KI2 / MAME Conversion

[Billabong]

I built a desktop controller a while back. Even had listed on this site many moons ago (dead link now). Ever since, I had the itch to make a full-blown cabinet. Well, not so much "make" as "re-fit an old cabinet."

So began my search on eBay, flea markets, want-ads, and eventually craigslist, to find a gutted cab. Or a working cab that wasn't a "classic."

Last night, I found it. A Killer Instinct 2 cabinet. Without monitor or PCB or coin mechanisms. But it had both joysticks and all the buttons, two speakers, glass and marquee light. Now, I was never a big fan of KI/KI2, more of a SF2 guy. And since it was already gutted, I didn't feel bad converting it (purists, please put away the torches & pitchforks!).

The cabinet was in better shape than I expected. All of the artwork was in very good shape. Even the control panel looked good. Only thing wrong was the marquee. At one time it was a "Marvel vs Capcom 2" system. T-molding was all there, though the wrong color in a few spots. The wiring inside looked a little hacked up.

My plan was to strip it down and make a "MAME" cabinet. Probably all black paint and a custom marquee / control panel. But it's in really nice shape. Even my buddy who helped pick it up said, "Nah man, keep it as is. Just clean it up. Don't paint over it." So, I'm probably going to keep it in it's original KI2 form. I'll find a replacement marquee to keep it close to original.

I'm trying to keep it as "stock" as possible. I may find a KI2 board and deciede to restore it fully and sell it. To buy another gutted cab.

Still with me? OK, inside was just a mish-mash of wires. It looks like there is a JAMMA connector in there, along with a bunch of other connectors. No power supply. I already have an I-PAC2 on the way. Probably should have waited until I researched more, I would have bought the J-PAC.

Question 1: Should I try to preserve the JAMMA harness and make some kind of adapter? Or just cut it and wire it up to the I-PAC2? Are JAMMA connectors that "precious"?

Q2: I want to put the coin mechanisms back so I can put in a quarter to play. The door seems in good shape, what else do I need?

I also would like to do swappable control panels at some point. I do like Smash TV. And Centipede, Marble Madness, Crystal Castles, etc.

Thanks all!

[BobA]

If you want to keep it as original the easiest conversion is a Jpac to plug into the jamma connector.

[Billabong]

Too late BobA, I already ordered an I-Pac2.

I am going to leave all of the original wiring intact in case I come across a KI2 board one day. I'll just make some adapters to get the existing sticks and buttons to work with my I-Pac.

Right now I'm working on cleaning and touch up painting the cabinet.
I need to order some new T-molding and coin mechs. I'll just repaint the existing coin doors for now.

Thanks!

[Billabong]

Some work in progress pictures.

I've ordered new T-moulding, a new coin door with mechs and started cleaning and painting.

I bought a TV that I thought was 25" but turns out it is 27". So, back to Savers I go.

[Billabong]

A few more work in progress pictures. I got the on/off switch wired up. Installed an (temporary, will be getting a grey one with cover) outlet controlled via the switch for computer and TV. Also wired up the marquee light, which works!

Still to do:
Get the right marquee.
Crimp the wires for the 25-pin D-sub connectors for swappable panels.
Install coin doors
T-molding
Leg levelers and clean up bottom
Mount the TV. Well, buy the TV first.

I kept all of the original wiring in case I ever come across a KI2 board. The only piece I cut was for the marquee light. But I left enough so I could splice it back together.

[Malenko]

a 27" tube will fit in that machine

[Billabong]

a 27" tube will fit in that machine

In the original brackets or will I have to fabricate something?

Also, I checked out your KI/KI2 restores, very nice!

[Malenko]

should fit in the original brackets, or you can just move the bracket like I did when I put a 36" CRT in my KI2 vertically.

[Billabong]

I got the coin doors installed and wired for lights. The bottom door is original and repainted. The upper door is all brand new.
I had a friend print out a KI2 marquee from the best graphic I could find (which wasn't great). The price was right though (free). Looks good enough for now.
Installed my speaker amp and wired it up. Also replaced the screws on the CP.

Working on T-molding. And getting that monitor! NY weather has not been cooperating. 

[Billabong]

A few more pics. I got the IPAC2 wired up and the control panel.
Let me just say, even with the right tool, crimping those DB25 pins is time consuming. But worth it. If I went for the solder version, I think I would have melted things. It's so tiny!

I changed the buttons around. They had red in the middle, so I swapped yellow and red. Seems to make more sense. I will have to get all purple/blue buttons at some point to make it match the original game. Also, now that it's in better lighting, I need a new CP overlay.

Also, I should have ordered two JAMMA harnesses to cut up from the beginning. One for the control panel side and one for the IPAC side. Instead, I purchased three different spools of wire from Home Depot that just didn't work out.
Or ordered a J-PAC instead of IPAC.

[Billabong]

Still trying to get a monitor. You wouldn't think it would be this hard to find a 25" tube TV with S-video inputs. Although the finance department will be pissed, I may end up just buying an actual arcade monitor if I can't find one soon.

[yotsuya]

Too bad  you're not in Phoenix - I'd give you one.

[Billabong]

Too bad  you're not in Phoenix - I'd give you one.

I appreciate that! 

I finally found a TV, will be mounting it up this weekend. I had to fabricate some mounting brackets. I learned I like metalwork even less than woodwork.

[Malenko]

Too bad  you're not in Phoenix - I'd give you one.

save all that stuff for when I move to AZ

[yotsuya]

Too bad  you're not in Phoenix - I'd give you one.

save all that stuff for when I move to AZ

Dude, just sell some stuff and come to ZapCon. You still have two weeks!

[Malenko]

I'll be in LA at the end of June, going to Hawaii after that. no Zapcon this year breh.

Lookin good Billabong!

[Billabong]

Thank you Malenko!! 

I'm very close to being "done". Although the longer I am looking at the cabinet, the more I need to fix.

The control panel art is not as pretty as it should be. So I will be replacing that as soon as I get the monitor issue squared away.

Then I think I'm going to have to pick up the correct color buttons.

It never ends.