My First Build - Project BORG-CADE

[bonecrusher32]

For my first build I decided to go with a slim cabinet and a Star Trek Borg theme.  It will have a black and green color scheme and feature a 26" BenQ LCD.  I will be mounting a 6" Green Luminglas disc on each side like the disc on the borg ships in Star Trek.  Here is a render of what I am trying to achieve.  I have not decide on a CP layout yet and I am still working on the side art.

[bluemini17]

looking good, welcome to the forum. I especially like the rounded marquee area at the top.

[Jumpman64]

Welcome!  Ditto on the marquee.

[Dawgz Rule]

Double ditto. 

[leapinlew]

Do a kickplate of some artwork that shows the word "resistance" being crushed, smashed, and trashed.

[Yvan256]

Nice round marquee (quatro ditto).

You should have Borg-style "technology" parts all over the cabinet, nothing flat and smooth except the control panel for obvious reasons.

[Le Chuck]

Incorporate leather.  You know, for skin, and because it'd be bad ass. 

[leapinlew]

You could do a mixed Mortal Kombat/Borg theme

FUTALITY!

[bonecrusher32]

I have been searching everywhere for some high res borg ship textures but have been coming up empty.  Everything I have found has been low res or a non-tiling texture that would just look bad if repeated over and over to cover any significant areas of the cab.  The kick plate is definitely something I might do.  Here is an idea for a side panel decal I have been working on.  Of course it will be trimmed to the dimensions of the side panel.

[Yvan256]

I have been searching everywhere for some high res borg ship textures but have been coming up empty.  Everything I have found has been low res or a non-tiling texture that would just look bad if repeated over and over to cover any significant areas of the cab.

From a quick search, it seems you might be able to find Borg textures in modeling forums.

My suggestion, however, was to have actual technology parts, in 1:1 scale, on both sides of your cabinet and in the front (below the control panel, around the coin door). There's a few of us with CNC machines on these forums, some may be willing to help. Again, people from modeling forums seem to already have made an incredible job of doing not only textures but also 3D models of Borg stuff, we might start from that.

What would really put it over the top would be not only 3D-machined Borg parts all over the cabinet but have those parts illuminated with green LEDs, to look like the "real thing" (i.e. the same as used on the TV show and movie).

Well, what do you think? - Counselor Troi

[bonecrusher32]

Just a quick update.  Cabinet is starting to take shape.  Some minor changes from the original but staying with the plan for the most part.  T-Molding is on the way.  Still haven't decided whether to go with laminate or not.  The wood I have been using is pre-sanded birch plywood so If I decide to paint it the finish should come out pretty nice.  I am going to be parting out my X-arcade Tankstick for the control panel.  For now I will just use the buttons and controller that came in it and upgrade later when I can afford it.  Maybe replace with green led buttons and translucent green trackball.

[Richie_jones]

Looks really good I like it...reminds me of mickey mouse!!!

[bonecrusher32]

Pretty slow progress.  Life gets in the way.  I have all the wood work done.  Seems filled in with bondo and sanded slot for T-Molding finished.  Just final sanding and I will get to painting.  Have switched gears on the marquee and have decided to use a scrolling green led sign that is 26" x 7".
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Window-26-x-7-Green-LED-Programmable-Scrolling-Sign-USB-/190538422607?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5cf9994f

[kingchimp]

The scrolling marquee is a cool idea, this thing is going to look great. 

[kahlid74]

I like it and I second the idea of leather as a "skin" equivalent. 

Slim cab for the win!

[sabreerbasAlpha]

For my first build I decided to go with a slim cabinet and a Star Trek Borg theme.  It will have a black and green color scheme and feature a 26" BenQ LCD.  I will be mounting a 6" Green Luminglas disc on each side like the disc on the borg ships in Star Trek.  Here is a render of what I am trying to achieve.  I have not decide on a CP layout yet and I am still working on the side art.

Get that Marquee right and that cab will look sweet. Welcome my friend. And just because I couldn't resist it. Resistance to your cab is futile 

[bonecrusher32]

So I got my LED marquee in and test fit it.  It looks amazing.  Can't seem to find any plugins that will display the game titles.  Most of the plugins only work with certain signs like the Betabrite.  Oh well if I cant get it to display game titles no big deal.  I will just have is cycle through my presets.  I also got my control panel laid out and holes drilled.  The buttons are just temporar, I will eventually get green led buttons.  I used the standard layout for the xarcade tankstick with just a few slight differences.  I put three buttons above the trackball instead of one.  The other the black button above the trackball is where I will put my turbotwist spinner once I get it. 

[Dawgz Rule]

Nice....very borglike.

[ids]

So I got my LED marquee in and test fit it.  It looks amazing.  Can't seem to find any plugins that will display the game titles.

Software is easy.  If that thing has some sort of API, shoot me the specs.  If I'm in a good mood and find some free time...

[TheDude]

This cab is really cool ! 

[bonecrusher32]

My cabinet is almost complete.  Thinking of changing the name to "The Collective" instead of "Borgcade".  I still need to get the control panel finished (Printing the overlay and covering with Lexan).  Also still thinking about the adding side art.  Also will add a kick plate.  I was thinking diamond plate but I think that is a bit tacky.  Will probably go with a brushed aluminum kick plate.

Quick overview of the parts:

27" BenQ monitor
Gutted Dell optiplex 745sff PC w/ AMD 6750 graphics card
Windows Xp running GAMEEX Frontend

For sound I added a ClassD 2 channel 100W amp and Cadence 6.5" 8ohm speakers. Connected to an Auzentech Xi-Fi sound card.

Most of my control panel parts are from a gutted X-arcade.  I will upgrade the joysticks later to some green led ball tops or Ultrastik 360s when I get some more money.

My led trackball is not currently lit because like an idiot I connected the 5v led to a 12v line and killed it, so waiting on a replacement.

Also lucky me, when I picked up my tempered tinted glass for the marquee and the monitor they gave me 2 of each instead of one each for the same price.  So now I have an excuse to make another cabinet.

[Dawgz Rule]

Lookin' Good!

[ViriiGuy]

So far, this is the nicest SLim Cabinet design I have seen! Very nice!