Punch-Out! Themed Bartop Unit (LONG overdue, but 99% complete) WARNING pic heavy

[mike boss]

Posted this is Arcade Miscellaneous but got no input.
Thought I would move it here as I should have the bartop unit this weekend.
I could use some advice and would value the opinions.
I'll post the art samples soon.

I often find I get carried away with ideas. I'd LOVE to have a super cool cabinet with an awesome, super powered PC. The ability to play the new MK game, Injustic, Super Street Fighter IV, etc. Then I come to my senses....I have two XBOX 360's and ALL of these games....and I NEVER play them! Then reality slaps me twice, I will not spend the money to get such a PC....so this would never happen.

I'm hoping this summer to wrap up a bunch of projects and lose ends. Certain projects like getting my Aim Trak units installed into my GunCon shells has taken me three years...YEP....three years. Perhaps odd that I enjoy the coin-op hobby so much as I am not much of a gamer anymore. My machines get used more when people come over as the novelty kicks in. Even console gaming is something I do very little of. The reality is is that my games are more just something to look at, which is not what they are designed for. But it has become the reality of my inventory.

None the less I enjoy the hobby. I like working on my machines, adding things and making improvements. This summer as noted I would like to get a few things done so I can say the machines are "officialy done!." Finish my Aim Trak install, rewire a machine and add a 132 in 1 board, and a few more odds and ends.

I'd also like to finish my newest project, a bartop unit that I will theme in the style of a Nintendo Punch-Out! This is where I would like some help. I don't wanna spend much on this project. I'd like to use up existing parts I have on hand. I have a MOST of what I need to power this unit with an XBOX or a PC. I'm torn as to which route I should go.
I thought I would seek some help and get some opinions.

Now the entire reason for this thread (sorry for the rant)....My Punch-Out! bartop.
I'm getting a bartop unit from Rick @ GAMEROOM DESIGNS CANADA.
My current line up consists of 4 Nintendo cabinets inside the basement, one bartop with a 48-in-1 and two other machines outside (Bad Dudes & Final Fight).
It was a no brainer that I had to go with Ricks Nintendo inspired design.
I selected the black melamine finish, I thought for simplicity it made the sense.
No paint is going to be a $30 savings! And with the black option selected I thought Punch-Out! would make for a cool project. I'm aware that Punch-Out was a dual monitor machine. This is obvisouly not trying to be a mini Punch-Out clone, just fit
the theme of my current line up.

Thanks to the help of some great members here @ BYOAC I have completed all the artwork I need for the project. JDFan was a huge help and did an AWESOME bezel
for me. I found the sideart and marquee images on the net, and I customized the CPO myself. I selected Rick's 6 button layout for the bartop.

I also went and ordered LED buttons (which I have never used before). I went with the white buttons with green LED's, and also ordered 2 12" green cold cathode tubes that I'd like to find a use for. Where I'm torn is do I go XBOX or PC ?
This is where I could use some help/advice!

If I were to go the route of using an XBOX I have the following list for what I have/need.
Am I missing anything ?

xbox (modified w/ various games, emulators, and complete US ROM sets)  - have
rgb to vga - have
xbox to usb (for controls) - have
joystick + buttons - have
kade - have
hd cable - have
speakers - NEED
pc monitor - NEED

For PC :

pc - have
hard drive w/ Hperspin image  - have
kade - have
joystick + buttons - have
pc monitor - NEED
speakers - NEED

[mike boss]

The artwork.

[nintendoid]

look forward to seeing the final build... hoping to get a punch-out build this year under way

[mike boss]

Thank you.
I pick up the cabinet this weekend, complete with white t-molding & clear buttons with green LED's.
I'm super excited. I was also going thru some old art samples I had and I actually have a Punch-Out side art scaled for a bartop.
It is just the one side, but I might toss it on the back of the project, who knows !
Either way I am excited to tackle this.

Still not sure to go XBOX or PC.  Which reminds me off to Kijiji I go looking for some LCD monitors.

[Rick]

I picked up the cabinet this weekend, complete with white t-molding & clear buttons with green LED's.

FTFY.



Great meeting you, and can't wait to see this build!

[mike boss]

Rick it was awesome to meet you also.
And I just have to say, looking over all the parts, the size and scale of the unit, everything it really is top shelf!
I can't say enough good things. For anyone locally looking for a project Rick has to be your "go to guy."
And now the Rick has parts how can anyone go wrong ?

I picked up the black melamine version of the contender. It's going to go in my Nintendo row (or as I call it NitendROW)!
As noted the cabinet is going to be styled after a single monitor Punch-Out! The bezel art is custom and the CPO artwork has been customized to suit the build.
The marquee image and side art are the stock images as found on the original.

I went with white t-molding to keep it true to the build, but I've decided to go with the clear white LED buttons, but green LED's.
I ordered two 12" cold cathode tubes I'd like to work into the build and two 120mm green LED fans that I'll be using.
I'm a little worried about light leaking through the bezel, but I will cross that bridge when it comes.

I'll get some pics up ASAP.

** Added a few pics to show where the cabinet will be located in the man cave.............Husband, Wife & Baby cave.
Also added a pic of my Bad Dudes that I used some cold cathode lighting on.

[mike boss]

I always like to keep a running total of my project costs.
For anyone that might find it useful I'll be including the same here.

Contender Arcade Cabinet  - Black Melamine Edition: $150 (with BYOAC or CGCC Discount)
Plexi Kit - 2 x Marquee, 1 x Bezel, 1 x Custom-Cut CP: $50
20ft white t-molding $20
8 x LED buttons w/ green LED $15
2 x 12 cold cathode tube $10
2 x 120mm green LED fan $8
Wood Glue $10
Marquee Fixture $17
Custom Art $60 (shipped)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL = $340

I have most of the other parts I need (as noted in the original post). I'll likely use a spare Sanwa joystick that I have kicking around.
I'm still looking for a few LCD monitors online, but I've had no luck.

[yotsuya]

And now the Rick has parts how can anyone go wrong ?

Don't you mean "The Ricker"?

Oh, and I think your Nintendos are undergoing an identity crisis.... 

[jaharr01]

Hey Mike btw you forgot to add in the $500+ for nickel and dime stuff, the 50 trips to Lowes, Home depot, or the hardware store, and the 2 tanks of gas you use going to get the stuff.

[mike boss]

And now the Rick has parts how can anyone go wrong ?

Don't you mean "The Ricker"?

Oh, and I think your Nintendos are undergoing an identity crisis.... 

What's the issue with my Nintendo cabinets ?

Hey Mike btw you forgot to add in the $500+ for nickel and dime stuff, the 50 trips to Lowes, Home depot, or the hardware store, and the 2 tanks of gas you use going to get the stuff.

I try to keep as good a record as I can when doing projects.
I like to know how much I'm into something.
For this project I'm able to pull from my existing inventory so it should come in slightly less than other projects.
But yeah.... time, gas, odds n' ends all do add up...just is what it is I guess.
We do it cause we love it.

[HaRuMaN]

And now the Rick has parts how can anyone go wrong ?

Don't you mean "The Ricker"?

Oh, and I think your Nintendos are undergoing an identity crisis.... 

What's the issue with my Nintendo cabinets ?

Hey Mike btw you forgot to add in the $500+ for nickel and dime stuff, the 50 trips to Lowes, Home depot, or the hardware store, and the 2 tanks of gas you use going to get the stuff.

This:

[yotsuya]

What's the issue with my Nintendo cabinets?

Just ---smurfing--- with you, bro. But look at the games running in photo 2. 

[mike boss]

I thought this was KLOV for a second.....there I get ripped for not using authentic screws.
But truth be told my DK is a 60 in 1 and my DK JR is a MAME machine with MaLa and a custom layout that I designed.
And for what it's worth it's looking like Punch-Out will be PC based and running Hyperspin.

[yotsuya]

I thought this was KLOV for a second.....there I get ripped for not using authentic screws.
But truth be told my DK is a 60 in 1 and my DK JR is a MAME machine with MaLa and a custom layout that I designed.
And for what it's worth it's looking like Punch-Out will be PC based and running Hyperspin.

No worries, bro. My Nintendo restore will be PC-based as well. 

[mike boss]

I thought this was KLOV for a second.....there I get ripped for not using authentic screws.
But truth be told my DK is a 60 in 1 and my DK JR is a MAME machine with MaLa and a custom layout that I designed.
And for what it's worth it's looking like Punch-Out will be PC based and running Hyperspin.

No worries, bro. My Nintendo restore will be PC-based as well. 

Every cabinet I do is going to be the "last one I do." So the idea is always to make it as complete as I can.
That tends to be defined by multiple games, or emulators. My Popeye has a 138-in-1 board in it, my Final Fight (conversion) has a 6-in-1 Jamma switcher, and my Mario Bros has MAME + MaLa + tons of console emulation.

For Punch-Out I was back and forth between PC and XBOX. But I think the HyperSpin drive that I have needs a home. I can find more uses for the multiple XBOX consoles I have (or even sell them) than I can for the PC.
So PC based it will be.

Going to add some extra little items I have...........try out a KADE encoder for the 1st time, and add a spare Scanline Generator I have. I think with the HyperSpin image this will be a great lil unit.

I'll also try to install a build of Fix It Felix Jr I have, and perhaps MegaMan X Street Fighter and a bunch of PC fighters I have (Super Street Fighter X / Street Fighter X Tekken).

I have some pics I'll post tonight. I put one of the cabinet sides up beside my Mario to show the scale.
Everything is unpacked and I'll go through my parts tonight and pull what else I need for the project.

EDIT - What I really could use is a weekend with NOTHING to do! This way I could get some much needed hours on the computer to set everything up. Fresh install of Windows, etc etc etc. This is actually where I've somewhat stalled on my Jukebox project also. The Jukebox (TouchJams) is installed and skinned... and I'm loving it. But the spare time to add a bunch of PopCap games and other touch stuff.

[Superfrog]

When I did my nintendo popeye cab, I was also thinking about a xbox or pc driven.
I did already 2 pc based bartops, so the xbox was a new challenge for me.
After my pc driven KISS pinball I can say that a Xbox driven machine is very easy to setup.
No windows and allllllllll the roms and emulator installing and tweaking time.

Just install Vision and go with the flow   

And if you need more roms or emulators, you can install easily some packs.

Just what you say, I always say after a project is done, this was my last one, but now I'm lurking for a new challenge 

[mike boss]

As I pointed out above I have MOST of what I need for either a PC or XBOX based project. Multiple XBOX consoles all of which are PACKED with content. I think I have  CoinOPS Re-Ignite on most. Part of me thinks that the XBOX consoles all be it old and dated could sell for a few bucks, where as the PC is worthless. So using the PC makes more sense. Now I'm conflicted again.
I'll have to read about VISION.

[Superfrog]

Part of me thinks that the XBOX consoles all be it old and dated could sell for a few bucks, where as the PC is worthless. So using the PC makes more sense. Now I'm conflicted again.

Sorry for that Mike 

If you want to keep the cost low, then a xbox for me, or no budget and go for the pc, but in the end, the profit will be the same if you wane sell it.
Cheap build with xbox will not give you a high sale price, but a new pc will make the price higher to sell ...
Or you wane play more 3d games, then it's a go for the pc...
If it's for playing the classics, then xbox.. 

My goal is always to keep the cost low and make a nice end product.
But with my KISS pinball I HAD to buy a new pc, otherwise the tables didn't run well.

Good Luck 

[Malenko]

here, I fixed it for you

[mike boss]

Thank you for the FIX! Now I have street cred! I mean arcade cred!

Your Kiss machine is AMAZING!
As is your Popeye bartop machine.
Actually truth be told your Popeye machine was the main reason I wanted a Nintendo bartop. There is no doubt this machine will be a keeper!
When I think about playability I think this (like all my machines) would be more geared towards the classics. If anything "NEW(ish)" I'd be looking at getting Street Fighter IV or Super SFIV installed. Nothing more over and above that.

I went through my inventory of stuff to see what I have/need.
I compiled the following list :

xbox (modified w/ various games, emulators, and complete US ROM sets)  - have
rgb to vga - have
xbox to usb (for controls) - have
joystick + buttons - have
kade - have
hd cable - have
speakers - NEED
pc monitor - NEED

For PC :

pc - have (ASUS P5AD2-E Socket 775 Pentium 4 / Celeron D/1GB RAM + Upgraded chip)
hard drive w/ Hperspin image  - have
kade - have
joystick + buttons - have
pc monitor - NEED
speakers - NEED

[mike boss]

This week I work a little overtime....so time to work on the machine is limited.
Still torn on the XBOX/PC route (leaning PC and then sell the XBOX consoles)....................
None the less this pile of goodies taunts me !

[mike boss]

Few more pics

[wirenut]

Oh man I'm so Jelly for those nintendo machines!!   

CAn't wait to see this come together.  +1 for going pc.

[MK3FAN]

Oh man I'm so Jelly for those nintendo machines!!   

CAn't wait to see this come together.  +1 for going pc.

Here's my Nintendo Row...

[wirenut]

Oh man I'm so Jelly for those nintendo machines!!   

CAn't wait to see this come together.  +1 for going pc.

Here's my Nintendo Row...

Oh man!!!  You guys know how to hit my sweet tooth! 

I have got to figure out how to get my wife to let me do something like that.....

[Superfrog]

Give her a walk in closet and you can build your MANCAVE 

[wirenut]

Give her a walk in closet and you can build your MANCAVE 

Great idea!  I'll get to work on it just as soon as I get through the Metal Slug Series......

[Rick]

With all due respect to the Nintendo love-in going on here, let's let Mike get to his build! Now, if you have some Nintendo bartops you want to share - like the wonderful machine built up by Superfrog - then, by all means, share. There are so few of them, that we need to identify them when they're found out in the wild.

[mike boss]

Ahh Nintendo love, it runs deep!
So deep that I needed this Punch-Out project.
Super siked for this and I hope to be able to make some big progress over the weekned. Slowing pulling the parts out of storage and getting this done.
Here in Canada July 1st is a holiday, I'm hoping to take off the 30th also.
That should give me some time between my lil one napping to get a chunk of stuff done.

[jaharr01]

BTW I love your nintendo cabinets. I was making a point that it always seems like I spend a crap load on nickel and dime stuff. I wasn't dogging your builds they are great, I'm jealous.

[mike boss]

BTW I love your nintendo cabinets. I was making a point that it always seems like I spend a crap load on nickel and dime stuff. I wasn't dogging your builds they are great, I'm jealous.

No worries, I took it in no way as a dig. 
Your VP project is top shelf stuff !

[mike boss]

Looks like I wont get much (if anything done) til the weekend.
My cold cathode tubes arrived...................BROKEN! 
I sent an email to the seller............fingers crossed they send out a replacement.

EDIT - if anyone knows of a good LED light strip (USB) from eBay lemme know (for the marquee), same for some good bartop speakers.
Thanks

[yotsuya]

Looks like I wont get much (if anything done) til the weekend.
My cold cathode tubes arrived...................BROKEN! 

[mike boss]

Replcement cold cathode tubes should be en-route shortly.
All be it that means about a month before they show up.
I had looked locally before trying eBay, but no dice on these.
So eBay (and wait) it is. No biggie as they should come in more or less the same time as my LED fans. I'm hoping all the LED lights on this are not too much (buttons, cold cathode tubes, fans). The way I see it in my head the machine will have a nice ambient glow.
I've seen many projects on here using the LED buttons and really like the way it looks in the videos/photos. I love the way the cold cathode tube looks on my Bad Dudes I think it's a nice touch. They are FRAGILE to work with! You need to be cautious when screwing them in, I broke one of the two on my Bad Dudes.

Anyway......................... The weekend is here. I can get downstairs pull up the PC and get Windows installed and test out my HyperSpin drive. I need to find my Sanwa joysticks and some loose molding I have for the control panel. Over and above that I should get the art done and ordered this weekend. I need to do a "cut path" on the bezel and I dont know how to do it. Just need to find a tutorial and time.

[Rick]

Replacement cold cathode tubes should be en-route shortly. All be it that means about a month before they show up. I had looked locally before trying eBay, but no dice on these.
So eBay (and wait) it is.

If you don't want to wait, TigerDirect usually has the cold cathode and LED fans in stock. There's a location at Hwy 7 and Woodbine. Source: Used to be the Service Manager.

[mike boss]

Grrr...............I had a post and the attachment size was too large !
Anyway second time is a charm right ?
Last night the wife decided to put the kibosh on movie night. GREAT !
This gave me a chance to head downstairs and pull out my parts.
If today goes well I'll get the cabinet built and the PC work started (if not completed!) .

The eBay seller of the cold cathode tubes agreed to send a new set, so I should have them more or less when my fans arrive. So the wait wont be a big deal.
I have some true goodies for this project, KADE encoder, Mini-SLG PC version, ORIGINAL Nintendo speaker grill (I'd need to cut it to size), even a Nintendo coin sticker. I really have most everything I need.

I managed to find a spare diasy chain I had kicking around which will make wiring up the LED buttons easy! Sanwa joystick and I found a black ball top! YAY!
I need to see if I have some old PC speakers and I'll still need to find a 19" LCD monitor. I've sent an email to a seller I've used often to see what he has for me.

When I was in the basement digging around I found a bulb cover for an 18" Under counter light fixture. I get these from Home Depot for about $14 and use them in all my cabinets. The cover is very much shaped like the upper marquee bracket on a Nintendo cabinet. I'm wondering (since it is smooth plastic) if I could ruff it up a lil, sand it, then paint it ?

[ChanceKJ]

That bulb cover might just be the thing I need for my diffuser in my marquee.

I'm heading to Home Depot as we speak for more paint. I'm gonna have to look for one... Thanks Mike!!

[mike boss]

That bulb cover might just be the thing I need for my diffuser in my marquee.

I'm heading to Home Depot as we speak for more paint. I'm gonna have to look for one... Thanks Mike!!

Cool! Good luck. I tried to post a link, but could not find the item. But they are readily available, I've been getting them from Home Depot for years.
I've got all my PC stuff pulled out and probably going to toss Windows 7 onto the PC today (if the wife gives me some "ME" time).
I'm honestly not sure if I should go XP or Windows 7.

[mike boss]

ARGGGGH! Everytime I make a post with an image the image is too large.
Post go bye bye!!!!!

Anyway................

I did not make the progress I would have liked with the project so far this weekend.
I was able however to get the PC fully assembled. Today is filled with a few family functions, however I'm hoping either before I go (or after) that I can Windows installed. I've never HyperSpin external HDD I have but I hear it's "good to go!" Everything is on the drive already, so really once I install Windows I should be good. This is a HUGE time saver.

I'll need to pick up some wood glue today so I can begin the assembly of the cabinet itself. Over and above that I'm off to YouTube for a Photoshop tutorial. I need to create a cut path for the inside of the bezel so I can send it to the printer. I'm not quite sure how to do that.

[mike boss]

Picked up one of the marquee fixtures today @ Home Depot. $14.99
Also got my wood glue.
No dice on the artwork progress............YET!
Getting ready to head out to a family function HOPING some arcade work is in my future tonight.