Space simpsons - new cp - art advices needed

[Nestafari]

Hi, i wanna buy a gutted cab for a mame project and i ve found this :

It s only 21'' of large and 5 feets high.

Price 150$ -> a bit expensive. There are speakers and screen but not in a perfect state. T molding is new.

Do you think it is high enough to play in a stand up position? I wanna make a 2 player panel with 6 buttons each is it big enough?

What do you think ! And the screen is not vertical enough..I think the biggest i can put in it is a 19''...Bit tiny??

Anyway i really like the style and the size but is it gonna be a problem while playing with a friend?? I am tall btw..

ah yeah i also wanna put this cab on wheels so can win a few inches high...

Sorry for my english and thanx for your help !! 

[bluemini17]

It looks like a good base to do your own thing. I have a cab of similar size and design. I went for a two player setup but only 4 buttons per player. I have an original hantarex 20inch screen in it. works a treat. i like the size and angle of the screen

[Nestafari]

Do you have any pics of your finished cab??

Is there enough room for 6 buttons? How does it feel during a two player game? Not too cramped?

Thanks for your help. 

[Yvan256]

This cabinet looks like a good compromise between a lowboy and a regular stand-up cabinet! Anyone recognize the shape? Is it an original cabinet that has been modified into a poker cabinet?

I'm not sure if it's worth 150$USD but there is already a coin door and the cabinet seems to be in great shape. If the speakers are good and there is two of them (i.e., stereo sound) then it's also one less thing to worry about.

Since you say the monitor is burned-in, you might want to offer a bit less for the whole thing for the trouble of removing the monitor and disposing of it.

[Nestafari]

Ok so i ve bought this cab with speakers, t molding, and in a good state.

Well, actually, i want it in a perfect state.

So i m gonna put a new layer of paint -> question do i have to sand down first?

The marquee looks a bit smaller and is unusual, i hope i can change it easily

-> question can i fill the holes with something instead of rebuild the board of the coin door?

More pictures to come..Thank you everyone

Ps i think i will make a gouls and ghost cab but not too dark  , artwork coming soon !

[bluemini17]

Thats great on the purchase. I measured mine today, it is 23inch wide. I am happy with two players but you have to stand slightly over to the side when playing. 6buttons would be tight but possible. here is a video of mine so you can get a feel for the control panel size.

[MacGyver]

Are you sure that it's paint?  It looks like black Melamine or vinyl.

[Nestafari]

Thats great on the purchase. I measured mine today, it is 23inch wide. I am happy with two players but you have to stand slightly over to the side when playing. 6buttons would be tight but possible. here is a video of mine so you can get a feel for the control panel size.

    

-> How did you fix the screen?

-> How do you open the CP?

-> where did you print the artwork?

Great job, thanx for the vid !!

[bluemini17]

I fixed the screen by replacing the capacitors. It is mounted using the original mount. It connects to the PC using software called SOFT15KHZ and a pci video card.

the control panel is held in place with 'clamps'. They are used on most arcade machines. you stick your hand through the coin door and reach up and undo them.

google this 'arcade control panel clamps'

try this link, its the silver thing http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p21BV9S5a0k/TNx_iDiLvBI/AAAAAAAACV8/WIi_Cqrwth0/s1600/ControlPanelBase.jpg

the artwork is a lion-o poster stuck on with glue

[Nestafari]

Noob questions but thanx for the answers...You reach the clamps through the coin door...hu hu.. 

[Well Fed Games]

For those holes on the front, I would find dowel rods of the proper diameter or use a hole saw and make some plugs, glue them in, and then bondo and sand to make everything match... you would never know they were there. If need be you can put a brace on the inside of the hole to help give it a temporary backing.

[Nestafari]

For those holes on the front, I would find dowel rods of the proper diameter or use a hole saw and make some plugs, glue them in, and then bondo and sand to make everything match... you would never know they were there. If need be you can put a brace on the inside of the hole to help give it a temporary backing.

 

[Nestafari]

Are you sure that it's paint?  It looks like black Melamine or vinyl.

You are right It looks like black Melamine or vinyl.

How do i remove this sh**?

[PL1]

If it's vinyl a heat gun and scraper should do the trick IIRC.


Scott

[Nestafari]

Hello,

I wanted to remove the vinyl and as it is very difficult without a heat gun and that i want a full artwork...I said to myself, why dont you just fill the littles scratches with sand and stick your artwork on it?

- Is it a bad idea and if it is, why? 

Secundo, i remove the old screen and think i m gonna put a flat one, i ve found some "square" screens very cheap ! Is it working ok or do i need smthing else?

Go back to the absolute...

I remove marquee..It is very skinny but i hope that i will be able to make a good job.

The bad point is..I want to put some wheels and the cab is not tall enough in my sense so i wanted to make it higher...But it is already done on over more than 10 centimeters (picture one..)..

So what do i do with that?? I just plug the wheels and that s it or i make it higher and it ll be awfull?

What is the best way to paint the coin door as new? Do i sand it first? What kind of aerosol is needed to have the hammer effect??

The clamps for the CP are on the side but i want to haver flipper buttons do you think it is possible?

Thanks for your advices 

[PL1]

I don't have all the answers for you, but here are a few to get you started:

I wanted to remove the vinyl and as it is very difficult without a heat gun and that i want a full artwork...I said to myself, why dont you just fill the littles scratches with sand and stick your artwork on it?

- Is it a bad idea and if it is, why? 

The main drawback is the fact that the cab looks like it has been on location for quite a while.  Seems like the vinyl texture would trap a lot of the dust, dirt, grime, cigarrette smoke, spilled drinks, etc.

If you don't prepare the surface properly for sideart, it will curl up or peel too easily.  See Rikitiki's Side Art Install 101 thread and associated videos.

The adhesive on printed sideart is less sticky than some other applications to allow you to smooth it out and avoid bubbles and wrinkles.

The vinyl is thin enough that it will show the texture underneath it.

If you're going to spend the money on printing nice sideart, you can spend the time, money and effort doing a proper prep job or you can    when it comes out looking . . . not so good.

Think of it like doing a back handspring on cement:
- Doing nothing is OK.
- Doing it all-the-way is OK.
- Doing it half-way is no good.

The clamps for the CP are on the side but i want to haver flipper buttons do you think it is possible?

The thickness of the cab side (3/4"?) plus the panel support (3/4"?) makes it too thick (1-1/2"?) to mount the microswitch on regular buttons.

You could use Ultimarc's Goldleaf buttons since they don't have the microswitch/wires coming off the side.



Use a 1 1/8" hole through the outside of the cab and a little bit larger one through the CP support piece so you can tighten the button nut with a button wrench like this one.




Scott

[mgb]

Don't rely on artwork covering up partially pulled vinyl and scratches. Its a pain at first to strip vinyl with a heat gun but once you get going, its not so bad.

[Nestafari]

Thanks for the advice for the flipper buttons !! This will be perfect !

For the vinyl on the side..I m gonna find a heat gun ! That's it that's all 

Thank you !

[mgb]

Yes, definitely use a heat gun. Its real tough without one.
Not sure what part of the world your in but Harbor Freight stores will have them real cheap.
In a pinch once, I used an iron with some material between the iron and the vinyl so it wouldn't melt on the surface.

[Nestafari]

Bad news...It does not work with the heat gun !!

The wood burns the vinyl stays and so on..

So i get my money back to the shop and ask a "Pro" he told me that the best way was to sand it...Even a cleaner, remover does not work (apparently)...

So i ll sand it  i guess ^_^

[Nestafari]

Not sure what part of the world your in but ...

What the??

Dont you see the Canadian Beaver Mario on my side?

Anyway i m from Belgium but live in Canada (Montreal)..Now you know everything !

[Well Fed Games]

I've had good luck removing vinyl of all types with a citri-strip type paint stripper, tried a couple different brands (it is thick, almost a gel), and it works well. You just end up with a bunch of rubbery vinyl sludge all over the ground afterward (put newspaper or something down). Was the only thing I could take the vinyl off an old Kangaroo cab with.

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/citristrip-1-2-gallon-safer-paint-and-varnish-stripping-gel-hcg73803t.html#.UEqVytZlQ3I

[Nestafari]

Hi everybody,

I ve got some news. Nothing amazing but i keep going.

I sand this *** vinyle..Hard job but now it s ready to receive a nice artwork.

I ve cut the CP, i m ready to order the pushbuttons.

I ve put wheels, it is a bit higher now and easy to move 

I ve bought a 20' flat screen LCD 4/3 and i find the result very nice.

I know how to fix it in the cab..

My questions :

- Where can i order the artwork? I live in Montreal and i want it cheap of course..
- What do you think about this for the cp? -> I m afraid that the pushbuttons will destroy the drawing..Maybe i will do smthing around the pushbuttons and joystick, it is more...Professionnal !
- The second one for the marquee..I will add a back ground i think

Pictures of the cab soon !

Thank you

[Jigenjuke]

Hi everybody,

I ve got some news. Nothing amazing but i keep going.

I sand this *** vinyle..Hard job but now it s ready to receive a nice artwork.

I ve cut the CP, i m ready to order the pushbuttons.

I ve put wheels, it is a bit higher now and easy to move 

I ve bought a 20' flat screen LCD 4/3 and i find the result very nice.

I know how to fix it in the cab..

My questions :

- Where can i order the artwork? I live in Montreal and i want it cheap of course..
- What do you think about this for the cp? -> I m afraid that the pushbuttons will destroy the drawing..Maybe i will do smthing around the pushbuttons and joystick, it is more...Professionnal !
- The second one for the marquee..I will add a back ground i think

Pictures of the cab soon !

Thank you

Hey there Nestafari,

I think that it would be pretty cool if you could get some original art action for G N' G.  I always thought that the art for this Capcom cabinet was pretty bland.  But if you want something like the original you should go here.
Game on Graphix

http://www.gameongrafix.com/categories/all-products/page-51/

They have the Marquee, Bezel and Sideart.  I will send you picture of the CPO but it is a little small you could try resizing it in Illustrator and see what happenes.

Or you could contact Lord Hyrule, he made some really awesome artwork for this cab.  He is a spanish speaker and I am not sure how much English he speaks but if you could get his art your cabinet would really POP!!

Jigenjuke

[Nestafari]

Well, i dont like the original artwork of the gng cab but this game is just awesome !!

I want something more personal, that s why i ve asked you what you was thinking about those two pictures for the cp and marquee..For the side art i will i will put my hero with some great colorz in the back..

More very soon thx

[Nestafari]

I ve change my mind for something "better" i guess..

I m gonna make a Space simpsons cab...

What do you think?

Thx

[johnm]

No Kang?

[Nestafari]

Not a bad idea..

I ve a question how can i check if the draw fits my cab?

Do i have to take a picture of my cab?? Is there any solution?

Thx

[Nestafari]

ARTWORK READY FOR PRINTING !

Any comments?

THX

Side, Kickplate and Marquee !

[Nestafari]

I ve forgot...

THE CP

[ChadTower]

Hahaha!  That's pretty cool.  Nice stuff!   

[PL1]

You might want to add crosshairs for joystick centering.

Not quite sure about those light-blue button halos, though.   


Scott

[Nestafari]

Not quite sure about those light-blue button halos, though.   

Any idea? 

[PL1]

Not quite sure about those light-blue button halos, though.   

Any idea? 

What color player and admin buttons are you using?


Scott

[Nestafari]

Hi Scott,

admin button Leftside 1yellow 1white
                      Rightside 1yellow 1white
Player 1 Green
Player 2 Purple

An old idea was this...

Thank you for your advices ! 

[PL1]

I like the glowing gas clouds better than the solid light-blue halos.  Fits better with the space theme.

Would the player button halos look better at their current size or closer to the size of the admin halos?

Also consider adding crosshairs in the white center of the donuts like you have in the buttons if you plan to use the art to mark your CP for drilling.

+1 if you undermount your joystick dustwashers or find clear dust washers if on top.  Either way be sure to black out the inside of the panel joystick holes.


Scott

[wol-nz]

i think all the components are great - but the cohesion is lacking.
Try to imagine how the art will look once on the cab - i think the kick panel with the bright blue star burst will take center stage.
The marquee and side art go together quite nicely.
If it was me i'd either put the starburst background on the control panel and lose the button halos altogether.
or
give the kick plate the boot altogether.

In saying that - if you like it then that's all that matters 

[KeithPuetz]

This cabinet pretty much REQUIRES the aliens on the cabinet. It's sort of disappointing you are not putting them in there. I think you should redo the sides, and do it pretty much the same concept with the ALIENS instead of the family. And do the kickplate all stary (like the cp) with the current side image (the family) where the kick plate is. 

[steveh]

Your killing me not having kang and kodos on there  otherwise i like the theme.  i like the donuts for the cp. thats really clever.  i have to agree about the stars, each piece of art looks great, but together they dont seem to flow properly the stars should appear on each one, maybe at the top of the markee, and side art.  and fade away as for the kick plate  it does not look like it belongs at all.

im a huge simpsons fan, and i love the idea.  im still really torn on what to do with my cab.  im going to follow this close cant wait to see how it all turns out.

[Nestafari]

Thank you for all your advices...

Actually it was very hard to decide what to do...

I love the simpsons family but the theme space simpsons is in relationship with space invaders

That s why i dont want to present Kang on the cab...I just present the simpsons family and no one else

 the kick panel with the bright blue star burst will take center stage.

That s right but with the black coin door i hope it wont be too flqshy disco..

I m not a huge fan of the cp with the stars..

I m afraid that the colors of the buttons with the blue halos is gonna look weird but, he, i take the risk.And i like the way it looks clean and #sur mesure#

So i know it s not perfect but i hope it is gonna look good..

PPrinted with Souldraw for 70dollars..I hope the result will be nice.

Thank you for the support

[Nestafari]

Artwork Done

Pics !










Tell me what you think !

See you

[wp34]

The artwork all looks good but the donut around the joystick puts it off the hook.   

[yotsuya]

You might want to revisit the control panel. The buttons on the left look awfully close to the side.

[harveybirdman]

love the donuts, if it were my project I might want less of an angle on the panel and more wrist room.

[steveh]

Wow.  It looks Really Sharp.  I like it.  Keep up the good work.

[Eldritch1969]

Doh !
Cool artwork

[griffindodd]

I love this, the doughnuts around the joysticks are genius, this is much cleaner without the text also, I really dont think you need to tell people which is player 1 or 2.

Looking great, such a fun theme!!!

Also check out these, chocolate chip cookie dustwashwers...
http://tefightstands.storenvy.com/products/761741-custom-arcade-joystick-dust-washer-324

Candy dots/sprinkles...
http://tefightstands.storenvy.com/products/540070-custom-arcade-joystick-dust-washer-165

[jackiabu]

nice job men

beautiful work

[Nestafari]

love the donuts, if it were my project I might want less of an angle on the panel and more wrist room.

You got it...This is exactly what i m gonna doh..
Actualy the proble; is that the scale of the cp was not respected for printing..Too big.

I ve tried to save what i can cause i dont want to put more money and time for the moment. Pictures this week end.

I m very glad you like this cab...Some of you are genius and very talented..Good inspiration Thx.   

To griffindodd AMAZING...

[Nestafari]

Hi,

I m almost done...

Do you have a link on how to power on the 5v lamps of my coin door easy free and safe

Coin door working, Hperspin, need to paint the border screen and fix the bezel, cut and scew the back door, buy a computer...

Almost done.. 

[CoryBee]

Loving the colors on this cabinet! Also +1 for The Simpsons always.

On a conversion to MAME cab I wired the 5v lights on the coin door to a 5v line on the computer's power supply. Worked well, what was cool was that it also became the indicator light for the computer being on.

[PL1]

Do you have a link on how to power on the 5v lamps of my coin door easy free and safe

Two common ways are:

1. Tap into the power supply molex red and black for 5v.

2. Cut the end off a spare USB cable and crimp on QDs.  Pinout diagram on right side here or you can get the version shown below from GGG here.




Scott

EDIT: Forgot to mention that if you use a USB cable, be sure your lighting circuit draws less than 100 mA if plugged into an un-powered hub and 500 mA if plugged into a powered hub. (per USB specs)

If all you need to light is those two coin slots LEDs, you'll be fine.

[CoryBee]

Do you have a link on how to power on the 5v lamps of my coin door easy free and safe

Two common ways are:

1. Tap into the power supply molex red and black for 5v.

2. Cut the end off a spare USB cable and crimp on QDs.  Pinout diagram on right side here or you can get the version shown below from GGG here.




Scott

I love your posts scotty. You really know how to site things and give proper help and instructions whether or not the person has the experience to know the tid bits.

[PL1]

Just trying to give a little something back to the BYOAC community for all the fun and useful things I've learned here.   


Scott

[Nestafari]

Do you have a link on how to power on the 5v lamps of my coin door easy free and safe

Two common ways are:

1. Tap into the power supply molex red and black for 5v.

2. Cut the end off a spare USB cable and crimp on QDs.  Pinout diagram on right side here or you can get the version shown below from GGG here.




Scott

Thank you

[Nephasth]

You might want to revisit the control panel. The buttons on the left look awfully close to the side.

+1

You may not want to put any more money into this, but the repositioning of P1's joystick makes it too close to the buttons, it also got rid of that awesome donut. I'm not feeling the art fix that much either, the partial space invader kind of help ties the CPO into the side art, but I don't like the black circle over the donut. I think the spacing of P1's controls might become the one thing that bothers you most after this is finished.

[orsettolavatore]

  such a coool joob maan!!!!

[TGov]

The artwork is fantastic, a really neat machine.  That said, the angle of the CP makes my hands hurt just looking at it.

[SNAAKE]

aye karamba

[Nestafari]

The artwork is fantastic, a really neat machine.  That said, the angle of the CP makes my hands hurt just looking at it.

I ve change the angle of the cp

You can compare the pics without buttons and now.

It is ok to play it does not hurt anymore but the cab is very small for a 2 player joysticks with 6 buttons...Personnal choice.

 

[Eldritch1969]

Real nice machine 

[Nestafari]

Hello everybody,

Yes it is been a while and i m more than happy to be there with you, today 

Anyway, i ve bought a new computer running Hyperspin for my Space Simpsons Cab and i ve put a key on the coin door..Amazing? Yeah thx guys and if you guys need any advice about this point..Just let me know.

I ve re-do the control panel, a best angle, some clamps to fix it, very straight and strong, actually, i m proud of it.

If you have a look to my older post my CP was not printed well and now it is in a different shape.
I also want to add the simpsons tv as a bezel with Kang at the top of it or something.

The only thing is that it is way too much difficult for me to do it by myself and maybe that some of you will be interrested to be part of my project and spend a bit time on my art and give me some ideas on how to do it RIGHT.

So thanks in advance, 





I ve this beautifull plate but no tools to cut it propelly, any advice?





What i wanted for the bezel is to put the simpsons TV



With a nice color in the front and maybe some simpsons characters like this at the top or in the corners



Or in my dream maybe merge the simpsons TV and the space invaders bezel like the space invaders/quix bezel that was made in the eighties

And fot the cp if you have some ideas i will really appreciate it Thanks a bunch for being there.

Ps i m gonna change my buttons and put a bubble top at the sticks - color depending of the art

[Nestafari]

Here is my idea for the bezel how do you like it?

Thx in advance

[yotsuya]

I'd leave it as a TV and not anything else to the bezel, personally.

[Nestafari]

Thx Yotsuya..

What do you think about the CP?

[yotsuya]

I kind of hate to see you lose the donut joystick surround on the new CP. I felt like it gave the old one character.

I should bow out of this one. I'm a "less is more" kind of guy, so I don't want to derail your ideas. Good luck! 

[Nestafari]

You know what? I think you re right for the bezel. Just thé TV is a good idea. For the cp i will be glad to keep the donut s but i m afraid to do it wrong make a mistake in the mesuremenys or something..

[PhoenixGG]

This is a very inspired build. Loving it more and more.

I'm gonna +1 the TV and the donuts. Don't lose them. I am sure there is someone with Photoshop skills that can help with the CP artwork.

[BEGINSTUDIO]

Just the TV if you are doing the bezel.  However you could try this idea for size, get old antenna and bend it up, paint it and mount it on the top of the cab.  [Or create one]  Maybe add some LEDs to the ends.  The LEDs might be too much.  What a hoot!

Hope this helps.

[Malenko]

get the donut printed separate , apply your CPO, then put the donut on top.

[BEGINSTUDIO]

Awesome - - Malenko.  If you could have the donuts printed separately and adhere them to either a custom cut joystick dust guard or something.  As the player interacts with the game the donut would naturally move around and because its raised an 1/16" the donut would add some depth to your CP.  Score! 

[Le Chuck]

Lose Bart and the Space Invader from the bezel.  This is where simple will pay off big time.  +1 to the rabbit ears off the top of the build, could be really cool.  If it looks funny you're out all of $.50 from a garage sale. 

I don't like where that CP is headed.  I do like the planets and background but I think you're mixing it up too much by having Invaders on the roll over and a different game name in the marquee.  You're also moving too far from the Simpson's magic of the build by making non cannon characters center stage.  I'd mirror the space invader ships you use in the side art and marquee.  Keep it subtle, and keep those "Doh!"-nut touches that really make it fun.