the CP, early mock up I was measuring the height on my knees sitting on a stool to make sure I had clearance.
Its got a large thick chunk of pine bracing at the rear and bottom of the CP in the cab, then a heap of bolts right through it ending in some of these
(http://www.woodpeck.com/media/main_tnut.jpg)
its very strong, you could sit on the CP (but I'm not testing that) and I can pull the cab around by the CP, (no wheels, rather heavy)
Next time I have it off ill try to remember to take a pic.
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here we go. 7 75mm long bolts. That isn't going anywhere. I just used the button cutting blade to bore all the way through for cables.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_38.jpg)
and a shot of my kinda tidy CP. that blue cable is rather thick and a pain in the ass to work with, but I was sick of having to re do connections in the old CP because I used crappy thin wire the first time, so now its a bit of overkill.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_39.jpg)
that all has to come apart for the new graphics and cosmetic stuff. :cry:
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Love That wire. Were did you get it from ?. As far as the build. Some really interesting ideas, Overall a very nice build. I really like the bezel idea. Looks very slick. And the speaker setup looks great. Keep going mate. ::)
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great attention to detail very nice cab my first was based on lusid's design as well
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As a total nerd, I would have painted the bottom of the CP....yer GONNA want to show that part off. Also, I'd lose that gray USB cable...
And, I'm totally stealing your bezel idea on my next cab!
Nice job!
AJ
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Love That wire. Were did you get it from ?.
A local shop in Perth Australia called Jaycar. their awesome for all your switches, transistors, bread boards and all that geeky techy stuff.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=WH3052 (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=WH3052)
As a total nerd, I would have painted the bottom of the CP....yer GONNA want to show that part off. Also, I'd lose that gray USB cable...
I did say it all has to come apart for cosmetic stuff :P
but not painted, upholstered.
great attention to detail very nice cab my first was based on lusid's design as well
Thanks, I modified lusid's design a bit but the overall classic standard two player cab look was what I remember playing as a kid, so it was only natural to end up with something like that.
the next one (yeah already planning a second) will be a bit "out there" and more dedicated to just verticals and 4way.
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First: That bezel is super classy looking. Probably going to look really good under glass.
Second: That Iron Maiden panel is amazing. I vote to keep it that way ;D
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As much as I love the Irons, this is more what I had in mind.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_40.jpg)
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_41.jpg)
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_42.jpg)
Its hard to get a good photo with ye old S2 camera. but im just stoked at how well the CP turned out, its still just a poster I had printed but the way it printed it just turned out that the blood reflects differently to the rest of it, so in the overhead lights it just looks sweet. I was jumping up and down to finally have something on this cab 100% finished.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_43.jpg)
Well, apart from the braces there, have to paint them. ok 99% done then.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_44.jpg)
The underside got its material treatment.
Dig that texture. the flash makes it come up grey, but its a nice black really.. honest.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_45.jpg)
And another "where im at" shot. I cant wait to get the sides on.. as soon as I figure out what its going to be.
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Very nice covering. As you have a zombie theme going on how about a mix up consisting of Left 4 Dead, Dead island, Dead Reckoning, and the Walking Dead & BlackOps Zombies, I think that about covers it on the gaming zombie front. You could of course have a look at Marvel Zombies, there;s some good stuff that wouldn't look completely out of place with your CP.
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Finding good generic zombies that I like the look of at a decent resolution has been an issue with this whole zombie idea, at the start I just assumed the walking dead comic would have heaps of comic style zombies I can pinch, but after hours of flicking through every page, its really limited for useable material.
I did manage to knock up a bezel.
its just a laminated print, so if I change my mind, its an easy swap.
I need to get new plex for the cab, mine is way too dark and you can hardly see through it. so for now its off.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_49.jpg)
I know the rules aren't correct, but I moved them around so the top 10 would be the ones you remember from the movie.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_46.jpg)
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_47.jpg)
Bezel still needs a little tweaking. I left a little overhang just in case for now.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_48.jpg)
Marquee is on the way, and Yay im going to print the sides.. dropping nearly $300 on the printing was a sticking point for me but apparently office works here in aus will do what I need for about $60 a side, so bugger it that will do.
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(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_27.jpg)
(http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~credo/Images/mame_build/build_28.jpg)
Lovely work! Nice to see people take pride in the little details too. Great idea with the bezel too.
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Well its been busy around the new house lately and then i got distracted with this.
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_50.jpg)
That then enabled me to do this
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_51.jpg)
(http://members.iinet.net.au/~rocky05/images/build_52.jpg)
36kg Boxer inserted for scale :p
Its 2400mm (94in) long and 900mm (35in) deep and rock solid. It can cut sheets up to 1500mm (59in) across which should be heaps.
I saw someone's project on-line somewhere and decided i should have one too.
I still have to build the guide arm assembly, aluminum skirting, sand, paint. But for the moment she works great and doubles as a wood storage unit. i do plan to do shelves and drawers later on underneath it.
Anyway, back to finishing the arcade :p
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Very nice cab.
Liked what you have done with the bezel. And also great work with the CP wireing :applaud: :applaud:
:cheers:
Would have loved to have a full size cab, but because of lack of space and low WAF on full size I had to settle for a BarTop my self :angry: