Metal Slug Lowboy *new update*

[XNIF]

I just ordered the first stuff for my first (lowboy) build. After long reading (this forum and "the holy book") i've now finally done it.
I've ordered a minipac kit from Gremlin Solutions. And this weekend i'm gonna get a 25" trinitron tv (with scart) and the MDF.
The high pressure laminate will come when the MDF is turned in a cabinet  
I'm using the lowboy from RXII ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68962.0 ) as a reference. However it's gonna be different in a lot of ways. I'm using HPL like i said for some nice art on the side and the CP.  I really liked the Street fighter cabinet from here, i wanna do the same for my lowboy in a Metal Slug theme. This SF cabinet: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84649.0

I'll keep you posted !

A strange thing happened when i placed my order, i started to sweat and shake ! Is this normal, or is this the feeling of an addiction comming?  

[Silas (son of Silas)]

A strange thing happened when i placed my order, i started to sweat and shake ! Is this normal, or is this the feeling of an addiction comming?  

Arcade building is like Hotel California. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave 

Welcome to a life long addiction buddy 

[XNIF]

Just a small update:

Got my package from gremlin! It look great. I will make some pictures later today. Just to get more colour in my postings

This weekend i picked up a Sony Trinitron flattube CRT 25". I want to connect this with a VGA -> RGB scart cable i am going to make. I am not completely sure about how to proceed here... i want to run PC games and Mame with soft 15 khz. 

Things to find out:

* Can i set in the frontend to use mame with soft 15khz and normal pc games without?
* Will soft 15khz work with a 9800GTX or a 8800GT (those i have here on the shelf)

will post pics later.

[saleem]

take a bit of advice,when you cut your panels for the cab,sides,front etc laminate them before you put it together.far easier to do and better to handle this way.

[XNIF]

Little update with the pics!

The kit I ordered from Gremlin with 18 buttons


The buttons, orange and yellow, the idea is to also use orange T-molding:


The PCB and the harness, thank god i have a harness. Soldering those wires would take forever:


Big-ass 25" sony trinitron for 25 euro(32 dollar):


It will be big

[XNIF]

I made a basic 3d model with the measurements i am using. It's always tricky to start something without seeing how it looks. So i made this (with some models i imported from google  )



Not bad for a first try, i'll make this better soon. But by the looks of it, it's nice. It has a 20cm control panel at 85Cm height. The total height is 151, i think i just keep it at 150 when it's for real.

[XNIF]

I did not really like the last model i made. It was just not elegant. I know lowboys are just little boxes, but i wanted to add some of the nice designs some cabs have. Also i do not like the way controlpanels look on lowboys so i made one that would have a "normal" CP. 
On the model i did not mount the controlpanel yet, but to give you an impression:

[wp34]

I like your new design much better.  The CP changes were a good idea.  Your design should be real comfortable for playing "classics" like Pac Man where the monitor is more at an angle.

[XNIF]

I like your new design much better.  The CP changes were a good idea.  Your design should be real comfortable for playing "classics" like Pac Man where the monitor is more at an angle.

Thank you. I hope the design changes will improve the way games will be played. I'm building a lowboy only because it's smaller and easier to fit in my house. So i want to create a hybrid version of a lowboy and fancy normal cabinet.

[solidteezme]

Welcome to a life long addiction buddy  

everyone said that about slot car, but that was before i built my first cab!

[XNIF]

everyone said that about slot car, but that was before i built my first cab!

Yeah well i am still in the design phase. It's a lot of fun to do a lot of research. I think every part of making the cab has it's own ups and downs.

Look look i made a controlpanel.... spending hours learning Google Sketchup :

[XNIF]

Ok new update, i started to cut the side panels, you can now see how the design will  look like. I know OSB is not the best material, but i am on a tight budget. So i am using cheap wood and a lot of wood i already have. That way i can save money to laminate it, and have nice artwork.

It's a tight fit, but i have measured correctly the CRT will fit with the right angle.
As you can see i have cut out a piece of wood in the back so it's symetrical, and the wheels will fit nice. The wheels will always hit the ground so it should be sturdy enough.

I am a little worried about the control panel,  i do not know how to attach it (it will fit on top) maybe i should make a little adjustment by cutting a little deeper in the front so it will fit inside.




And after a lot of sanding they are identical twins:
I did not use that saw for cutting by the way. I used that saw for the corners because they were not identical, sanding that difference was too much!


Tonight a friend will help me with the TV (so i won't kill myself) , i'll post more pics soon. if i do not post anything anymore, he did not help me enough

[muppets4]

Tonight a friend will help me with the TV (so i won't kill myself) , i'll post more pics soon. if i do not post anything anymore, he did not help me enough

Just curious if you're still alive 

This is the reason I'm working at a slim cabinet with an LCD in it. So I don't have to mess with high voltage tubes.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Off to a great start. I really like the lowboys so am looking forward to seeing this develop 

[XNIF]

i'm still alive... the tv is uncharged! i'll post an update soon!

[mgb]

Thats a great looking design for a cabinet. good luck with it.

discharging a crt is a  nerve racking thing the first time, then you get use to it.
whenever I work on someones monitor, they always stand far back as I discharge the monitor and then they say "thats it"

[XNIF]

Tonight a friend will help me with the TV (so i won't kill myself) , i'll post more pics soon. if i do not post anything anymore, he did not help me enough

Just curious if you're still alive  

This is the reason I'm working at a slim cabinet with an LCD in it. So I don't have to mess with high voltage tubes.

yes but LCD just doesn't look right for to with 15khz games. It's not bad or anything i just prefer CRT , i'm planning a bartop when this is finished with a 15" LCD.
I guess it's just what you wanna play. PC games look great on LCD.

Gonna cut the front and backpanels right now.

[muppets4]

yes but LCD just doesn't look right for to with 15khz games. It's not bad or anything i just prefer CRT , i'm planning a bartop when this is finished with a 15" LCD.
I guess it's just what you wanna play. PC games look great on LCD.

Gonna cut the front and backpanels right now.

That's the reason I have a dedicated MAME cabinet for the 15 Khz, with an ArcadeVGA videocard. The new one will be PC and consolegames (with some MAME games too)

[XNIF]

yes but LCD just doesn't look right for to with 15khz games. It's not bad or anything i just prefer CRT , i'm planning a bartop when this is finished with a 15" LCD.
I guess it's just what you wanna play. PC games look great on LCD.

Gonna cut the front and backpanels right now.

That's the reason I have a dedicated MAME cabinet for the 15 Khz, with an ArcadeVGA videocard. The new one will be PC and consolegames (with some MAME games too)

yeah you're lucky ! I do not think my wife will agree when i tell her i must have more than one

[muppets4]

I told her it is a surprise for my son......it's all about strategy!

[XNIF]

ok update, test fitting the panels:



used construction glue for the bottom.


A control panel is missing


from the inside:



Next is test fitting the TV. Then when all panels are done, í'll start with the C.P.

[XNIF]

And some more progress. Made the bottomplate and the backside. And i started to with the marqueeholder.





I left the bottom frame uncovered for the wheels. It seemed more stable than mounting the wheels with OSB plate in between.

[muppets4]

You're going in a great pace. I like the shape too. And I see you're getting help from "Duke Jan"

Why did you choose that wood? It will be hard to get it smooth.

[XNIF]

You're going in a great pace. I like the shape too. And I see you're getting help from "Duke Jan"

Why did you choose that wood? It will be hard to get it smooth.

I cannot do anything without "The Duke", too much shaking of the hands That is how i keep pace! Just an hour here, and another two hours there.

About the wood... uhm....  well i'm laminating it so it does not have to be smooth. But you are right, i should have used MDF.
We'll just see how this holds. Worst case scenario:  i'll cut the two sides again out of MDF. But this OSB is not that bad.

[XNIF]

Ok new update! Fitted the screen it's starting to look cool. It's a slim fit. I like big screens in little boxes
It was almost impossible to lift it by my own and a friend helped me out. Thanks a lot Mayko! Really happy now



Did i say it's a close fit? Angle is 30 degrees.


Just enough room

[Ond]

Nice clean woodwork here, not just the cuts but joinery as well, looking good!

[emphatic]

Yeah, this looks great!

[XNIF]

Nice clean woodwork here, not just the cuts but joinery as well, looking good!

comming from you this is a real compliment! Your project is insane! Every detail you do is the best you can do, where I just wanna finish is fast as good as i can in the time i have. I just want to finish it as soon as possible and play!  When my project takes too long i am afraid i will never finish it. So i have set myself a goal to finish the exterior this month.

@emphatic  thanks! I'm trying hard!

[SpaceHedgehog]

The more I look at this, the more I like it. The extra contouring on the side really adds to the overall aesthetics. You're tempting me into building another cab......

[TGov]

This thing ever get finished?

[Termin8tor]

Following with interest. Keep up the good work.
Lowboys are the new bartops. 

edit.
Just noticed this was started 2 years ago not sure how I missed it. Hope it was completed.

[TGov]

Ya, neat project.  I am considering building a Lowboy to replace the Dynamo HS-09  I have now.  It is a great cab but is a bit overpowering in my small office.  The footprint isn't a problem but the volume makes it look a lot bigger than it is.