The "I'll figure it out as I go, Total Noob" Build.

[maffewl]

Designed on CAD for weeks, finally got a chance to start building this past weekend!   

Here's the general concept, minus the marquee, controls, lights, etc... 

[yotsuya]

Zounds! What angles! 

[griffindodd]

I love your title, that's exactly what I did too. There's plenty of great help and advice here for you as you work your way through it. Good luck, I'm sure it will turn out great.

[mcseforsale]

Welcome.  You are now a member of the "my neighbors think I'm nutz" club.

AJ

[maffewl]

Lol... I'm a homebrewer too, so they've thought that for a while now. 

[mcseforsale]

Yeah, but unless you homebrew out on the lawn with a router, it was easy to miss.     I like blowing MDF dust on my neighbors car. 

AJ

[maffewl]

Post weekend update:  Cut the control panel, plexi, and prepared to begin wiring! 

Had to think up a way to mount the 2.25" trackball.  Very happy with how it worked out.  (Ps the duct tape in the last pic is just holding the cables down so they would quit flopping everywhere while I was working). 

[Ryglore]

Nice, I'm interested to see how this build goes. I think most of use started out figuring it out as we went along. I believe that's the only reason my SHMUP took me 4-5 months to complete.

Good Luck, man! 

[emphatic]

Cool panel art!

[maffewl]

I think most of use started out figuring it out as we went along. I believe that's the only reason my SHMUP took me 4-5 months to complete.

I hope mine doesn't end up taking that long, I don't have the patience.   

Cool panel art!

Thanks!  that was more of a test run.  I haven't had a theme for the cab yet so I just made that on a whim.  I'm trying to think of something (theme wise) to replace it.

[ChadTower]

That is a pretty good start!

Zounds! What angles! 

That was exactly my first thought, too, only I was more like "Zoiks!  Look at those angles, Scoob!"

[maffewl]

Didn't have much time to work on the cade this weekend, but was able to sneak in a couple panel cuts and begin assembly. 

However, I didn't like the control panel depth and height, so that will be changed as it's placed on there just for a mock up pic (raising the height/depth so there wont be much of a lip on the player top/sides).

[Ryglore]

Looks good. And I agree that the CP looks kinda low, totally needs to be raised up a bit for sure.

[maffewl]

Had a little more time to work on the cade this weekend.  Got most of the interior panel cuts done and installed the hinged control panel (which is raised from previous mock attempt and a complete pain to get to line up correctly).  This is a long and painful process being just one person.  But the end is in sight and I can't wait to start mashing buttons!

Ps the buttons were just in there to hold the plexi while I worked... and I cut the coin/escape panel above the control panel before I raised the control panel, so those buttons are now too low and that panel will need re-done.  But other than that... it's moving along.

[maffewl]

Got a chance to move the beast inside and begin painting as well as placing the computer, t.v., and CP in.  Waiting for the paint to dry on the glass then it should go in tonight.  Also finished the marquee and light as well as the information panel although these pics were taken before those were completed.  The end is in sight, but as you can see, I couldn't wait to re-live the good ole days. 

[maffewl]

Got the glass in! 

Also, the marquee and info panel are in this pic.  However, the marquee light is too far back in the cab... will prob. move that forward a bit.

(Sorry for the blinds in the reflection of the glass).

[Generic Eric]

Do you have a picture of how you mounted the glass?  I am over analyzing this and haven't made any progress.  The plans I am using didn't account for that, so I am trying to figure it out. Thanks.

[maffewl]

I don't have any pics, but can take some if you need.  Here is a crude section that I created that describes how I installed the glass so please don't laugh.  Hope it helps, if not let me know and I'll take a pic of whatever you need.  The nice thing about this is that the glass is super easy to remove if I need to, but is very sturdy for play.

Also, its hard to see in that section but it's supported on the bottom by the same 2x4's that support the T.V. shelf.  on the sides it's supported by 3/8" poplar sticks nailed to the mdf.

[Generic Eric]

No, that is great.  I already have some ideas now.  Thanks for the post. 

[jimbo123]

Similar to how I plan on mounting mine,.. only real difference will be that I plan on using a folded/bent bit of anodised alumimium (aluminum?) for the bottom front of it to hold it in, i.e. for the piece labelled "Info panel".

[maffewl]

Here she is in the new house.  (We've been moving for the past few months, so not much has happened with the Kade build)  However, it's getting there, I took off the "Info panel" art because I want to re-cut that panel, as well as redo the control panel.  Too much perfectionism can be a bad thing.  I also need to add the USB pass-throughs and mount the aimtrak.  But the cabinet build is 80-85% complete and it's playable so of course it's exciting to see it coming together.

[Yvan256]

Here she is in the new house. [...] the cabinet build is 80-85% complete and it's playable so of course it's exciting to see it coming together.

Uh-oh, the cabinet is in its final place, it's 80% complete and playable. We all know what that means. 

[kahlid74]

Here she is in the new house. [...] the cabinet build is 80-85% complete and it's playable so of course it's exciting to see it coming together.

Uh-oh, the cabinet is in its final place, it's 80% complete and playable. We all know what that means. 

It means this cabinet won't be finished until 2016!!!

Nice build, clean lines.  Good stuff.

[mcseforsale]

+1.  Mine's been 99% done and I haven't been able to move it out of the garage.  There always seems to be a reason not to.....no room to put it in the house....it's too muddy out to get the hand truck to the back door, etc. etc.

Truth is, if it gets moved into the house, I'll have to go to it to play...where it is, I see it all the time.

AJ

[maffewl]

   Thanks guys... I guess I can't argue that it's mostly true though.  However, I have an excuse... we haven't moved the majority of my tools to the new house yet so I guess I'll just have to settle with playing an 80% complete arcade for the time being. 

Also, thanks for the compliments.  Being a perfectionist, it's hard to see it objectively without the flaws I know are there.  It's been alot of work and there are some things I'm definitely going to change as I got into a rush and need to be re-done, but that's half the fun right?

[griffindodd]

looking great, looks right at home in the picture. As for the perfectionist thing, don't worry about it, you spend so much of a build with your eyes 5 inches away from every last part of the cabinet so little imperfections seem huge. There are no perfect cabs, including the original ones from the arcades, chances are the one you built is way higher quality than anything that came out of the Atari or Nintendo factories back in the day.

[maffewl]

I appreciate the post griffindodd...  I can see where you are coming from.  My wife and friends just run right up to it and start pressing button while I agonize about something that my eyes stayed 5 inches away from for weeks, lol.  BTW... not sure if the voting is done, but best of luck for the build of 2012... the Marvel vs Capcom Revolution built is quite amazing!