Ms Pacman Stencil update...

[eccs19]

this is absoluetly amazing!! joymonkey you are the man.

neil

Now you'll have something to do after DK is finished.     Looking forward to that restore thread.

[WunderCade]

Ha...Niel..did Ms. Pac just jump ahead in the restore line?

[shilmover]

I might just have to pick this up as an excuse to find a Ms Pac Man cab.

[saint]

Woot!

[WunderCade]

Nice.

[JoyMonkey]

These will eat a lot of my time and I don't plan on doing very many sets, but as I've said before, once I finish the initial orders I'll make the stencil files publicly available so any vinyl sign-shop should be able to run a set of stencils.

[JoyMonkey]

Now...will they be profile cut to the cabinet? That would make it a lot easier I think.

Unfortunately the rolls of stencil vinyl only comes in 30" wide rolls and I need to leave a border inside that, so it's not quite wide enough to cut the full width of the cabinet.
I'll try and leave part of the cabinet's curve in the yellow layer to help position it a little easier (see the attached image). The cabinet profile measurements I'm using are all from Jakobuds plans, I'm assuming these are accurate enough, but can someone double-check a couple of these sizes, just so we're 100% sure I'm correct?

The yellow layer is the only one that you'll need to position in relation to the cabinet; the pink and black layers will be aligned using the registration marks from the yellow layer.

[ChadTower]

This is cool.

[eccs19]

Unfortunately the rolls of stencil vinyl only comes in 30" wide rolls and I need to leave a border inside that, so it's not quite wide enough to cut the full width of the cabinet.

Boy, you must be cutting it close to getting all the graphics in with that 30".  How much extra breathing room did you end up with?   

[JoyMonkey]

On a 30" roll I can cut up to 29 1/4", but these rolls come with punch-holes too, so it leaves me with 28 1/2" for the actual stencils.

[ChadTower]

Looking at that image, a thought occurs... once he releases the source files, as is the current plan (and I wouldn't blame him one bit if he changes his mind and never does), that will be a great way for me to customize the color scheme... just keep poking around the layer colors until something pops.

[JoyMonkey]

Looking at that image, a thought occurs... once he releases the source files, as is the current plan (and I wouldn't blame him one bit if he changes his mind and never does), that will be a great way for me to customize the color scheme... just keep poking around the layer colors until something pops.

Yep, I just sent you an Illustrator composite with each stencil layer as a single group, so you can try out a few color schemes easily.

[ChadTower]

That works, and at the same time, doesn't compromise your source material.

Awesome.  You continue to be the man.

[Zeno]

JM - Will you be putting these files on your artwork site too?

Zeno

[JoyMonkey]

JM - Will you be putting these files on your artwork site too?

I'll probably just post them to the Artwork Library, since it's the one that really caters to vector artwork. I won't be putting them there straight away, but once I'm done with the initial orders and get tired of weeding vinyl I'll upload them there.

[eccs19]

I'm curious about one thing, and I'm sure it will also help people understand the process as well.

With the Registration marks you created, I assume on the yellow template you don't weed them out, but on the pink and black you do weed them?  Is that how your getting your alignment so good?  I would assume then that you don't clean the registration marks off the machine till you've completed the final paint color?

[rockin_rick]

The cabinet profile measurements I'm using are all from Jakobuds plans, I'm assuming these are accurate enough, but can someone double-check a couple of these sizes, just so we're 100% sure I'm correct?

Uh oh - Jakobuds plans are wrong*.  The cab is 31 1/2" from front to back from the bottom up to the bump out for the control panel.  It is straight up, not angled out like Jakobuds plans*.  The pic you posted in post #166 shows it as 30 1/2 at the bottom, but I just measured mine to be 31 1/2.  The height of the widest part of the side where it bumps out for the CP I just measured to be 36", while your pic shows it to be 37 1/4"  That explains why the curve on the small yellow and pink bar right above the large ms pac doesn't match the curve on the side panel (like it does on the real machine).  That curve is also only 1/2 away from the edge of the cab.

On a 30" roll I can cut up to 29 1/4", but these rolls come with punch-holes too, so it leaves me with 28 1/2" for the actual stencils.

This also seems to be a problem.  I just now measured the width of the yellow and pink bar along the bottom of the cab under the three ghosts and the width of it is 30 1/16" wide.  Up a bit towards the middle of the cab, it looks as if the max width of the yellow is about 30 1/2".

Perhaps shrinking it to fit into the limitations of your material is still better than nothing, but it's not exact.

Rick

*There has been a lot of debate regarding this here by others, and in my research it seems that the consensus is that perhaps there were cabs with his dimensions, but no one has been able to verify it.  The slope of the front is highly suspect, and the height of the bump out for the control panel, too.  It doesn't match my cab.  IMO, people are just giving jakobud (Jake) the benefit of the doubt, but in reality, I bet the plans submitted to him/collected by him were just wrong.  (his plans are based on actual measurements by him and measurements supplied to him from others)

[JoyMonkey]

I'm curious about one thing, and I'm sure it will also help people understand the process as well.

With the Registration marks you created, I assume on the yellow template you don't weed them out, but on the pink and black you do weed them?  Is that how your getting your alignment so good?  I would assume then that you don't clean the registration marks off the machine till you've completed the final paint color?

Yes, yes and yes.

I didn't weed the registration marks in the yellow layer and didn't remove them from the test material after painting.
If you take a look at the , you'll see that I weeded the registration marks out, then covered the stencil with transfer-tape and then removed a square of backing paper from behind each registration mark (being careful not to cut through the stencil itself). This way the reg mark in the pink layer becomes a window, letting you align the stencil over the yellow registration marks underneath.

On the white material that I used, the registration marks are clearly visible through the transfer-tape. This won't be the case on an actual cabinet though, so it might be best to cut the reg marks  in the pink and black layers totally out.

I'll do another video showing some application tips and tricks to illustrate this and a few other things a little more clearly when the time comes.

My files have some tolerance for lining up each layer; the black strokes outline the pink and yellow by about 1/32", so if the stencils aren't perfectly aligned with each other it shouldn't make a huge difference.

[JoyMonkey]

Uh oh - Jakobuds plans are wrong*.  The cab is 31 1/2" from front to back from the bottom up to the bump out for the control panel....

Resizing my files won't be an issue. I'd like to get these scaled as accurately as possible to the original MsPac cabinets. Thanks for measuring, I'll resize my drawings and post them for comparison.

On a 30" roll I can cut up to 29 1/4", but these rolls come with punch-holes too, so it leaves me with 28 1/2" for the actual stencils.

This also seems to be a problem.  I just now measured the width of the yellow and pink bar along the bottom of the cab under the three ghosts and the width of it is 30 1/16" wide.  Up a bit towards the middle of the cab, it looks as if the max width of the yellow is about 30 1/2".

I can do the "three ghosts" section as a separate piece. Breaking the sideart into sections like this will actually make it easier to apply than doing it in one piece. I might also do the logo portion seperately, I'll see how it works out with the final dimensions.

[knave]

Wow Joymonkey Awesome work.  Question.  Will there be any diference in application if the paint is rolled on? or should I start looking for a sprayer?

[Zeno]

Wow Joymonkey Awesome work.  Question.  Will there be any diference in application if the paint is rolled on? or should I start looking for a sprayer?

Good question knave.  What about paint types?  Oil?  Acrylic? Latex?

Any good ideas?

[JoyMonkey]

I'm really not sure about the best way to tackle paints, it's not my area of expertise at all. I would think rolling on paint would be okay, just be sure to remove the stencil before it dries fully as I'd imagine rolling might cause a little caking around the edges.

On the measurements side of things, I just got a call with measurements of a few MsPac cabinets. It sounds like my scale isn't far off, I'll post a revised drawing tonight.
I'm not sure where it originated from, but it seems like the measurements shown in this photo are really close.

[JoyMonkey]

Here's the side profile after a few size adjustments.

[More Cowbell]

I love lamp! 

[Neilyboy]

this is absoluetly amazing!! joymonkey you are the man.

neil

Now you'll have something to do after DK is finished.     Looking forward to that restore thread.

Ha...Niel..did Ms. Pac just jump ahead in the restore line?

haha well id love to jump on these cause im worried that they wont be available when im ready to work with them. I am low on funds now and its rainy and cold here now. I have the itch to start in on another cabinet but working in the cold isnt any fun. I do have a heater in the garage but I dont know we will see. I do want to thank JoyMonkey again for all of his work with these. If I had the cash and was ready to paint my cab but its going to be 4 months until I get around to it.

I have my alpha mission cab pulled apart and pieces laying all over in bags as of now. I really dont want to gut ms. pac-man until I get alpha mission all cleaned up.

Neil

[knave]

Joymonkey:  When is the deadline for placing an order through you?

[WunderCade]

This ought a be very nice indeed.

[WunderCade]

Any chance we'll get to see a pic or two of your latest score, JM?

 

[WCBoudreaux]

Uh oh - Jakobuds plans are wrong*.  The cab is 31 1/2" from front to back from the bottom up to the bump out for the control panel.  It is straight up, not angled out like Jakobuds plans*.  The pic you posted in post #166 shows it as 30 1/2 at the bottom, but I just measured mine to be 31 1/2.  The height of the widest part of the side where it bumps out for the CP I just measured to be 36", while your pic shows it to be 37 1/4"  That explains why the curve on the small yellow and pink bar right above the large ms pac doesn't match the curve on the side panel (like it does on the real machine).  That curve is also only 1/2 away from the edge of the cab.

Oh man, I'm glad I saw this before I started cutting... lol

So, there isn't in fact an outward slope on the front below the CP? And it IS 31 1/2" across the bottom? Is this true?

*EDIT*

Better yet, there's a Ms Pacman at a local walmart, I'll be in the area Saturday, and I'll measure it to see if it does have the "outward slope"... This seems to be a heated debate... Might as well get it right BEFORE I start my build...  I'll post my findings if any one is interested...

[WunderCade]

Galaga has the outward slope. This is the only difference between a Galaga and Ms. Pac machine.

That's is why some (like me) believe that Jakobud got his measurements from a Galaga and then....thinking the cabs where exactly the same...posted those dimensions for the Ms. Pacman plans as well. Ir's only a subtle difference, but for purists unacceptable.

[WCBoudreaux]

Yea, that would be unacceptable to me... I don't claim to be a purist, but I'd hate to get my cabinet done, with the stencils on, then  have to sand a slope to a straight angle... ROFL

But seriously, thanks for clearing that up... I've updated my plans, and things seem to be back on track...

 

So, can any one tell me how far the coindoor piece sits in or "indents"? After I made my changes, it looks to be too far in now...

Thanks in advance!

[death69inc]

I have a question
I noticed at auction and a few people I do know that have ms pac man cabs that the side art is differant from yours well color wise

they have the color scheme that is about hte same as the one on KLOV
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8782

the ghosts is pink and white highlights
I seen yours is yellow with pink highlights

was wondering whisch one is correct I assume yours wouls be as most woudlnt put htis much work into one that is not but I was wondering

[WCBoudreaux]

Hmmmm... I'm not so sure the one on KLOV is original... Maybe somekinda custom deal... Because every one I've ever seen has been yellow with pink highlights, like the ones JM is working on... And the ghosts at the bottom, are blue, with yellow highlights...

I may be way off here, but I've never seen one like the one on KLOV personally... Doesn't mean they don't exist tho...

[WunderCade]

The original runs of Ms. Pac-man had the stenciled on spray painted side art, those machines are the yellow and pink ghost pattern.

Later, as production of Ms. Pac line was winding down, Midway switched to stickers for side-art and you got the Pink ghost with white highlights. They also changed the t-molding on the later runs to matching blue, instead of the typical black.

Both styles are legitimate, it's just depends on how late in the production the machine was made.

[JoyMonkey]

I always assumed that the ones with white highlights (and blue eyeshadow) were using 3rd party decals of some sort.
 


I got hold of an original Midway machine and have been busy reworking all my artwork to get everything as accurate as possible. I'm not taking orders for stencils until I can figure out something license-wise with Namco or TwoBits, once I get something worked out I'll let everyone know.

Here's a photo of the right-side of my cabinet and my latest version of the artwork for comparison...

[WCBoudreaux]

Ok... Probably safer that way any how... Just let us know when you're ready!

Also, would u mind measuring how far the coin door panel is "indented" so I can fix my model? Some one told me 1 1/4", but that just doesn't look right... And, if it's not too much trouble, the width of the cab (from left to right, outside to outside please)... That way I can go ahead with my build, and will have my cabinet ready by the time the stencils are (hopefully)...

Good luck with getting the liscense! From what I can tell, yours will be the best option avaiblable...  And I'm definately looking forward to getting a set!

[JoyMonkey]

Also, would u mind measuring how far the coin door panel is "indented" so I can fix my model? Some one told me 1 1/4", but that just doesn't look right... And, if it's not too much trouble, the width of the cab (from left to right, outside to outside please)...

This any help?

[WunderCade]

If I am not mistaken WCB, since you are in the building phase, you need the measurement with the coin door off to get an exact measurement of the slot in the wood, correct?

[WCBoudreaux]

JoyMonkey ~ Thanks! That's a great start... Tell me... The measurement across (23 1/8") that's not measuring the sides of the cab is it? Is that from "inside to inside" so to speak?


Wundercade ~ Yes, I'm talking about the coin door cut out... I'm currently bidding on a Midway Coin Door on ebay, with 6 hours left... So the coin door would be original...

My Main measurements I need, are the coin door cut out, and how far that panel is recessed inward...

Thanks guys! 

[WunderCade]

WCB..measurements PM'ed. Can't wait for progress pics dude.