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Author Topic: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme  (Read 5056 times)

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Phreakuency

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First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« on: March 26, 2010, 11:32:36 pm »
Hi all :)

Been playing games for 20+ years and often play my favourite old school games and have been doing so for years. Finally decided to play them the right way and was tossing up whether to just buy a pre-made Mame cabinet or do it myself. I honestly have no experience with woodworking so actually paid to have the pieces cut for me but I'll do the rest :)

What makes it worse for me is I have no experience painting or wiring any of the buttons/joysticks etc but hey, the tutorials seem manageable and it's going to be heaps of fun along the way! So... here we go!



Although not really related to gaming, my theme is going to be based on Death Note (Japanese anime tv show/live action movies).



The door design will be the 'L' logo and the marquee will have Death Note across it. The H is still to be cut out and the inside pieces of the 'D, A and O' will be added later once I get some mesh or perspex backing behind it.







The control panel is pretty basic but it's all I needed, at least for my first attempt. I plan on using a 24" LCD monitor too. I thought about a CRT but I think the LCD should be fine. I'm hapy enough with the scanlines in Mame and it will look nice for newer stuff like Dreamcast and the odd PC game (SF 4 for example).

And here is our garage where I'll be working :) I am going to undercoat and put a glossy black coat of paint on the cabinet but will probably end up having some sort of (laminate?) artwork over most sections. Let me know what you think :)

« Last Edit: March 26, 2010, 11:34:30 pm by Phreakuency »

opt2not

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2010, 11:47:41 pm »
Awesome first post. Nice looking design.
Will be watching your progress.

Don't worry about the lack of experience, this is where the forum's search button will help you out a lot. There is great documentation here, and people are always willing to help.

Excellent start, and good luck!

Epyx

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2010, 11:55:17 pm »
One of my favourite (probably top 3) anime/manga's of all time...good theme for a cab ;)

Good luck and as Opt2not says there is lots of help here, just ask.  :cheers:

Last Project



Epyx Tutorials:
Tutorials

Phreakuency

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2010, 02:36:34 am »
Thanks guys :)

Went to the hardware store for some paint and supplies today... good thing it's next door to a craft shop so my other half could come for some shopping too ;)


Phreakuency

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2010, 08:51:33 am »
Did some painting. The first layer of the gloss black looks ok, but won't be good enough to satisfy me, so I'm sure I'll end up covering it with artwork, at least on the sides and control panel.

Also quickly put the buttons in just to see what my colour choice looked like. I quite like it :)




mwong168

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2010, 10:49:30 am »
Nice, I see you made very efficient use of time and squeezed in a few sets of concentration curls or dumbell kickbacksin between coats of paint  :laugh2:  Woodwork looks great and can't wait to see the finished product.  What kind of buttons are those and what encoder are you going to use for your controls?
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opt2not

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2010, 01:41:06 pm »
Did some painting. The first layer of the gloss black looks ok, but won't be good enough to satisfy me, so I'm sure I'll end up covering it with artwork, at least on the sides and control panel.

Did you prime it first? Then sand it? One coat isn't going to be enough. Also, choice of brush is important. You'll want to use a good quality foam roller.

When achieving a good paint finish you gotta do multiple coats and sand in between. Check out javeryh's Bella cabinet thread, it's  a long read but VERY worth it. Or you can look at my Canuck's Cocktail cabinet (linked in my signature).
javeryh's cabinets are stunning, and his finish turns out amazing. Painting is the part of the project that patience really benefits the overall outcome of the entire cabinet. Stuff like wiring can get away with being a bit sloppy (though not recommended).

Slapping artwork on a crummy paint job will still make the cabinet look bad. Believe me, I've been there. :(

Be meticulous with this part, channel your inner Anal Retentiveness. :lol

What kind of buttons are those and what encoder are you going to use for your controls?

I'd bet those are Ultralux buttons?  From Ultimarc?
Wagers?? :D
« Last Edit: March 27, 2010, 01:46:05 pm by opt2not »

Phreakuency

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2010, 05:43:52 pm »
Yep Ultralux buttons  :applaud:

Love the colour, chrome surround and led-light option but not sure about the click sound. Given I have never connected arcade pushbuttons before and I have only tested these on there own, unconnected but it's a pretty deep push needed and it gives off a pretty chunky and noticeable sound.

Painting... yep, I did a 3-in-1 seal, prime and undercoat first :)

The black shown in those pics came from a spray can but I'm not happy with the finish or the amount of 'loose' paint particles that hang around in the air in my VERY UN-ventilated garage. I was wearing two masks and still had a heap of paint up my nose by the time I finished.

So yeah, the trip to the hardware store yesterday, I grabbed a foam roller.

Never heard about sanding in between layer before but I'll check out those posts you suggested now, thank you :)

I've got 4 days off work over Easter so I should get a lot done!!

wp34

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2010, 06:46:23 pm »
I'm anxious to see how this turns out.  The "L" logo looks awesome!

My oldest son is a big Death Note fan.  I did watch the first live-action movie with him and really liked it.

opt2not

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2010, 06:59:32 pm »
Love the colour, chrome surround and led-light option but not sure about the click sound. Given I have never connected arcade pushbuttons before and I have only tested these on there own, unconnected but it's a pretty deep push needed and it gives off a pretty chunky and noticeable sound.
Yeah, the switches on those buttons can be pretty loud. Sanwa micro-switches an are high in quality, but IMO they should only be used for joysticks. Not pushbuttons.

If they bother you that much, you can replace them with some Cherry micro-switches, or the Versa-Micro's from Groovy Game Gear
These can be adjusted to sound quieter. I personally never used them, but from what folks on this forum say, they're the teets. :lol

Quote
Never heard about sanding in between layer before but I'll check out those posts you suggested now, thank you :)
Yeah, it's a great technique for getting a smooth surface. But it's time consuming -- totally worth it though. Get yourself a palm-sander. The best thing to do is gradually switch to a finer-grit paper after each coat. You're not sanding away the paint altogether, you're looking to sand the bumps, clumps, and bubbles that form. Eventually on your final coat (it's up to you what the final coat is) you should be able to put on a layer of paint without having to sand it.

emphatic

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #10 on: March 28, 2010, 03:37:08 pm »
Nice shapes!  :applaud:

Nacimroc

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2010, 04:48:13 pm »
I can tell this will turn out great! I really love the shape of it! As regards the clicky buttons. I got the ultralux buttons from ultimarc and found them way to clicky so I bought the versa-micro that opt2not suggested. They make a huge difference. 2 people wacking buttons gets very loud if you don't change the microswitches.

If you do opt to get them, it was recommended to set them so that you can just about here the click. When they are mounted under your CP you won't be able to hear them click at all. Apparently they loosen up after a while and if you set them too quiet they don't make a good contact.

rablack97

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2010, 08:31:10 pm »
Looking really good so far, those don't look like rookie cuts to me.

Quote
Never heard about sanding in between layer before but I'll check out those posts you suggested now, thank you


If your going black you won't be able to sand your coats unless your looking to add in tons of cure time.  If you want a super smooth I can comb my hair in the refection finish, spray is the way to go.  It's way to hard to get the orange peel out of rolled paint.

Realistically your base coat can be mediocre, its your primer coats and clear coat that has to be done right.

Here's a technique to try.  Keep in mind its super time consuming and alot of work.

What you will need:
Clear coat enamel - spray can or roll on
600 grit dry sand paper
1000 grit wet/dry sand paper
1500 grit wet/dry sand paper
2000 grit wet/dry sand paper
lambs wool polisher, preferably the less abrasive.
Light compound polish
A good swirl remover
A good wax
Spray bottle
alcohol
Some elbow grease or a good buffer
Tak cloth

1.  Prime, let dry, then sand with 600 grit sandpaper, repeat.  2 coats good 3 coats even better.  This will start the smooth effect, you'll feel it when you touch it. Wipe down with tak cloth.  This will pick up any residue left.

2.  Apply your base coat, since your using black, it'll be hard to sand that coat for smoothness, you'll end up streaking the work and just filling in sanding lines.  So just make sure your making nice smooth strokes.  I would spray this coat on, not at fast as rolling, but smoother finish

3.  2 to 3 coats of your base is good, let dry 15 to 20 mins in between each coat

4. The trick is to give your work a good coat of the clear enamel (Note:) make sure you spray the outside areas near the edges really well, for some reason this area doesnt' pick up as much paint due to the side to side motion in your strokes, so this ends up dull and not as clear as the center. Let cure for about 30 to 45 mins depending on weather and wet sand.

5. Apply your first coat, if you have over did it and have some runs, let it dry take your 1000 grit and sand down smooth and re-apply your clear coat taking care not to break into your black base coat.

6. If not get the spray bottle and the 1500 grits sandpaper, wet the paper and a 1’ x 1” area of the piece.  Sand in an up down motion then back over it with a side to side, this will keep the swirls out.

7. Keep a towel in hand and wipe down after you hit the area pretty good.  You will notice that its grey and dull and there will be tons of uneven indentions in the clear coat.  Keep sanding and eye it until it gets pretty close to even.  Take your  tak cloth and wipe clean. You don’t want to do too much here as you will repeat this about 3 to 4 times.

8. Spray another coat of clear and repeat the above.   After the 3rd coat and sanding the grey haze should all be uniform.
 
9. Hit it with a final 4th coat, but don’t sand.  Let it cure for about a week. You will see overspray etc, but don’t let that bother you

10. Ok here is where it all pays off.  Take your 2000 grit sand paper and lightly wetsand your work, this will remove any overspray or build up that accumulated during the cure. It will be super hazey when your complete.
  
11. Take your light compound polish and apply a coat with an applicator, then take then take the lambs wool and work the compound in an up and down and side to side motions taking pressure off as the compound is removed.
  
12. Repeat until happy with results, 3 minimum 6 max.  Take a mixture of 50/50 water and alcohol in your spray bottle and spray off any residue after your final pass.  After 4 passes you’ll be seeing a mirror reflection.

13. Now take your swirl remover and apply as directed.

14. Finally take your wax and apply, let it haze and remove.  Finalize with fine microfiber cloth.

It's alot of work but you can't beat the finish.....


« Last Edit: March 29, 2010, 10:01:52 pm by rablack97 »

drventure

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #13 on: March 29, 2010, 09:21:17 pm »
Dang, after that much work, I'd be afraid to actually play it!

But a good piano black finish is fantastic

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #14 on: March 31, 2010, 01:17:45 am »
Looks like your off to an excellent start.  :applaud: Just curious what angle is the control panel at? It looks steep. Other than that I like all the soft curves.

Phreakuency

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #15 on: March 31, 2010, 03:58:56 am »
Thanks for the tips rablack :)  Not sure I've got the patience or skill to do all that but appreciate you taking the time. Going to do some sanding and more painting this weekend :)

Teknyne - the CP will be at a steepish angle but nothing too steep. Angled enough so you don't need to rest (or hit) your forearms on the front of it when playing but not too much that it is uncomfortable if you are the type of player who does rest on it ;)

I really can't wait to assemble it, but I really have to paint it to perfection before I can assemble it. The way my building is made, the complete unit will not fit through the stairwell and entrance so I have to finish all pieces downstairs in the garage then move them up into the house to assemble :)

Getting help from my awesome brother with the artwork. I would like to get full artwork on both sides and the control panel. So pretty much, the only pieces I need painted to perfection are the door, bezel and marquee. I'm probably going to expirement with artwork over the marquee and either cut it out around the letters or have it cover them and have a light behind it and see if the light shines through in the letters shapes... (doubt it).

So far I'm fairly happy with how the paint is coming along especially considering I have not done any sanding yet. Hopefully when I do, each layer gets gradually smoother and nice looking :)



Can start to see the reflection in the black which is nice.

Phreakuency

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2010, 03:53:39 am »
Hats off to the advice on sanding in between painting layers! :)

Have been sick over the weekend so didn't get much time to work on it, but did a little bit of sanding and my goodness, it got rid of all the bumps and texture and is going to make the next coat so much better!! Thanks guys!!!

I think 1 or 2 times should be plenty and really get it looking good!

Here is what it should look like assembled... (big cheers to Troy from arcadeworx for the design and awesome cutting job!)



Not sure how much (if any) colour I want in the artwork for the control panel and sides. This is probably the hardest step/decision right now :(

emphatic

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #17 on: April 05, 2010, 05:28:19 pm »
That looks very cool!  :applaud:

Phreakuency

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2010, 07:10:09 am »
Was gone for so long :(

So I got really sick and took a long break. Then came winter so it was too cold to work in the garage and we recently moved house but started working again last week.



I am having so much difficulty getting the buttons and leds to work...

severdhed

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2010, 09:02:01 am »
that looks awesome, i love the shape of this cabinet
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EvilNuff

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Re: First cabinet by rookie - Death Note theme
« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2010, 10:56:43 am »
Looks good to me!  What trouble are you having with the buttons and leds?