Author Topic: Another Centipede Cabinet - FINISHED! (Read 14182 times)

TheJohn · « **on:** December 03, 2003, 01:03:34 am »

I've been lurking around on this message board for the past 3 months, preparing myself for this project. Now I want to thank everyone for their tips and advice, without which this process would have been only half as fun, and at least twice as frustrating!

Special thanks to Carsten, Justin and Radical for their excellent Centipede cabs, as well as for the artwork Carsten and Justin have generously provided. And thanks to Jakobud for hosting the cab dimensions.

My Centipede cab is just a couple more weekends from being finished! Here is a temporary online photo album documenting the process. When the cab is finished, I plan to setup a more detailed website:

The Centipede

Jakobud · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2003, 02:41:41 am »

Very good looking. Good job!

pathdoc2 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:13:55 am »

Looks great.

SirPeale · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:53:35 am »

Nice job on the coin door. How'd you strip it down?

TheJohn · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2003, 04:13:24 pm »

I stripped the coin door with a coarse wire brush cup from Home Depot.

I attached the thing to a standard power drill and let it rip off the old paint. After about 30 minutes, the front surface was down to bare steel. I then applied two coats of the Rust Oleum texturized paint to make it as good as new.

Everything else was dissambled and scrubbed in a sink full of hot, soapy water. The mechs were full of grime and gunk, but they work perfectly now.

SirPeale · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2003, 04:51:35 pm »

I'm impressed! Did you read my guide to coin door refinishing, or is this something you did on your own?

Note: although you used the wire wheel to get the paint off, you could have saved yourself a lot of time by using paint remover. I hope you wore a mask when you were doing this.

TheJohn · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2003, 05:07:16 pm »

Quote from: Peale on December 03, 2003, 04:51:35 pm

I'm impressed! Did you read my guide to coin door refinishing, or is this something you did on your own?

Note: although you used the wire wheel to get the paint off, you could have saved yourself a lot of time by using paint remover. I hope you wore a mask when you were doing this.

Thanks. I can't recall where I got the info from... The CCI mechs are inscribed with "No maintenance required. Wash with hot, soapy water." But I've read just about every message on this board - if your guide was ever posted here, I'm sure it helped me.

I considered the use of a paint stripper, but I didn't want to deal with harsh chemicals... It was tough work with the wire cup, but I wore a mask and had fun. It's a great 30-minute forearm workout!

TheJohn · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:14:45 am »

Hello everyone,

Just another update on my cab - I managed to do a lot of work over the weekend, and it's pretty much finished except for the sideart and marquee. Please visit my project website for many, many pictures:

http://thejohn.net/mame

This weekend:
- finished the control panel (used the vinyl from Parts Express)
- got the new mobo and processor installed (XP1900 with nForce2)
- applied 4 coats of Rust Oleum latex
- installed the t-molding (sliced my thumb open, quick trip to the ER fixed it up with a tetnis shot and dermabond)
- installed the tinted plexiglass (awesome effect! the arcade image just floats!)
- installed the speakers with 6" grill covers from Car Toys
- installed the coin door and wired to two red LaserLED cannons
- playtested, playtested, playtested!

Here are a couple pics:

I prefer a very clean and simple look...

Those side panels are just starving for their Centipede art!

And here's a pic of the keyboard drawer in action...

Enjoy!
John

http://thejohn.net/mame

pathdoc2 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2003, 11:05:32 am »

I think the black control panel with black buttons looks killer.

MameMaster! · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2003, 12:29:15 pm »

WOW....great job!....I wish I had the room to try my hand a building a custom cab!!!!

....enjoy it. It's very cool looking.

The MameMaster!

Justin · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2003, 08:29:06 pm »

WHat can I say! Another Centipede cab, which I actually like better than my own!

Awesome job. Very clean. Ridiculously beautiful!

TheJohn · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2003, 08:55:19 pm »

Quote from: Justin on December 09, 2003, 08:29:06 pm

WHat can I say! Another Centipede cab, which I actually like better than my own!

Awesome job. Very clean. Ridiculously beautiful!

Thank you, but you can't be serious! Yours was an inspiration, and your modified Centipede control panel deserves to be in the MAME Hall of FAME!

I received the sideart from ArcadeAmusements yesterday - very nice stuff! After I applied it and peeled the protective wax paper off the front, I couldn't believe how bright and detailed the colors are! Wow! I posted some pics below...

I'm just waiting on the marquee sign from Kinkos, and then this big, beautiful bug of a machine will be finished!

Because I extended the original CP measurements by a few inches, the vinyl didn't fit, so I had to cut out the Centipedes.

Here it is being applied. I carefully positioned it, peeled a bit off the top, stuck it on, and then slowly squeeged it on while peeling off the rest of the backing.

Ta da! Isn't that bug gorgeous?

SirPeale · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2003, 08:50:48 am »

Sliced your thumb open, eh? How'd you do that?

pathdoc2 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2003, 09:09:06 am »

I looked at your website and saw something on the face of you monitor. Does that enlarge the image?
Beatiful job BTW.

TheJohn · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:29:07 pm »

Quote from: Peale on December 10, 2003, 08:50:48 am

Sliced your thumb open, eh? How'd you do that?

Yeah, it was a pretty foolish accident. You know how you gotta notch out some of the T-molding if you want to bend it around corners? Well, I was trying to do that with a rusty utilility blade. It slipped towards me, slid across the top of my thumb, twisted a little bit and tore an eraser-tip chunk out of my skin - sounds bad, but it was easily patched up with some medical super glue and a few adhesive 'stitches'... I was back to work on my cab in about an hour.

Just gotta use common sense the next time. Use sharp blades and cut AWAY from the body. $:-\$

TheJohn · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:38:01 pm »

Quote from: pathdoc2 on December 10, 2003, 09:09:06 am

I looked at your website and saw something on the face of you monitor. Does that enlarge the image?
Beatiful job BTW.

Hello, Doc!

The monitor is a 22" NEC Multisync. Because I am using a sheet of tinted plexiglass without an overlay, I wanted to paint the front bezel black. This way, only the image on the monitor appears through the plexiglass.

The black 'thing' you see on the face is part of the original case - I just took it off (didn't want to mask the screen or risk getting paint on it), spray-painted it, and then put it all back together again.

Using something to enlarge the monitor image is an interesting idea, however. I wonder if it's been done before? With a large fresnel lense or something?

DOC · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2003, 02:41:47 am »

i just looked at your site and your cab is very very nice...!! " indeed a great job "

the ting is : that black shiny CP you've made... what's that black stuff called? i can't remeber a word that compares or matches...

and where can i buy it ?

TheJohn · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2003, 01:25:55 pm »

Quote from: DOC on December 11, 2003, 02:41:47 am

i just looked at your site and your cab is very very nice...!! " indeed a great job "

the ting is : that black shiny CP you've made... what's that black stuff called? i can't remeber a word that compares or matches...

and where can i buy it ?

Thank you!

It's from PartsExpress and it's simply called "Black Textured Vinyl". Here's a link:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&User_ID=17020418&St=2895&St2=73786988&St3=-74697405&DS_ID=3&Product_ID=120419&DID=7

I think several others on this board have also used it. It's thick enough to be durable, but thin and pliable enough to reveal any surface defects underneath, so you've got to be sure your CP top is sanded smooth before applying.

Stingray · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2003, 01:50:40 pm »

Quote

Ta da! Isn't that bug gorgeous?

Yes it is! Beautiful work you've done there.

-S

hyiu · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2003, 02:11:11 pm »

a VERY nice, simple, clean machine.....

very nice !!!... good job !!!....

DOC · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2003, 05:59:24 pm »

Textured Vinyl * there it was

thank you

Radical · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2003, 12:09:24 pm »

Awesome. I love that vinyl covering and the side art looks great!

Did you use Carsten's larger control panel dimensions or original Centipede?

Evil · « **Reply #22 on:** December 14, 2003, 02:49:49 pm »

EXCELLENT work! Very authentic looking.

TheJohn · « **Reply #23 on:** December 16, 2003, 02:53:14 am »

Quote from: Radical on December 13, 2003, 12:09:24 pm

Awesome. I love that vinyl covering and the side art looks great!

Did you use Carsten's larger control panel dimensions or original Centipede?

Thanks, Radical.

I made the CP about 2.75" longer (front to back) than the original Centipede dimensions, and then adjusted the "wings" accordingly. This gave my palms a place to rest and some more space at the top for the admin and start buttons.

Thus I experienced the same problem as Carsten when I received my vinyl sideart - it wasn't big enough to wrap around the extended CP "wings." But I think it looks just fine with the bug cut-out. It matches the glossy white paint pretty well.

Justin · « **Reply #24 on:** December 16, 2003, 07:32:43 am »

The sideart is in fact just wide enough to fit a standard centipede cabinet. It took me forever to lay it down just right, before I sterted to peel it off... This was nervewrecking!

Stingray · « **Reply #25 on:** December 16, 2003, 12:59:51 pm »

I've probably looked at this thread 100 times. I absolutely love that Centepede side art. I've got tentative plans to do mine up to resemble a Joust machine, but your cab is making me seriously reconsider this decision.

-S

TheJohn · « **Reply #26 on:** December 16, 2003, 01:57:44 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on December 16, 2003, 12:59:51 pm

I've probably looked at this thread 100 times. I absolutely love that Centepede side art. I've got tentative plans to do mine up to resemble a Joust machine, but your cab is making me seriously reconsider this decision.

I was also set on building a Joust cab (the classic 80's cab designs are the best!) - I had the plans drawn and was nearly ready to cut the MDF. But then I saw Carsten's website, and then Justin's and Radical's cabs - I quickly fell in love with the big green bug.

The Centipede cab design has a more distinctive shape and the side art is amazingly detailed and vivid (from ArcadeAmusements). And I just can't say enough about that sinister looking Centipede wiggling up through the mushrooms - it's awesome!

I wonder if a poll was ever done on best arcade side art?

Stingray · « **Reply #27 on:** December 16, 2003, 02:48:23 pm »

Centepede would certainly have to rank near the top if such a poll were taken.

-S

TheJohn · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:07:45 am »

It's done! All it took was a couple months of wrenching my mind to plan for it, and then another month of getting my hands dirty.

I got my backlit marquee today and installed it. Thanks again to everyone for their advice and kind compliments!

SirPeale · « **Reply #29 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:02:36 am »

Dude, you PAID for a MAME set? Are you nuts?

TheJohn · « **Reply #30 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:32:11 am »

Quote from: Peale on December 18, 2003, 10:02:36 am

Dude, you PAID for a MAME set? Are you nuts?

DUDE, I built an arcade machine. Yes, I'm nuts.

The ROM and CHD set came on 5 DVDs (or something like 30 CDs). I even threw in a tip for the burner. Took me two minutes to fill out a form on a website and like magic, I have my ROMs a week later. I'm wondering how you acquired your full set?

Karman · « **Reply #31 on:** December 18, 2003, 11:58:20 am »

What is the viewable image size of that NEC? Did you get it from http://www.poweron.com?

TheJohn · « **Reply #32 on:** December 18, 2003, 12:15:14 pm »

Quote from: Karman on December 18, 2003, 11:58:20 am

What is the viewable image size of that NEC? Did you get it from http://www.poweron.com?

The viewable size is 20" and it handles all of the game resolutions perfectly. www.poweron.com had a bunch of them selling for $150 (+$50 for 2-day shipping) about a month ago. They retail new for $729.

spidermonkey · « **Reply #33 on:** December 19, 2003, 02:07:23 am »

Outstanding work T.J. ! Very professional looking.

SirPeale · « **Reply #34 on:** December 22, 2003, 09:40:18 am »

Quote from: TheJohn on December 18, 2003, 10:32:11 am

Quote from: Peale on December 18, 2003, 10:02:36 am
Dude, you PAID for a MAME set? Are you nuts?

DUDE, I built an arcade machine. Yes, I'm nuts.

The ROM and CHD set came on 5 DVDs (or something like 30 CDs). I even threw in a tip for the burner. Took me two minutes to fill out a form on a website and like magic, I have my ROMs a week later. I'm wondering how you acquired your full set?

Check your PM.

TheJohn · « **Reply #35 on:** December 22, 2003, 12:13:00 pm »

Quote from: Peale on December 22, 2003, 09:40:18 am

Check your PM.

Thanks for the info!

Justin · « **Reply #36 on:** December 22, 2003, 06:26:54 pm »

Quote from: TheJohn on December 22, 2003, 12:13:00 pm

Quote from: Peale on December 22, 2003, 09:40:18 am
Check your PM.

Thanks for the info!

Info? What info? Share the info! LOL

SONIC · « **Reply #37 on:** December 24, 2003, 05:52:42 am »

Dude, that centipede cab looks so brilliant

Now you made me want one

Hell yeah, looks really sweet!

GSXRMovistar · « **Reply #38 on:** December 24, 2003, 09:58:58 am »

Without doubt thats a cabinet to be proud of, very nice work.

(me wishes I could work on mine

)

TheJohn · « **Reply #39 on:** January 29, 2004, 04:16:52 pm »

Quote

What type of paint did you use on the sides? How hard was it to cut out the stickers (i have seen the x-acto knife method, is that what you did)? How hard it is to move around (through doors, etc)? And finally, how much wider (from back to front) is the footprint with your modification to the plans?
Thanks for any input!
-Arkowi

Hello Arkowi,

Thanks for the comments!

I used Rustoleum brand latex primer and paint - one coat of primer, and about four coats of white with a smooth foam roller on the outside, four coats of black with a wide foam brush on the inside, with about two hours dry-time between each coat. A small can of each was more than plenty.

The stickers are very easy to cut - the vinyl is durable and will not tear, but an exacto will slice right through it - so just be careful not to slip!

Moving the cab? Well, it's on some heavy-duty casters, but with all the MDF and the monitor, it seems to weigh a ton... It's easy enough to move around on a low-pile carpet, and scoots through doors easily. We rented an appliance dolly from UHAUL to get it up the steps. A tip for reducing the weight: Don't put a back on the arcade - no one will ever see the back - the wide opening will also help ventilate your monitor and pc, which I noticed seem to get pretty warm inside a big, wooden box. If you need to put a back on it, just use some black poster board and staple it in place.

I extended the control panel about three inches - because it's at an angle, that made it about 2.5 inches longer from front to back.

Let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck!

John


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