New/Finished project; Mini Neo-Geo cabinet

[fedexin]

Hello all.  I've just completed a mini neo geo cabinet, inspired by a custom "Talking Classics" one that was just for a charitable auction.  I completed mine in 3 weeks from scratch, and had a blast!  I have the usual walkthrough pictures, but since I'm finished I'll post some walkthrough videos instead...

Walkthrough 1 (general overview):


Walkthrough 2 (inside):


Walkthrough 3 (control panel):


I used Ultimarc parts for the control panel, and am using LED Blinky and Hyperspin along with a custom build of MAME.

I want to build two more, let me know what you think of this one!

[WhereEaglesDare]

you look 20 feet tall.

great job

what made you want to build a mini neogeo?

[javeryh]

Wow - awesome job.  I can't believe you built it in 2 weeks!  Is it comfortable to play?  I imagine you have to use a low chair or something - or maybe you build it for a kid?  Really really nice.   

[syph007]

Looks awesome!  The scale is misleading at first though, you looked like a giant!

[fedexin]

you look 20 feet tall.

great job

what made you want to build a mini neogeo?

Ha!  Yea, in that part of my house the ceilings are pretty low.

I wanted to build a mini one for my soon-to-be-born first child.  I could have fit more into it (coin mechanism, headphone jacks, etc), but I didn't want to distract from the fun aspect for a little kid.  I figure the large screen and flashing buttons will be sensory overload as it is!

It plays great, even for my hands.  The Sanwa microswitches are a little stiff, so I'm going to replace them with Cherry's.  I have an ottoman I pull up to sit and play on, and it's pretty comfortable.

[fedexin]

Looks awesome!  The scale is misleading at first though, you looked like a giant!

LOL, I saw the poster image for the second walkthrough!  I'm 6'1", but the machine itself is just under 4', and the ceiling right there is part of a dormer in my house that terminates in windows about 2.5' tall.  I'll do another walkthrough at an aircraft hanger with the camera far away to complete the effect!

[fedexin]

I have to give much kudos to jeffhlewis on this board!!  I saw the "Talking Classics" () mini MVS first, but jeffhlewis's build helped me a TON with my project.

I'll be posting my build notes and pics in this post next....

[fedexin]

Okay!  Here are my build notes and pics.  This was my first full arcade build, but I've built a control panel before for a conversion to a Gauntlet Legends cabinet I did a few years ago.  The build was pretty straightforward; I wanted a mini cabinet that would be kid friendly and accessible.  I had already purchased an I-Pac 32 button controller and LED controller from Ultimarc a few months ago, and had started to play with the LED Blinky software and various frontends.  I finally settled on Hyperspin and a custom build of MAME.

I started by visiting my local coin-op distributer here in the central coast of California, to get some measurements of size and angles from a real MVS.



I tried transposing the measurements into Illustrator but decided it wasn't going to be accurate without a TON of trial and error.  I started looking for 3D programs I could mock it up in, but I have no experience with a particular program.  I searched and eventually found Google SketchUp with has a free version.  I found an existing 3D model of an MVS, and loaded it up.  I took a screenshot of the side of the model and loaded it into Illustrator creating an outline I could print out.





I used an exacto knife and a straightedge to cut the outline into 1/2in MDF.  I used a combo of tools to cut out the template I'd be using to create the actual sides.  Between my table saw, jigsaw and a random orbital sander, I created a finished template with which to use my router on.



I created the base out of pine 2x4's and some casters.  The front and rear lower panels are flush with the t-molding to give a bit of extra space on the inside of the cabinet.  Every inch counts on a build this small!



I measured the installed tack strips with 1in drywall screws, because I had them lying around from a previous project.  The hard part here is getting the two sides to align just right. 



This was a good point to place my mock up control panel from a few months ago in for yucks.  It was hard visualizing the completion of the project until very close to the end.

[fedexin]

After getting the sides attached to the base and structurally sound, it was time for the middle panels.  I decided easy access would be key to staying sane in the later stages of the project, so I made two large access panels in the rear.  Once cut, I sanded them down to match the angles and curves of the sides.



I didn't want to install fans to keep noise down inside the cabinet, so a large vent area was called for.  I used my router to cut some slots in the top rear panel, and my 30mm hole saw for finger pulls.



And the speakers get some ports too!



On to paint prep:



I wanted to make the control panel easy to work on, but also very stable and secure.  I didn't decide on the engineering of it until this point of the build.  Some simple clips secure it in place, and some locking hooks are going to be installed to keep it locked down.



I did some searching for the exact red paint color of the MVS cabinet, and found that Behr Grenadine S-G-180 is a very close match.  I ordered a quart and added it to my white primer.



Anything that was to be red, was pink first!



I wanted to have a flush mount from the control panel to the bezel, and didn't have access to a metal working shop.  So I got creative at Home Depot!  I purchased a metal weather strip with a rubber buffer and cut it to size with my jigsaw.  I used a metal file to smooth out the edges, and prepped the piece with wet/dry sandpaper before spraying it with flat black paint.





I finished painting the sides and middle panels with smooth surface rollers.

[fedexin]

I forgot to mention, I cut the t-molding slot with a 3/16in kerf router bit.

Time for the computer build!

I bought all the components on newegg, but I haven't built a PC in years.  Luckily, it seems to have gotten easier, yay SATA cables! 



I installed the components on a slab of MDF and tested it at my bench:



I ended up using XP with SP2. 

For MAME, I compiled my own version, with the hi score/no warning mod.  Switch to my normal desktop area:




Back to the cabinet!  I gutted a pair of powered speakers and installed them behind the marquee.  I used a small florescent light fixture for backlighting.





I installed the 17in samsung refurb monitor and affixed the permanent panels. 



Time for the bezel.  I've dealt with plexiglass before, but I didn't want to mess up the fairly expensive thick piece I planned on using.  I started out by cutting it to size, and cutting a hole for the power button on the monitor just in case I'd need access.  I purchased some flat black plastic spray paint, and masked off the panel.



Two coats on the inside, and it came out great!

I placed the computer inside and cleaned up the wiring.  I mounted a power strip in the middle of the cabinet, and wired a switch that was mounted to outside.

[fedexin]

With most of the cabinet built, I focused on placement of the controls and the graphics to be placed in/on the unit.



I used jeffhlewis's CP layout as a guide for button placement, but ended up designing my own in Illustrator. 

Some shots of testing:






A flat piece of plexi covering the control panel might have a sharp edge at the bottom near your palms.  I decided that since this cabinet was for kids, I'd extend the plastic and curve it around the 3/4in curve I cut in the panel.  I practiced a bit on a spare piece, and then went for it after clamping it all down and heading it up with a butane blowtorch.





I was left with some extra material hanging over the edge, so I made a "router table" with a spare piece of wood and buzzed it off.



I worked with Kevin at Linson Signs in San Luis Obispo, CA to get the vinyl decals for the side panels cut.  He also printed the marquee and control panel.



They came out great! 



Time for the final assembly.









All done!

[Shortbus]

that is very nice work right there! i built a mini for my wifes 1st grade class, but it's nothing like the quality of yours, I especially like the bending of the plexi, call me stupid but I didn't even think that would work, shows my skill level, but it looks like it turned out great, i took a mental note of that, and hey, gives me an excuse to get a torch...lol

great project, great documentation & videos. Thanks.  

[TheGameFan]

Amazing workmanship.
Threads like this make it seem so easy (then I go out to my garage and get a dose of reality!)

[jbarnatt]

I can't believe that you did this after seeing mine. Yours came out way nicer. Mine sort of evolved to be a NEOGEO type. When my brother told me about the charity I told him that I would make it into a Mini MVS because it sort of looked like one already. I'm very glad that I inspired you in some way. Someone just asked me to build a reproduction Mini MVS. It's going to use actual Neo Geo hardware. Where did you get that 3D rendering you used for the sizing? I know that mine was quite a bit smaller than a real one. Since this needs to be accurate it would be good to have some measurements.

[emphatic]

Very classy indeed. 

[fedexin]

I can't believe that you did this after seeing mine. Yours came out way nicer. Mine sort of evolved to be a NEOGEO type. When my brother told me about the charity I told him that I would make it into a Mini MVS because it sort of looked like one already. I'm very glad that I inspired you in some way. Someone just asked me to build a reproduction Mini MVS. It's going to use actual Neo Geo hardware. Where did you get that 3D rendering you used for the sizing? I know that mine was quite a bit smaller than a real one. Since this needs to be accurate it would be good to have some measurements.

Hi and thanks!  Very cool that you'll be making a repro mini mvs.  I'd be interested to know how wide the real deal is, since mine is cozy for just one player.  I downloaded Google SketchUp and went into the "3D Warehouse" in the menu and searched for "Neo Geo".  "Gozer" had the model I used and scaled down for my template.  I kept my original mdf cutout for future machines.

I remember playing a mini at a skate rink back in Maryland, and my local Coin-op distributer has one in his living room I hear....  I'd love to get my hands on an original!

Thanks to all for the feedback!

[LeedsFan]

This looks awesome! A friend of mine recently built a mini cabinet which is about the same size. 4 feet tall is just about perfect for sitting at. I have to say though in your videos you make it look tiny. :p

Having played on my friends machine I've decided to build one. I have a 22" CRT monitor here doing nothing and it needs a project to go into. Yours and my friends have inspired me to make something similar. I like the NEO-GEO control panels with the well laid out buttons. On my machine though I would want to include a second joystick to be able to play Robotron and Smash TV. And if I include a second joystick do I make it fully 2-player with more buttons... and how many? Once ideas start things go on a roll.....

How wide is your CP? The width of my monitor is 19.5" so the panel would have to be at least that.

Yeah grats on a great little cabinet you have there. You really succeeded when you inspire people into a project.

[fedexin]

This looks awesome! A friend of mine recently built a mini cabinet which is about the same size. 4 feet tall is just about perfect for sitting at. I have to say though in your videos you make it look tiny. :p

Having played on my friends machine I've decided to build one. I have a 22" CRT monitor here doing nothing and it needs a project to go into. Yours and my friends have inspired me to make something similar. I like the NEO-GEO control panels with the well laid out buttons. On my machine though I would want to include a second joystick to be able to play Robotron and Smash TV. And if I include a second joystick do I make it fully 2-player with more buttons... and how many? Once ideas start things go on a roll.....

How wide is your CP? The width of my monitor is 19.5" so the panel would have to be at least that.

Yeah grats on a great little cabinet you have there. You really succeeded when you inspire people into a project.

Glad I could inspire someone else!  I was on the RacketBoy.com forum and the thought came up of possibly doing net-play between a few of these mini machines.  I think a mini arcade would be pretty cool!  My CP is only 17" wide and about 7" deep, just perfect for the amount of buttons I wanted to cram into the CP and still have it be comfortable for an adult.

[jeffhlewis]

fedexin:

Thanks for the shout out! I haven't been on the boards in months and stumbled across your build. Very nice.

I could have sent you the Adobe Illustrator file for the CP to save you some time! but what you made looks great.

hope you enjoy it, all this revisiting of projects is helping light a fire under ---my bottom--- to start my Outrun restoration project that's been on ice for a year.

[TalkingBull]

I really like this a lot!  I have been planning on building a NeoGeo cab myself but I was going to make it a mini-bartop.  That's going to be my next project.  The one I plan on doing is going to be just of NeoGeo games and I will use HyperSpin solely dedicated to that but with a two player interface.  I really like the look of yours and will be copying your paint style   I have been considering how to do the paint job and yours settled it!  I will post it here when I get to it... have to finish my current project first of course.

[Yvan256]

Wow, it's nice to see yet another mini Neo-Geo cabinet. And I do like that it lights up the buttons required for each game.

All of these Neo-Geo projects just makes me want to continue mine, however I have bills to pay and we all know how expensive this hobby can be. 

[Rick]

I love the mini-cabs.  There's just something about introducing young kids to classic gaming that just -- works.

[Erik]

fantastic!

[fedexin]

Small update:

Since there is no 2-player option on the CP, I've added a Microsoft wireless gamepad adapter, and included full mapping for the software for two Xbox 360 controllers.  Now fully playable from a couch! =)