SnaXenCade. 2-player bartop. Scratch build, first try. 8.aug. Video.

[SnaXen]

Hi everybody.

After lurking around the forums for quite some time, I finally decided to build myself a mame cab. I really liked the design of Unstupid and i64x, so I used their pictures as inspiration.
Not the best pictures because I only had a mobile phone to take the pictures with, sorry. Also would like to point out that english is not my native language, so maybe I dont use the correct words and so.

I started about 3,5 months ago by making a rough sketch that I used to make a cardboard mock-up, just to see how it turned out (had to make some adjustments before I started with the MDF  ).



Then I used the cardboard side to make me a 6mm thick template for the side panels.


Used a router with a flush trim bit to make two identical side panels.


Then I cut and fitted the rest of the mdf. Her are some pictures of the process. Instead of using t-moulding, I decided to round the edges with a router. Came out quite nice.
     

Test fitted the monitor (a 19" LCD 4:3)


Then I drilled out the CP.


Inserted nuts for mounting the joystick, and filled it with spackle.
 

Then I cut the plexiglas for marquee and CP. And bent the plexi to 90-degree angle over the cp.  For the holes in the plexi, I use a step drill bit to make the holes, and then I used a router with a flush trim bit to make the Plexiglas holes identical to the mdf-holes.
And now I am ready to sand, prime, sand, prime, sand, paint, sand, paint, sand (or whatever it takes).
Hoping for some nice weather (and some spare time) because I need to do this outside.
Here are the pictures of where I am at in the build as of today.

     

Please comment on my build, good or bad, all inputs are welcome. Also, please ask if you have any question to me or about my build.
I have no time estimate on the build. I do a little when I have some spare time, and it will be finished when it is finished 

Edit: Changed topic.

-=SnaXen=-

[Tropps]

Looks good so far! I'm in the beginning process of designing a similar bartop. I want to have two player controls as well but am trying to decide between a wider screen area with a bezel or having the front controls be larger ala http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,113966.msg1210322.html#msg1210322

Look forward to seeing more progress!

[sabreerbasAlpha]

First Build. Or First time trying anything like this. Not a chance.

Anyway. Its very very nice. I like the look and the CP looks very nice. But first time??? C,MON

[SnaXen]

First Build. Or First time trying anything like this. Not a chance.

Anyway. Its very very nice. I like the look and the CP looks very nice. But first time??? C,MON

Thank you, for your kind words.

It's really my first time building an arcade or anything big. It's also my first time working with MDF.

I have tested the router before, but nothing this big. Just some edges of shelves and stuff.
I have tried and made errors, and had to redo som stuff. But my rule now is mesure 3 times before I cut anything. I also use testpieces to trialcut edges before I do the real cut.
Was a bit scared about working with plexiglas, but it was not so hard. Easy does it

[GregD]

One small suggestion.  Looking from the front, it looks like you have some wooden blocks backing your marquee.  When you light the marquee, you will have two dark spots where those blocks are to the left and right.  Might want to use a different method.  Looks great so far.

[SnaXen]

One small suggestion.  Looking from the front, it looks like you have some wooden blocks backing your marquee.  When you light the marquee, you will have two dark spots where those blocks are to the left and right.  Might want to use a different method.  Looks great so far.

Thanks.

I have noticed it. One of my mistakes But I have glued the wood, so it have to stay like that.
So my workaroud is to have a black marquee with red letters. Only the red will let the light trough, and the black will block all light.

[sabreerbasAlpha]

First Build. Or First time trying anything like this. Not a chance.

Anyway. Its very very nice. I like the look and the CP looks very nice. But first time??? C,MON

Thank you, for your kind words.

It's really my first time building an arcade or anything big. It's also my first time working with MDF.

I have tested the router before, but nothing this big. Just some edges of shelves and stuff.
I have tried and made errors, and had to redo som stuff. But my rule now is mesure 3 times before I cut anything. I also use testpieces to trialcut edges before I do the real cut.
Was a bit scared about working with plexiglas, but it was not so hard. Easy does it

Well my friend I have to say you have a very natural talent for working with wood and a good eye for building.  Like I said before I like it a lot. 

[rablack97]

First Build. Or First time trying anything like this. Not a chance.

Anyway. Its very very nice. I like the look and the CP looks very nice. But first time??? C,MON

+1

Bending plexi at that.....i smell BS

 

[TPA5]

First Build. Or First time trying anything like this. Not a chance.

Anyway. Its very very nice. I like the look and the CP looks very nice. But first time??? C,MON

+1

Bending plexi at that.....i smell BS

 

Plexi can be bent with a heatgun, it's just a bit tricky and takes patience.

Good looking bartop, I like the way the plexiglass wraps down the front, looks classy!

[SnaXen]

Well my friend I have to say you have a very natural talent for working with wood and a good eye for building.  Like I said before I like it a lot. 

Thank you.

Plexi can be bent with a heatgun, it's just a bit tricky and takes patience.
Good looking bartop, I like the way the plexiglass wraps down the front, looks classy!

I used a heatgun. Had a piece of wood on the end of the plexi.  First I heated it well and evenly from below, and when the plexi started to bend a little by its self I started to heat from the top. Then it bendt down quite quick. Was a lot easier than I tought. But maybe it was beginners luck

I also like the look of the plexi bending down, and this was one of the things I wanted to try. Had a plan B to skip it if I failed big on the bending, but now I am trilled with the result.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words everyone.
Maybe not so good for my ego, but I like the feeling it gives me

[TheDude]

Serious skills at work here.
If it's your first build, it's really great !

Look forward to see more !

[SnaXen]

Started sprayspackling last night. Ran out of spray spackle before I finished my first layer

So now I must get more before I can continue. And it seems that there is no time to continue before the weekend.
Will post pictures when I have finished the first layer and sanded it down-

[SnaXen]

First layers of spray filler done. Had to fix some grooves with spackle, will need to sand it down before next layers of spray filler.

[SnaXen]

It's alive!! (Sort of). Just temporary artwork in paper.
Computer is not mounted inside yet. I wanted to test the PC before I took it apart and mounted it inside.
Installed windows last night, hopefully I will have time tonight to continue to install hw and sw.

[DickTurpin]

First Build. Or First time trying anything like this. Not a chance.

Anyway. Its very very nice. I like the look and the CP looks very nice. But first time??? C,MON

I agree with this totally. Not only is it a classy build with professionalism you could only get through experience XP points but...

I see your workshop you've more tools than the Justin Beiber fan club .

EDIT: Although fair play to you whatever your experience level it can't be said its not a great build and that you have mucha habilidad 

[TheDude]

Looks really good !

[SnaXen]

I agree with this totally. Not only is it a classy build with professionalism you could only get through experience XP points but...

I see your workshop you've more tools than the Justin Beiber fan club .

EDIT: Although fair play to you whatever your experience level it can't be said its not a great build and that you have mucha habilidad 

Thank you for your kind words.
It's sadly not my workshop or tools, it's my neighbours. Bud he let me use it for free

Before I have only done some building on my house, but nothing like like building furniture ore something, just walls. So it is really my first time building something like this. It's also my first time useing MDF and plexiglass.

Looks really good !

Thank you!!

[Le Chuck]

I bent plexi on my first build too.  Tho you did everything else 10x better than my first build so kuddos to you.  Very clean, very sharp, well done.   

[yotsuya]

For a second there, I thought Vigo was finally building a dedicated SnacksNJackson machine.

[mcseforsale]

subscribed.  bartops are next on my list now that the basement is done.

AJ

[SnaXen]

I bent plexi on my first build too.  Tho you did everything else 10x better than my first build so kuddos to you.  Very clean, very sharp, well done.   

Thank you. It means a lot to me.

AJ: Bartops are great. But I belive that it's more work than a fullsize cab. Not sure because I have not built a fullsize yet

Here are link to a short video i shot last night. Showing the boot (with semi-hidden windows 7) and a little of my Hyperspin.
It still only temp artwork on the marquee.
Anyway, here it is. Enjoy :

[Brian74]

Is it just me or does the intro video have bad lag? Could be my phone.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[SnaXen]

Is it just me or does the intro video have bad lag? Could be my phone.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

There are no lag in the original video, but I used youtubes function to fix my shaky filming. I guess it screwed up the video i little bit.

[TheDude]

Cool video ! 

[Unstupid]

Hey that's a nice looking bartop...  Congrats on you're first build.  I watched the video and here's the thing... Whenever someone shows their bartop they only show video of the front end, then scrolling through their massive game list, and video of them playing a game.  That's not what people want to see.... Everyone knows how front ends work and what the game looks like.  If you told me you are running hyperspin and that it can play Shinobi I could picture that in my head...  Turn on the lights and show us the cab.  Show us your construction skills.  Show the bent plexi cp cover.   Show us what kinda hardware (joysticks, buttons, encoder, monitor, computer etc. etc.) you are using and why!  That's what we want to see! 

[rablack97]

Hey that's a nice looking bartop...  Congrats on you're first build.  I watched the video and here's the thing... Whenever someone shows their bartop they only show video of the front end, then scrolling through their massive game list, and video of them playing a game.  That's not what people want to see.... Everyone knows how front ends work and what the game looks like.  If you told me you are running hyperspin and that it can play Shinobi I could picture that in my head...  Turn on the lights and show us the cab.  Show us your construction skills.  Show the bent plexi cp cover.   Show us what kinda hardware (joysticks, buttons, encoder, monitor, computer etc. etc.) you are using and why!  That's what we want to see! 

+1

[SnaXen]

Hey that's a nice looking bartop...  Congrats on you're first build.  I watched the video and here's the thing... Whenever someone shows their bartop they only show video of the front end, then scrolling through their massive game list, and video of them playing a game.  That's not what people want to see.... Everyone knows how front ends work and what the game looks like.  If you told me you are running hyperspin and that it can play Shinobi I could picture that in my head...  Turn on the lights and show us the cab.  Show us your construction skills.  Show the bent plexi cp cover.   Show us what kinda hardware (joysticks, buttons, encoder, monitor, computer etc. etc.) you are using and why!  That's what we want to see! 

I see your point there. I will try to record a new video another day.

Thank you for your kind words, it means a lot. Since your, and i64x's, builds is what inspired me to build my own