Author Topic: Horizontal Mini Cabaret (Read 9144 times)

Minwah · « **on:** May 19, 2014, 08:33:17 am »

I've been very much enjoying playing on the vertical mini cabaret I made last year (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132372.msg1359817.html#msg1359817), so have decided to make a similarly sized horizontal machine.

It's going to be Defender themed, possibly with two joysticks for Robotron...

Minwah · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2014, 08:35:58 am »

I've cut out most of the panels, and started painting the parts which will not be laminated. Here's the side:

Nimbus · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2014, 12:56:52 pm »

I LOVE this!! I also loved your other mini design. You make great stuff and I can't wait to see this take shape!!

Louis Tully · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2014, 01:04:07 pm »

markc74 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2014, 01:48:32 pm »

Also loved the last cab - seriously made me think about using the wood laminate on mine.

Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

Malenko · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2014, 04:09:58 pm »

its a weird shape, but I like it!

Nimbus · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2014, 05:12:39 pm »

Quote from: Malenko on May 19, 2014, 04:09:58 pm

its a weird shape, but I like it!

It actually just looks like an Atari cabaret (Centipede, Tempest & Dig Dug) with a shorter height.

Malenko · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2014, 12:27:00 pm »

Quote from: Nimbus on May 19, 2014, 05:12:39 pm

It actually just looks like an Atari cabaret (Centipede, Tempest & Dig Dug) with a shorter height.

I didnt mean it in a bad way. Also, Ive never seen an Atari cabaret "in the wild" but they look neat in the pictures Ive looked up.

markc74 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2014, 07:45:02 pm »

Dunno if you've got to the point of printing artwork yet but if you need someone to go go in with you I've got some ready to go.

Nimbus · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2014, 02:09:21 am »

Quote from: Malenko on May 20, 2014, 12:27:00 pm

I didnt mean it in a bad way. Also, Ive never seen an Atari cabaret "in the wild" but they look neat in the pictures Ive looked up.

I didn't think you meant it in a bad way, so no worries.

I've got an Atari Centipede cabaret and it is one of my favorites. It is one of the few mini cabs that sported a full-size 19" monitor. I am trying to put together a Dig Dug mini too, but those parts are pretty hard to find.

TheDude · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2014, 05:47:12 am »

Very interesting. I love the shape and the size !

Minwah · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2014, 05:33:50 pm »

Thanks for your encouraging words chaps!

I did somewhat copy the Atari cabaret (Centipede / Tempest) design, as I like it. What also influenced the shape is that this has to be slightly wider than my vertical one, due to the monitor width. So to compensate for the extra width I 'cut in' underneath the control panel...just to make it comfortable as I tend to sit with my knees either side of the cabinet.

Because of this I also didn't want the marquee under the control panel (like the Atari design) as it would be too low. Also I noticed on the Centipede cabaret that the bezel goes into almost a mini marquee at the top...so I am going to have the marquee combined into the bezel, and probably put a light behind it (maybe all the way around the bezel?).

markc74: I'm not ready to order artwork yet...but also, have you seen this?:

https://www.facebook.com/arcadeprintshop

I believe they can do laminated control panels and so on, so was thinking about giving them a shot.

Minwah · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2014, 05:36:34 pm »

Oh yeah, and I made some more progress, laminated all the panels except the sides, and cut all the details except the speaker / vent holes. I am working on building an adjustable router jig for cutting slots like the Nintendo DK etc speaker area...need some parts but will post when done (if it works).

Minwah · « **Reply #13 on:** June 09, 2014, 10:04:22 am »

Made quite a bit of progress...almost ready to glue and screw together. Just need to finish the base and cut speaker/vent slots.

Here's a pic of the side panels, with batons and dowel joints:

Minwah · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2014, 10:05:59 am »

Base (WIP):

Minwah · « **Reply #15 on:** June 09, 2014, 10:07:22 am »

And assembled, but not glued:

markc74 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 09, 2014, 10:08:18 am »

Painting the internal battons black... That's serious attention to detail

Vigo · « **Reply #17 on:** June 09, 2014, 10:44:12 am »

Awesome. I love the uniqueness. I'm gonna have to start employing dowel joints more.

Minwah · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2014, 09:39:12 am »

Quote from: markc74 on June 09, 2014, 10:08:18 am

Painting the internal battons black... That's serious attention to detail

It's easy to get carried away isn't it

I did it on my last one and it does look nice when you're working on the guts, so I thought I'd do it again...

Minwah · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2014, 09:43:05 am »

Quote from: Vigo on June 09, 2014, 10:44:12 am

Awesome. I love the uniqueness. I'm gonna have to start employing dowel joints more.

Dowel joins are really good for joining the panels together IMO. It's nice to be able to do it even on panels which meet at an angle (eg my top and top/rear panel).

Louis Tully · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2014, 05:07:22 pm »

Minwah · « **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2014, 04:04:26 am »

Just a quick pic of where I am at the moment...

Todo:

Control panel
Monitor bezel/glass
PC

Edit: sorry pic is rotated...on a phone at the moment.

Malenko · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2014, 07:48:54 am »

the pic isnt rotated when you click it, at least not on my machine.

Looks fantastic, the woodgrain really gives it that vintage look.

Yvan256 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2014, 10:31:32 am »

I love the woodgrain + black + textured T-molding.

Anpanman · « **Reply #24 on:** July 02, 2014, 01:54:23 pm »

Quote from: Minwah on July 01, 2014, 04:04:26 am

Just a quick pic of where I am at the moment...

Todo:

Control panel
Monitor bezel/glass
PC

Edit: sorry pic is rotated...on a phone at the moment.

Where did you get woodgrain vinyl at that width?

Minwah · « **Reply #25 on:** July 04, 2014, 01:24:33 pm »

Quote from: Anpanman on July 02, 2014, 01:54:23 pm

Where did you get woodgrain vinyl at that width?

www.vinyldepot.co.uk

I was going to laminate it bit decided to go the cheaper route. Very pleased with how it looks :-)

Minwah · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2014, 06:08:10 pm »

I ordered some artwork to use to make sure I am happy with the placement of everything...

Minwah · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2014, 06:10:26 pm »

Made a card bezel:

Minwah · « **Reply #28 on:** July 29, 2014, 06:13:11 pm »

As it happens I wasn't happy with the placement of the joystick (it was too close to the monitor), so I moved the stick and buttons around a bit. Ended up with this:

Minwah · « **Reply #29 on:** July 29, 2014, 06:18:29 pm »

Underside of the control panel. The start buttons go into the vertical part of the control panel facing the player - these are not fitted at this point. It is a bit of a squeeze...

'Defender doesn't need a trackball' I hear you scream. I know, but I love Snake Pit...this is why I went for the ServoStik too. There aren't many other 4-way horizontal games to write home about.

leapinlew · « **Reply #30 on:** July 29, 2014, 06:33:10 pm »

I built a defender just last year. It's my 2nd one. I have to wonder about the placement of that reverse - you worried about it being too far away?

Minwah · « **Reply #31 on:** July 29, 2014, 07:00:09 pm »

Quote from: leapinlew on July 29, 2014, 06:33:10 pm

I built a defender just last year. It's my 2nd one. I have to wonder about the placement of that reverse - you worried about it being too far away?

It is a bit further away than the original as you've seen. I could have got it a bit closer, but not much.

But I'm not too worried, it seems like it will be ok. The joystick is quite short (probably not as short as the original?) which helps - standard 'short' Sanwa shaft, with the base sunk into the 18mm panel by about 4mm.

Also, I've never played on a real Defender (unfortunately) so I don't feel that I 'need' it to be exactly the same.

Minwah · « **Reply #32 on:** November 13, 2014, 10:15:33 am »

I haven't had much time to work on this since my last comment...but I have got the PC in up and running, and the control panel is nearly done. I just need to fit the LED driver board for the start button LEDs - it is a bit of a squeeze as you will see...

Here's the control panel. Somehow I managed to get the trackball slightly off centre, but apart from that I'm pretty pleased.

markc74 · « **Reply #33 on:** November 13, 2014, 11:20:00 am »

Looking very nice chap.

I got my trackball off centre as well but was able to fix it my widening the trackball mounting holes a litt by drilling through with a slightly wider bit. Only worth it if it really bothers you though.

BorgDog · « **Reply #34 on:** November 13, 2014, 01:43:52 pm »

That's a pretty awesome little cab.

What are it's specs/dimensions?

Louis Tully · « **Reply #35 on:** November 16, 2014, 06:47:45 pm »

javeryh · « **Reply #36 on:** November 16, 2014, 08:34:25 pm »

Minwah is always classing up the place.

Minwah · « **Reply #37 on:** November 17, 2014, 10:53:16 am »

I said it was a squeeze...I'm glad wiring this is over!

Minwah · « **Reply #38 on:** November 17, 2014, 12:24:09 pm »

Quote from: BorgDog on November 13, 2014, 01:43:52 pm

What are it's specs/dimensions?

The dimensions are 420W x 635D x 990H (mm).

It's powered by an old PC, to a de-cased 14" Sony Trinitron via RGB (using Soft15khz / Scart). I bought an UMSA (http://www.arcadeshop.de/Audio-Video-UMSA---Ultimate-SCART-Adapter_1108.html) this time as I couldn't seem to manage to make a VGA to Scart cable that worked properly $:-\$

The control panel has:

ServoStik
5x GGG True-Leaf buttons
(the above interfaced with a USB gamepad hack)
Mini (1.5" IIRC) trackball
2x leaf switch start buttons
(the above interfaced with USB mouse hack)
PacDrive for controlling the start button LEDs.
4 port USB hub

Minwah · « **Reply #39 on:** December 17, 2014, 11:35:07 am »

This is just about finished. It always seems to be too dark at the moment to get a reasonable picture, so here's a poor one.


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