Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: arzoo on December 03, 2006, 11:41:09 am
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About a year ago, my friend and I decided to build our own mame systems. My project - Arcade Addiction (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=57597.msg593704) got off the ground first. Then, last month, my friend decides he's going to build two cabs at once - the second will be a gift for his brother. And oh, by the way, they need to be done for the holiday!
So three weekends ago, we started on the crash build. To speed things up, we decided to cut the side panels out two at a time. This had it's pros and cons - we were done faster and the two sides matched, but the jigsaw blade tended to flex- causing non perpendicular edges. And the effect was enhanced by the thicker wood. We used a belt sander to fix things up.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62244;image)
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62248;image)
Router Dust :dizzy:
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62250;image)
My friend's son helped by putting the scraps to good use. ;D
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62246;image)
We worked two long afternoons and made good progress! (The control panel had been completed earlier this summer.)
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62252;image)
Work continued the next weekend with a second friend joining the crew. Most of the cabinet is built from 3/4 plywood, but we used MDF for the front and back door panels. MDF dust is not the best thing to inhale - That's me wearing the $1.50 dusk mask and my friend is wearing the industrial strength re-breather!
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62254;image)
A slight miscalculation on the monitor shelf height. I must have forgotten to carry the zero. ::)
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62256;image)
Not bad for three days work (about 17 hours). ;D
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62258;image)
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=62260;image)
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Looking good, especially considering its two cabs and a crunch time frame.
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Great progress in such a short time. Now if you can only keep up this pace... Lookin good.
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I agree. You guys are making really fast progress. Next time you are in a rush to build 2 cabs at once (;D), I'd recommend getting a pattern bit for your router. Cut one piece with the jigsaw, sand it to where you like it and then trace it a bunch of times, cut 1/8" wide of the line freehand and then use the pattern bit to make exact copies...
Keep it up!
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Painting has commenced with the primer and first top coat (black) completed over the weekend.
Here are a couple pics after the primer was applied. Check out the grill work for the speakers.
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Painted Black!
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Are these cabs going to have different looks or are they going to be cookie cutter copies of each other?
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The cabs and cp's are identical, but the graphics and marquee may be different. One of the two will use the Way Back Time Machine theme.
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wow, good luck guys, I've got two months on my cab so far! I can't imagine doing two on such a short time frame.
:notworthy:
You must not have day jobs :laugh2: J/K
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You must not have day jobs :laugh2: J/K
It is a lot easier and quicker to have help when building something of this size. Believe me I know. If I had help on a regular basis I would have completely finished off my basement a year ago instead of only being 1/3 the way through.
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Here's a look with the front panel and coin door.
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The control panel wiring is complete! Updated pics - graphics on the side and cp.
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Very nice. I like how the lightning spreads from the trackball. Did you get that sideart from mamemarquees? I was thinking of going with that design, but it seems rather expensive from them.
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Very nice. I like how the lightning spreads from the trackball. Did you get that sideart from mamemarquees? I was thinking of going with that design, but it seems rather expensive from them.
Yes, all the artwork came from mamemarquees. The original plan was for custom artwork with a way back time machine theme. But the project needed to be semi-completed by mid February.... so mamemarquees was a good (temporary?) solution.