Capcom mini-cute restoration/conversion

[mikejkelley]

I am restoring/converting a Capcom mini-cute cab. Here are some of the before pics.







As you can see, it was in rough shape.







I did a lot of rust removal, sanding, and priming. Then I had the paint matched and had it painted at a local body shop. I also had new decals printed up.



The body shop didn't do the greatest of jobs, in fact, they didn't bother to paint any of the white pieces on the inside. Shortly after this pic was taken I had to move and the cab sat in storage for about a year. Since then I had the decals stripped off, more paint matched, and had it repainted at a new body shop. I'll spare you the details, but dealing with the paint ppl in my area has been a nightmare. The latest guy was overdue on the job by about 8 months, having blown 10 "deadlines". He also wanted to charge my twice the initial quote, which trust, he didn't get away with.

He neglected to remove the top of the control panel when he painted it, so of course it chipped when I tried to remove it. I'm in the process of sanding that down and as soon as I get a few warm weather days, I'll repaint it.

Other than that, all that's left to do is everything. I have to move again (probably at the end of the month) and I'd like to get as much done as possible. To that end, more than anything I need recommendations on where to buy casters, instructions (preferably a vid tut) on the proper way to crimp the female quick-connects (I prefer soldering or molex crimps and I can't seem to get good crimps on these), and dimensions/scans on the original mini-cute decals. I also need dimensions on the plexi-glass ad-holder or whatever it was called. Mine were inadvertently thrown out.

The more recommendations/tips & tricks, the quicker I can post pics! Thnx!

[RayB]

Awesome first post!

 

[Pacman83]

Really nice work there ! 
Good luck with the rest of the restoration.

[mikejkelley]

Thnx!

I'm new to all this, so I have some questions I hope you won't mind helping me with...

I bought these speakers

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SK-480/4-8-OHM-SPEAKER/-/1.html

What's the math on figuring out if they'll be able to be powered by my XPC shuttle's 200W PSU/Creative Labs Platinum Audigy 2 soundcard?

Also, is there any reason I've overlooked as to why I wouldn't be able to wire this switch into the cord of my surge protector?

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/LRS-133/ON-OFF-LIGHTED-ROCKER-SWITCH-120-VAC/-/1.html

I actually wanted to find a lighted rocker switch that would fit a .75" x .5" cut (there's a place on the cab for just such a switch) so I wouldn't have to modify the cp. Anyone know where I can find one?

Finally, can someone recommend a particular type of caster best suited for arcade machines? There were also these "feet" that screw in the front, I haven't been able to find those, was wondering if it was a specialty item...

Sry for all the questions, but I want to get as much done as I can before I have to leave the country again...

Here's a pic of the frame I made. This will be used to shape the plexi-glass window.



oh, one more question, where can I find smoked plexiglass? 

[Pacman83]

As far as the leg levellers are concerned, I searched for ages and finally came across these from - http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Parts
Let the page load up, then scroll down to 'Leg Leveller'

Bear in mind that you'll require the mounting plates as well (listed there as well), but these look very good indeed. I'm having them for my restoration.
Good luck ! 

[mikejkelley]

Thnx! I just wrote him for the dimensions (can't use the mounting plates for a variety of reasons). Hopefully they'll fit! Btw, your pac-man mini cab is looking awesome!

Thnx again!

[mikejkelley]

The closest switch I can find to suiting my needs is this one;

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/rockers/lr_rocker.htm

part no. LRA32H2BBRLN, but I can't find anywhere to purchase it. Digi-key has it, but their "we sell your customer info" [airquotes]privacy[airquotes] policy is unacceptable. Plus, there's prolly a min purchase order of 500 switches. Anyone know of a good switch store?

Also, there was a good thread on the pros and cons of a variety of casters at

http://www.arcade-at-home.com/mame_faq.html

but the day after I found it, the domain name got parked. Anyone have an alternate faq?

Thnx in advance for any and all help!

I found it @ http://www.alliedelec.com thru my favorite new site, octopart.com. Octopart comes up with a variety of electronics store wholesalers/retailers but the navigation is infuriating! The original search brought up all the usual suspects, but clicking on the inconspicuous "buy part" link doubled the number of relevant stores. Clicking on the stores' name takes you to another part reference, to get to the store from there you can click on the stores' assigned part no. Hope this helps any1 trying to find obscure electrical parts! 

[mikejkelley]

Thought I'd post this flyer of the cabinet as it's occurred to me that it's prolly not familiar to most...



It's a Capcom mini-cute cabinet, all-steel and imported from Japan. If we're to believe the flyer, it seems to have been manufactured ca. Street Fighter II. It comes in four pastel colors; blue, green, yellow, and pink. The one in my possession is one of only two or three east of the Mississippi (that I know of from scouring the internet).

As you can imagine, it's very difficult to come up with reference for this restoration, so any and all help that will keep this project moving along is well appreciated!

[Mauzy]

Wow. That thing is pretty sweet. What game will be going in it once you are finished?

[mikejkelley]

THnx. I have Marvel Superheros A&B boards but I'm leaning towards MAMEing it or running SF IV once it comes to PC. I recently cut some aluminium to size that will allow me to mount a flat panel monitor inside. I'll post some pics of the progress soon.

[RayB]

Do you have to squat on the floor to play it?

[mikejkelley]

gah timed out, take 2...



You typically need a stool, I'd like to get one from a Japanese arcade for authenticity's sake, but it's not a priority. I've seen, child-sized cabs on the streets of Asia, no taller than two feet. They're typically set for free-play and sit outside the ubiquitous corner stores and 7-11s.

Here's a little progress...



This will allow me to mount a flat panel where the arcade monitor went. I'll drill out the markings, print out a Vesa-compliant pattern, drill out those holes, and paint it flat black.



Here's the switch I ordered, prolly the only one that will fit! Because I'm so short on time, I cannibalized the molex pins from some computer parts. That's right, I un-crimped them, and then re-crimped them for my purposes! Also, I've since swapped out the white wire for black...



Help me to not start an electrical fire... Un-soldering the surge-protector's switch is practically impossible. I plan to leave it always on and wire the new switch (as SPST) into the surge-protector's hot wire just before the circuit board. It occurs to me that this is not ideal (or they would've manufactured it with a SPST switch in the first place), but is there any compelling reason not to do this? Do the neutral and ground wires constitute a separate circuit? If so, should I wire the switch as DPDT, and how? Alternately, can anyone suggest an electrician's forum where they help out noobs?

Thnx in advance for any and all help!

[mikejkelley]

The controls, yet to be wired. I'm concerned that it may not fit as the previous buttons were a third of the length. 1 and 2 player select/coin insert will be handled by remote keyboard. The previous 1 and 2 player buttons were proprietary diam. as well as length so I just papered over them. The overlay is NOS.



This panel fits at the bottom rear of the cabinet. I thought it a more elegant solution than an extension cord. It will allow me to plug in a power strip. At the female end, I chopped it up so that it would fit through the panel hole, and then soldered and shrink-wrapped it all back together.

[HaRuMaN]

Do you have a source for that overlay?  I like that.

[mikejkelley]

No, it was an ebay find. I have to decide whether or not to use the remainder to replace the overlays around the speaker and coin return, in any event, I'll prolly make a scan. If/when that happens I'll post a link.

[mikejkelley]

A little more progress.

[HaRuMaN]

Are you using Happ buttons on that? 

[mikejkelley]

It's been so long since I purchased them that I really couldn't be sure.

[Level42]

Better than those ---smurfy--- Japanese buttons !

[Gatsu]

GIRL FIGHT!   

who cares...its his cab. 

[cboy]

what is the measurement of that CP? width and depth?

thanks in advance looks like its gonna be awesome when its done!

also how big of a monitor is it gonna be?

[sayitaintjonas]

Great job so far. Keep up the good work.

[mikejkelley]

Thnx for the encouraging words. The dimensions of the cp are apprx. 20in x 6 x 3. Small by US standards but right at home in a crowded Jpn arcade!

//edit

I haven't decided how big of a monitor to put in. I was going to use my old 17", but with the advent of SF 4 for PC, I'd like to go as large as I can in 16:9 aspect.

[HaRuMaN]

Thnx for the encouraging words. The dimensions of the cp are apprx. 20in x 6 x 3. Small by US standards but right at home in a crowded Jpn arcade!

Any more progress on this?

[cboy]

any updates?

[mikejkelley]

Thnx for timing me out again forum...

Well, here's something of an update. I re-painted the cp box. The clear coat ran and turned it an antique white. So I striped it.



Down to the bare metal.



And chipped the metal.



And fixed the metal.



And re-bondo-ed it.



And re-painted (not pictured). It looks functionally good now. I plan to put on a final coat of glossy/semi-gloss white, but no clear coat! I've also painted the monitor mount flat black, but may want to add another coat... It's turned too cold to paint here and I'll be leaving the country to work, so there probably won't be anymore updates for about a year. But it's not dead!

See you in about a year!


//In the left corner of the last picture you can see the Shuttle XPC that will most likely be powering the set-up.

[mikejkelley]

One more post with pictures before I go... tomorrow it's all going into storage.

Here's what the monitor mount plate looks like painted and installed. The monitor will be bolted to it, and then the assembly will be bolted to the cabinet.



Here's what the cp looks like installed. It will need a new coat of paint at least. I'm reconsidering the clear coat. For one, the front portion of the cabinet seems slightly yellowed anyways. Secondly, I'm not having luck achieving a glossy or even semi-gloss with just the paint. Thirdly, because the entire cabinet is essentially a steel-armored bank and assembles with such high tolerances, the paint on the cp and the door inevitably gets scratched each time the cp is opened up for servicing.



I'm pretty excited with the results so far and it should be completed to coincide with the release of SF5!

[123RYU]

pm

[danny_galaga]

Nice work! You've put so much into the paintjob that you could probably run it in Concours at Pebble Beach 

[mikejkelley]

Lol. thnx! 

Right now I'm working in the Mid East so it will be awhile before I can get back to this project.

[Kman-Sweden]

I like it! 

[HaRuMaN]

I need 4 of these, stat!

[gavkiwi]

very cool, I'm diggin this!

[mikejkelley]

Hi all,

No pics of the progress on the cabinet, sry, but here's a pic of progress of a more general sort... This is where the cabinet will be heading, my new game development studios office space!



The cabinet will grace the south wall (not pictured)!

I've recently been given the opportunity to incorporate the video game development company MJK Studios. The studio is unique because it has the full backing of State University of NY at Fredonia and its associated technology business incubator. This has obvious implications for DreamCasters' Duel (http://www.dreamcastersduel.com), the current flagship title for the studios!

Blah, blah, blah, so what does that mean for the cabinet? I'm thinking of replacing the Capcom logos with MJK logos (except on the CP) same color scheme, same font, etc., just different letters. I know that will not sit well with traditionalists, right now it's just a thought!

[emphatic]

Blah, blah, blah, so what does that mean for the cabinet? I'm thinking of replacing the Capcom logos with MJK logos (except on the CP) same color scheme, same font, etc., just different letters. I know that will not sit well with traditionalists, right now it's just a thought!

You are correct, it won't sit well at all.  Why not just make some nice game artwork, like flyers, move sticker etc and stick it in the designated space (marquee holder, etc)? But it's you cabinet, so you are of course free to do what you want. 

[mikejkelley]

Yeah, the only reasons I'm even considering it are;

* Mameing it makes it already a non-verbatim restoration
* I'm unable to source a lot of the cabinet artwork on the front bcs of its rarity
* I don't want to advertise the competition!

we'll see!