Scratch build Slim Cab

[Sshado]

I am building a slim cab for my neighbor. He wants to keep the costs down, so there will be no graphics. He is a Miami Dolphins fan (he likes the colors), so I am trying to incorporate that color scheme. I want to do something like Epyx Alien cab (curves, simplistic color).

For now, I need help with the shape, I have two designs, which one is better?

[Generic Eric]

Neither one look like they hit the chair rail.  I like the one on the right.  It really matters how handy you are with the jigsaw.

[stuckpixel]

2nd one is the best IMO.

If you want to keep costs down - you might be able to do some semi cool stuff with a couple colors of paint and stencils and/or taping sections off.

[Sshado]

I have to agree, after posting it, I am not liking the first picture at all.

My main concern now is the balance issue. The base is only 22 inches wide, I need to distribute the weight so it doesn't tip.

[johnrt]

How tall is it? Be careful so you don't wind up with a too large monitor bezel with a lot of empty space. (if you know what I mean).

[yotsuya]

How tall is it? Be careful so you don't wind up with a too large monitor bezel with a lot of empty space. (if you know what I mean).

Excellent point. Your bezel space is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too big. You don't want to look like that Goonies cab.

[EMDB]

How tall is it? Be careful so you don't wind up with a too large monitor bezel with a lot of empty space. (if you know what I mean).

It can house a bezel AND a marquee...

[yotsuya]

How tall is it? Be careful so you don't wind up with a too large monitor bezel with a lot of empty space. (if you know what I mean).

It can house a bezel AND a marquee...

Unless the marquee is really tall, that's still going to be too much space.

[Brian74]

Admin panel?

[yotsuya]

Admin panel?

How tall would that admin panel need to be?

Build it in Sketchup. That's going to be your best bet.

[EMDB]

Admin panel?

How tall would that admin panel need to be?

Build it in Sketchup. That's going to be your best bet.

Marquee + speaker panel + Bezel + Admin panel 

[a1pharm]

Find other plans that have great proportions, make note of where certain points are (CP height, monitor placement, marquee placement).  Put  these points on your plan.  Connect the dots in a fashion similar to your first post.  It will create an ergonomic cab while allowing you to apply your own pieces of flair.



Cheers!
 

[yotsuya]

Admin panel?

How tall would that admin panel need to be?

Build it in Sketchup. That's going to be your best bet.

Marquee + speaker panel + Bezel + Admin panel 

Upper Marquee + speaker panel + lower marquee + Bezel + Admin panel + glove compartment + popout drink holder tray 

[Brian74]

Admin panel?

How tall would that admin panel need to be?

Build it in Sketchup. That's going to be your best bet.

Marquee + speaker panel + Bezel + Admin panel 

Upper Marquee + speaker panel + lower marquee + Bezel + Admin panel + glove compartment + popout drink holder tray 

+1

[Generic Eric]

Admin panel?

How tall would that admin panel need to be?

Build it in Sketchup. That's going to be your best bet.

Marquee + speaker panel + Bezel + Admin panel 

Upper Marquee + speaker panel + lower marquee + Bezel + Admin panel + glove compartment + popout drink holder tray 

Top box + Marquee box + Rear access box + Monitor Area + Bezel + PC/PCB area + Control Panel + Coin door + Base

[AzureKnight]

Admin panel?

How tall would that admin panel need to be?

Build it in Sketchup. That's going to be your best bet.

Marquee + speaker panel + Bezel + Admin panel 

Upper Marquee + speaker panel + lower marquee + Bezel + Admin panel + glove compartment + popout drink holder tray 

Top box + Marquee box + Rear access box + Monitor Area + Bezel + PC/PCB area + Control Panel + Coin door + Base

Don't forget the virtual pinball monitor....

All kidding aside, I like the second one better as well.

[Sshado]

OK, yes, it looks tall due to my poor skills in Excel. (currently teaching myself SolidWorks, I will update later). In the picture here, it shows where the Marquee and the Monitor will be. Currently, the Control panel is about 33" high, I will raise it to 36" as the entire cab is about 72" tall. The monitor will be 32".

[johnrt]

And the width of the cab?

[Sshado]

Probably about 30" wide.

[Sshado]

OK, another question. He (the one I am building this for) can care less about a coin door. I was thinking of getting the UNREAL coin door (sticker) from Groovy Game Gear, has anyone seen or used this?

I am building this with an option to convert it to a San Jose Sharks cab in case my neighbor backs out, would I be better off just putting in the authentic coin door?

[a1pharm]

Cost of a coin door = $100, which is probably around 7-10% of the cost of the cab.  It's unnecessary, but so is this whole project.  I would say go for it.

If, however, your budget simply can't accommodate a real coin door, don't mess around with a fake looking sticker.  As soon as someone goes to use the coin door, and they find out it's a sticker, it takes away from the craftmanship of the cab.

Get a real one or nothing at all.

[Sshado]

Good point. I will put one in. Maybe get some custom tokens too

[Nephasth]

$100 coin door? Find a different source.

[yotsuya]

You're going to put a 12 1/2 inch wide door on a 30 inch cab?

I wouldn't do it.

[Cobolisdead]

Yeah, why not just put a coin button or something instead?

[keilmillerjr]

OK, another question. He (the one I am building this for) can care less about a coin door. I was thinking of getting the UNREAL coin door (sticker) from Groovy Game Gear, has anyone seen or used this?

I am building this with an option to convert it to a San Jose Sharks cab in case my neighbor backs out, would I be better off just putting in the authentic coin door?

I got my used happ over under REAL coin door on eBay for around $40. Probably one of the least costly parts of my build so far.

[Sshado]

You're going to put a 12 1/2 inch wide door on a 30 inch cab?

I wouldn't do it.

A1pharm did it with his and it looked fine:



same with Martijn:

[yotsuya]

If you think that looks fine, more power to you. I'd just as soon leave it off and throw some artwork there. But that's me - I didn't play on 3 foot wide cabinets BITD. Also, those doors don't look right because they are so LOW to the ground. In my opinion, of course. You asked the question.

If you say the guy doesn't even care about a coin door, leave it off.

[BadMouth]

Got a tall skinny happ over & under coin door on my 32" wide cab.
I like it.


I'd skip the coin door completely rather than use a sticker or a non-functional one.

[yotsuya]

Got a tall skinny happ over & under coin door on my 32" wide cab.
I like it.


I'd skip the coin door completely rather than use a sticker or a non-functional one.

I would agree with you there. A over/under on a wide cabinet at least fills up a lot more space than a standard one. Visually, it looks fine.

If you HAVE to go with, do an over/under. Unless you like this:

[a1pharm]

You're going to put a 12 1/2 inch wide door on a 30 inch cab?

I wouldn't do it.

A1pharm did it with his and it looked fine:



same with Martijn:

+1

[Sshado]

This will be a very slow build as I am building as I order parts. Wife isn't working so it is a little harder to justify it to her. I did manage to cut out the side yesterday, still need to smooth out the curves before I router the second side. I also decided not to curve the back to add stability.

[Sshado]

Just worked on this a little bit today, got the hole cut, duplicate side made, and slot cut for t-molding.

[Sshado]

I decided to not go as wide and got a 29" TV for the display, this makes the entire cab about 28 inches wide. I also went with the Over Under Coin Door. My orange T-Molding came in, I installed it and it is starting to look like an Arcade cabinet .

[yotsuya]

Nice save there, bro. I like it better already. 

[Brian74]

Nice save there, bro. I like it better already. 

+1

[Sshado]

I am about to buy the Acryllic that goes over the monitor. Should I buy a clear Acryllic or smoked transparent? 1/4 thick...

[Fursphere]

Really a personal preference.  I like both honestly. 

The smoked can help "hide" things better.  Are you going to build a separate bezel, or paint the back of the acrylic to make a bezel? 

[Sshado]

Planning on painting the back of it.

[Sshado]

Another question. This arcade will have Hyperspin and only MAME (no other consoles). Fry's has a computer for less than $200 that I believe should run it just fine. It has the AMD E1-6010 with integrated Radeon R2, am I right that this would be fine?