Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: Wade on February 10, 2006, 09:34:06 pm
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Hey guys!
This is my first project in a while (last one was the Galaga restoration for a buddy of mine, around October). This is a Burgertime cocktail that had been converted into a horizontal monitor Trivia game. It was in sorry condition, but it was free because I helped a friend with a few games he put on ebay. I decided I would convert it to a Ms Pac look-a-like, with MAME running the top 4-way vertical classics.
I started by stripping it, cleaning it out with a vacuum, and washing it out with water and bleche-wite. Then I coated the inside with poly, to seal it up and make it easier to keep clean in the future.
Next step was JB welding metal plates to the bottom of the CP's, and bondo-filling the holes. Those have been sanded and painted now, and are ready for the twobit overlays (got the two overlays and the top glass underlay for $70 on ebay!)
I'm almost finished laminating the cabinet with some formica I bought from the local cabinet shop. They had a few choices, but I bought a piece that had that was just large enough to do this game, to save a few dollars. There were better matches, but I also thought this laminate looked nicer than the stock stuff.
After I finish the lamination tomorrow, I can bring the sucker inside where it is nice and warm, to reassemble it and put the PC in it. I've also fitted a 19" VGA monitor into the factory mounts, so installing that should be pretty painless.
This one might take several weeks for me to finish, but my goal is to get the cabinet refurbished and INSIDE. Then I can work on the rest at my own pace.
Total cost for this project will be no more than $300, that includes all new controls, new overlays/underlay, and new glass.
Pictures to follow.
Wade
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pics
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more pics
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Nice. I never get tired of looking at cocktails.
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How thin is the laminate?
Thanks,
-Tom
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It is the thicker, standard formica, which is about 1/16th. I used the "vertical grade" formica on that Galaga, which is only about 1/32nd, and doesn't make a detectible difference in panel thickness. I could have used that for this one, but I'd have to order it, and I'd have to get a full sheet.
Wade
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I've had my eye on a midway cocktail that I would like to refurb to like new similar to what you have done in this project.
My biggest question is how best to refinish the outside panels.
Did you just lay the new laminate over the top of the old finish or try and strip the old veneer off in some way?
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Good to see Wade'O! Nice work as usual. Need we say more? :)
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I've had my eye on a midway cocktail that I would like to refurb to like new similar to what you have done in this project.
My biggest question is how best to refinish the outside panels.
Did you just lay the new laminate over the top of the old finish or try and strip the old veneer off in some way?
It is a little tricky, because the ends with the CP's have to be pre-cut since you won't be able to trim the edges with a router. Fortunately, they are just rectangles, so it is easier than some others I've done. Once I glued the precut rectangles on the ends, I routed out the speaker holes and CP areas. The Front and Rear you can just laminate and router-trim like usual, no special work needed.
The old veneer wasn't coming off without a LOT of work, so I left it. There were a few spots on the bottom corners were the plywood was peeling (the laminate was still well-attached to the ply, though), which I cut out with a utility knife and filled with bondo. You can see this in one of the pics above. I also filled a large speaker hole on the backside with a scrap piece of OSB plywood (MsPac doesn't have a speaker there).
When I laminate OVER existing laminate like this, I always scuff the sides up real well with a heavy (80 grit or so) sanding pad on my drill. I also usually apply the glue TWICE. Both of these seem to help. The only time I have had trouble with laminate sticking, I either didn't let the glue dry enough, or I didn't rough up the surface.
Thanks Spriggy! ;) More pictures coming soon, lots of progress is being made.
Wade
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Picture of the difference between a Tron/Burgertime cocktail top and a MsPac top... had to add these small wood pieces.
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More progress.
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A few more. It's getting real close. I'll probably have it wrapped up this weekend.
Wade
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Mmmmm, classic cocktail goodness. This is definitely a time when MAME has been used to bring a classic cab back to life. I love that it looks like a minty stock Ms pac man. Great job. Was it hard to resist putting that one button on each control panel to increase the number of playable games? Or was your main goal to have it look stock?
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Thanks for the comments. I ORIGINALLY planned to put one button on the panel, but I had SO much trouble drilling a hole in the CP that I was afraid to try to make another large one. I also had trouble putting a hole in the brand new overlays, because they looked so good and there was no place where a button would really look right (esp on Player 1 side). I wanted to run 12 classic vertical games, which covers most of my favorite classics, like I did on a previous cocktail, and then I could go with only 8 way joys on my main MAME cabinet.
I may still add that button eventually. But for now I will just have the 3 games that will work with this setup.
Wade
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Great job wade! most impressive!
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Thanks for the comments. I ORIGINALLY planned to put one button on the panel, but I had SO much trouble drilling a hole in the CP that I was afraid to try to make another large one. I also had trouble putting a hole in the brand new overlays, because they looked so good and there was no place where a button would really look right (esp on Player 1 side). I wanted to run 12 classic vertical games, which covers most of my favorite classics, like I did on a previous cocktail, and then I could go with only 8 way joys on my main MAME cabinet.
I may still add that button eventually. But for now I will just have the 3 games that will work with this setup.
Wade
I see what you mean on space for the button since the original joys had that large footprint. I think its perfect without anyway. Aren't there more than 3 good games that work with just a 4 way, or are you just putting games on there that would have been in this style cabinet?
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Well it is an adapter plate which makes it fit in the original hole locations, so I could put a button through the plate and it'd still be strong enough. The problem was how hard it was for me to cut the holes. I would have to cut 4 holes total (1 through each CP, and one through each joystick plate). Didn't feel up to the task. Ideally I'd have that extra button so I could play more games, so I hope to add it eventually. I will have to find a better blade for cutting those holes.
Wade
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Don't bend on adding a button Wade! Keep her looking original. :) .... And on that note, are you going 'TwoBits' or digital for the underlay?
Nice..very nice..
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Spriggy,
Well, I would be bending if I DIDN'T add the button, since that is what I originally planned and what I'd still prefer to do. ;) As far as the CP's and the underlay, those are real twobit parts and are great quality, but I got lucky and snagged both CP's and the glass underlay for $70 total from ebay. :) That's 50% of the normal price.
The game is now set up and running in the gameroom, and got some play tonight. New glass will arrive Monday! It's nearly finished. So, soon I can start another project (maybe it is finally time to finished the additional gameroom area!) :) We'll see.
TTYL!
Wade
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....but I got lucky and snagged both CP's and the glass underlay for $70 total from ebay. :) That's 50% of the normal price.
Oops :P.... didn't see this on your first post!! Dippus Shittus! 8)
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More pics. Just have molding on the CP left and some coin door work.
Wade
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WOWWWW 8) that is really sweet :angel:
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Now thats Damn Nice!! :o
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Nice, really nice. I love cocktails. Must resist urge to order more parts for another project....
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Beautiful, Quality work!
This is how you do it folks.
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Gotta give props to a fellow Ms Pac mame multi....it's really the only way to go!!
You did a great job on the restore, mine was as good as I thought I could get it wood wise and twobits really does make some great stuff.
Mine was actually a gorf or a galaga (it was converted to a Mr Do when I found it) and already had the one button hole, I added another button and set it up for even more games like 1943 and Puzzle Bobble, player 2 plays upside down, but the controls are oriented correctly. kind of a fun way to play.
again great job!!
NY
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I'd love to see more details interior pics!
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I was not a big fan of a cocktail cab untill I saw this one. I am right in the middle of a stand up and was thinking about making a juke but after seeing your cocktail I might have to reconsider. That is one classy machine.
Don
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Thanks for the compliments, guys! I will get some updated pics including pics of the insides, in the next few days.
Wade
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Thanks for the compliments, guys! I will get some updated pics including pics of the insides, in the next few days.
Wade
Yeh...hurry up and finish it, so we can put this thread to sleep. I'm getting sick of all the compliments. huh!! ;) ;D :angel:
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she's pretty. REALLY nice job! ;D
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I'm not too big on the cocktail cabs my self, but that looks incredible. I wouldn't mind having one my self. Great job !
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I've seen this one in person, and let me tell you, it is VERY nice.
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hey that's cool...i'm wondering what vga monitor you used that was able to fit into the mounts properly? that would help me tremendously.
also - a shameless plug for myself because i think you bought that artwork from me :)
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Bravo! Great job.
-D
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Just wonderful. I hope you decide to keep this one.
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I'd agree. More pics of the electrical components would be great. I'm working on the same project and am at a loss where to mount everything.
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i got an idea.... set the 1p button up so it also acts as button 1 (or the 2p button)
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Man, you have made me change my mind about cocktails. This one is awesome for sure! 1 question though, what frontend are you using? That looks awfully simple, and for my next project I am shooting for some sort of multigame cab with 3-4 games, and that front end looks perfect!
Thanks, Fred.
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1 question though, what frontend are you using? That looks awfully simple, and for my next project I am shooting for some sort of multigame cab with 3-4 games, and that front end looks perfect!
The frontend is called Gamelauncher. Its a nice front end that uses precious little CPU or memory resources and is available as a horizontal/vertical setup and windows/dos/linux flavors.
http://www.dribin.org/dave/game_launcher/
-Dweebs
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Thanks for the reply, after some serious searching I eventually figured out what it was. Using Dragon King instead, with a skin used to mimic GL, but has video previews in the background.