Lurker projects - First projects that haven't been posted

[Le Chuck]

Edit:  A lot of us probably never posted our first project.  If that's you, this is the place.  Show us what you made before you made your way onto the forums. 

I never posted my very first build.  This was  done in 2004, picked up a gutted cab from a guy about an hour away from where I was living in Louisiana.  Took me months to get it together, did an all plexi CP that I bent using the oven and dowel rods.  Trawled this site for weeks before during and after for information, how tos, etc.  Didn't join at that time but couldn't have done it without the community.  Let's see, what else can I recall... the encoder and controls were yanked out of a tank stick that I got off ebay for a steal, the monitor was my splurge, a WG that I paid a small fortune for.  Computer was a salvaged desktop that could barely run SFII.  FE was GameLauncher.  Eventually added ACT Labs guns - which I eventually sold at about a 500% mark-up to some Italian guy.  Also sported a guitar so I could rock some Frets on Fire.  Art was only the best MAME art around  

This cab actually answered most of my gaming needs for years and I'd probably still have it with just updated art and CP if it didn't get destroyed on a move to Germany.   

I never did a build thread, didn't take build pics, and didn't join the forum but I couldn't have done it without the forum so I thought I might as well put it up.  Might be of interest to someone.  Feel free to post pics of your secret cabs that never saw the light of day!

      

Not that many pics exist of this cab, had to sort through years of stuff on the drive to find these two.

[leapinlew]

The thing about 2004 - artwork was so damn expensive! I put Mame logos all over my first cab too. lol Good times.

So this cabinet... it's some sort of magnet to barstools or something? How is that barstool levitating? Clearly this photo has been shopped. Not only is that probably not even your cabinet, those probably aren't your black friends either! POSER! Also, I don't want to judge someone based on the foosball table they have but if it ain't a Tornado table...

[Le Chuck]

The thing about 2004 - artwork was so damn expensive! I put Mame logos all over my first cab too. lol Good times.

So this cabinet... it's some sort of magnet to barstools or something? How is that barstool levitating? Clearly this photo has been shopped. Not only is that probably not even your cabinet, those probably aren't your black friends either! POSER! Also, I don't want to judge someone based on the foosball table they have but if it ain't a Tornado table...

For all you know those might not be my white friends.  Double poser and called out for unintentional racism!  Boom!  Whammy!  That table is long gone; as is the cab.  While the cab is missed the table isn't. 

The barstool had a gravity drive. 

Oh, and the art - yeah that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- was stoopid expensive.  God, glad those days are done. 

[johnrt]

Ok... I haven't been in this hobby for more than 2 years. But I ALMOST built a weecade.  I ended up giving that project away on a facebook group.    This is how far I got with that.

[Generic Eric]

BYOAC Classic: the untold stories.

[yotsuya]

OK, since we're playing this game, here's my first build, Starfighter, built in the fall of 2010:



It still have it. Got the gutted cab on eBay for $65. Have plans soon to build Starfighter² because of what I know now. Like my homie LC, I didn't do a build thread.

SPECS:

Pentium Core2Duo
I-Pac2
LED-Wiz (to light used buttons)
IL-Sticks
Aluminum Atari Cone Volcano buttons
21.3 Samsung SyncMaster monitor

Still the favorite of the guests. Starfighter² will have the same theme but be a total upgrade.

[Le Chuck]

Yots - that's great!  I'm totally jealous of that as a first build.  I chalk it up to the 6 years between the two - lot changed in the hobby over that time. 

Altered the thread title to see if I can bring some more builds up out of the depths.  Rise fwom your Gwaves!

[Malenko]

Here is my first cab, I know I was a member here, circa 2000/2001.  If you think artwork was expensive in 2004, it was even worse back then!

Housed both a PSX and a PC, so Im pretty sure it was the very first MAME cab that ran Mortal Kombat 4. Had that OH SO STYLISH White marble contact paper for side art, and apparently above the marquee too. Right next to it was my first functioning arcade machine purchase, a track and field converted to MKII I wish I had more pictures of it, it was just terrible. I converted it back to TnF, and kept the MKII boards. Then I bought my first dedicated cab, an MKII that had been converted to MK3. I used to swap boards back and forth all the time because there was no such thing as a JAMMA switcher at the time.

Here is my second attempt at a MAME cab(I think, its been a while): SamShow style was 2004, MK reskin was 2007



It eventually became "Mortal Kabinet":
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,69808.msg713231.html

[Typefighter01]

I lurked...I built (and I obviously didn't lurk enough).



Built around 7 years ago now. Check out that button spacing 

I still have the cab, replaced the 24" CRT with a 32" CRT last summer and removed the CP with the intentions of redoing it and replacing artwork...CNC is up and running, so cab is sitting idle till probably next winter.

[Locke141]

It's great to see some of the O.G.'s first builds. I'm glad I asked.

 

[Louis Tully]

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[Daan Muller]

Somewhere around 2002 I build a Dragon's Lair cab. Not really a replica shape wise, but it did use a real laserdisc player and Dragon's Lair disc.

The guts, the laserdisc player can't be seen, it's in the bottom of the cab below the PC.



Testing with a small TV. I did put a 19 inch TV with a bezel and glass plate in front but I don't have the pictures any more, I found these using wayback machine.



I sold it a few years back when I moved to a smaller office, still regret it.

[Sshado]

Back in 2001, I decided I wanted to build a standup arcade. My first attempt was based on the design of 1-up's (no rotating controllers) and Ultimate Arcade's design. Here is what I came up with:

[Nephasth]

Arkanoid. This was my first arcade project. Got an empty cab and a pile of parts for free. Bought the monitor off ebay for $150 shipped. The Beast was my second project.

[yotsuya]

Arkanoid. This was my first arcade project. Got an empty cab and a pile of parts for free. Bought the monitor off ebay for $150 shipped. The Beast was my second project.

I totally dig the electrical hazard rear panel. 

[Le Chuck]

These are great.  I think yots is winning the beauty pageant ribbon for best first outting thus far... to bad that's not how we're ranking these tho   Uglier the better I say, it's great to see how far some builders have come - sometimes between their first and second build. 

[yotsuya]

These are great.  I think yots is winning the beauty pageant ribbon for best first outting thus far... to bad that's not how we're ranking these tho   Uglier the better I say, it's great to see how far some builders have come - sometimes between their first and second build. 

To be fair, I studied CrapMAME and BrentRadio's Hellcade vociferously before I did anything. I also make a few mistakes along the way (frankenpanel) before I finalized the design.

[Generic Eric]

These are great.  I think yots is winning the beauty pageant ribbon for best first outting thus far... to bad that's not how we're ranking these tho   Uglier the better I say, it's great to see how far some builders have come - sometimes between their first and second build. 

To be fair, I studied CrapMAME and BrentRadio's Hellcade vociferously before I did anything. I also make a few mistakes along the way (frankenpanel) before I finalized the design.

Hellcade?  :gringe: What else don't I know about?

[yotsuya]

These are great.  I think yots is winning the beauty pageant ribbon for best first outting thus far... to bad that's not how we're ranking these tho   Uglier the better I say, it's great to see how far some builders have come - sometimes between their first and second build. 

To be fair, I studied CrapMAME and BrentRadio's Hellcade vociferously before I did anything. I also make a few mistakes along the way (frankenpanel) before I finalized the design.

Hellcade?  :gringe: What else don't I know about?

I present.... The Hellcade

[johnrt]

I present.... The Hellcade

Now THIS is CrapMAME:

[8BitMonk]

First build circa 2007, Xevious cab conversion. Not too terrible for a first attempt. Sold it on Craigslist to fund future builds. The thing I remember most is what a pain it was to decase a tv and try to cram it in this thing, never again.





 

[markc74]

X-arcade - check
Screenshots of games on the bezel - check
---smurfy--- zero imagination name in marquee - check
Exposed speakers - check
Terrible paintjob - check

I present "Gamestation" 2003.

In fairness - I did love it at the time and it lasted me a couple of years before it was replaced with the cabinet before Terminus, which I cant find any pics of.

[yotsuya]

X-arcade - check
Screenshots of games on the bezel - check
---smurfy--- zero imagination name in marquee - check
Exposed speakers - check
Terrible paintjob - check

I present "Gamestation" 2003.

In fairness - I did love it at the time and it lasted me a couple of years before it was replaced with the cabinet before Terminus, which I cant find any pics of.

Hahaha!

I did exposed speakers on Starfighter. Can't WAIT to fix that on Starfighter².

[markc74]

I did exposed speakers on Starfighter. Can't WAIT to fix that on Starfighter².

I was trying to remember if I left the speakers uncovered by accident but looking at the holes for the speaker mounts that a) go all the way through the wood, and b) I didn't bother to fill before I painted, makes me think I didn't ever cover them properly.

Either way - I was too busy fighting the control panel which didn't stay still due to it being mounted on the keyboard drawer to care. At least it used a CRT  (as they all did then I suppose)

[DaOld Man]

Good thread.
This was my very first arcade build. I think it was 2006.
I named it "Benny B's Arcade".
I got the plans off a website that i cannot remember now.
First time I ever used a router, and it was a pedestal model with angles at the bottom. You can imagine my tries and re-tries.
This is about the best pic I have of it.

Second pic was my second project, "Adam's Arcade". It was a modified version of Tempest cab.
It was the first to have a track ball.
It was early 2007.

My thanks to Saint, for this site has been a wealth of information and help. Thanks to everyone on here as well, everyone has always been nice and quick to help.

[harveybirdman]

at least all of your first builds didn't conspicuously match your wife's master bed room decor choices...

[Vidiot]

Great idea for a thread! Built my first in 2003. A giant bartop. Had to build a stand for it later. Getting ready to build a proper full-sized cabinet now.

[yotsuya]

Great idea for a thread! Built my first in 2003. A giant bartop. Had to build a stand for it later. Getting ready to build a proper full-sized cabinet now.

Mylene!!!

[Nephasth]

at least all of your first builds didn't conspicuously match your wife's master bed room decor choices...

Ok honey, you can build it. As long as you make it match the comforter.

[leapinlew]

I've built somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 machines in the last 9+ years, but here is the first:







The goal was to build it in a week, between Christmas and New Years. It's funny, because I "settled" on a used cabinet but I really wanted to build a from scratch Lusid model. My preference now is to refurb old cabinets by a long shot. Building from scratch just takes up too much time. Some highlights\lowlights from this cabinet:

• I used Mame32. MameWah was a ---smurfette---
• X-arcade controls (2 joysticks, 20 buttons for $99
• inkjet printed marquee and CPO (later changed to Mamemarquees print)
• Covered up the unsightly nintendo speaker grill
• Spent a lot of time putting in a keyboard tray that I never used
• Admin buttons on the CP

This cabinet has been long gone. I don't miss it.

[jdbailey1206]

Mylene!!!

Hey Yots...

[yotsuya]

Mylene!!!

Hey Yots...

I don't need to know your kinks, bro. 

[jdbailey1206]

I get my kicks from IKEA.  All that organization....daaaahhhhhhmmmm gurl.

[BadMouth]

pics hosted on flickr....now gone. 

My first setup (which I always referred to as my setup and not my cab) consisted of an x-arcade nestled into a plank of MDF that was drilled to accept the rubber feet of said x-arcade.
The plank protruded from a workbench that had been dressed up to make it match my home built bar.
To hold the plank in place, a TV stand (modified to the appropriate height) rested on the other end with a 36" CRT TV on top.
Everything was painted black.

In the dark, I had arcade controls in my hands and a big glowing CRT a few feet from my face.
It felt like a mini showcase cab.  The distance between the CP and TV allowed for use of the trackball without hitting your fingers.
Old school, pixel accurate light guns worked well with the non-angled TV.
I still  consider it a decent setup.

After that came my first driving cab which is linked in my signature.
Pretty sure that was done before the Ping of Pong, which was built from a ping pong table found in my neighbors trash. 
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,111821.0.html


EDIT:  you can kinda see the x-arcade setup in the background of this Ping of Pong progress pic

[yotsuya]

Pretty sure that was done before the Ping of Pong, which was built from a ping pong table found in my neighbors trash.
There's a build thread for that if you search.

The Ping of Pong was such an awesome use of recycled materials. 

[BadMouth]

Pretty sure that was done before the Ping of Pong, which was built from a ping pong table found in my neighbors trash.
There's a build thread for that if you search.

The Ping of Pong was such an awesome use of recycled materials. 

Thanks.

I actually ended up on BYOAC looking for info on my Megatouch machine.
I had no idea emulators or MAME existed before coming here.
Two weeks later, I was up and running! (THANK YOU UNCLET FOR YOUR MALA GUIDE!)

I originally planned to knock out a cab in a weekend, but after looking at all the great work on here I knew that I was not ready and needed to soak in info for a while.

[Vigo]

I tried and I tried to find a pic of my first cabinet, no dice. It was nice. It was a double dragon repro, but in a standard crescent Taito cabinet, black sides, and mamed. It was a joint effort between me and my bro, and it was a present for my other brother. With 2015 glasses on, it still looks cool. I'll have to snap a pic next time I see it.


I did however find a pic of my first test control panel. Not only am I creating a fire hazard here, but I apparently not only angled my Player 3 and 4, but I angled P1 and P2 as well..  I guess I was also planning a trackball behind player 2 as well. Thank God that this panel never made it to production.

[talkgeek]

Prior to discovering this forum (3yrs ago) I was terrible at taking / keeping pics of my projects (not that I'm brave enough to share most of my projects here anyway)

I had forgotten about the Starfighter cab before seeing Yotsuya's post - way cool    loved the book growing up and movie wasn't terrible from memory (brain cells that know the real version of that are long dead).
My first restore was in 2004 (I was late to this hobby) and was a Taito cocktail space invaders cab (13" CRT) - no surviving picks, sold 

2nd was an old CoinCascade "BigRed" lowboy cab 2006 - saved from the dump (cost $25 to hire a trailer that I could move it on  )

3rd was the Taito Cabaret 2007 - still own that, play it at least once a week (stress relief - only plays Galaga) - but have never finished it. Learned reason for that on this forum- I got it running (playable) before completing the restore   

First custom builds were in 2011/12 (after discovering this forum) - 1944 Upright (paralysed by options when it came to artwork - so did basically nothing, still was able to sell a year later to make way for a new project) and the 60-n-1 Cocktail (only one to have been documented on here)

Thanks for prompting the fun memories Le Chuck
   

[jdbailey1206]

For as much time as I spent on here I should have created a better first project.  It came out a little better then I expected since I was on the forum when I was completing the work but I wish I would have spent my time on a full size instead of trying to cram everything into an obligatory weecade.  The only major hurdle I had was trying to figure out artwork.  Le Chuck even helped me with a Spaceman Spiff idea that never panned out and I feel rotten for wasting Le Chucks time and never using the idea.  He worked out a great CP that can be found below.

In the end it doesn't matter.  I learned a lot and I already have plans to reuse the components of the weecade and ditch the cabinet itself.  I'm not really saving anything.  It looks okay in the picture but in person it has a lot of bumps and scratches.

Below is the CP that Le Chuck created.  I tried to create a Nintendo/weecade but it just turned out to be really ---smurfy--- and edekoning did a far better job of what I was trying to accomplish about 1.5 years later.  The following is a link to the brain storm session we had for the Spaceman Spiff theme.  I might visit this idea later substituting Spaceman Spiff in the Donkey Kong artwork (like they did with FFJR).  I was also thinking of substituting Spaceman Spiff into a version of the actual Earthworm Jim game substituting Earthworm Jim with Spaceman Spiff to make a dedicated cab but my coding skills are ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- so I don't think I can make that bird fly.

Le Chuck Control Panel Goodness


edekoning Nintendo Weecade Goodness


My very own CrapMame