The Pixel Perihelion Project (first build, half done)

[Dance Commander]

I wish I had found this place before I got to this point, but I'll finish it none the less. I started building a full size mame cabinet because I had an old core2 duo e6400 machine and monitor laying around collecting dust. Without too much planning I built a base out of 3/4 MDF board and put it on casters. The front is a hinged door with a magnet latch.


The control panel is pretty standard I suppose with a 2 player 6 button setup. The joysticks are Sanwa JLW-UM-8 and the trackball is a U-Trak.


I build the hood to be detachable for easier transporting.


So tomorrow I finally have some free time with which to continue this project. I've since filled the screw holes and sanded it smooth, just need to hope for some warm weather tomorrow so I can put on a few coats of primer.


The underside of the control panel is open for easy 8-way 4-way joystick switching. I also did have an articulated keyboard tray under there but because of the way I build the control panel permanently into the cab I needed to remove it. Hopefully I won't need it anyway. Looking over all the other project threads makes me really kick myself for making really noobish design mistakes, but alas. Next time!

[CREDO]

you've got a cab that doesn't look like any one else's, that's a good thing in my book.
I like the shape and the removable top is a great idea.
with a nice paint job that cab is going to look fine. 

[Dance Commander]

you've got a cab that doesn't look like any one else's, that's a good thing in my book.
I like the shape and the removable top is a great idea.
with a nice paint job that cab is going to look fine. 

Thanks for the kind encouragement. Turns out today is perfect for painting, and I've got the thing outside to prime.


Here's a look at the back. I'm putting two 120mm fans in the top two holes as my heat exhaust.


A better look at the front door.

[lettuce]

Nice lines man!!!

[Dance Commander]

First coat of paint is done just as I'm running out of daylight. Lots more sanding and painting ahead. I still need to figure out what I'm doing as far as control panel graphics, but one step at a time.

[Dance Commander]

Today was way too windy to get any painting done. At least the day wasn't a total loss as I feel I've figured out how I want to paint it up. Wrap-around defender style graphics! This was the best I could think of to match the red joysticks and trackball, and I really do dig the defender art style. Mocked it up in photoshop this afternoon.

[CREDO]

Nice, love it.
are you going to work in a name or logo or something? it feels to me like it should have something top to bottom in the top right hand side like

d
e
f
e
n
d
e
r

but nothing too large that it takes away focus from that great looking space dude on there.

[Dance Commander]

Nice, love it.
are you going to work in a name or logo or something? it feels to me like it should have something top to bottom in the top right hand side like

d
e
f
e
n
d
e
r

but nothing too large that it takes away focus from that great looking space dude on there.

I'm working on a marquee with the title Pixel Perihelion. Might be a little long for the side but I haven't tried to fight it in yet.

[Dance Commander]

Snagged a Viewsonic 21.3" monitor on ebay, nice but the base was huge. A little elbow grease and a hacksaw took care of that.


Fits perfectly now. Measured out the size acrylic I need, anyone have an idea on how thick I should go with that? is a 1/4" too thick? Also got hyperspin set up for the most part so I put that through a trial run.


Next: More painting! Hopefully I can cover all the seams and other unsightly marks with a few more coats.

[yotsuya]

No t-molding?

[Dance Commander]

No t-molding?

Unfortunately I didn't even know what t-molding was when I started building this, poor planning on my part. The edges go different ways on the kickplate than they do on the hood. Eventually I'll probably build a real control panel for it with rounded edges and some t-molding. Hoping a wraparound paint job will cover for the lack of molding.

[z-kun]

Oooh, I like the detatchable top portion idea as well as the art mockup.... It looks pretty cool so far.

[Dance Commander]

First ideas for a marquee and cp overlay. I'm not sure if the cp is too sparse or not, but I know I want minimal text on there. Any suggestions?

[PL1]

The marquee looks great.

The CPO bottom half and text look solid.

Maybe consider adding a few stars and a gas cloud or two on the upper half of the CPO like there is on the bottom half.


Scott

[Dance Commander]

The marquee looks great.

The CPO bottom half and text look solid.

Maybe consider adding a few stars and a gas cloud or two on the upper half of the CPO like there is on the bottom half.


Scott

Thanks, I was kinda worried about the CPO looking cluttered but I guess it does look empty compared to the rest of the graphics package.
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