Author Topic: My First MAME Cabinet (Read 6795 times)

giza · « **on:** June 29, 2005, 11:52:20 am »

After browsing through this forum and website for a while, I finally decided to take the plunge and start on my own cabinet. First I would like to say that without this forum and the Project Arcade book, this would not be happening. Here are a few picts of how the cabinet is starting to take form:

giza · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2005, 11:53:15 am »

More picts:

giza · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2005, 11:53:55 am »

More Picts:

giza · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2005, 11:54:41 am »

Last pict:

giza · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2005, 12:02:13 pm »

I finally think that I am ready to start sanding and to put my first coats of primer on the baby. I haven't decided which color I and going with since I am waiting on my marquee and side art from mamemarquee.com. I chose to use sideart and a marquee that was already on the site, Atomic marquee and sideart with the street fighter cp overlay.

In one of the picts, you will notice the black button and the hole next to it. The black button will turn on the entire cabinet and the hole is for extension USB cable so I will be able to add guns or what ever else I need to. I don't have a keyboard drawer yet since I was thinking about maybe using one of my USB to be able to plug in a keyboard.

The coin door opens for easy maintenance for the internals. I am also waiting on my 27" Wells Gardner D9200 so I can start mounting it.

I didn't expect this darn project to get as expensive as it has already, but it will all be worth it in the long run. Imagine long nights playing games you grew up playing. I know you guys already knew that but.

All comments are appreciated whether good or bad. Any suggestions will also be appreciated. Please make suggestion before I start with priming and painting.

pj_elia · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2005, 12:22:35 pm »

Giza,
Looking good so far, I don't have any suggestions because I'm planning my first one like you. Good luck. BTW- What unexpected costs have you run into?

Paul

AlanS17 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2005, 12:26:21 pm »

My unexpected costs came from everywhere. Tools, bit & pieces, wiring... bascially anything that wasn't a core component of the machine once it's complete. For instance, I probably spent $20 on angle iron the brace the monitor into the frame and to keep a few other things in place. You have a number in your head of how much the monitor will cost, but don't think about spending another $20 or $30 to make it fit.

giza · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2005, 12:50:38 pm »

Tools, tools, and more tools. Deciding on an arcade monitor vs a tv, etc. I figure the tools to be a good cost being if you by a prebuilt cabinet from mameroom.com you will spend $500 easy. All the tools and MDF was about that, so I guess it's not all that bad.

Don't misunderstand, I not really gripping about the cost since this is a project that I didn't need, but it something I wanted. And wanting something bad enough the costs is less of a factor than the return.

Saying the part about unexpected costs will hopefully shed some light to those starting just as I am.

shodokan123 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2005, 01:34:56 pm »

can i get the measurements for that CP?

giza · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2005, 02:21:12 pm »

shodokan123, I sent you the plans for the CP. As far as the buttons, joysticks, and trackball I just measured them by eyesight. I didn't use a preprinted layout of the buttons, etc.

armax · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2005, 04:14:42 pm »

Giza, I know this may sound silly, but are you near the Austin, Texas area? Your garage is almost a splitting image of mine (except less cluttered). Good job on the cabinet!

AlanS17 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2005, 04:36:33 pm »

Quote from: armax on June 29, 2005, 04:14:42 pm

Giza, I know this may sound silly, but are you near the Austin, Texas area?

giza · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2005, 04:59:04 pm »

I am actually in Dallas. Here are some more images of the cab with 1st coat of primer:

This is the part that I was dreading.

RTSDaddy2 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2005, 06:45:52 pm »

That looks really, really great so far!

I also think it's nice that you discussed those "surprise costs." It didn't matter how many times I thought I had enough supplies, I've found myself constantly running to the hardware store for more!

Like you said though, no one's complaining about it - just surprised by it. All the little things can't diminish the feeling youg et when you look at you cabinet and think "This one is special because I made it - and there isn't another in the world exactly like it!"

AlanS17 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 01, 2005, 06:53:34 pm »

If I'd known you were local I would have sold you one of mine!

*shameless plug*

giza · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2005, 11:17:23 am »

Here are some picts with the paint on it. I am now ready to take my project inside the house and work on my CP and mount my monitor.

giza · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2005, 11:18:06 am »

More picts:

giza · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2005, 11:19:59 am »

Quote from: AlanS17 on July 01, 2005, 06:53:34 pm

If I'd known you were local I would have sold you one of mine!

giza · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2005, 09:01:28 pm »

More picts:

giza · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2005, 09:02:57 pm »

2 more picts

I am gonna do some custom artwork for the marquee and sideart. For now the marquee that I have will be just fine. I know its not original, oh well.

xonix_digital · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2005, 06:36:29 pm »

I sent you a pm

-=XD=-

giza · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2005, 11:25:30 pm »

Just a recommendation to guys building your cabinets, get the your joysticks from ultimarc.com instead of happcontrols.

n3rrd · « **Reply #22 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:22:25 am »

Quote from: giza on July 03, 2005, 11:25:30 pm

Just a recommendation to guys building your cabinets, get the your joysticks from ultimarc.com instead of happcontrols. The joysticks from ultimarc are much better quality than those from happcontrols. The ones I am speaking about are the super joysticks vs the t-stik.

I appreciate the input on the joysticks, Giza, as I am in the market to pick up a few for two different soon to be on-going projects. Although, from what I've read, the quality of a joystick (when talking about something of atleast decent quality in any respect) is mainly subjective. Different people prefer different styles for various kinds of games.

By the by, impressive cabinet. You did a good job on it!

Bones · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:36:04 am »

Wow. You didn't mess around, that came together very quickly.

Looks very tidy, well done.

bossyman15 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:10:24 pm »

nice job! but ummm your screen looks ummm i dunno the word but can you see through that screen easily?

giza · « **Reply #25 on:** July 04, 2005, 08:31:42 pm »

I still had the plastic on it. I took it off. It only took me about a month to build the cabinet. I will post some more picts later.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #26 on:** July 05, 2005, 03:41:21 am »

where did you get the overlay for the CP? Its awesome

SNAAKE · « **Reply #27 on:** July 05, 2005, 05:08:12 am »

Quote from: USSEnterprise on July 05, 2005, 03:41:21 am

where did you get the overlay for the CP? Its awesome

Thank you !

Quote from: giza on July 04, 2005, 08:31:42 pm

I still had the plastic on it. I took it off. It only took me about a month to build the cabinet. I will post some more picts later.

NICE cabinet..very professional.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #28 on:** July 05, 2005, 05:24:29 am »

should I assume that SNAAKE provided the CP overlay?

giza · « **Reply #29 on:** July 05, 2005, 09:20:36 am »

Quote from: USSEnterprise on July 05, 2005, 03:41:21 am

where did you get the overlay for the CP? Its awesome

I got if from mamemarquee.com. They shipped it extremely fast and I am very satisfied with the quality of their work. I'd recommend using them to anyone.


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