Yet another Donkey Kong **Finished, for now**

[spacies]

About 2 weeks ago I talked to someone on the phone and he wanted a price for me to build him a cabinet.
He wanted something different. So I looked through the KLOV site for a while and then found Donkey Kong.
What an awesome cabinet! We didn't get ANY dedicated machines here like you guys, only brown ugly ones made here in NZ.

I have since found many Donkey Kong builds and restos on this site and thought I would build my own just because I love it soooo much.

I won't bother you with sheets of MDF on the ground but I will post a pic of the results at the end of day 1.








Ok, now before you say, HOLY  how did he build it so fast. I have all the right tools and have built lots of cabinets. I also drew out the measurements of each panel required and about 3 days ago I cut out a complete side to be used as a template.
I cut a full sheet of MDF in half and that was used for the rest of the cabinet. All I had to do was cut off the desired length, easy huh?!

All the assembly was done with 1 x 1 inch block, TONS of glue on every joint and an air nailer/stapler. Very fast and no external nail holes to fill and sand.

Probably will get the glass cut --tomorrow is too many letters to type so instead I'll just say the day after today-- and then 200km return drive to see a friend who will print the artwork.
Don't know if I will do too much too it --tomorrow is too many letters to type so instead I'll just say the day after today-- but will keep posting as I go.

This was approx 9 hours work, with coffee breaks of course 

[Lutus]

You are correct, quite a few of us do have Donkey Kong machines that we have restored.  Will this be a dedicated machine with the PCB in it or a computer?

I suck at woodwork so I am the person who would say "Holy crap that was fast!"   

[spacies]

Cheers,

Will be a dedicated machine.
I love it sooo much I am even going to paint the inside 

I found the paint at a local house renovation yard. They sell 2nd hand peices to restore old houses, which I have, and I saw they had some paint. So I walked over and after looking through lots of paint I came across a blue which is close enough and its about 1/5 the cost of new. AND its an American paint which which I have never seen before.

I have ordered a brand new tube/chassis for it today and I already have everything else here to go. All new of course. The only thing I don't have is the white t-molding which I will order today as well.

1 question I have is the I can't find any good pics of the mounting bracket for the bottom of the marquee and top of the bezel. Has someone got one they can send me please? From what I can gather is its either a 'Z' shape or just a straight piece of angle? Either option will work fine  but I just want to make sure I have the right one.   

I found some aluminium at the l;ocal hardware store that is identical to Happ marquee mount which will work too but may look strange on this machine.

[spacies]

Cheers,

1 question I have is the I can't find any good pics of the mounting bracket for the bottom of the marquee and top of the bezel. Has someone got one they can send me please? From what I can gather is its either a 'Z' shape or just a straight piece of angle? Either option will work fine  but I just want to make sure I have the right one.   

Disregard that, I found a picture 

[Aurich]

The only thing I don't have is the white t-molding which I will order today as well.

Don't forget, IIRC the white Nintendo t-molding for that cab is flat, not rounded. Someone correct me if I'm remembering wrong. Pretty sure t-molding.com has it.

[leapinlew]

My Nintendo cab uses 9/16th wood and the flat white t-molding for Nintendo is also 9/16th. I'm assumming he built his cab with 3/4" MDF. Not sure if you can get flat white t-molding for 3/4 but I did see rounded.

I'd use either...

[spacies]

My Nintendo cab uses 9/16th wood and the flat white t-molding for Nintendo is also 9/16th. I'm assumming he built his cab with 3/4" MDF. Not sure if you can get flat white t-molding for 3/4 but I did see rounded.

I'd use either...

Thanks guys, I didnt know it had flat t-molding on it.

There is a local company who make flat t-molding in 3/4" white. I have their samples

[Lutus]

Do you have the recessed wheels in the back of the cabinet for moving.  Helps out ALOT!   

[javeryh]

Wow, awesome job!!  It does seem like you did a lot in one day but I guess if you have the right tools and everything planned out you can do it.  I can't wait to see more pics!

[melarky]

I am also building a donkey kong cabinet (but a small version, about 2/3 size).  I should really get some pics taken, I have it all assembled and it's just finishing painting (seems to be taking forever for me), so I missed all of the construction pics.  It's been fun to build, and I got my side art from CAG last week, and I can't wait to put it on (I'm giving the blue paint on the sides a week to cure before I put the side art on).  I am basically done painting, I just have to touch up a few small areas with black (all of the blue parts are done).

I think I'm going to do the marquee and bezel area with one continuous sheet of plexi (I'll just use a heat gun to give it that bend).  I'll have the marquee retainer at the top, and then I'll just screw the plexi into the bottom bezel piece.  Not sure how that will turn out, but hopefully it will work (I'll just print the marquee and bezel on one large sheet as well, and then I'll just add a black bar where the marquee bottom board is...).

[Stingray]

Ok, now before you say, HOLY  how did he build it so fast...

Even after your explanation, I'm still impressed. Thank you for restoring my faith in the project announcements board! I look forward to following your progress!

-S

[spacies]

Do you have the recessed wheels in the back of the cabinet for moving.  Helps out ALOT!   

Yip, you just can't see them in the pics. 

I am also building a donkey kong cabinet (but a small version, about 2/3 size).  I should really get some pics taken, I have it all assembled and it's just finishing painting (seems to be taking forever for me), so I missed all of the construction pics.  It's been fun to build, and I got my side art from CAG last week, and I can't wait to put it on (I'm giving the blue paint on the sides a week to cure before I put the side art on).  I am basically done painting, I just have to touch up a few small areas with black (all of the blue parts are done).

I think I'm going to do the marquee and bezel area with one continuous sheet of plexi (I'll just use a heat gun to give it that bend).  I'll have the marquee retainer at the top, and then I'll just screw the plexi into the bottom bezel piece.  Not sure how that will turn out, but hopefully it will work (I'll just print the marquee and bezel on one large sheet as well, and then I'll just add a black bar where the marquee bottom board is...).

Good luck with your project, how about posting up some pics?
I found an easy way to make the bracket that holds both the marquee and plexi in place.
I used 2 pieces of angle ali and I held the bezel and marquess in place. I then placed the 2 pieces of ali in place and scribed a line to determine the distance they needed to be spread apart. Which was a bit smaller than in photo. I then drilled the mounting screw holes on the under side through both pieces. Once painted black you cant even tell they are 2 bits. 



Heating and bending the plexi sounds like a recipe for disaster. Make some brackets like I did.
PS, I used glass and the artwork is mounted on the inside. I always use glass. Looks very nice when clean and doesn't scratch like palstics.

Ok, now before you say, HOLY  how did he build it so fast...

Even after your explanation, I'm still impressed. Thank you for restoring my faith in the project announcements board! I look forward to following your progress!

-S

You are welcome and thanks for taking a look.

[spacies]

Ok,

Im calling this one done.
My new tube/chassis won't be here for 2 weeks.

I went to visit my friend and we printed the artwork.

Below is the Marquee and Bezel.
Both are glass and art is on the inside.




Below is the side art.
It was printed on a product called 'Comply'. This is a high quality product with VERY VERY small cuts in it which means NO bubbles inderneath. It is more expensive than normal vinyl used for digital printing but well worth it! Also we tweaked his machine to apply more ink. The colours are amamzing in the flesh.




WOOOHOOOOO. Even my puppy likes it!



Control panel covered with 3mm acrylic.








Thanks again for the comments. I will post some more pics when 100% finished.

In the mean time I can just stare at it.

Oh, it looks soooo pretty.      

[spacies]

Some higher res pics here:

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL757/2715941/13066627/193352372.jpg

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL757/2715941/13066627/193352379.jpg

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL757/2715941/13066627/193352389.jpg


 

[MaMeNnO]

That's four days for the whole cabinet??? Incredible job! Amazing really.
Take the next flight to the Netherlands... I'll make sure there's lots of coffee! 

[spacies]

That's four days for the whole cabinet???

Yeah, and all I did yesterday was the artwork and assemble the control panel, Lazy huh?

Take the next flight to the Netherlands... I'll make sure there's lots of coffee! 

LOL

[johnm160]

Amazing!

That looks great Spacies.

What is the bezel printed on and how is it held to the glass?

[melarky]

Maybe I'm not understanding how the marquee and bezel are supposed to be setup.  Is the bezel really that far back from the marquee area?  I always figued it was set up kind of like metal t-molding (the marquee glass and bezel glass just snug up agains the front t part, but the pic you have of your homemade piece looks way different).

I guess I'm kind of going off of the lamp I made:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=55628.0

I just printed the artwork for the marquee and bezel as one piece and just attached it at the top and bottom.  I am a little worried about bending the plexi, my brother-in-law said his dad had a plexi bender, but he's about 2 hours away.  Can you get and pics of the bracket you made installed and painted on your cabinet (which looks great by the way).

Do you have the recessed wheels in the back of the cabinet for moving.  Helps out ALOT!   

Yip, you just can't see them in the pics. 

I am also building a donkey kong cabinet (but a small version, about 2/3 size).  I should really get some pics taken, I have it all assembled and it's just finishing painting (seems to be taking forever for me), so I missed all of the construction pics.  It's been fun to build, and I got my side art from CAG last week, and I can't wait to put it on (I'm giving the blue paint on the sides a week to cure before I put the side art on).  I am basically done painting, I just have to touch up a few small areas with black (all of the blue parts are done).

I think I'm going to do the marquee and bezel area with one continuous sheet of plexi (I'll just use a heat gun to give it that bend).  I'll have the marquee retainer at the top, and then I'll just screw the plexi into the bottom bezel piece.  Not sure how that will turn out, but hopefully it will work (I'll just print the marquee and bezel on one large sheet as well, and then I'll just add a black bar where the marquee bottom board is...).

Good luck with your project, how about posting up some pics?
I found an easy way to make the bracket that holds both the marquee and plexi in place.
I used 2 pieces of angle ali and I held the bezel and marquess in place. I then placed the 2 pieces of ali in place and scribed a line to determine the distance they needed to be spread apart. Which was a bit smaller than in photo. I then drilled the mounting screw holes on the under side through both pieces. Once painted black you cant even tell they are 2 bits. 



Heating and bending the plexi sounds like a recipe for disaster. Make some brackets like I did.
PS, I used glass and the artwork is mounted on the inside. I always use glass. Looks very nice when clean and doesn't scratch like palstics.

Ok, now before you say, HOLY  how did he build it so fast...

Even after your explanation, I'm still impressed. Thank you for restoring my faith in the project announcements board! I look forward to following your progress!

-S

You are welcome and thanks for taking a look.

[spacies]

Amazing!

That looks great Spacies.

What is the bezel printed on and how is it held to the glass?

Thanks. The bezel is a digital print and is printed on clear vinyl as a reverse image. This means the sticky side is against the glass and the ink goes on the back. Once printing is done then your apply a sheet of white to get the whites because those machines dont print white. Spray some soapy water on the glass and stick it down, work out the air bubles and you're done!

Stew: Take a look here: http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=MBEZBRKTN

It does step back a bit. Probably not as much as what I did, about 20mm, but there is definately a step.
I will take a close pic and post for you.

[johnm160]

Great thanks, I never thought of clear vinyl. I assume you used the same thing on the marquee?

Amazing!

That looks great Spacies.

What is the bezel printed on and how is it held to the glass?

Thanks. The bezel is a digital print and is printed on clear vinyl as a reverse image. This means the sticky side is against the glass and the ink goes on the back. Once printing is done then your apply a sheet of white to get the whites because those machines dont print white. Spray some soapy water on the glass and stick it down, work out the air bubles and you're done!

Stew: Take a look here: http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=MBEZBRKTN

It does step back a bit. Probably not as much as what I did, about 20mm, but there is definately a step.
I will take a close pic and post for you.

[Stingray]

Fantastic work!

-S

[spacies]

Johnm: Yip. Both printed on clear vinyl and applied to the inside of the glass.

Stingray: 

[MameMaster!]

BRILLIANT...that's awesome. Fantastic job. 

[WunderCade]

GOSH, Man.....

Fantastic fabrication, it just sucks that the blue is soo off. The Blue looks way off to me - almost a whitish blue. The real DK's in America look alot more Blue, dude. Anway, it's disappointing for you to skimp on the proper cabinet paint when you were soo meticulous on the rest of it.

Here, look at what I'm talking about...

[spacies]

GOSH, Man.....

Fantastic fabrication, it just sucks that the blue is soo off. The Blue looks way off to me - almost a whitish blue. The real DK's in America look alot more Blue, dude. Anway, it's disappointing for you to skimp on the proper cabinet paint when you were soo meticulous on the rest of it.

Here, look at what I'm talking about...

Yeah, I know what you are saying.
I should have spent a couple of extra bucks on the paint  It isn't really that bad in the flesh but it is definately not the right colour.
I was going to keep that cabinet but I have just sold it so it doesn't really matter now. (Its what I do)
When I build my own it will be the correct colour.

I think I will build a Galaga machine next. Pretty hard to stuff up black huh!? 
Then the Joust cocktail.

[WunderCade]

Hey,

If it sold already, then I guess its all a moot point, but the Galaga project - I will look forward to following...are you gonna list that one? Have you done a Pac yet?

[spacies]

Hey,

If it sold already, then I guess its all a moot point, but the Galaga project - I will look forward to following...are you gonna list that one? Have you done a Pac yet?

Its not a moot point. Its honesty which I appreciate. Any feedback is good feedback, wether its praise for the work done or offering opinions and guidance or tips which is all good IMO.

Thanks.

I will list the Galaga. This time with a bit more detail on the assembly process. I will probably do 2 cabinets on the next build. 1 Galaga and 1 Ms Pacman since they are basically the same?

I haven't done a Pacman. To be honest I am a bit worried about trying to sell a bright yellow cabinet LOL. I have sold 2 before but they where just some Pacman art on the side of a small generic cabinet. The USA Pacman is a lot bigger than those.

[Aurich]

I will list the Galaga. This time with a bit more detail on the assembly process. I will probably do 2 cabinets on the next build. 1 Galaga and 1 Ms Pacman since they are basically the same?

I'm going to be building a Galaga variation myself soon, and I'd like it to come out nicer than my last cab , so mark me down as someone who would be very interested in details of your assembly and photos. I'll be building with a block/glue/nailgun method, so I'm guessing I could pick up some useful tips from you and your experience since that's your preferred way. Plus you're do damn fast you'll probably finish both cabs before I have time to pick up my MDF!

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over that blue. My memory of that cabinet doesn't match that other photo, I don't believe it actually looks that dark in person. Probably somewhere more in the middle. Looks fabulous either way, nicely done. 

Edit: The spacing of text after a quote block on this forum keeps tripping me up, it's different from Ars Technica where I'm used to posting. :p

[WunderCade]

I will list the Galaga. This time with a bit more detail on the assembly process. I will probably do 2 cabinets on the next build. 1 Galaga and 1 Ms Pacman since they are basically the same?

That's great....and yes, the Pac is very yellow...I was going to recommend MsPac instead because it is beautiful Blue, but I see you are already one step ahead on that point. Please list your Ms.Pac if possible, as I will be tackling that project next and you are a true master craftsman to follow.

[johnm160]

Spacies,

Any tips on locating the monitor supports on the sides of the cab, they don't seem to be on the drawings?

Also how are you holding these on, the original had bolts through the side, I would hate to have a monitor fall out.... 

[spacies]

Hi John,

I glued, nailed and screwed a 1x1 down each side of the cabinet.
I also put a piece at the bottom to stop the MDF monitor shelf sliding down until I screwed it in place.

Use loads of glue and screws and you will be sweeeet!.
You could probably put another piece under there as well if you wanted to?

I have just fitted a 26" tube into my Kong. I also applied window tint film to the inside and now its all black inside. The picture is amazing!

[johnm160]

would you have any measurements as to where the supports are located on the sides? Or is it just a trial and error thing?

Thanks again

John

[spacies]

I came down 1 1/2" from the bottom of the control panel support 1x1 to the bottom of the monitor support 1x1 and then up at a 45 degree angle to the rear.

So from the bottom of the CP 1x1 to the top of the monitor support 1x1 the gap is only 1/2 inch.

I am glad I ran it at a 45 degree angle as I think the screen would have been too far down when playing the machine seated.

[johnm160]

Excellent!

You are the man!

That helps alot. I have been working on a couple of templates and was stuck.

[melarky]

Well, I finally finished mine, and I did the marquee and bezel in a very similar way to my lamp I made (I did it in one piece and just bent the plexi).  I have pics of the finished project posted:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=60545.0

Thanks for your help along the way.

Maybe I'm not understanding how the marquee and bezel are supposed to be setup.  Is the bezel really that far back from the marquee area?  I always figued it was set up kind of like metal t-molding (the marquee glass and bezel glass just snug up agains the front t part, but the pic you have of your homemade piece looks way different).

I guess I'm kind of going off of the lamp I made:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=55628.0

I just printed the artwork for the marquee and bezel as one piece and just attached it at the top and bottom.  I am a little worried about bending the plexi, my brother-in-law said his dad had a plexi bender, but he's about 2 hours away.  Can you get and pics of the bracket you made installed and painted on your cabinet (which looks great by the way).

Do you have the recessed wheels in the back of the cabinet for moving.  Helps out ALOT!   

Yip, you just can't see them in the pics. 

I am also building a donkey kong cabinet (but a small version, about 2/3 size).  I should really get some pics taken, I have it all assembled and it's just finishing painting (seems to be taking forever for me), so I missed all of the construction pics.  It's been fun to build, and I got my side art from CAG last week, and I can't wait to put it on (I'm giving the blue paint on the sides a week to cure before I put the side art on).  I am basically done painting, I just have to touch up a few small areas with black (all of the blue parts are done).

I think I'm going to do the marquee and bezel area with one continuous sheet of plexi (I'll just use a heat gun to give it that bend).  I'll have the marquee retainer at the top, and then I'll just screw the plexi into the bottom bezel piece.  Not sure how that will turn out, but hopefully it will work (I'll just print the marquee and bezel on one large sheet as well, and then I'll just add a black bar where the marquee bottom board is...).

Good luck with your project, how about posting up some pics?
I found an easy way to make the bracket that holds both the marquee and plexi in place.
I used 2 pieces of angle ali and I held the bezel and marquess in place. I then placed the 2 pieces of ali in place and scribed a line to determine the distance they needed to be spread apart. Which was a bit smaller than in photo. I then drilled the mounting screw holes on the under side through both pieces. Once painted black you cant even tell they are 2 bits. 



Heating and bending the plexi sounds like a recipe for disaster. Make some brackets like I did.
PS, I used glass and the artwork is mounted on the inside. I always use glass. Looks very nice when clean and doesn't scratch like palstics.

Ok, now before you say, HOLY  how did he build it so fast...

Even after your explanation, I'm still impressed. Thank you for restoring my faith in the project announcements board! I look forward to following your progress!

-S

You are welcome and thanks for taking a look.

[wdelaar]

*** Awsome Work! ***

I plan on making one very similar...

Do you happen to have the measurements for the middle pieces:

Bottom (? x 24)

Coin Door (? x 24)

Front (? x 24)

Top (? x 24)

Marquee Bottom (? x 24)

Above Coin Door (? x 24)

Control Panel (? x 24)

Bezel Area w/Cut out...

I put the x 24 because you mentioned that the middle was basically a sheet of MDF cut in Half... But I need the other measurements if you have...

Thanks!

[spacies]

Hi Wdelaar.

That cabinet was built using Jakobuds plans www.jakobud.com
Not sure if they are 100% correct but it looks very similar.

Please remember that I only made this 600mm wide (24"approx) because it was easier for me.
If you are going to use original DK parts then you might want to find out how wide internally it is (if jakos plans are wrong)

Thanks and good luck and post some pics.

[wdelaar]

I have Jakobud's plans...

His plans do not mention the dimensions of all the pieces in the middle...

If you wouldn't mind measuring that would be helpful!

Thanks!

[spacies]

Hi,

There is a pic in the plans called donkeykong-sideLayout.
You can work out the sizes from that.

I sold this cab a while ago and am going to build another and paint it the correct colour.