commissioned cabinet

[michelevit]

I've been commissioned to build a cabinet.
This thread created to document its build.
If you want one, let me now.

[michelevit]

control panel layout.

2 person fighter layout
spinner
tron flightstick

[michelevit]

laying out the sides.
once one side is cut, it is used as a template to route out its pair.
This insures identical cuts.

[michelevit]

child added for scale.
height of cab is 48"

[hsr]

control panel layout.

2 person fighter layout
spinner
tron flightstick

I'll be watching this one closely.  Currently have a couple minis built eight or nine years ago their CP's limit the games.  What stick specifically are you going to be using for the Tron Flightstick?  I'm asking because of its proximity to the buttons surrounding it.

[michelevit]

furing strips nailed and glue.
tightbond two woodglue and harborfreight nail gun.

[michelevit]

sides glued and nailed.

[michelevit]

monitor hung.
nice 20 inch 4:3 flat screen.
no more CRTs for me.

[michelevit]

back of monitor hanging woodwork.
1/2" clearance on both sides.

[yotsuya]

control panel layout.

2 person fighter layout
spinner
tron flightstick

You're going to build a mini with all those controls on it? Good luck. 

[michelevit]

control box hanging detail.
this cut was mitered to hide exposed edge.
glued and nailed.

Needs to be stout enough to support the control box.

monitor bezel supports also installed.

[michelevit]

marquee holder detail.
top piece routed to accept marquee.

[michelevit]

plastic sourced from tap plastics.

[michelevit]

parts arriving from hyperspace.
the internet has made everything so fricking easy.

[michelevit]

more parts

[michelevit]

more parts from intertubes...

[michelevit]

control box layed out and built.

[michelevit]

control box

[michelevit]

mockup before paint

[michelevit]

paint applied.

I like to use rustoleum in satin black thinned with lacquer thinner applied with an HVLP touch up gun.

[michelevit]

control box painted and top laminate applied.
laminate sourced from tap plastic.
glued and routed flush.

[michelevit]

lots of stuff being installed. box is getting heavy.

[michelevit]

monitor bezel masked and painted.

[michelevit]

monitor bezel masked and painted.

[michelevit]

spaghetti wiring.
2 controllers wiring up the joysticks and buttons.
trackball is also usb
spinner is also usb.
1 usb hub allows a single connection to the PC.

[michelevit]

trackball lights up nicely.

[michelevit]

marquee printed up and sandwiched between plexi and fiber board.

[michelevit]

finito...

[michelevit]

finne

[michelevit]

Dee You Ann
DUN

(well except for tron stick which is en route)

[404]

I like the body style. it reminds me of a mini dynamo cabinet. I can't say i really like the control panel though.

[05SRT4]

Does having the CP that far out make the whole machine want to tilt forward?  I would hate to that thing tip.

[mcseforsale]

Looks like the front of the CP is almost touching the floor.  That CP is either too big, or the angle too extreme.

AJ

[Malenko]

CP looks terrible. too disproportionate, too disconnected, too many controls. Have you considered swappable panels? I think the cab would look tits if the CP was scaled down, and it would look very dynamo

[yotsuya]

I think it's the camera angle in that last photo, but I'm in agreement on that CP. Any way to tighten it up?

[skjerk]

Well.... if it doesnt tilt when standing on a bucket, I hardly think it will when standing on the floor!

But given its size and all, I find it very difficult to picture the actual look of this cab.... Perhaps a picture with someone playing it would help?

[Malenko]

Well.... if it doesnt tilt when standing on a bucket, I hardly think it will when standing on the floor!

you dont rest your hands on the CP or push down on the buttons?

[mcseforsale]

That little one seems to be about 4-6, and that CP probably doesn't come to his knees.

AJ

[rablack97]

corybee clan?

[michelevit]

here's a better angle.
thanks for all the unsolicited advice. /s
the cabinet was exactly what the client wanted;
a scaled down version of an upright cabinet.
when placed on the floor functions for as an upright for children
or
functions like a cocktail cab for adults when seated.
or
propped up on a small table functions as an upright cab for adults.
the controls are many, but positioned so they are all still usable.

it does not tilt forward even when played agro.

[michelevit]

fun for full sized monkeys too...

[Malenko]

thanks for all the unsolicited advice.

You are welcome!

Any issues with dark edges on the marquee when lit?

[EMDB]

Nice build. Still some more well-meant remarks:

The angle of the CP seems quite steep and it sticks out very much. It looks like it can tumble down any minute. What if the children putting some weight on it when playing? It's a pity you did not use a marquee retainer. The screws holding the marquee are quite present now. The artwork of the marquee looks a bit curved. Isn't it sandwich'ed between two plates of plexi?

[rablack97]

I've seen your design before in a prior post, this build didn't live up to the others you've posted.

If your a full member, you should know that if you post photos, all comments won't be positive.

Your either gonna get praised, left alone, or lit up.  The critiques are so you can better you next build, folks get humbled real quick here.  So take it with a grain of salt.  Cause no comments means nobody cares

The design started off nice, up until the CP, which looks like you attached an x-arcade stick to it.  Next time hide that t-ball mounting plate, by laminating or with a graphic.  Aesthetics is huge, but as Yotsuya mentioned you tried to get all of those controls on a mini.  Which is hard w/o totally destroying the look of a mini cab.

It does look like you've tilted it too far down, when you didnt really have to, and maybe could of lengthened the cab to recess the CP further back into the so it's more uniform.

Just some ideas man....Or you can be like Corybee, tell everyone to  , cause you got your money, regardless of what the critics are saying.

[yotsuya]

I'm all for giving the customer what they want. However, that control panel angle just looks odd. Was that his design or yours? I mean, everyone looks like they're having fun in the photo, and that's all that's all that matters, but I'm curious what the rationale was behind that setup.

[mcseforsale]

Commissioned or not, I'da made some recommendations to the client regarding CP angle and the playability of the Tron stick at such an extreme angle, perhaps also adding that building a larger cab and having the kiddies sit on stools or a built in, fold down step that hinges from the front of the cab that could be removed once they grow into it.  That way, it's good for longer than it takes for the kid to outgrow it.  Looking at that picture, if you're of average stature, the bottom front edge of that CP is basically 18" off the ground.  And, with that extreme angle, it must be very hard to accurately play some games.

For me, part of making ANYTHING is making the absolutely MOST researched design based on their request that I can and provide a design with proven elements (i.e., not too many controls, good proportions, good ergonomics, etc). 

The same thing goes whether I'm building a set of bike wheels, a computer network, or helping my neighbor hang a sink in his bathroom. 

Don't mistake our comments for negativity, it's not.  This is a community and we are all here to help each other.  I've had members on here do art for me just for the asking.  I've given away valuable stuff just for the asking.  It's all pay it forward here.  Believe me...I started with this:






AJ

[rablack97]

I'm all for giving the customer what they want. However, that control panel angle just looks odd. Was that his design or yours? I mean, everyone looks like they're having fun in the photo, and that's all that's all that matters, but I'm curious what the rationale was behind that setup.

It's his design, look in the back of the photo, he had like 3 of these lined up on a post, i just can't find it.



It doesnt look bad when its 1 plyr, as the CP is proportioned the cab, and its not dropped as far down.