Cocktail Cab

[Draco_Elessar]

Got an Nintendo Donkey Kong Jr. cocktail with no monitor or board. Most of the controls and coin mech looks to be in good condition. The original power supply that may or may not work (it was under the water damaged wood.) I have no idea how to test it safely. This being my first arcade project any help will be appreciated.

The plan:
   remove rust
   replace water damaged MDF
   add another button to both control panels
   19" LED or CRT monitor
   old gaming notebook for mame
   find away to do this along with college classes
   don't let it become a kitchen table













So far I have taken the control panels apart. The joysticks internals were covered in a grease that had mostly solidified (that was fun removing.) I removed the 4-way restrictor. It had a cloud like 8-way restrictor under it.

[Louis Tully]

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[eds1275]

Given the very basic controls yet beautiful classic styling you may be torn between a limited number of games and keeping it original, or adding some extra buttons. If you do keep it original, there are many C64 games that would work perfectly with that setup... one that came to mind immediately after seeing the single button was JUMPMAN!

[Draco_Elessar]

 
"don't let it become a kitchen table" 

That's a pretty good looking cab, man. I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to actual arcade machines but I think it'd be pretty easy to get that one back to life with actual arcade hardware. But if you're going to toss a computer in there, go with a CRT for sure. I've made a few with LCDs and CRTs and tubes look better, no contest. Especially since you're making a cocktail, the CRT will give you great viewing angles. Are you going to change/add artwork to this or just keep it as?

Thanks! I'm trying to find a 19" CRT for it. I found 8liners.com, but I'm not sure how to tell if it will work with the cocktail or a good CRT. Is there any place you would suggest that's under $200?

The artwork is going to change to a more multi-game style. To tell the truth I haven't really thought about it. One thing that I might do is change the color scheme from brown/black to black and ? (maybe red)

Given the very basic controls yet beautiful classic styling you may be torn between a limited number of games and keeping it original, or adding some extra buttons. If you do keep it original, there are many C64 games that would work perfectly with that setup... one that came to mind immediately after seeing the single button was JUMPMAN!

The steel panel has a cut out for one extra button. I'm not that confident in cutting a circle in steel for a third button or expanding them to fit modern pushbuttons. Is there an easy why to do it?

I never played any of the C64 games or considered other systems with one or two button games. I was only thinking mame, thanks for the idea! Now to find away to find all one and two button games out there...

[chopperthedog]

HEY!! What's wrong with having one in the kitchen.?.?.?.


Don't think you'll get a 19" crt in there. I went with lcd in mine for the purposes of making it a better table that you can get your knees under. I hope to see you maintain the visual aesthetics of the table. Have fun with your project.


good day.

[Draco_Elessar]

So far I dismantled the cabinet, cleaned it, and put most of it back together. I got a 19" CRT for the cocktail for a really good price. Images are a bit blurry sorry.









If only it would fit You where right chopperthedog, the info I found online said 19". I'm guessing but it was about an inch to big. Maybe it needs and 18" or 17". I'm going to give up on finding a CRT and go LCD.

[Draco_Elessar]

Possible colors:





I found the model in the sketchup warehouse; created by Gozer. Thinking of going red or the original brown.

Got a 17" 5:4 LED monitor that I may make rotating. DNA Dan's method looks to be the best way for someone who has no experience with motors. Any advice would be most welcome.

[Draco_Elessar]

Got some stuff done on the cocktail  this past week.

Drilled out the control panels to fit with 1-1/8" buttons. Both panels will have a start, shift, and 2 buttons, but  I need to figure out how to take some of the paint off, or just put a decal sticker over it.

Wired the evil little outlet (or inlet?) and power button for the PC. Had a few issues doing this. First I used quick disconnects, they didn't work. The switch light was off, then it went on, then back off. I found the loose connection in a crimp I made and fixed it. I reconnect it, it starts flickering. OK, maybe more of the crimps are bad, I'll play it safe and solder the connections. It still flickers I shake it (that should fit it right?), the light stays on! Then it flickers . Maybe it's a bad fuse, so I replace the fuse. IT STILL FLICKERS! After some more shaking it and some threats, I realize there is a sound when its moved. The connections that hold the fuse, where not holding the fuse in place. It took about 2 hours for me to figure this out. It works! I install it! But then I remember that a metal cabinet has to be grounded! So I needed to re-solderer the ground connection adding another wire for the cabinet ground.

I need to figure out where the notebook is going to sit in the cabinet. It just to long with the VGA cable, to sit at the bottom flat. Going to try and put it at an angle on the bottom. I have made a temp monitor mount, that needs some adjusting before I use it as a template to cut the final mount.


Here are some pics!

[Louis Tully]

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[Draco_Elessar]

An update after so long. The cabinet got painted and put back together. The color came out a bit more orange, than I would have liked, but it looks good. All that needs to be done now is to create a control panel overlay.