Galaga themed pedestal arcade, to be full showcase cab eventually

[gr3yh47]

So I've been terrible about taking photos throughout this project, but finally got around to it now that the CP and pedestal are built >_> sorry. Here are the pics, will be a Galaga theme including a vinyl overlay made from an edited original Galaga CPO. For now will just be a pedestal arcade with a flatscreen on the wall (32"). Once I have a basement I will build the proper cabinet piece for the monitor to make it a full showcase cab

I've learned a lot throughout this project (I will NEVER work with MDF again, what a pain!) and am pretty happy with the result. the corners of the CP and the pedestal are supported with pieces of 2x4 and 2x2 respectively, and it is overall very solid. Above the shelf in the pedestal (for the computer components) instead of 2x2 i used metal L brackets that you can see in the pic.

Any suggestions for supporting the CP on the pedestal in a manner where it can be easily removed are welcome (in case i need to access the computer physically I would like to be able to just lift off the CP). At the moment i'm thinking about a 2x2 attached to the bottom of the CP that will catch on the back outside of the pedestal, and another one for the front inside, also an extra one on the middle inside for left/right stability and as a rib for strength for the middle of the CP box.

[ark_ader]

Very nice.   

How about putting in some shelves in the base to store your gear?

[gr3yh47]

Thanks! It's been a ton of hard work.

Theres one shelf near the top of the pedestal for the computer parts,  but at this point adding more shelves would probably be pretty difficult as it is permanently enclosed and secured with 2x2 (glued + screwed) all the way up to the shelf. I will be adding some holsters to the sides for my guns eventually, i have two topgun IIs but they need some repair.

Not sure what gear you're referring to if not the computer?

[Malenko]

Please don't take this as a knock on your project, but I don't understand 4 player CPs that big. NBA Jam, NHL Open Ice, NFL Blitz all have 4 players and much smaller dimensions.

[yotsuya]

I'm curious as to why you put what I assume to be Players 1 and 2 on the outside of the pedistal, as opposed to the inside like most pedistals are.

[Drnick]

I'm curious as to why you put what I assume to be Players 1 and 2 on the outside of the pedistal, as opposed to the inside like most pedistals are.

There's a whole thread on it around here somewhere   He basically wants the elbow room and fighters are not his primary gaming staple.

My question would be "Why mount the trackball to the left like that?"

[yotsuya]

I'm curious as to why you put what I assume to be Players 1 and 2 on the outside of the pedistal, as opposed to the inside like most pedistals are.

There's a whole thread on it around here somewhere   He basically wants the elbow room and fighters are not his primary gaming staple.

My question would be "Why mount the trackball to the left like that?"

Oh yeah. I forgot this is THAT GUY. 

I will give him kudos, though. It looks like he's not angling the outer joysticks.

[gr3yh47]

Please don't take this as a knock on your project, but I don't understand 4 player CPs that big. NBA Jam, NHL Open Ice, NFL Blitz all have 4 players and much smaller dimensions.

It's very simple. Those games are not designed to be comfortable for 4 people for long periods of time. I wanted mine to be comfortable whether people were standing or sitting on our counter height chairs. Speaking of which, I got lucky with my height estimate when I was building this and it turns out it's the perfect height both for standing and for the counter height chairs that are at the dining room table right next to it. Score.

Trackball is off to the left for CPO art layout reasons. It feels fine there, and makes the 3 top row buttons of the fighter layout near it very convenient for missile command.

The reason for the fighter layouts being off to the sides is that the mag sticks in the middle are good for classics, but bad for fighters, and I play more classics than fighters. After testing tonight, It's actually nice not having to be shoulder to shoulder with the opponent in a fighting game.


Pics.
My sister in law painted the cab with some high gloss black enamel. it looks good. Took a picture after I got the first set of buttons in


I have to say I absolutely nailed it with the button spacing. these were the closest together (from the left fighter layout) and barely fit. but fit they did.


The computer on its shelf. Ventilation could be better (I will fix it eventually) but for now it runs ok because all of the airflow in the case is working together well by design. 1156 core i3, 8GB, Radeon HD 6870, Corsair 650W PS. It's a fine rig and once I create a sufficient intake to help with heat should have no problem running PC games at decent graphics. Actually already runs dolphin fine so yeah.


Wiring. I wish it looked better for the hours I put into it. For all 4 players the buttons starting with button 1 go Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, White, Gray, Black. this way if there is an issue with a button I don't have to trace wires. sticks have a similar system with White, gray, black, blue all being a given direction.



Final placement with TV in background


Oh yeah, this was my mom's idea, and I love it. serves 3 functions quite well - Keeps the lid from going past 90 degrees, hood rod, and slow close (I have it on the slowest setting) eliminates the need for rubber padding or some such around the edge/lip of the box

[gr3yh47]

So as of my last post the CP was just sitting on top of the pedestal which worked pretty well but occasionally if bumped with a hip it would move, and also when opening the CP, because of the screen door closer, the front of the CP had to be held down. I need to be able to easily lift the CP off the pedestal in case I need computer access.

I'll spare the thought process and skip straight to the solution

L brackets in the back to hold it from sliding forward


3 Bent L brackets (this is less than 90 deg due to the tilt) in the front, with cotter pins to hold it down when opened while still providing a quick method of removing the top



as you can see the paint job is already getting beat up a bit. mostly from continuing to work on it like this after it was already painted :/

oh well, this is probably the last update until I get someone to edit the galaga CPO vector art to fit my panel, after which I will get an adhesive vinyl overlay printed.

cheers!