FINISHED!! Finally starting a DK cab!

[arnthestampede]

So I've been wanting a DK cab for as long as I can remember, my original plan was to buy one form the US (I live in the UK) and ship it over, I thought it would maybe cost a few hundred to ship it, but all the quotes I got were ridiculous!! £1500! So that was that plan out of the window! Anyway I have built a few mame cabs in my time and now its time to build a DK cab! 

Before I begin though I need a few measurements from anyone who can help me. I'm finding it hard to track down accurate measurements of the cabs width (front facing) I intend to order the Marquee, Bezel, and CP from MikesArcade, so I need the measurements which would fit these parts.

Looking on MikesArcade the measurements for the Bezel and Marquee are slightly different (The marquee is a little smaller) which is confusing me. I want to make sure the measurements are accurate before I cut the wood. Also because all measurements are in INCHES I have to convert them all to MM/CM. I know a few people from Europe have made DK cabs, if anyone has the measurements they used that would be a great help.

From what I have found, if I cut all the front and back panels to 568mm wide it should fit the CP and Bezel. Is this correct? thanks.

[Jumpman64]

Measuring my DK Jr bezel and marquee both come out to 22 3/8" which Google says equals 568.325mm.  So, for what it's worth, there ya go

[Automark]

not cheap, and the color is according to the photo not the best, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261260248634 but it could be a good start

[arnthestampede]

Thanks for the measurements.

I have order most of the parts I need for the build (not good on the wallet!) the wood will be arriving tuesday so I will keep this thread updated and document the build!

[DaOld Man]

Good luck on your project. I have always wanted to refurb or build a DK, so i will be watching this one.

[jdbailey1206]

Here is a complete workup of the DK cabinet.  Hope it helps. 

http://www.jakobud.com/plan.php?id=7

[PL1]

Here is a complete workup of the DK cabinet.  Hope it helps. 

http://www.jakobud.com/plan.php?id=7

Several threads have mentioned that some of the measurements on that set of plans are a bit off.

IIRC some thread around here has the corrections.   


Scott

[arnthestampede]

DAY 1!

Okay finally got started today, first thing was to cut the side panels however my Jigsaw decided to stop working!  so I'll have to leave that for tomorrow when I can pick up a new one!

Started out by building the base:



painted:



Next was to start cutting some of the panels by hand and to route the speaker holes:





Secure the base and fit the wheels:



Route the back panels:



I've also begun to paint the panels.

Thats all for today! more tomorrow!

[arnthestampede]

More progress today, cut the sides, routed the slot for the t-molding and began priming the wood:

[arnthestampede]

Got the cab upright today and started painting the black areas. It will probably be a while until I make more progress due to waiting on the rest of the stuff to come from the US.

[EMDB]

Nice progress. But I wonder whether the mounting with just those small "furneture angle brackets" is firm enough to hold the full weight and force when being played. I would suggest to use strips of wood along the full sides of at least the side panels and the back and front to give the cab a solid and rigid base...

[arnthestampede]

thanks. I will be strengthening the whole structure of the cab with wooden strips in the coming days!

[sabreerbasAlpha]

Nice progress. But I wonder whether the mounting with just those small "furneture angle brackets" is firm enough to hold the full weight and force when being played. I would suggest to use strips of wood along the full sides of at least the side panels and the back and front to give the cab a solid and rigid base...

Completely agree with EMDB here. Listen this has been your dream for a while. Take your time, don't go cutting corners. Get them supports of now and start again. You will thank us for it in the long run. This machine will no doubt get some hammer once its built. Make it last. And make it pretty my friend.

Ill be watching this one. Good luck mate..

[jdbailey1206]

Nice progress. But I wonder whether the mounting with just those small "furneture angle brackets" is firm enough to hold the full weight and force when being played. I would suggest to use strips of wood along the full sides of at least the side panels and the back and front to give the cab a solid and rigid base...

Completely agree with EMDB here. Listen this has been your dream for a while. Take your time, don't go cutting corners. Get them supports of now and start again. You will thank us for it in the long run. This machine will no doubt get some hammer once its built. Make it last. And make it pretty my friend.

Ill be watching this one. Good luck mate..

+1.  I am still building my weecade from last year.  My problem is I didnt account for things at times and had to double back and it really began to eat away time.  Do yourself a favor and dont cut corners like I did.  You'll thank yourself in the end.  It looks solid.  Keep at it.

[Le Chuck]

great initial progress.  I'll beat the dead horse a bit myself... lose the brackets, your build won't stay square and if you put a CRT in will be liable to collapse under the added weight.  Firing strips and glue will cost you less than the hardware you're using and will give you a rock solid structure that's easy to put together. 

[arnthestampede]

thanks everyone, like I said the strips are going in this week, the brackets I have put in just to get it up standing.

Coin door arrived yesterday!!

[jdbailey1206]

The build looks good.  Did you end up using the jakobud plans or did you go with another source? 

[arnthestampede]

The build looks good.  Did you end up using the jakobud plans or did you go with another source?

I sourced the plans from a number of previous projects posted on here and the dragonslairfans forum. I used the jakobud for the side panels.

More progress today. I strengthened the structure of the cab with the wooden strips and metal L brackets, cut and fitted the coin door + kick plate(still waiting for the coin mechs to be delivered).

Starting to look like a nintendo cab now!! 

[meyer980]

That's a great looking Nintendo coin door. Did you buy a repro one off ebay? I saw one there not long ago and wondered what the quality was like.

[Automark]

nice door, looks like a repro from Troy 
these should fit, and are very cheap

 

[jdbailey1206]

I might have to get dimensions and part lists when you are done Arn.  The nieces found out I have taken an interest in this hobby and are bugging me for a Fix It Felix.  Again good work. 

[arnthestampede]

Thanks all.

Yes the coin door is stunning! it is a reproduction, I got it through a forum here in the UK!

Automark, those are the mechs I have ordered!!

Now its all about waiting for the parts from the US to arrive before I can continue.

jdbailey1206, no problem I will be happy to help.

[jdbailey1206]

Quick question Arn.  What is the thickness of your MDF? 

[arnthestampede]

I used 15mm MDF, the closest I could find, as I think some of the JAP cabs were 14mm and the US cabs were 16mm?

[jdbailey1206]

Whats a mm?  My feeble American brain can't grasp the metric system.     Just kidding man.  Thanks for the info.

[arnthestampede]

haha, its been the other way around for me working on this project, all the measurements I gathered were in inches!

A little progress today. The coin mech's arrived and I started the first coat of blue:

[jdbailey1206]

haha, its been the other way around for me working on this project, all the measurements I gathered were in inches!

I'm working on a weecade and I had the same problem getting all the measurements from mm.     Where did you find the measurements for the top and bottom rear panels?  ie  The power and handle cut outs?

[sabreerbasAlpha]

Looking good my friend, looking good.  I'm getting a bit jealous now. Your stirring my feeling's to get another DK cab. I regret selling mine from time to time. This is one of those times..

[arnthestampede]

Looking good my friend, looking good.  I'm getting a bit jealous now. Your stirring my feeling's to get another DK cab. I regret selling mine from time to time. This is one of those times..

haha thanks! I must say Im jealous you had one in the first place, I would love to own an original one day!

[blomman83]

Thanks all.

Yes the coin door is stunning! it is a reproduction, I got it through a forum here in the UK!

Automark, those are the mechs I have ordered!!

Now its all about waiting for the parts from the US to arrive before I can continue.

jdbailey1206, no problem I will be happy to help.

arnthestampede,

Great job so far! Looking forward to see the finished product.
I, myself, am planning (since like what 3 years??) to build a DK cab. I am interested in that repro coin door, can I get one myself? Website? I am based in the EU too (SWE).

Good luck!

/blomman83

[arnthestampede]

Thanks all.

Yes the coin door is stunning! it is a reproduction, I got it through a forum here in the UK!

Automark, those are the mechs I have ordered!!

Now its all about waiting for the parts from the US to arrive before I can continue.

jdbailey1206, no problem I will be happy to help.

arnthestampede,

Great job so far! Looking forward to see the finished product.
I, myself, am planning (since like what 3 years??) to build a DK cab. I am interested in that repro coin door, can I get one myself? Website? I am based in the EU too (SWE).

Good luck!

/blomman83

thanks.

for the coin door, i got it from this forum: http://www.ukvac.com/forum/forums.html the guys username is cacker

he also has them on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Donkey-Kong-Arcade-Cabinet-reproduction-Coin-Door-/151098336662?pt=UK_VideoGames_Merchandise_RL&hash=item232e29a596

[arnthestampede]

More progress today. Installed the marquee light, mounted the monitor to the bezel board (this will be covered with a plastic bezel inside the cab) and painted the kick plate!

[macattack]

Looking nice, what angle are you planning on running the monitor board at? Read lots of builds and no one really mentions that bit.

[mcseforsale]

Hmm.  Me likey.

Subscribed (surprised?)

AJ

[jdbailey1206]

Subscribed (surprised?)

AJ

The only reason you have 1000+ posts is because you subsribe to everything.    Kidding!  Kidding.

[arnthestampede]

Looking nice, what angle are you planning on running the monitor board at? Read lots of builds and no one really mentions that bit.

Not too sure yet, after extensive searching I've not really found anything that is spot on. Most people just "eye it" from pictures, however I did find a thread somewhere that said the angle was between 40-42 degree's, measured using the iphone angle measuring app. So I will probably try it somewhere around that angle and see what it looks like.

[mcseforsale]

Never even thought of it.  Hmmm.  Really, it's just a joke/placeholder.  But now that you mention it...I'm going to subscribe to everything and get my post count up!

AJ

Subscribed (surprised?)

AJ

The only reason you have 1000+ posts is because you subsribe to everything.    Kidding!  Kidding.

[jdbailey1206]

Arn I know choppperthedog and Maximus have refurbished  DK cabs and they can probably get you the degrees you need.

[sabreerbasAlpha]

Damn !!!!6 player machine. Good luck with this. If im not mistaken this has the mirror in it ? that reflects the 2nd screen which housed bellow Next to the one above to give the impression of two screens as one, Pretty much like the Tecmo Bowl machine. Been a few years since I saw this machine TBH. Any way, Good luck with this. Should be fun.. 

Can I ask why you have posted a quote made by me here. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132410.msg1360378.html#msg1360378
in a completely different build thread. 

[arnthestampede]

Small update, fitted the speaker panel today. Still waiting for my packages from the US , they have been stuck in customs a week!