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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: spystyle on October 01, 2005, 05:52:13 pm

Title: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: spystyle on October 01, 2005, 05:52:13 pm
Howdy,

I added a chapter to my tutorial that covers converting a cabinet plan into a mini and discusses mini cabinets. Mini cabinets are groovy :)

Tell me what you think and post a pic of your mini cabinet!

Dig it?
Craig
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: NinjaEpisode on October 01, 2005, 08:53:09 pm
I Dig  8)
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: MinerAl on October 02, 2005, 01:08:43 am
Almost exactly how I made the mini for my niece and nephew...

http://www.lethargy.net
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: BobA on October 02, 2005, 01:14:19 pm
Very interesting info.  Keep up the good work.

BobA
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: DarkBubble on October 05, 2005, 12:12:54 pm
There must be at least a small market for minis in commercial arcades, because a local arcade with mostly older games has Bucky O'Hare stuffed into a mini.  I was actually considering building one from scratch, but if I could get ahold of one of those cheap with parts intact, I may do a mini cab for my first M.A.M.E. cab.

Almost exactly how I made the mini for my niece and nephew...

http://www.lethargy.net

I like the idea behind that cabinet, especially the innards.  Do you know the story on the plug & play games?  Have they gone the NES-on-a chip route, shrinking the hardware?  I was thinking about building a bar-top mini, and after seeing how you did your upright mini, I may actually use one of the Mortal Kombat P&Ps.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: RecycledPast on October 05, 2005, 03:45:41 pm
Here's mine
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=31132.msg263744#msg263744

If I was to do it again, I'd lean the screen back as in the tutorial.

Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: TurboC-- on October 05, 2005, 05:05:56 pm
Eh.  My sister plays Pac-Mania on her cell phone but it doesn't really excite me.   ::)
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: MameJunkie on October 05, 2005, 05:29:55 pm
I do like the mini ones alot...you get to have more of them in a fix amount of space.

My mini underconstruction http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=41641.0

The one I base mine off of...http://netbox.home.mindspring.com/spaceinvaders/
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: TurboC-- on October 05, 2005, 08:04:41 pm
Yes, I think they LOOK really awesome.  But the overall practicality is questionable.  Maybe for kids they would be cool, but I'm too tall now.  ;D
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: spystyle on October 05, 2005, 09:40:10 pm
Not too tall if your comfortably sitting on the couch

But, overall, I guess it's a "dad thing"
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: elvis on October 05, 2005, 11:23:51 pm
Excellent timing on this thread.  I've been planning a mini cab for my daughter for some time now.  I think it's time to start shopping for parts and get started.

I'm going to try and squeeze 2 sets of controls on this one for friends/siblings.  I've got some Aussie "MCA" joysticks which are quite small, so it should squeeze on there well enough.

I've been instructed that it must be in a "Barbie" theme, and that the young lass will be painting it herself in a pink colour scheme.  Ultra cute.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: NiN^_^NiN on October 06, 2005, 08:31:35 am
im sorry elvis but foley will be sending u a C&D order for using ultra cute

He owns ultra u know lol  ;D

I wanna have another small cabinet comp again i missed out on the first i had a half compleated cocktail cab that actually worked was using a n64 too
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: Minwah on October 06, 2005, 09:02:57 am
My mate suggested I make a mini cabinet for his VW camper van.

Would look pretty cool in matching paint to the van, and could be played easily from the back seats...

Just not sure what system I would use to run from 12v (lucky it's converted from 6v).
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: Lilwolf on October 06, 2005, 09:21:25 am
You could get a via board and get the full car kit.  Then you could also add nav software and such.. .would be fun / cool!

But your talking about 50 bucks for the motherboard (500mhz) on ebay + 80 for the powersupply...

the monitor would be the hard part though.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: NiN^_^NiN on October 06, 2005, 09:23:51 am
minwah u need to PM me

I've got a pc setup in my car running off 12v and using mame (use the touchscreen for shooter now and then ;) )

Pretty simple to install

I could get u running a system that only uses 60w all up including monitor ;)
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: KenToad on October 06, 2005, 10:12:30 am
minwah u need to PM me

I've got a pc setup in my car running off 12v and using mame (use the touchscreen for shooter now and then ;) )

Pretty simple to install

I could get u running a system that only uses 60w all up including monitor ;)

 :o I need to see this.  Post a pic, please.  Or are you winking because you're kidding?  I hope not.

Cheers,
KenToad

*Edit -- wrong smiley :police:
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: spystyle on October 06, 2005, 11:45:00 am
That sounds cool, also laptops use 12v
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: Crazy Cooter on October 06, 2005, 07:18:18 pm
I bought a "converter" for running the laptop from the cig lighter in the car for $20.00, I think that would be the easiest way to do a mobile setup.  Just fold the screen over the back (some modification required).  Sling it over the back of the seat with a pair of usb controllers and the kids would be satisfied for the long trips.  Or mount it up front so you have better view when the wife is driving  ;).

I am also a fan of the mini's.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: Minwah on October 06, 2005, 07:40:11 pm
Just been having a mess about with some spare stuff I have...14" Amstrad RGB monitor, Dreamcast & hacked VGA box.  Found the manual for the Amstrad, cut the end off a VGA cable and wired it up...this would make a cool mini cabinet:
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: crashwg on October 06, 2005, 07:54:28 pm
And mine...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=16428.0

Still pretty much in the state it was in last time I posted...  :-\

I realy gotta start working on that thing.  :P
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: NiN^_^NiN on October 06, 2005, 10:41:42 pm
Nope not joking at all :)

I'll take afew pics when i get home from work in 7 1/2 hours

I use the pc for MP3 GPS DIVX and EMU

I'm using a usb joypad for mame :( cause i can't really have a proper arcade control pannel in the car.

Still its good to play some mame while waiting for your mates etc.

Or watching some simpsons or family guy while u wait  ;D

The touchscreen really helps on the gun games i don't play them often just for the safety of the touchscreen  8)

This is the only pic i have on the net that i remember

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/aussie_ninja/car-lcd.jpg)

minwah u need to PM me

I've got a pc setup in my car running off 12v and using mame (use the touchscreen for shooter now and then ;) )

Pretty simple to install

I could get u running a system that only uses 60w all up including monitor ;)

 :o I need to see this.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: elvis on October 07, 2005, 12:41:04 am
You could get a via board and get the full car kit.  Then you could also add nav software and such.. .would be fun / cool!

But your talking about 50 bucks for the motherboard (500mhz) on ebay + 80 for the powersupply...

the monitor would be the hard part though.

There are plenty of 12V LCD monitors out there made for in-car use.  I wouldn't even consider a CRT due to voltage requirements, heat and weight dangers (consider a flying CRT in a car crash!).

In fact, the 17" LCD I'm sitting infront of as I speak is a 12V DC unit.  Wouldn't be hard at all to convert it for vehicle use.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: NiN^_^NiN on October 07, 2005, 03:14:01 am
The 17" would be easy to convert actually it be easier to plug it into the PSU from the computer

Also almost all laptops are 19v

The car laptop kits convert the 12v to 19v to run it in the car.

You could have the setup like mine and buy a docking station so all u do is plug your laptop into the docking station then u can use the flipout touchscreen like mine then wheny ur done take the laptop with you  ;D

Only around 3 hours now till i get home and i'll load up some mame games and take some pics ;)
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: simcomm on October 10, 2005, 01:10:33 am
Did someone say minis
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: NiN^_^NiN on October 10, 2005, 07:53:06 am
Great job on the mini cab looks fantastic :) got closeups of the screen area?
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: Zook on October 10, 2005, 08:55:42 am
Just finished this mini for my kids.  It's a MiniMame design.  Old Packard Bell P233 with 14 inch monitor.  Windows 98 and Vantage installed.  Stands 48 inches tall and is 15.5 wide.
Title: Re: Mini cabinets are groovy :)
Post by: Wade on October 10, 2005, 11:10:51 am
I had it easy, I used one of the two pre-built mini cabinets I scored earlier this year.  This game just sold last weekend for $600 at the York pinball show.