[ COMPLETED ] (Yet another) Pac Man Bartop- Christmas gift

[Well Fed Games]

OK, I finished my full size Pac cab, and am about to dive into my next full-size cab (have a fun theme in mind for that one, details coming soon), but I want to squeeze one more project in before the end of the year.

I am making a Pac-Man/Namco bartop for my Sister's family (her, her husband, my nephew and two nieces) mostly out of stuff I have left over/stockpiled. Here's the skinny:

Plans: I will be using Brian Bishop's plans as a starting point (http://vectorlib2.free.fr/Plans/)

Body: will be re-using wood and some other parts from an old 8-liner/slots cab I found on the curb a while back (might be able to keep the wood grain laminate, if not I have yellow paint left over from my pac cab). Leftover black leather t-molding.

Electronics: Jakks Pacific "Arcade Gold featuring Pac Man" plug & play (Pac Man, Pac Plus, Pac & Pal, Super Pac, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Bosconian, Rally-X).

Controls: 4-way stick (either Zippyy or Happ Super), Happ/IL buttons.

Display: 13" Sylvania TV

Power: one-button turn on and clean power entry using one of these: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Schaffner/FN9263-10-06/?qs=1o9OSiPlHsiOOXnbybPMOA%3D%3D (kind of expensive, but I want to make sure it is safe/easy operation).

Theme: Pac Man + a bit of Volkswagen (my brother-in-law is a VW nut, owns some sweet rides including a camper van and a old red convertible). Start of the main marquee image below (still needs lots of work)- I am re-using some art assets from my Pac/Ms Pac cab.

Wish me luck! Only about two months till Christmas! My sister and her kids will be coming up and will see my big Pac cab for the first time in a couple of weeks, that will help me confirm this is a good gift idea.

[Unstupid]

Cheaper here: http://www.amazon.com/IEC320-Inlet-Module-Switch-Socket/dp/B0050HH70E

It is also fuse protected, buy you will have to supply your own which you can pick up for $.99

[Well Fed Games]

Cheaper here: http://www.amazon.com/IEC320-Inlet-Module-Switch-Socket/dp/B0050HH70E

It is also fuse protected, buy you will have to supply your own which you can pick up for $.99

Ah, thanks. I swear I searched Amazon!  Possibly a dumb question: on the unit at that link, does the switch need to be wired up in some way or would it control the power to the cabinet as-is? I see some prongs on the backside of the switch area and not sure what those are for.

[Unstupid]

Cheaper here: http://www.amazon.com/IEC320-Inlet-Module-Switch-Socket/dp/B0050HH70E

It is also fuse protected, buy you will have to supply your own which you can pick up for $.99

Ah, thanks. I swear I searched Amazon!  Possibly a dumb question: on the unit at that link, does the switch need to be wired up in some way or would it control the power to the cabinet as-is? I see some prongs on the backside of the switch area and not sure what those are for.

Yea you have to wire the hot leads to the switch.  I attached a pic so you can better see whats going on back there.  This is the same switch except it is the snap in version (no screw holes).  Also what cool about the switch is that when you pass ac current through the switched leads the button will light up so you know it's on.

[Well Fed Games]

Cheaper here: http://www.amazon.com/IEC320-Inlet-Module-Switch-Socket/dp/B0050HH70E

It is also fuse protected, buy you will have to supply your own which you can pick up for $.99

Ah, thanks. I swear I searched Amazon!  Possibly a dumb question: on the unit at that link, does the switch need to be wired up in some way or would it control the power to the cabinet as-is? I see some prongs on the backside of the switch area and not sure what those are for.

Yea you have to wire the hot leads to the switch.  I attached a pic so you can better see whats going on back there.  This is the same switch except it is the snap in version (no screw holes).  Also what cool about the switch is that when you pass ac current through the switched leads the button will light up so you know it's on.

Wow, thanks!  Doesn't look like too much work... and $15 less is great! Going to order a couple...

[Well Fed Games]

Not a whole lot to report... got some parts laid out, did some planning, and decased the TV (by the way, a 13" TV case fits on my head surprisingly well.... if I can get a clean neck hole cut out I might be a TV for Halloween

Oh, and made a custom reject button insert. Reject button will be just for show, but I think will be a nice touch.

[Unstupid]

Are you going to do a horizontal or vertical monitor?  Does that arcade gold game thinggy even let you do vertical?  Also, are you sure about that cabinet?  I saw some pics of the finished unit and that bugger is huge!  According to the dimensions it is 30" tall!  That 13" monitor is going to drown in that cab.  Maybe you can take all the dimensions and scale it down by 65-70%

[Well Fed Games]

Yeah, all the games are horizontal. That is one thing I love about those things... plug & play + old TV makes a pretty straightforward project. The games that weren't originally vertical are just to the left with scores, etc. moved to the right.

Yeah, those plans are big, bigger than I remembered when I first checked them out months ago... they may have originally been for a 17" monitor, not sure. I am squeezing it down for sure, and making some changes (speakers will be on front rather than on marquee, monitor will be mounted instead of on shelf, etc.) I will probably do a mock-up with cardboard to make sure everything is nice and tight.

Ordered some parts for this project (and a future project) from Paradise Arcade, decided to go for a Sanwa JLW-TM-8 stick for this project, with a red balltop of course.

By the way, this will be a "whole family" gift! Thankfully they all should like it!

[taylormadelv]

I have hacked several of these into cabinets, they are very nice units. Be ready to work with some tiny, tiny wires! The one thing that I have ot been able solve is how the unit shuts off video output after about 5-6 minutes if the unit is not touched. This is great for saving batteries but not so great if you want this to have an "attract mode" that stays up forever like a real arcade game. Either the circuit that cuts the video needs to found and bypassed or a switch needs to be activated on a regular basis automatically somehow to keep the unit from shutting off the video. If anyone has a possible solution for this, please let us know!
Good luck!

[Well Fed Games]

[youtube][youtube]

[Unstupid]

Hey very cool... The overlay looks very cool.  What are you going to do for the sideart?  Those hinges are nice too!  Uhh... What's with the pink joystick?

[Well Fed Games]

Hey very cool... The overlay looks very cool.  What are you going to do for the sideart?  Those hinges are nice too!  Uhh... What's with the pink joystick?

Thanks!

Sideart might just be some 8x10 photo prints attached with contact cement (rough image attached below), not sure if I want to go for the full adhesive vinyl on this project. I didn't order it yet as I wanted to see how the photo print came out. Quality from Walgreens was ok, but I might try another supplier for the side art.

The pink joystick is one of two Zippyys (From Groovy Game Gear) I have set aside for another project (and I have since bought black balltops for them), just happened to be on the table from when I was comparing it to the Sanwa! 

[BobA]

Nice collection of parts.   Looks like you have it all covered.

[404]

I'm sort of in the same boat with plans for my project. I'm short on cash and looking for every and any way to recycle old parts. I love the walgreens poster idea. Even without a coupon, printing a marquee and panel there is a great, inexpensive way of getting them done. Ironically I have one of the earlier jakks 5 in 1 units that i was going to turn into a mini arcade but decided that by the time i'm done with wood work, electronics etc, i could have built a mame machine. maybe a more relaxed project for the future.Very much looking forward to how this project turns out. 

[Well Fed Games]

Not much progress yet- the gift recipients in question are visiting this weekend (fall break for a lot of schools here in the US), so I am taking them into Chicago for a couple of days.

I did find a anti-glare piece of smoked glass I like for this project, was originally a screen filter for a computer monitor. Only slightly wider than I need (14" instead of 13"), but I am thinking I might route some channels into the sides of the cab to hold it anyway.

Below is a pic of the insides of the game. Should be super easy to attach all the controls to it. Only thing that isn't immediately obvious is the best place to tap into for the menu button, but will look closer at that later.

[404]

Just love how Jakks labels all of the buttons on their pcb. They did the same thing with the 5 in 1 as well. 

[Well Fed Games]

OK, sides cut (finally). Tomorrow, I start on the bottom, top, various internal crosspieces, etc. Nice to put the $200 router to use that previously has only been used for some t-molding and a back door...

[dandare]

Nice.  If its anywhere near as nice as your mr & mrs pac cab it will be sweet! (i LOVE that cab!)

btw, did u end up wearing the tv set for halloween? 

[Well Fed Games]

Nice.  If its anywhere near as nice as your mr & mrs pac cab it will be sweet! (i LOVE that cab!)

btw, did u end up wearing the tv set for halloween? 

Sadly, no... but I am keeping the case as a possibility for next year!

[Well Fed Games]

Well, I got all the parts cut today with the table saw, and just need to route a couple more holes and the t-molding slots tomorrow and the major woodworking will be done.

Decided to roll the dice with the Chinese/ebay sticker supplier PinballJim used on his Konkey Dong project... hope it comes in time and in good shape... for less than 10 bucks, worth the risk. Pic attached of final art.

[opt2not]

I just wanted to chime in here and say I'm really looking forward to see you put this together. I think you've made a lot of good cost efficient choices, as well as the planning and vision of the cabinet is solid!
This should turn out to be a really great machine!
 

[Well Fed Games]

Thanks!

[Well Fed Games]

All parts cut and routed, except for a channel I will need on the interior of both sides for the glass (will figure that out later). Did some bondo on all the chipped pieces, and...

got the control panel done! I'm quite pleased that all my measurements matched up. I must have learned something on this forum!

Building a project from scratch is kind of fun, my last was more of a restore/conversion.

[opt2not]

Lookin' good!

I don't know if you want to get too granular with the joystick look, but you could pick up a red shaft cover to mimic the original pacman joystick's all red ball and shaft.
I got a couple for my JLF's (fits JLW's too) from here: http://www.canadianjoysticks.com/products/Qanba-Shaft-Guard-And-Dust-Covers-For-Sanwa-Denshi-JLF-Series-Joysticks.html , but you may be able to find them elsewhere if shipping from Canada isn't your cup o' tea.
The only issue is the dust cover, you'll have to find a black cover that fits the thicker shaft, (or you could always drill out your sanwa ones). But then again, an original panel has the dust cover under, between the mounting plate and the CP.

Just a thought!

[Well Fed Games]

Sorry, no pics- but got the controls wired this morning. Easy easy- kill it with soldier and hot glue! Hopefully I get some warm days to finish painting-- other than a bit of primer, not much going on there yet.

opt- thanks for the joystick thoughts. I think I am going to keep it stock at this point though. 

[pmailley]

Great idea for those of us who are on a budget, but just love the arcade feel!

[Well Fed Games]

Great idea for those of us who are on a budget, but just love the arcade feel!

Thanks! I stole the idea from others far smarter than me!

Pics of the bottom front (speakers) and bottom back (power entry, vent) below.

I have all the wiring done, splicing a small power strip into the power entry plug was satisfying (but I still had my father-in-law, an electrical engineer, check it, so I wasn't giving my sister a fire hazard).

All of the front/inside/back is painted black, sides and top will be yellow.

Next steps- my masking/bezel painting on the glass didn't go so well. May see if my wife can touch it up by hand. Otherwise,

1. Assemble
2. Paint outside yellow
3. Cut marquee plexi
4. Attach art when (if?) it comes from China.
5. Playtest!!!!!

[Well Fed Games]

Art came in- it is a little thin, and has lots of creases (despite the shipping tube being in perfect condition), but am overall pleased! Will be using the "sticker" marquee as opposed to the photo paper one, as the sticker passes light just perfectly.

[Mr. Dude]

Awesome Job man!  Thanks for keeping us posted on the details of the build.  I can't wait to see the finished product.

[Well Fed Games]

Thanks! Started assembly today...  there is a bit of a puzzle due to the fact I didn't leave myself much (or any) wiggle room as far as mounting the TV (which mounts right to the sides). Might have to call my wife in to help, she is a tetris master. 

[Nephasth]

I want to squeeze one more project in before the end of the year.

Started assembly today...

Sounds like you're ahead of schedule!

[Well Fed Games]

I want to squeeze one more project in before the end of the year.

Started assembly today...

Sounds like you're ahead of schedule!

Yeah, doing ok. The pressure comes from a former Smash TV cab that I would really like to get painted/out of the garage before it gets crazy cold, but have to get this one done first! 

[opt2not]

Aww...perhaps I'm too much of a perfectionist, but those creases in the artwork would drive me bat----steaming pile of meadow muffin--- crazy. I would let those printers have it, 'cause that's just disrespectful shipping.

[Well Fed Games]

Aww...perhaps I'm too much of a perfectionist, but those creases in the artwork would drive me bat----steaming pile of meadow muffin--- crazy. I would let those printers have it, 'cause that's just disrespectful shipping.

Yeah, I am hoping that the creases will be a non-issue when I get the stuff stuck on. Not sure if I want to wait for a re-ship, unfortunately. But for $12, I think it will work.

[gbeef]

great work on the artwork. love how he's in the car.

[BobA]

30 days to Christmas 

[Well Fed Games]

30 days to Christmas 

 
I'm good- just have to figure out how to mount the TV, then it is time to paint! I can do it!

[Well Fed Games]

Still working on this. I had masked and spray-painted a bezel on the back of the smoked glass, but it did not come out well at all (perhaps the green "Frog Tape" isn't so great after all), so I made a bezel to be printed on photo paper ($3 at costco, 11x14) that I will cut the middle out of tonight and will sandwich with a piece of plexi on top of the glass. Maybe overkill, but it also adds a little bit of flavor to the monitor area, that was a little plain.

I would have this done if I could break my Team Fortress 2 addiction.

[BobA]

Keep going it is almost that time.   I was also looking at Costco to print some marquees do you know how the paper they use transmits light?

[Well Fed Games]

Keep going it is almost that time.   I was also looking at Costco to print some marquees do you know how the paper they use transmits light?

Thanks! I am making progress- the balance between keeping the size down and making it practical to assemble is something that has hung me up a bit. but i will be finishing the structural side of things today, then it is just paint, t-molding, and decals.

For the bezel I got at Costco, the photo paper is pretty thick. I did try a photo paper marquee at Walgreens, and it was too think to transmit light well. (I ended up getting a duplicate marquee printed with my Chinese sideart stickers, and when stuck to the plexi, it transmits great). At one point I considered sanding down the back of the photo paper, but was pretty sure I would ruin it somehow trying that.