Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Gromet on July 24, 2003, 01:18:07 pm
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Hey all,
I purchased the HAPP Marquee Retainer. It is basicall a peice of curved PVC that you cut to length. The directions on Happ's Site say: "To use simply cut to marquee width and install ".
and install? Do you just cut to length and the pressure on the sides keeps it in place? what have the rest of you dont for your marquees?
Thanks
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Here is my attempt to help you out.......
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While his picture shows where the retainers should be placed, you don't necessarily need to screw them in.
On my cab, the top panel is about a half an inch lower than the top of my sides. My top marquee retainer fit very snuggly in that area, so I did not fasten it at all.
I used some fast setting epoxy to fasten the bottom retainer. Although I just happened to have this laying around, you can probably find a small tube of this stuff at a hardware store for a $1.50 in the glue section. I had to hold the retainer in place for about 5 minutes while the glue set.
This is a little off topic, but someone out there may be wondering how to cut the retainer to size.
I used a circular saw. I put the retainer on the edge of one peice of mdf, with the curved part hanging off. Then I put another sheet of mdf on top of that one, covering the entire retainer, forming a wood and plastic sandwhich. Then I cut and I think it worked really well, giving me nice clean cuts.
Good Luck!
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I opted not to glue both the retainers since I wanted to be able to get inside to change a light bulb if required. Although, it seems you only glued the lower retainer so you could probably still have access to the light/speakers etc....
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Why is this marquee retainer so expensive??? Surely you could just pick up 12ft of L-Shaped (rounded or flat) plastic edging from your local hardware store for a few pound.
Well thats what I'm planning to do, the stuff I've seen is the same sort of material as t-molding and can be cut with a craft knife. I will glue the lower half as to not show any visable screws and the top one will be screwed down allowing me to remove it if needed for maintaince.
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In case you haven't noticed, everything at happs is too expensive. The retainer I got was not in great condition either. It had many dents and they mangled the edges where they cut it. Fortunately, I was able to use 2 good sections for my cab, (They give you 20' which is more than enough).
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In case you haven't noticed, everything at happs is too expensive.
To be fair, remember that as a group we're not Happ's primary market. Distributors and operators are, and I'd imagine they get a conciderably larger discount that the 3% under list you get buying stuff off the website. Yep, their stuff is expensive, but at least their willing to accept small orders. A lot of companies in their position only sell to distributors and won't give you the time of day. ;)
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In case you haven't noticed, everything at happs is too expensive.
To be fair, remember that as a group we're not Happ's primary market. Distributors and operators are, and I'd imagine they get a conciderably larger discount that the 3% under list you get buying stuff off the website. Yep, their stuff is expensive, but at least their willing to accept small orders. A lot of companies in their position only sell to distributors and won't give you the time of day. ;)
Actually thlat's not fair to say either. At this point we are just as important, if not more so than distributors. In case you haven't noticed the arcade is dead. All that's left are simulator games, which happs sells few parts too. Their high prices are supposed to counter balance their lack of customers now days.
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That's true to a point, but then Happ doesn't just sell stuff for 20 year old arcade machines. I'd imagine the gaming (gambling) side of their business is fairly profitable these days.
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I've seen games with the Happ marquee retainer installed, and IMO it looks a bit hokey and too much "aftermarket"... Maybe I'm more old school, but a metal angle marquee retainer looks cleaner. Aluminum angle can be found at any hardware store, and the installation (after a quick shot of black semigloss spray paint) is exactly the same as the expensive Happ stuff: just cut and screw as required...
Moon Patrol w/ classic metal retainer:
(http://www.oscarcontrols.com/tmp/marquee-moonpatrol.jpg)
Soul Calibur w/ Happ retainer:
(http://www.oscarcontrols.com/tmp/marquee-soulcalibur.jpg)
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Here is my attempt to help you out.......
So how are you supposed to get to the light/remove the marquee once you have installed it?
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Here is my attempt to help you out.......
So how are you supposed to get to the light/remove the marquee once you have installed it?
Screwdriver.
Remember that the public was not supposed to have access to guts of arcade machines. If you only have to get out a screwdriver every 6 months to change a bulb, then you are doing well... :)
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HC's sweeping generalizations being what they are, I can't imagine the enthusiast-dollars are whats keeping HAPP Controls afloat each month guys.....
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To change my light bulb, all I do is unscrew the top MDF/wood panel (ie: the panel where the light fixture is attached). I leave the top marquee retainer screwed into this top panel....no need to remove that.
I did not cover the top screws with wood putty, I left them uncovered so I could change the bulb....
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HC's sweeping generalizations being what they are, I can't imagine the enthusiast-dollars are whats keeping HAPP Controls afloat each month guys.....
They aren't, I never said that. Go back and actually read what I said. :P