Going to try and keep a build log. *DONE*

[menace]

Just going to record time and materials for build I'm just starting:

Day1:
Cabinet pickup: 2.5 hrs (there and back).  Also stopped at starburst on way through
cabinet cost: $125 (u2000 monitor and golden tee fore boards inside-will sell later)
Controls cost: $45 ipac, $25 new happs sticks, $26 new buttons

Day 2:
clean-up: 1 hr (removed wiring, control panel overlay, stupid iso transformer double bolted to bottom, back door, misc screws etc.
repaired monitor: 1.5 hours--new cap kit, trial and error on repairs finally got it rock solid.  Cap kit $10

Day 3: 40 minutes there and back picked up 26" Lcd tv. $75

[jdbailey1206]

Pictures or it didnt happen.

[thomas_surles]

Pictures or it didnt happen.

+1

[menace]

LOL--fine==pictures are on the way...

Today:
1.25 hours rebuilt back so it has a better door and is now flat.  Also cut two handles in the top--this is all about making it easier to move in my mini van..  Also got it into the house now that the wood working is done.

1/2 hr:  assembled artwork from other sources and sent them to printer (prints-mart on ebay...99 cents /sq ft. for glossy adhesive vinyl)

[thomas_surles]

Love the cab. Hope it turns ou alright.

[menace]

Today :  2 hours cutting control panel...had some design issues so waffled a bit.  Re-did artwork to match

$37.37 for sideart, marquee and control panel art

2 hours setting up pc and configuring Mala

[SavannahLion]

Holy smokes. If I kept a log here just on the hours and days I put into the control system alone I would probably exceed the forum limits. Good luck.

[menace]

Thanks!  I think I will be just as surprised as everyone else as to how long it really takes me to get a basic machine together...

[EMDB]

Thanks!  I think I will be just as surprised as everyone else as to how long it really takes me to get a basic machine together...

Based on most build threads running for months / years we already knew    As it is a hobby for most of us which may cost time and money I don't mind my build is already running for more than a year... 

[jennifer]

   I have over a decade into a few of my projects.... Lets see, Day 1, needed to find like 6 guys to help me move a jukebox, That's 2 kegs and gas money... and over the years, A river of time, money (and a few trips to Iowa) looking for obsolete parts... I give up, hope that log thing works out for you. Nice build BTW, it will be fun to see it done.

[menace]

Spent about 3-4 hours all told today:  Wired up power supply for speakers and coin door lights and got monitor mounted via its VESA mounts (involved trip to home depot).  I think it might be a smidgen too high...Also picked up parts to make the relay power supply.

$20 bucks in Misc. hardware and screws





I used the scrap MDF cause it was the perfect width and the notch in it makes no difference..

Still debating on height--its perfect for me but might be high for shorter person..dunno yet..

[menace]

1/2 hr today--lowered display by 1.5" and I like it much better.

[menace]

1/2 - 45 minutes this morning making a relay switch power supply.  (plug the power into the wall, half the outlet is "always on" the other half gets switched on with the pc 12V supply)  Costs me $5 if I don't have the parts already (Which I did in the case)

[menace]

$58 for glossy paint, roller, new tray

1hr, picking up supplies, light sanding and filled in holes with putty.  I wasn't going to paint it originally but after seeing it in full light, it was pretty patchy looking..

Also drilled a new hole in the top for the new power button

[menace]

Minor setback last night--was prepping the cabinet for paint and I kept getting loose flakes falling off.  I grabbed a scaper to see if I could get the loose stuff off...

1 hr later 



Every scrap of paint on both sides scraped off in large sheets--guess it's better it did it now rather than 6 months from now...

[jennifer]

   ** Jennifer laughs quietly to herself... Your going to need a good sealer (over sanded primer)  before you paint that.

[menace]

took about 2-3 hours (over the course of a few days) to sand and re-paint the cabinet.  Three coats of high gloss black with one sand in between (not going for an ond-like finish here  )

$15 on 30 feet of T-molding
$5 on black poster board for the bezel area

1/2 hr cleaning the goo off the marquee plastic and glass
1/2 hr to re-wire PC speakers and get them attached

[EMDB]

took about 2-3 hours (over the course of a few days) to sand and re-paint the cabinet.  Three coats of high gloss black with one sand in between (not going for an ond-like finish here  )

$15 on 30 feet of T-molding
$5 on black poster board for the bezel area

1/2 hr cleaning the goo off the marquee plastic and glass
1/2 hr to re-wire PC speakers and get them attached

0 hr taking pictures to show my fellow forum members 

[menace]

LOL ok mr. smartie-pants...



And here is mr. destructo wrecking stuff that I accidentally leave on the floor...

[menace]

As it sits right now...just need artwork and its done!

[menace]

Time to date: 19.5 hrs
cost to date: $400 (paint price was reduced since I still have 3/4 of a can left)

Left do to--get artwork received and installed, wire control panel then minor tweaking.

[menace]

Had the day off and the weather was crappy so I decided to push through to the end

time spent today: 4-5 hrs assembling control panel, troubleshooting, installing the artwork, and of course taking pictures...

Adhesive vinyl overlay installed (yes I know its out of alignment--I made a measuring mistake when transferring the pattern GRRRRR



Installed.



Front shot:



Side shot:



A hearty Thank you to the byoacer's who share their wonderful artwork with the rest of us no-talent hacks 

[SavannahLion]

Hmmm less than a month from start to finish. Takes me that long just have some of my parts shipped.

[nitz]

Cool man. Sometimes I think doing a nice quick and clean project like this is better than spending months and tons of $$$ obsessing over getting everything a certain way.

1/2 hr:  assembled artwork from other sources and sent them to printer (prints-mart on ebay...99 cents /sq ft. for glossy adhesive vinyl)

I'm curious as to what you think about the quality of the printed vinyl...because that's pretty cheap. Full vinyl sides for an average size cab would be under $40 at that price.

[menace]

I'm happy with the results although in fairness I don't have any other adhesive vinyl to compare it to.  Other suppliers may use thicker material but it does the job and the colors are good.  The only thing I don't like is that I usually work in RGB in photoshop but they print CMYK.  Its really hard to get a nice Royal blue in CMYK without it going all purple-y.  The finished product looks nice and is durable enough for a home use only control panel.  It wouldn't last long in an arcade setting though I don't think...

Regarding the the timing to put it together, I was able to get everything locally with the exception of the artwork.  If I had to ship everything I can see hitting some roadblocks where work couldn't proceed until I had X on hand...

I'm happy with it and can now remember why I don't normally bother with a trackball---I never use it.

[nitz]

Cool, thanks!

I'm sure the stuff from gameongrafix is awesome (never tried it myself), but man it's pricey if you want to do full on artwork - CP, bezel, and side art. This looks like it could be a good alternative, especially if your CP is covered with plexi.