Project Raptor - Vewlix Inspired Modular Console/PC Arcade Cabinet

[Firepro4Life]

Awesome project! Where did you get the black wire mesh from? I am looking to order a few pieces cut to size for my projects.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Thanks Firepro4Life 

I got the mesh from ebay - it's automotive diamond mesh grill (I bought the 3mmx5mm aperture size). I was looking at pc modders mesh but I actually need a decent airflow in the bottom compartment as this is where a console will sit.

More pics. It's definitely starting to look more the part now I have the legs on the Raptor. The sides are just primed at the moment and will need to be sprayed and some art applied.

[SpaceHedgehog]

I'd been wanting to try adding some lighting to the cab so I just had a quick go at assembling something. Held together by blu-tac 

Not sure why the light comes out as blue when in fact it's pure white 



That'll be my last progress picture until next week.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Now comes the fiddly part, making the doors for the cabinet apertures.....

I didn't want to use pin hinges so I had to figure out another method. I had an idea to use some Ikea shelf support pins and use these as a 'swivel hinge' ... that's my term, there's probably a real one.

I'm testing this out at the moment with a mock-up so here's the design.

The door/flap will be made of 12mm MDF. The side pieces 18mm. This will allow the flap to rotate relative to the side piece whilst providing clearance. Hopefully the pictures will make more sense ....

Ikea pins:



Hole drilled into the side of the flap:



Pin inserted into the hole:



Hinge in place (depth of hole in the side piece is slightly shallower to allow the flap to clear the side piece when opening/ closing):





This will need to be done accurately to ensure a decent fit.

The door/flap will have magnetic strip at the top to attract to another strip on the cabinet to ensure that it remains shut. The door/flap will have a cutout with embedded wire mesh. I'll post more pics as I go ....

This build doesn't seem to be proving that interesting to people    Hopefully when I start to build the the control panels it will 

[SpaceHedgehog]

The lower door/flap and the side pieces have been cut. A window will need to be cut into the door/flap to insert some mesh.

The side pieces are stuck to a piece of scrap with double sided tape to check it works and that everything is flush. It looks ok.

Making sure it opens!



Side pieces beveled:



Fit looks ok:



This side pieces will be screwed onto the left and right sides of the lower aperture.

Edit:

Temporarily attached to the front:

[SpaceHedgehog]

Probably the last pics and progress for today. Will concentrate on the mesh insert tomorrow.





Very fiddly to do with my meager skills.

[Acids]

This build doesn't seem to be proving that interesting to people    Hopefully when I start to build the the control panels it will 

Not true at all, i have been watching this thread from the start and its coming along nicely.
I don't usually say much but believe me when i say people are watching!! 

keep up the great work...

[SpaceHedgehog]

Thanks Acids, good to know  I tend to post for motivational purposes - it keeps me focused on getting a build progressed and also serves as an opportunity for people to throw in new ideas.

Will be getting more done on this today - embed some mesh into the lower door an construct the top 'flap' (more of a grill really with the same styling as it will have speakers behind it so won't actually move at all)

[CoryBee]

This build doesn't seem to be proving that interesting to people    Hopefully when I start to build the the control panels it will 

Not true at all, i have been watching this thread from the start and its coming along nicely.
I don't usually say much but believe me when i say people are watching!! 

keep up the great work...

+1   

Every new post on your thread I look at, loving the work. Still have no idea what this thing is though.....so on with the control panel thingy

Don't tell me what this will look like, I want it to be a surprise!

[SpaceHedgehog]

Hey, thanks CoryDee I'll try not to ruin the surprise.....

Managed to get the wire mesh and the inset for the door sorted.

[CoryBee]

usually I like to see a concept sketch beforehand but this, this is something I have never seen before and am already in awe half way...erm....a quarter the way through???

Love the mesh, got a link?

[floriske.nl]

Wow! It's really starting to look better and better with each update.

Although I'm not a big fan of black/white it's looking awesome. Compliments on the woodworking!

[SpaceHedgehog]

@CoryDee. This is automotive mesh grill from ebay. I went for the one with the smallest mesh size. Example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALUMINIUM-BLACK-MESH-GRILL-9x5-S3-S4-S6-RS4-RS6-M3-M5-/120672472580?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c18a3ce04

@Floriske.nl - Thanks  Going for black and white to match everything else I have built / am planning to build - I'm a bit sad when it comes to colour and style co-ordination. The sides will mainly be covered in art so it will just have white accents.

[CoryBee]

I heard you mention this earlier...side art? That will be awesome, and sad. I like the simplicity in color

[SpaceHedgehog]

Fear ye not! The artwork is going to be along the lines of the Vewlix cab - Black and grey with white text. Example I put together for the Vewlix cab:

[CoryBee]

I forgot about that build, and didn't even associate it with you. I am liking this even more every post.

[SpaceHedgehog]

 

Completed the cover for the top section (double sided tape holding it in place atm):





That's it for the weekend. Thought these would take some time as they're the fiddliest parts (for now  )

[dextercf]

This started out kinda boring, but now.. I'm pretty excited what it has become!
Nice work dude!

[SpaceHedgehog]

Thanks dextercf. It started off as a box and now it's a box with legs, tubes and doors I have some grand plans for the control section, the marquee and also the shroud at the back of the display (when I buy a new one - which should be within the next few weeks). It will look like a proper cabinet when it's done.

The plan is to build several interchangeable control panels (1 player, 2 player, gun game panel etc) to sit on a stand in front of this module (basically like a sit down Cabaret cab). I will be making a rack to store these on. Although the idea is to allow the CP unit to be moved out of the way when necessary (it is primarily for my son for XBOX use), I will also build a connecting piece to link the two units together so it looks properly integrated. I was going to build a separate modern pinball machine (non-traditional design running Pinball FX2)  but now I'm not so sure - I think I'll just build a separate control panel for this as space is becoming a premium and I don't want to lose the space for my Racing simulator in the process.

Edit: Sorry CoryDee, just realised I ruined the surprise .....

[CoryBee]

I was just thinking that........

[SpaceHedgehog]

Sorry about that  I may as well set out the phases I have in mind for this build:

Phase 1: Lower Cabinet
Phase 2: Display, shroud and marquee
Phase 3: Control panel base
Phase 4: Primary Control panel
Phase 5: Link section
Phase 6: Spray finishing and artwork
Phase 7: Additional CPs and storage rack

I may swap 2 and 3 around depending on when the display arrives.

So I'm about 15-20% through, I would estimate..... 

Edit: Maybe not even that, thinking about it.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Managed to find some time to fill, prime and apply the base coat to the doors. They took a lot of preparing. They still need to be varnished which will be done tomorrow.

[CoryBee]

Holy back alley black cat Batman! That looks nice!

[sharpfork]

Managed to find some time to fill, prime and apply the base coat to the doors. They took a lot of preparing. They still need to be varnished which will be done tomorrow.

So you are putting varnish over the black paint?  I really like you finished and I'd like to know more about this so pics please

[SpaceHedgehog]

Thanks CoryBee.

I will take some additional photos of the process next time sharpfork. I missed the boat on this one  - just did some basic varnishing with a small roller and water based polyurethane.

Complete the finish and fitted them to the front of the cab. The mesh is held in with hot glue. I need to tidy up the inside of the lower door a little. The photos are a bit rubbish unfortunately.








The next job will be to fit the magnetic strip I ordered to the top of the door and the cab.

[SpaceHedgehog]

A couple of better pics now there's some daylight around.





It's taken me 4 days to do these doors 

[SpaceHedgehog]

A few bits have arrived. Hopefully I will find some time to sort out the mount for the display. I wanted a thin VESA mount rather than using the current MDF built one to allow the display to be 'set back' as far as possible.



Magnetic strip will be used on the lower door to keep it shut.



This is the display I've decided on (32 inch). It's thin and only has 16ms of input lag which is pretty good.



I will also be thinking about building the marquee this weekend.

[mcseforsale]

Subscribed..

AJ

[SpaceHedgehog]

Subscribed..

AJ

I hope it doesn't disappoint!

Started on the marquee today rather than the TV mount - I'll wait to buy the display beforehand to ensure I have it at exactly the correct height.

I wanted something similar to the Golden Tee machine but a bit sleeker (less height) and chunkier at the back - I'm going to be paying particular attention to the profile of the machine due to the place it will be located (visible sideways through an open door). I've cut out the basic pieces. The front piece will be given a similar treatment to the doors.



The width is 40cm and the height 10cm.

The Golden Tee has something a little too big I think.



I think the marquee will give a better balance to the cabinet and make it feel much more like a real machine.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Well I had a little mishap with the front frame of the marquee - the MDF split (just a thin 'slice' at the top - didn't go through) and messed up the cuts. Nothing a bit of car body filler cant rectify though. You can see it on the right of the picture.



The marquee comes in 2 parts - the front frame and the back. The front will be finished in white and the back in black.

The back of the frame - recessed to allow for some acrylic and artwork:



Basic shape:



Profile:



Now back to filling the mistake and prepping it for painting .....

[SpaceHedgehog]

The display is ordered and should arrive next Monday .....

More progress on the marquee.

Rectified the mistake with some car body filler and applied some to the rough, routed edges:



2 coats of primer on the front and back pieces:





Cut the acrylic:





And designed the artwork (may tweak this a little):



I will be spraying the front piece white and the back black.

[SpaceHedgehog]

New display has arrived 



Light and very slim with a nice thin bezel:



... compared to the current one (will be moving this to a new location with more space):



Connections on the back:



Just have to wait until everyone's awake before I get the router out and start to make a mount for the thing.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Basic mount has been made but still needs to be adjusted. Cables need to be fed through the white tube ....

[CoryBee]

 

And a happy halloween to you and your kin

[SpaceHedgehog]

Thanks CoryBee.

May not look like much but I now have the display oriented correctly (it was leaning to the left slightly and was not completely vertical - I made another retaining piece to sort this out). All the cabling is now fed  through the maintenance tube.

I need to stark working on the shroud at the back of the display soon ... I'm running behind my self imposed schedule atm.

[CoryBee]

 

Am I to assume the Xbox will be hidden withing the raptor?

Clever girl.

[SpaceHedgehog]

That's correct - it already is! The one you can see on the left is a second XBOX for the Vewlix - I'll be making a dedicated stand / game rack  for that at some point 

lol at the JP reference.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Started working on the back cover/shroud for the display to conceal the various tubes and cables. Side pieces are cut and 6mm mdf used - I want this to be reasonably light but still sturdy enough.



I didn't want a box shape - as I previously mentioned, this will end up in a position where the profile will be visible through an open door.

I will be making the marquee modular also - I want to be able to swap it out and replace it with a Kinect or Sony eye camera if necessary. I'll therefore fit a Neutrik USB port on the top panel of the shroud. The idea is to make this whole unit as flexible as possible after all ...

[SpaceHedgehog]

A bit more progress, the last for the day. 2 for the 3 panels have been cut - will need to sort the other one out tomorrow.

It may look a lot bigger in the pictures than it actually is. It still needs to be screwed together once the wood glue has dried.





This unit will be black and the sides will have a white, wooden trim added at some point to be in keeping with the general style. That's something for later though.

[SpaceHedgehog]

A mini disaster this morning .... when I started drilling the pilot holes, the main back panel fell off! Goes to show that the 6mm MDF and wood glue don't mix particularly well. The quality of this board is different to the regular 12mm and 18mm boards. Managed to rectify the situation though and get the holes drilled and the screws in. I still have a lot to do getting this shaped up, fitting snugly (the cuts are good though) and covered in vinyl. I have been sure to leave the cooling vents on the display unobstructed.