Author Topic: ei8ht's Arcade [UPDATE: 100% finished] (Read 10128 times)

ei8ht · « **on:** May 30, 2010, 08:39:46 am »

Hello everybody,

I planned building my own Arcade already last year. Everything started with buying the "Project Arcade" book. I decided to build it up from the scratch and started reading a lot of projects here in the this forum collecting ideas for my own. After ordering a lot of parts from the US I started to design the controlpanel and the arcade itself. The project what inspired me the most was the Pixel Assault from Organic Jerk. His Arcade looks so modern. After I saw it the first time, it was clear for me that my has look similar.

Here are some pictures of my arcade done with SketchUp.

ei8ht · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2010, 09:13:42 am »

After making 3-4 cardboard cps the final design was finished.

drventure · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:12:48 am »

Nice, I like your treatment of the front panel. Plain flat fronts just don't have the sizzle in my eyes.

One question. Why the magstick?

The 360's will do everything it can do, and piles more, so why even have it?

That's one thing I truly regret about my CP (I built it before I realized exactly what the 360's were capable of)

OTOH, if you're looking for an alternate "old style" arcade feel, I can sort of understand. The mag sticks are very "clicky" because they're switch based.

Personally, I love the 360's. But i'm no arcade purist

syph007 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:47:28 am »

His diagram says Happ perfect 360s though. Personally I would get the Ultimarc 360s as drventure mentioned since THEY RULE! Makes the panel so much cleaner by ditching the dedicated 4way.

If you need the flight stick alot then I understand why you put it on, but personally I think they do the most to make a panel look ... crowded. I've seen some where they even block part of the screen.

drventure · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2010, 01:11:43 pm »

Right, Ultimarc 360's. Sorry about that. I guess I didn't even realize Happ made something called "360"

Yeah, the flight stick can crowd things a bit. That's another element that, well, frankly, I haven't found all that useful yet. But, I haven't had much of a chance to play it. Too busy building

ei8ht · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2010, 04:15:38 am »

The reason why I bought the Mag-Stik was that I wanted to have a physical restricted 4-Way and a third 8-Way if needed, without opening the control panel. I tried the U360 once in a store here in Germany, but I did not like it that much.

I know that the flight stick crowds a lot and it was not easy to find a layout where it fits 100%, but I am pretty satisfied about how it looks now. I hope that the right artwork will do the rest.

drventure · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2010, 09:23:30 am »

Ah, so you've already done the looking. No probs. There's lots of guys around here that prefer the feel of one stick over another.

Shecky · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2010, 12:31:58 pm »

Quote

I tried the U360 once in a store here in Germany, but I did not like it that much.

You have a local store that sells mame arcade parts............Lucky!

opt2not · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2010, 02:28:41 pm »

Quote from: drventure on May 31, 2010, 09:23:30 am

Ah, so you've already done the looking. No probs. There's lots of guys around here that prefer the feel of one stick over another.

Totally. I personally can't stand the Mag-stick for 8-way functionality, but 4-way it's not too bad. But using it as a primary 4-way, optional 8-way is a good choice.
I still feel that they're a bit too tight in "joystick throw", and the switches that come with it are really stiff. But you can replace them with softer switches if it bothers you.
yadda yadda, i've said this so many times before...

ei8ht · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2010, 02:27:24 am »

Quote from: Shecky on May 31, 2010, 12:31:58 pm

You have a local store that sells mame arcade parts............Lucky!

Yes, I am really happy about that. I could even buy a WG D9800 there

...But stores like that are unusual.

Quote from: opt2not on May 31, 2010, 02:28:41 pm

...But you can replace them with softer switches if it bothers you.

That is exactly what I did first

Havok · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2010, 03:30:29 pm »

Good choice with the P360's - they are in my opinion the best option for Robotron if you don't have 4" Wico leafs, and are a great all around 8 way. A lot of guys here love the U360, but I have it as well and I find it , well.. wimpy. The P360 is a more robust feeling joy, and after 2 years of use my P360's are still going strong. I have the U360 on one of my panels for analog games, and even with the "stiff" spring, it doesn't have that authentic arcade feel.

ei8ht · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2011, 11:46:12 am »

I hope it will turn out like this

Cab almost done. I will post some pics soon

mgb · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2011, 12:23:06 pm »

I love the cabinet design.
I am very much looking forward to following the progress.

alfonzotan · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2011, 09:25:08 pm »

Ignore the flightstick-hatas... I endorse this panel layout.

ei8ht · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2011, 04:53:56 am »

Here some pictures of the actual process of my Arcade Cabinet.

ei8ht · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2011, 05:19:47 am »

Control Panel

ei8ht · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2011, 05:21:53 am »

Pictures were taken with my telephone, so the quality is not that good

ei8ht · « **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2011, 05:26:07 am »

Cab is...I would say 70% done. Still have to do the admin panel and the area were the marquee and the speakers take place.

ei8ht · « **Reply #18 on:** June 25, 2011, 05:30:34 am »

Homework:

- tinted glass
- speaker grills for airflow
- drawer for the keyboard and mouse
- admin panel
- marquee
- speakers
- paint
- Artworks

I am looking for a talented guy who helps me with the artworks. Of course I will pay the effort. Please pm me if your intrested

mgb · « **Reply #19 on:** June 25, 2011, 08:40:45 am »

Excellent.
This cabinet is looking great. I'm really looking forward to seeing this one complete.
Great job

drventure · « **Reply #20 on:** June 25, 2011, 10:24:44 am »

I really like that multi level front panel design. Gives it a lot more visual interest that a flat front.

Nice job!

ei8ht · « **Reply #21 on:** September 14, 2011, 02:51:06 pm »

Hi guys,

process is going on a little...here is a draft of my side artwork. Pretty happy how it looks. Very busy currently..but I think I will finish it in october

mgb · « **Reply #22 on:** September 14, 2011, 03:07:58 pm »

I was wondering how progress was going on this one. Side art looks good. I think this project is really gonna look great.
Looking forward to the end product.

Martijn · « **Reply #23 on:** September 14, 2011, 03:42:02 pm »

Quote from: ei8ht on September 14, 2011, 02:51:06 pm

but I think I will finish it in october

Its september MGB

ei8ht · « **Reply #24 on:** September 15, 2011, 07:53:52 am »

I didn't mention the year

quintinbiker · « **Reply #25 on:** September 15, 2011, 08:23:16 am »

Looking very good wow

ei8ht · « **Reply #26 on:** August 08, 2012, 02:45:14 pm »

Here is a small update of the process. To be honest...the cab is almost done, but I was too lazy to post pictures here

.

Nevertheless here some pictures of the cab after the painting, which is not satisfying. After the cab is done 100% I will disassembly everything and bring it to a car painter (neighbor of my parents) to let them do it 100%.

ei8ht · « **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2012, 03:03:32 pm »

During the assembly I suffered a setback. My Wells Gardner D9800 crashed (the tiny glas in the back) I guess during the transport to my woodworking friend. It was horrible

. After posting alot of threads in german arcade forums asking for a replacement I found a guy which had a new Betson Imperial 27" for sale...that crazy guy bought two in the past...lucky for me

ei8ht · « **Reply #28 on:** August 08, 2012, 03:05:17 pm »

ei8ht · « **Reply #29 on:** August 08, 2012, 03:15:39 pm »

Bottom side...not very interesting

ei8ht · « **Reply #30 on:** August 08, 2012, 03:39:11 pm »

Admin panel design and how it turned out...not finished 100% yet. The wholes will be drilled after the artwork is done...The artwork (yes, the biggest problem for me) you see is just a draft to get a feel how it could look and which colors are looking good to me...

ei8ht · « **Reply #31 on:** August 19, 2012, 03:29:06 am »

Getting started with the artworks....Marquee and Admin Panel are done!

mgb · « **Reply #32 on:** August 20, 2012, 12:43:17 pm »

Looks like everything is coming along real nice.

ei8ht · « **Reply #33 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:08:41 pm »

I finished my cabinet a couple of months ago...I am little bit lazy of writing so will post some pictures I made with my crappy smartphone cam.

The thing that took me the most time was creating the artworks. Starting with almost no photoshop skills I tried and tried until the result satisfied me.

ei8ht · « **Reply #34 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:11:08 pm »

I painted the cabinet with two colors. Here are some pictures of the drawer and the lower side with the coindoor.

ei8ht · « **Reply #35 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:13:14 pm »

Control-Panel wiring and led buttons in action

yotsuya · « **Reply #36 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:13:32 pm »

That two-toned lower front looks sharp, my friend!

ei8ht · « **Reply #37 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:17:01 pm »

Speaker panel with Ultimarc AIM-Trak sensor bar for light gun action

ei8ht · « **Reply #38 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:19:58 pm »

Admin-panel with buttons for full OSD control, a illuminated button to launch the cabinet, speaker control and headphone jack if my son is already sleeping

ei8ht · « **Reply #39 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:21:15 pm »

Backside with led strips for more orange


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