Well, while some may not consider this *progress* I thought I'd post a quick update to show my commitment to this project despite the lack of construction so far.
Completed a major revision to final 3D model for a subtle change in the appearance of the cab. When seen head on in my modeling app, the cab just wasn't "looming" like I wanted, so I canted the sides slightly inward toward the bottom so the top of the cab...the marquee in particular... feels a bit more characiture like and exaggerated. Model is now officially ready to transfer to actual construction drawings/joint details etc.... the final blue prints!! Now to make sure it's actually stable!
I have spent a long time detailing the navigation panel (below the monitor) and laying out button positions. I'll be using Happs medium round illuminated buttons with my custom created Mission Control icons and graphics inside. )P( has uber-generously agreed to modify Emulaxian and provide me with an exe to support direct emulator selection via keystroke, so I can map buttons to each of the consoles I'll be running. See attached pic for a quick button mockup!
Construction will being in the next week or two! The nav-panel will be the first thing built as it requires huge amounts of detailing work... bullnose plexi etc. Pics coming soon. Even in it's rough layout form it's looking super cool... almost dashboard like. I'll be swiping Citizen Fish's idea of a PC Tachometer which measures CPU activitiy on a car tach. This should help further the dashboard look as well.
I've been doing a ton of commissioned graphics work and the results of that labor are now arriving. Yesterday I got 2 T-stick plus' with blue ball tops, quiet switches, and an ArcadeVGA card, today UPS came with a monitor bezel, round illuminated buttons, and a coin door with blue reject switches and quarter/token combo mechs. I am posting this not so much because anyone else will really care, but because I'm so excited to get going on this I can't sit still.... much less concentrate on WORK! I do consider all this progress... and hope it shows my fanatical obsession with completing this project - as these orders alone total over $400. Next comes the WG monitor, the PC, massive plexi sheets, blue cold cathode tubes, and wood wood wood.