Kman-Sweden - First arcade cab build. Updated Oct 25th with CP and Bezel pics.

[Kman-Sweden]

Enough! Enough lurking around the BYOAC forum.
I can't put this off any longer. I bought 3 sheets of 19mm MDF today....
...And it wasn't easy. The people working at the "lumber yard" was the laziest buggers I've seen in years.
I think your supposed to wait until someone asks you what you need and then they'll go and get it for you,
but I'd probably still be there if I hadn't found the MDF myself.

I live in an apartment so building at home is not possible. So I took the sheets of MDF to my parents house instead.
I started by drawing the general pattern of the sides making sure that the CRT screen I'm using fits.
Had some help from my dad.


Pulled the CRT screen apart and discharged it. I used some jumper cables and the biggest screwdriver we could find.


Then we put the monitor aside for today. I'll build somekind of frame for the screen before installing it in the cab.


Getting ready to start the cutting. I'm clamping two sheets together to make both sides in one go.


My new Bosch saw made the cutting easy.


A jigsaw came in handy as well.


Routed out the last kinks.


Dad really liked the routing. I don't think he'd ever seen the work of a flushbit.


That's the first day's work.. I'll keep the posts coming.
Cheers!
-Kman Sweden

[Epyx]

Hehe welcome to the world of "the build".   

I will keep this one on the radar and eager to see how it turns out.  Did you take into account transport up into your apartment with your dimensions?

[Kman-Sweden]

Hehe welcome to the world of "the build".   
I will keep this one on the radar and eager to see how it turns out.  Did you take into account transport up into your apartment with your dimensions?

Thanks. X- Y- and Z- have been measured, shouldn't be any problem size-wise. I just hope it won't be to heavy to move. 

[Epyx]

Lol...oh it WILL be heavy, even empty lol...MDF is heavy stuff. But with some help you should be fine

[Ond]

Hey man great to see you off and running!  Your parents place looks like a very nice spot to work in too.  Looks like nice clean cuts so far. Heh heh now I can follow your progress    Feels good to be building eh?

[Kman-Sweden]

Hey man great to see you off and running!  Your parents place looks like a very nice spot to work in too.  Looks like nice clean cuts so far. Heh heh now I can follow your progress    Feels good to be building eh?

It feels fantastic to finally be building. Yes, the scenery is nice at the building site isn't it?
Now if the rain could stay away so I could get the final cuts made...
 
Thanx for visiting Ond but you should go back to your own build now so I have something to strive for. 

[vebbomania]

Looking good Kman, keep up the good work. I'm waiting for some tools to arrive and then i'm off to my garage to start on my CP (my first build).

  from Norway

[javeryh]

Great start!  I like the profile.  I would have been scared to death messing with the monitor like that!   Any plans for artwork or controls yet? 

[dungbeetle46]

looking good, what size is your monitor, looks to be a 19" is that right

[Kman-Sweden]

Great start!  I like the profile.  I would have been scared to death messing with the monitor like that!   Any plans for artwork or controls yet? 

Thanks. It was terrifying to discharge it! That's why I used the longest screwdriver on this side of the arctic circle. I was also wearing rubber gloves and one hand in my pocket at all times. I have some loose plans for the CP but nothing worth going public with yet.

looking good, what size is your monitor, looks to be a 19" is that right

Thanks. It's actually a 21" Samsung Syncmaster. It has some weird BNC-type connections. Might it be RGB and some sync? I don't know.
Also a USB for some reason... If anyone knows please enlighten me.

[Kman-Sweden]

It rained off and on so we had to stay in the garage today.
I'll start you off with a picture of the power tools.


Base for the cab was cut, glued, clamped, drilled and then finally finished of with some 60mm torx head screws.
Planing for the wheels to go on next.


The smaller turnable wheels needed to be raised (or lowered depending on how you look at it).
All bolted down nicely.


Behold the worlds heaviest skateboard.


That's all for today.

[Kman-Sweden]

Looking good Kman, keep up the good work. I'm waiting for some tools to arrive and then i'm off to my garage to start on my CP (my first build).

  from Norway

Thanks. It's nice to see some nordic people here too. 

[Kman-Sweden]

The prograss is slow but it's still progress.
The sides, lower back and top of the cabinet are glues and screwed.


Coin door in the progress of being installed.
Got to try out my new 29mm drillbit. I'm gonna use it on the CP for all button holes and the spinner..


Coin door in place.


Front with coin door and speaker shelf installed.


Any colour suggestions out there? I have to order my t-molding soon and I can't make up my mind.
I had a plan of painting it "1943"-gray with red t-mold. And then apply 1943 side art and marquee, to make it a 1943-tribute cab. Not a "replica" of any sort just a homage to a fun game.
I'd still like to do it this way but I feel that it's a lot of $$'s.... So I'm probably go with Black sides and blue or red t-mold... Or should I paint it gray and then go for the side art at a later date? Save up some money first?..
What's the thoughts out there?

That's all for today. Thanks for watching.

[drventure]

One of the toughest parts!

If it's a "1943 style", maybe grey with a battleship plate effect, maybe some rivets, some rust effects... That sort of thing.

Yellow tmold might look good, ala various Doom and Quake level mods (think grey walls, yellow "warning" signs all over).

I'm guessing it's going in a game room of some sort? That might influence the choice as well.

[retrofuture]

Looking good

I'd go with some garishly bright colours, yellows and reds.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what orientation is the monitor?

I've got a set of casters/wheels like those for my, now defunct due to lack of space, upright. In fact I've got a load of stuff I can't use right now!

[Epyx]

Lol I would go with an Iron Maiden theme and use the Swedish flag colours like you have in your avatar...blue sides with yellow T Moulding and a cool Iron Maiden marquee (was thinking of this myself at one point)...do the lettering in the Iron Maiden font:

http://www.maiden-world.com/articles/iron-maiden-fonts-typography.html

For Side art you have to go with Eddie...I would go with an album cover that matches the colour scheme of the Blue/Yellow Swedish colours...and what better album than Powerslave? It has blue and yellow in it as well which would look awesome.

The 10 second photochop is bad but you get the idea:

http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/music_images/Iron_Maiden_Powerslave_Egyptian_pyramid_album_cover.jpg



The marquee would be blue with yellow text and another great Eddie/IM art overlay around the words.

[vebbomania]

I second K-mans choice of 1943 (i would have gone for 1942 theme but that's my personal choice in game), it's a cool shooter (love that serie, i still remember when i managed to get the score at 1942 1.4xx.xxx on one quarter, think it was 1985 ohhh the good times, no worries). Anyhow if u do need some photoshop or illustrator help, don't hesitate to ask. 

[saleem]

orange cab with red t molding.

do a wet sand finish on the cab,get it smooth as hell and then get something on it to shine it up.

put read ball top sticks on,with red/yellow and green buttons on the cp.6 buttons per player.1p/2p.a couple of other buttons for creds esc etc.

well thats how mine will be done.

oh!and an arcade spinner for arkanoid and tempest.i got my eye on an happ trackball for the right price i might have it but,depends on price,so if you can slap a trackball on the cp go for it.

but,realy its whatever tickles your fancy.

i think you done great work there,i am well struggling with mine at the mo,it just seems to be coat of paint,wet sand,coat of paint and more wet sanding.it realy is a long drawn out process is wet sanding but,i can tell you 100% sure,its smooth as glass.

[Kman-Sweden]

One of the toughest parts!
If it's a "1943 style", maybe grey with a battleship plate effect, maybe some rivets, some rust effects... That sort of thing.
Yellow tmold might look good, ala various Doom and Quake level mods (think grey walls, yellow "warning" signs all over).
I'm guessing it's going in a game room of some sort? That might influence the choice as well.

You read my mind about the rivets... I'll have it in my home office.

Looking good
Please excuse my ignorance, but what orientation is the monitor?
I've got a set of casters/wheels like those for my, now defunct due to lack of space, upright. In fact I've got a load of stuff I can't use right now!

Thanks, it's a 4:3, so that would make it horizontal?
Why can't you use all your stuff?

Lol I would go with an Iron Maiden theme and use the Swedish flag colours like you have in your avatar...blue sides with yellow T Moulding and a cool Iron Maiden marquee (was thinking of this myself at one point)...do the lettering in the Iron Maiden font:
http://www.maiden-world.com/articles/iron-maiden-fonts-typography.html
For Side art you have to go with Eddie...I would go with an album cover that matches the colour scheme of the Blue/Yellow Swedish colours...and what better album than Powerslave? It has blue and yellow in it as well which would look awesome.
The 10 second photochop is bad but you get the idea:
http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/music_images/Iron_Maiden_Powerslave_Egyptian_pyramid_album_cover.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/epyx_photo/IMCAb.jpg
The marquee would be blue with yellow text and another great Eddie/IM art overlay around the words.

Interesting.... But wouldn't that mean that I could only play "Ed Hunter" on it?   http://www.amazon.ca/Ed-Hunter-Iron-Maiden/dp/B0000257HB

I second K-mans choice of 1943 (i would have gone for 1942 theme but that's my personal choice in game), it's a cool shooter (love that serie, i still remember when i managed to get the score at 1942 1.4xx.xxx on one quarter, think it was 1985 ohhh the good times, no worries). Anyhow if u do need some photoshop or illustrator help, don't hesitate to ask. 

Will do, thanks.

orange cab with red t molding.
do a wet sand finish on the cab,get it smooth as hell and then get something on it to shine it up.
put read ball top sticks on,with red/yellow and green buttons on the cp.6 buttons per player.1p/2p.a couple of other buttons for creds esc etc.
well thats how mine will be done.
oh!and an arcade spinner for arkanoid and tempest.i got my eye on an happ trackball for the right price i might have it but,depends on price,so if you can slap a trackball on the cp go for it.
but,realy its whatever tickles your fancy.
i think you done great work there,i am well struggling with mine at the mo,it just seems to be coat of paint,wet sand,coat of paint and more wet sanding.it realy is a long drawn out process is wet sanding but,i can tell you 100% sure,its smooth as glass.

I already have Electric ICE RGB pushbuttons and Trackball, two LED_Wiz's and a blue TT2 spinner.. I was going to go with a pair of Magstik+ with ball tops.. Just can make up my bloody mind about the color scheme. 

[retrofuture]

I 'can't use my stuff' because I've bought too much! I'm kind of having to build my way into the garage.

[Kman-Sweden]

Today started on a high note. The monitor shelf was installed.
here you see it with the monitor in place.


I constructed a frame for the monitor to help it stay in place.
How many of you did see the Tron shape?


Monitor mounted.


It's easy to access the back.


Well today ended on a lower note and with a big bang.
I connected the monitor to my laptop just to see it working.
When I put the power cord in the wall there was a loud, electrical POP and
then a funny smell... :-/
Found a fuse but haven't checked it yet. Luckely I know where to get 3 more of these
monitors so I'll give it another go next week.
Well well... I think it still looks good, though.

[Epyx]

Looks very good indeed. I like the monitor mounting frame. Interested to see what you finally decide on with colours. Very cool!

[javeryh]

jeez... that stinks about the monitor.  GOod thing you can get a replacement but there's nothing more frustrating than a setback.  Looks great!   

[Kman-Sweden]

jeez... that stinks about the monitor.  GOod thing you can get a replacement but there's nothing more frustrating than a setback.  Looks great!   

Thanks for the support. Yeah, having a thing like that happen really bums you out. Good thing thoug that I don't have to remake the monitor mounting frame.

[retrofuture]

The prograss is slow but it's still progress.

I wish I had that kind of progress  The cab is looking really good   

Did you have anything in mind for the other monitors (before this one blew)?

[vebbomania]

  To bad that monitor popped... Anyhow this cab looks great!

[Kman-Sweden]

The cab is looking really good   
Did you have anything in mind for the other monitors (before this one blew)?

Thank you. No I didn't. We got new monitors at work and 4 people still had these big CRT's. So now they're just piled up in a corner. 

To bad that monitor popped... Anyhow this cab looks great!

Many thanks.

[Beretta]

wow you're moving right along looks like it's coming along nicely.

to bad about the monitor, if they're all the same i'd swipe them all from work.. since you built the cab with that monitor in mind would'nt be bad to have spares for later on.

wish my project was going as quick as yours, trying to refinish a simple coin door and it's kicking ---my bottom---.

[retrofuture]

The cab is looking really good   
Did you have anything in mind for the other monitors (before this one blew)?

Thank you. No I didn't. We got new monitors at work and 4 people still had these big CRT's. So now they're just piled up in a corner. 

Cool. Reusing old stuff from work is where it's at. I only wish I'd kept hold of half the stuff I've had to discard from work over the past 10 years 

[emphatic]

Where in Sweden are you located? There's a guy in Grebo (Linköping) that has a small stock of BRAND NEW arcade monitors. Check out http://www.arcadegames.se if you haven't already. In case you feel you want a real arcade monitor that is. Free PC monitors aren't bad either.

[Kman-Sweden]

Where in Sweden are you located? There's a guy in Grebo (Linköping) that has a small stock of BRAND NEW arcade monitors. Check out http://www.arcadegames.se if you haven't already. In case you feel you want a real arcade monitor that is. Free PC monitors aren't bad either.

Damn! I actually passed Linköping today! 

[emphatic]

Also, I really hope you haven't missed http://www.arkadtorget.se which is a superb arcade forum for us swedes to hang out.

[Kman-Sweden]

Also, I really hope you haven't missed http://www.arkadtorget.se which is a superb arcade forum for us swedes to hang out.

I've been there, thanks, but it seemed to be a bit more non-mame kind of arcade forum... I think I'll give it a go again.

A small update: I'm going black and blue on this cab for now. Blue T-molding and 2 blue MagStik+'s with ball tops ordered.
F up another  one of the monitors. These monitors don't like to be naked! Im leaving the plastic on this time so I had to remove the monitor mounting and find a way to fasten it again.. The BRAND NEW arcade monitors looks even more tempting now.
... One step forward, two steps back...

[Epyx]

I think its fate telling you to go with an arcade monitor...I moved to one from a tv and its night and day...do it

[Trebeck]

Great job so far dude.
Welcome to an awesome hobby. 

[vebbomania]

F up another  one of the monitors. These monitors don't like to be naked! Im leaving the plastic on this time so I had to remove the monitor mounting and find a way to fasten it again.. The BRAND NEW arcade monitors looks even more tempting now.
... One step forward, two steps back...

Oh man, too bad... Learning the hard way

[Kman-Sweden]

Great job so far dude.
Welcome to an awesome hobby. 

Thanks Trebeck.

Edited this post to include a pic of the busted monitors.

See how I left som more metal on the second one but still it blew up on me.

[Shortbus]

Your garage is too neat, your lawn is too green, and your dad is too cool.

The cabinet looks great, can't wait to see more........


"am i the only one whose garage looks like Fred Sanfords front yard?"

[retrofuture]

"am i the only one whose garage looks like Fred Sanfords front yard?"

I don't know who Fred Sanfords is, but my garage looks like all the major conflicts of the past 200 years have occurred in it - and the garage has lost every one 

[Epyx]

"am i the only one whose garage looks like Fred Sanfords front yard?"

No, our neighbourhood is filled with these...Something I never understood...everyone's garage is filled with crap and they park their cars in the driveway...scraping off ice in the winter etc while I just turn the ignition and drive out past them in my toasty warm car.