50's space theme - question about ordering marquee and sideart

[muppets4]

I allready own an arcadecabinet. It's a Royal Video JAMMA cabinet and took little to no work to get it MAMED. An ArcadeVGA and JPAC was all. Installed Vista (I know, but I had an unused license for it) and Hyperspin and off I was. Hardest part was getting it to the attic with two neighbours.

I've kept reading sites and forums and decided I had to built one of my own too. When making plans, this forum is the place to be, so I think I've spent reading weeks reading every single character on this site   Learning from others, their do's and dont's will get me there I hope.

This weekend I've ordered an arcadepack with Minipac, cable loom, two 4/8 way sticks and numerous buttons. At another shop at Ebay I've ordered a couple of lighted rectangular buttons for enter, pause and escape. And finally, at a shop in Germany two speakers and small tuner.

My cabinet will be based on the design of the woody. The reason why is that this design is very tight. I will be using an LCD monitor and the cabinet will be featuring in my sons room, so I want it to be small. The colour scheme is orange with red t-molding. I haven't thought about the name and the artwork. But I love the 60's view on space. For example used on the pinball machine Space Time http://www.cset.sp.utoledo.edu/~nkissoff/spacetime.htm

Today I took the day off and went to the hardwarestore to buy some tools and MDF. For the sides I'm using 16 mm and for the back and kickplate 12 mm. I ve drawn the layout on the MDF and used a circular saw. At one point I had to use the jigsaw. And not being very experienced, it took a lot of sanding afterwards. Some pictures of my first work.

[dawolv]

Looking very nice - Looks like you made good process in a day..now comes the fun part hehe

Orange and Red  



EDIT: Oh ..and Welcome Aboard !! 

[muppets4]

Thanks for the welcome! And those are the colors exactly. I was thinking of adding 70's blue and 70's brown to to the palet, for the controlpanel and the marquee.

What software do people use for designing controlpanels? And where do people find the icons I've seen around here? Any usefull tips?

For printing I'm thinking of http://www.gameongrafix.com/ (Mamemarquee.com). I've read good stories about them. Is the material they use strong enough to not add plexiglass to the CP?

[dawolv]

1- I tried the free trials of Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop CS5, I think most people prefer Adobe since it has alot to offer but that was too expensive for me, so I opted for the Paint Shop Pro.
Free Trial Adobe Photoshop Linkage and Free Trial Paint Shop Pro Linkage

2- Icons?

3- I know I will find out soon enough...Im still trying to determine a CP and Marquee Theme.../sigh ... I did see they have a Ultimate + Sandwiched Plexi option for the Marquee 

[XNIF]

ziet er goed uit! (looking good).
I just use this layout for my panel: http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

[muppets4]

ziet er goed uit! (looking good).
I just use this layout for my panel: http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

Thanks for the compliment and the site. I'm gonna look into it.

1- I tried the free trials of Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop CS5, I think most people prefer Adobe since it has alot to offer but that was too expensive for me, so I opted for the Paint Shop Pro.
Free Trial Adobe Photoshop Linkage and Free Trial Paint Shop Pro Linkage

2- Icons?

3- I know I will find out soon enough...Im still trying to determine a CP and Marquee Theme.../sigh ... I did see they have a Ultimate + Sandwiched Plexi option for the Marquee 


1 do you know if PSP can work with vector graphics? I'm asking because that's important for ordering with mamemarquee.com
2 I've seen layouts with a place for the joystick and the buttons. Or do people create them themselves?
3 deciding on the CP and Marquee seems harder then working with wood.......

[muppets4]

For now I cannot continue with my project. It's raining overhere and I have to do the woodwork outside. Our shed isn't big enough. Yesterday my router arrived. The routerbit for the t-molding will take longer (from USA to Netherlands), so I cannot continue. Today the drillstandard arrived, for more precise drilling. Will come in handy working on the CP.

I kinda left the idea of an orange cabinet. The 50's space theme I'm looking will probably contain orange by itself and maybe it's better to use black for the cabinet (with the red t-molding). To get an idea of what them I'm looking into, watch this site: http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/11/retro-future-to-stars.html Many of the pictures have the right atmosphere.

[drventure]

I've been playing with InkScape lately. It seems to be a pretty good vector drawing program, outputs svg files.

But I'm no artist, so take that with a grain of salt.

It IS free though!

[XNIF]

@muppets4  can you tell me where you bought the routerbit? I'm having the same problem, i'm in the netherlands.

[muppets4]

@muppets4  can you tell me where you bought the routerbit? I'm having the same problem, i'm in the netherlands.

I've bought it together with the t-molding from www.t-molding.com Did that because that's the only way I can be really sure it will fit. But it takes longer.

[XNIF]

@muppets4  can you tell me where you bought the routerbit? I'm having the same problem, i'm in the netherlands.

I've bought it together with the t-molding from www.t-molding.com Did that because that's the only way I can be really sure it will fit. But it takes longer.

thanx. I'm gonna order there too if i can't find anything closer to home.

[muppets4]

Call for help!

I am lacking skills on the design part. I've been struggeling with Illustrator for the better part of this evening and did not achieved anything. What I want to create is the following:

- a multi layer design, where the cut-outs for the joystick and the buttons are on one, and the design on the other (Mamemarquee.com demands so)
- a six button per player layout, with one 8-way joystick per player
- one 'one-player' button and one 'two player' button
- one 'coin' button
- three rectangular buttons (enter, escape and pause)
- size 65 cm by 20 cm, thickness of the MDF 18 mm (25.59 x 7.87 x 0,71) (converting from cm to inch gives strange figures)

How do I do this?

[muppets4]

Today the sun was shining, so I had a chance to work on my cabinet. I've done work on the bottom and the top, so I could put it together. Now I have to wait for the routerbit to arrive and for a helping hand for the controlpaneldesign.

First I worked on the bottom. It has to be pretty solid, so I used some wood I allready had in my shed. I also added wheels. Two steady ones and two turnable. I've seen it on other projects and they come in handy. Not only after building, but during too.



Then I moved on to the roof. When drilling holes for the screws, I use a special bit afterwards, to be sure that the screws are in deep enough. When painting the cabinet, I can easily fill the small holes.



And then.......a magical moment. The cabinet is upright for the first time. I've used a piece of wood for support only, but it's allready looking like something.

[dawolv]

Call for help!

I am lacking skills on the design part. I've been struggeling with Illustrator for the better part of this evening and did not achieved anything. What I want to create is the following:

- a multi layer design, where the cut-outs for the joystick and the buttons are on one, and the design on the other (Mamemarquee.com demands so)
- a six button per player layout, with one 8-way joystick per player
- one 'one-player' button and one 'two player' button
- one 'coin' button
- three rectangular buttons (enter, escape and pause)
- size 65 cm by 20 cm, thickness of the MDF 18 mm (25.59 x 7.87 x 0,71) (converting from cm to inch gives strange figures)

How do I do this?

1- Crap I didnt read that over there LOL! I thought they would just load some kick ass media then send the print job over to the Plotter.

From GameOnGrafix.Com :

"If Plotter cut is chosen, the image MUST be a Vector Image or 300+ dpi image with the items to be cut on a separate layer then the rest of the image.

Also please create your file the exact size you wanted printed, we will not resize it."

2 - I think you will need one coin in for each player, at least it looks that way for the MAME program Im using.

This project is really moving along!

[muppets4]

I was hoping that too.....my designskills lack....hmm...well....skills. But with the button layout you've mailed me I'm in for a good start. I will keep you posted.

[XNIF]

Just wondering... where you gonna put the admin buttons?

[muppets4]

I don't know yet. I have really nice buttons (-:

Maybe on the top of the CP, or on the 'roof'......I'm not done yet in the thinking process.

[XNIF]

Those are nice buttons indeed. How many admin buttons are you gonna use?

I'm asking you coz i do not know either where to put them. I think on the CP is very handy, but on the front might look nicer. But i'm worried that i might touch them when playing. I might put them below near the place where the coin door should be (i'm not having one btw).

I'm gonna order these buttons for credit btw:



I asked http://arcadewinkel.nl/ if they could order them, they said it should take a few weeks before they have them in the shop. But you can always make them yourself with a normal ledbutton. Just open them and put a printed paper in it.

[muppets4]

Don't know yet about the amount of admin buttons. At least 'enter', 'escape' and 'pause'. I might use the shifted function for more. My CP will not be that big (65 cm x 20 cm).

The button showed looks nice. The leatherlook background gives me ideas...... has anyone done that yet?

My buttons came from here http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270618039772&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The same shop sells this too http://cgi.ebay.nl/PC-ATX-Tower-Case-Power-On-Switch-SW-Motherboard-Wire-/110569640910?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0 wich might come in handy to be able to power up the pc from outside!

[XNIF]

The button showed looks nice. The leatherlook background gives me ideas...... has anyone done that yet?

Yes .. RXII did this. He was the one that started me looking at a low boy

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68962.0

[muppets4]

Unexpected summer in Holland and time to kill. So after two weeks of nearly nothing, I ended up in the garden again. I wanted to install the backdoor, with use of a pianohinge. I've seen it on this forum somewhere. I cannot give the person credits, cause I cannot find it. I've used my great friend the circular saw to take two slices of the sides. I installed them on the cabinet and used 100's of screws to attach the hinge.



Then a friend came by and I just had to show him some buttons I've bought. I don't know where I am going to use them for, but they sure look nice. There's a light inside them!

[dfmaverick]

RE: The control panel art, I don't know that you necessarily need a secondary cut sheet.

When I last did mine, all I did was had small crosshairs at the center of where the buttons and joysticks were to be on the actual art. Clamping down the artwork to the wood, I would then use an awl and puncture the art in the crosshairs and leave the mark on the wood for me to place the center of my spade drillbit for the buttons.

This way, you are making the wood conform to your art and not the other way around.

Just a thought.

That's what I'll do on my next CP, as well.

I've attached a sample of what I'm thinking of and referencing. (Cloned Knievel's as best I could. He's King.)

You've got a great start on the cabinet. If only I could get past the designing art stage.

[dfmaverick]

Since I had some time today, I created something using shapes from my CP to conform to your size and colors. I also created a border in the shape of a UFO around the areas.

Don't know what direction you were going with this, but since I was bored, I decided to whip something up for fun. It's very simplistic but perhaps it will give you ideas on what you finally decide to do.

[muppets4]

Since I had some time today, I created something using shapes from my CP to conform to your size and colors. I also created a border in the shape of a UFO around the areas.

Don't know what direction you were going with this, but since I was bored, I decided to whip something up for fun. It's very simplistic but perhaps it will give you ideas on what you finally decide to do.

I did not notice this reply before, but it is great! Thank you for your time, I will allmost certainly use this layout. I will never be able to come up with a better design. Great button layout too. Use of orange as a colour is wonderfull too. Just one question...... did you start out on your own cabinet too? I have one tip on that. Just do it. Yesterday I was working on it, after a short pause. I was never the woodwork kinda guy. But I'm beginning to love the smell of wood and being in my garage surrounded by my tools.

[dfmaverick]

If you want the illustrator file, let me know. I just used a red and orange swatch that was already in the color pallette. It was just for representation unless you know what colors you really wanted. The layout of the buttons were as close as I could come to Knievel's layout (1.5" between buttons and the bottom row staggered in the middle 1.5" below the top row). The layout was also to allow enough room for the base of a Happs Super joystick.

[muppets4]

I would love to receive the file. I still have to measure the joysticks and buttons, but I reckon they are pretty standard. Not Happs though.

[dfmaverick]

Once you know the sizes, post and I can adjust the layout to match your hardware before I send you the file.

[muppets4]

Once you know the sizes, post and I can adjust the layout to match your hardware before I send you the file.

You're the greatest! This is the thing I wasn't too sure about in the beginning. Now onto the kickplate and keyboard/mouse drawer!

[muppets4]

Progress on my project: kickplate, keyboard drawer and plexiglass installed. The top of the kickplate is a loose piece of MDF, fixed by magnets, so I can easily remove it to be able to use the drawer for keyboard and mouse.

Now I need a good solution for my monitorbezel. As you can see in the pictures in this post, I'm using a 24" LCD screen. The distance between the plexiglass and the monitor is only a few centimeters. I could paint the plexiglass black, but I've also seen a handmade bezel overhere somewhere, made of paper. I will look into that, cause I think it will be the best solution.

[jmike]

Those are nice buttons indeed. How many admin buttons are you gonna use?

I'm asking you coz i do not know either where to put them. I think on the CP is very handy, but on the front might look nicer. But i'm worried that i might touch them when playing. I might put them below near the place where the coin door should be (i'm not having one btw).

I'm gonna order these buttons for credit btw:



XNIF not sure if you're still looking for the light up coin buttons but I bought some here:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=295&zenid=442be8c7823f37083f548868c15b598c

This is what it looks like and they're available now.

[muppets4]

Upon opening this reply I am being warned that I am about to reacht on a topic older then 120 days (-:

It's been winter. And my shed is unheated, so I stopped working on it. A month ago the weather bettered, so I started working on it again.Step by step. I hope to finish it before my son leaves the house, and he currently is 8 years old. So time is on my side.

I have been working on the controlpanel. I was kind of nervous doing that, because drilling holes never was my speciality. I practiced on a small piece of MDF, so I learned that I need to drill from to sides to have a perfect hole. Then I drawed lines on it. And wonder: it all worked out. I picked glossy orange paint and when that was dry I couldn't resist installing the buttons. Last weekend I went all out on the bezel. Took me 3 times to get it right. I'm waiting for one side to let the paint dry. So I can install it tommorrow.

[muppets4]

I'm not that fast, but in a slow pace things are coming to an end. I am finishing up now. Things to do are designing the marquee and sideart. Audio is connected, but that did not went well.

I fitted a pc on a MDF plate using a standard PSU. For the sound I've bought a small amplifier to connect the speakers. For power I used the 12v lines from the PSU. Now I am hearing all kinds of disturbance through the speakers. Is there something I can do to get rid of that other then buying another 12v PSU?

[muppets4]

And offcourse some pictures of the current state!

[BobA]

For the sound I've bought a small amplifier to connect the speakers. For power I used the 12v lines from the PSU. Now I am hearing all kinds of disturbance through the speakers. Is there something I can do to get rid of that other then buying another 12v PSU?

You can use a regulated 12V wall wart instead of a complete PSU.  It has to have enough power for your amp.

[muppets4]

Thanks, found one on Ebay, report to you later.

Other question. I'm in the process of deciding what side art I want and what marquee. Not an easy task. Game on Grafix has good options, as has Emdkay. Both of them are US based. Is there a Europian company too? To cut shipping costs?