Probably going to build dedicated cab, What am I getting myself into?

[the3eyedblindman]

   Ok, my mame machine is just about done, and boy does it look delicious, i have version 92 so i have all the golden tees, ect, so its great. In about 2 weeks to a month it should be completely done, and I will start a thread in project announcements. Two of my favorite games though, NBA Showtime and NFL BLitz, are not run well in mame. Soooo, as my next project, I wanted to build a dedicated NBA Showtime/NFL Blitz Gold 2000 cabinet.
      I have some concerns though, and am looking for comments and advice.
1) What am I getting myself into? I have never worked with real arcade cabinets, just done mame, and I am wondering if it is easy to do, or is easily learned, to wire up a real game.
2) Does anyone know if the artwork, game board ect. are easily found for this game? Any links would be apprecitated.
3) Would you guys be willing to help guide me through this? As I have never done anything to do with jamma or real arcade games before, I would need lots of help and instructions ect. as I go along.
4) Anyone built and NFL BLitz or NBA Showtime before? Was it complicated? Expensive,? ect.
Basically I'm really just wondering if this is do-able for me. Will I be able to do this..ect. Thanks guys, Doug.

[tmasman]

It's no harder than doing a MAME cabinet.

The JAMMA wiring is just a wireing harness you leave in the cabinet & has an edge connector that slips onto JAMMA compatible game boards.

I say do it.  We'll help you along where needed. But you shouldn't have any problems if you've already done a MAME machine.

Just start shopping around for monitors & PCBs... Those will be the biggest milestones (getting the stuff.) After you've got it, you just hook it all up & play.

If you've got any local auctions, keep you eyes open for non-working games... Many times they'll come with a JAMMA harness (depending on the last game it had in it) already haging inside & ready to be used.

Have fun, ask questions, then have some more fun.

[the3eyedblindman]

Thanks for the quick reply! What I was probably going to do cabinet wise is find the actual plans for that cabinet, and just build it and laminate it, its going to be hard finding sideart and control panel art, ect. Thats why all links will be helpful! Places where I can get a cheaper 27 inch monitor would be helpful too. Don't know where Ill find the PCB either. All of your comments will be helpful!

[tmasman]

eBay is a wonderful thing...

Here's your sign...

And another...

Still have to find an NBA Showtime side art for the other side of the cab, but this gets you half way there!

As for the monitor, check your local distributors (ask any local arcades) for parts... Otherwise, off to eBay again...

Like Here...

[the3eyedblindman]

So any 27 inch arcade monitor would work for this? You dont need any special specifics?

[RayB]

The only complicated part will be proper wiring of the AC in, power switch, AC filter, fuses, etc. But there are wiring diagrams on www.TheRealBobRoberts.com for that

[the3eyedblindman]

Some other things that are confusing me are the wiring up of 4 players instead of 2, and wiring 49 way joysticks.

[tmasman]

As far as monitors... Any Medium Resolution monitor...

And just make sure to get the Arcade manual for the game(s) you get... they can help in the wiring department.  It also helps to get a wiring harness thats specifically made for that game... It'll keep you from having to figure out a lot of things on your own.

[paigeoliver]

It will probably cost you twice as much to build one as it will cost you to buy one.

[tmasman]

It will probably cost you twice as much to build one as it will cost you to buy one.

I agree, that's why I was saying you should try to find a non-working cabinet (maybe even a working one if the price is right) and convert it.

But, it won't have that "new cab smell"... So it's all up to you & your budget.

[paigeoliver]

It will probably cost you twice as much to build one as it will cost you to buy one.

I agree, that's why I was saying you should try to find a non-working cabinet (maybe even a working one if the price is right) and convert it.

But, it won't have that "new cab smell"... So it's all up to you & your budget.

No, don't convert, buy a dedicated copy of whichever one you want most and then just buy the board for the other one.

[the3eyedblindman]

The Sports station cab I am going to build I think costs about 5 grand new... If I can get the PCB for 200 or so and a monitor for 200 or so on ebay, I can maybe get away with building the cab for about 1 grand, so I dont think it will cost more to build one.

[Wade]

It would be far cheaper to just buy a dedicated one, and then buy the extra board for the other game.  Why go through all the trouble of building when it is just going to cost you more money, and you'd be left with a game less valuable?

Wade

[the3eyedblindman]

Where would I be able to find a dedicated cab  ???How much do you think it would cost  are you talking a dedicated sportstation or a dedicated nfl blitz 

[NoOne=NBA=]

HERE is your Showtime sideart.

[paigeoliver]

Where would I be able to find a dedicated cab  ???How much do you think it would cost  are you talking a dedicated sportstation or a dedicated nfl blitz 

BLitz.