The "I'm shamelessly ripping off ChanceKJ's Flynn's build" build thread....

[mcseforsale]

OK, long story short, my neighbor's been asking me for a while to build him an arcade.  So, I finally acquiesced and subject started taking shape over many many beers and a few nights of cards, etc.  So, when he mentioned that he wanted a totally 4-player cab with bells, whistles, chachkies, and cup holders (for you maximus!)....I started searching out cab designs that I could show to him to give him some ideas.  So, when I showed him Flynn's Arcade, he almost started drooling.  Meanwhile, I'd sketched up some z-backs, some slimlines, whatever and he was pretty well set on what I'd showed him.

ChanceKJ was kind enough to share the dimensions of the cab and the basic layouts...and I got to work.  This will be the build thread to memorialize my shameless copy of the Flynn's Arcade with a few changes and some other shortcuts and techniques that I have to use without a table saw.

Sides cut:



The edges were armored using this process.  All of the shaped edges on the angles of the cab and CP box will also get this treatment:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,122362.msg1310052.html#msg1310052


Batons applied (18 gauge nails and gorilla glued)


I found a sweet low-profile TV mount on flebay for 13 bux.  It's very heavy duty and is only 1/2" deep:


1x3 clear pine and 3/4" MDF monitor mount:


Centered and held in place with blind nuts and 1/4" bolts:



I'm going with castors on this one.  The right side (facing it) will have the swivel castors and the left will be solid.  It'll roll from the side because this thing is WIDE:


Mounting location found:


Standing on it's own for test-panel fit:


Wheel carriage designed, implemented and tested.  Handles really well!:


Finally, my new next door neighbors know what they're in for:


TV in place and mount fine-adjusted:


Top, back-top and top-back panels glued together after shaping.  Still needs a lot of hand-work since cutting these radical angles with a skil-saw and a straight edge is mind numbing.  I'm only about 1/16" out on one intersection and even less on the other.  It will require a minimum of wood putty:


My clamping web to get all the angles mated perfectly:


So, that's where it stands.  I already ordered/received the 4-player coin door from Twisted Quarter.  Incidentally, know that you do NOT get any of the bolts or mounting straps with this door from them.  They are sold separately and when I put them in my cart, the price was ~$5 and shipping was going to be $11!  I'll have to call BS on that one.  I'll probably call them tomorrow and see if they can just put them in the mail with a couple of stamps.

Plans going forward are pretty set, as is the artwork ideas.  Let's just call it "Old Number 7" for now.  I'm sure there are several of you will know that name right away. 

Special thanks to ChanceKJ for the use of Flynn's to get my neighbor psyched about this build.  He's pretty satisfied with the progress so far and it appears that the thing is actually square, even though I built it in my garage on a plastic party table with a skil-saw.



AJ

[mcseforsale]

Subscribed!   

Beat ya to it!

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

WHAT THE F.... 






nah, just kidding    lovin' this build.  Subscribed.


...nice bike. 

[ChanceKJ]

AJ, you do know that you're ripping off a cab that was inspired by a cab that you yourself built... right? 

[yotsuya]

So does that mean this is a circle je... naw, nevermnd.

[mcseforsale]

Really?  Which one?

/shocked

AJ

AJ, you do know that you're ripping off a cab that was inspired by a cab that you yourself built... right? 

[ChanceKJ]

Your ripping off my cab but you haven't read the first post in my thread?  ...this'll go well

[mcseforsale]

Awe, thanks man!  I guess the pictures were so dazzling that I just didn't see that.  Pretty cool of you.

I feel all warm and dewey.   

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

Ew...

 

[wp34]

Subscribed!   

Beat ya to it!

AJ

 

[mcseforsale]

Twisted Quarter is mailing out the coin door hardware, so I'll be cutting that next.  I'll probably lay out the cut tonight and cut it tomorrow.  Then, I'll start working on speaker panel and gluing up the other main panels of the cab. 

AJ

[mcseforsale]

OK.  I got the hardware from Twisted Quarter....thanks guys!  So, a minor update today.  It's gonna storm for the next ~36 hours, so I'll  have some time in the garage instead of in the driveway.  Figured I'd get the damn thing cut anyway.  This'll allow me to glue/screw all the front panels in over the weekend.  Then, I can get the speaker panel sorted and roll the chassis into the corner. 



AJ

[jdbailey1206]

Just read this.  You should feel ashamed of yourself....

[mcseforsale]

I am.  Feeling very naughty.   

AJ

Just read this.  You should feel ashamed of yourself....

[yotsuya]

If you really wanted to be like CKJ, you should at least come up with a better thread title - like, say, a project name and operation code name.

[mcseforsale]

Now, that wouldn't be very original, would it? 

AJ

If you really wanted to be like CKJ, you should at least come up with a better thread title - like, say, a project name and operation code name.

[mcseforsale]

Good update today.  After cleaning the garage, spreading mulch and countless other crap this weekend, I got a couple of hours to spend on this.

First up, HOLES!  3" soffet vents will go in these.  There will be 4 2" vents on the bottom.  They'll be painted hammered black:


Then, I was able to start gluing the front panels in place.  First up is the front "chin" piece, then a 45 degree-cut piece that will meet with the bottom front panel at 45 degrees.  Had to get creative holding it all together cuz this thing is so WIDE!


Next up, laid the old girl down and glued the front bottom panel on:


Stood it up and it looks like this:


It's only about 1/16th out at one bottom edge.  Not bad for no table saw.  measuremeasuremeasuremeasure:


Door is pretty square.  I'm going to clearance the hole a little more so I can really square it when it's painted:


Artwork ideas are being kicked around.  I'll update the thread name when it's been chosen.

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

....They'll be painted hammered black:

You're Science damn right they will be.

[Fursphere]

....They'll be painted hammered black:

You're Science damn right they will be.

 

[mcseforsale]

K.  So, it stopped raining for exactly ONE day.  I got a couple of hours in yesterday. 

First, laid out the CP top.



Then got out in the driveway with 2 different saws, a 3" hole saw and my sander:


The clamps are for a damaged area.  The damn thing fell off the sawhorses when I was sanding it and took a chunk out of the top.  Figures it couldn't be the underside.    I'll fill that with filler and it should be good to go:


Getting closer to home:


Started the CP with a 3" hole saw for these curves first.  They came out nice:


I'm going to have him order the TB and mount tonight so I can start cutting the football and doing the routing for that.  FOOTBALL!:


So, we're in for some heavy weather today.  Predicted severe thunderstorms and possible tornados.  So, no workie today.  Should be nice tomorrow, though. 

AJ

[mcseforsale]

Well, the rain held off for a while, so I got busy for an hour or so.  Made the box bottom:



Had to rip 4" strips for the box....which sucks without a table saw! 

So, I should be able to miter this thing together tomorrow hopefully.  Then, some wood filler around the entire case and I can start with the internal layouts for the CPU, power, speakers, etc.



AJ

[mcseforsale]

Of course the weather held off so I was able to get back out there with the miter box. 







It's almost oh-beer:30 so I'm gonna take a break for the night.  It'll get glued and pin-nailed tomorrow night.  Then I can sand it smoove and round the edges and we'll be good!

AJ

[mcseforsale]

Got the box glued up.  Had a couple of glue issues on a couple of corners, but those will be covered with putty.  Shame, too since the cuts were damn near perfect.

Got it sanded and rounded and the locating pins for the CP top installed:









AJ

[mcseforsale]

This thing is a MONSTER!



AJ

[ChanceKJ]

This thing is a MONSTER!

Yes, but an elegant one. 

[mcseforsale]

Oh, snap...forgot to mount the monitor bracket.  I'll do that tonight.  I have to do some creative routing first to open a channel for the display plexi.  I had to layout the cleats before I had the TV so, my bad.   

I'ma gonna putty the thing up this weekend.  Looks like some good weather.  May even try to get out on the bike for the first ride of the year.  Resurrection rides hurt, but they're worth it.

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

Mmmm, yes they are.

The weather here has substantially improved. I've managed to get the garage cleaned up and with it my bike. I need to replace the chain on it, but i've got a new one coming in the mail. I'll have to dust off the full-face next week and hit the rockies. 

[mcseforsale]

Yes! More speckled shirts and neighbors who think yer "EXTREME" for wanting to go ride in the woods FTW!




Been mountain biking at my desk for a week...



AJ

[ChanceKJ]

  




Oh, and in regards to the thread title i found this...

[mcseforsale]

[yotsuya]

I feel dirty after I read your guys' posts.

[ChanceKJ]

did you have the Garth Brooks song going on in the background too? 

[jdbailey1206]

I feel dirty after I read your guys' posts.

[yotsuya]

did you have the Garth Brooks song going on in the background too? 

I saw him in concert twice back in the 90s. The things we do for  .

[mcseforsale]

ChanceKJ, need to get you a team shirt (look closely):



AJ

[ChanceKJ]

   thats ---smurfing--- funny!

[mcseforsale]

Trail happiness for a mere pittance.

http://www.pricepoint.com/Brand/DHD-Wear/DHD-Wear-Love-My-Wife-V2-T-Shirt.axd

AJ

[mcseforsale]

Brief update.  Got out the sander and sanded the bottom and sides of the box and further sanded the CP.  Then, I installed the alignment pins in the cab. 



Then....waiting time!  Payday isn't for another few days, then I'll get out there this weekend and putty, armor the MDF and (maybe) get it into primer.  I have to fix a couple of cleats with the router for plexi clearance...I'll get those too.

All packed up and waiting:



AJ

[ChanceKJ]

Do yourself a favour and add a nice big thick chunk of wood across the cab where the CP will rest. It needs some decent stability and an good solid anchor to the cab. It also doubles as the lower mount for the display plexi.

[mcseforsale]

I was actually going to put in a piece behind the CP box for that purpose.  I just didn't like the cut and now it's raining. 

If I'm right, between that piece and the CP box, it'll be a perfect 90degree angle to do just that.  But, like I said, I have to tip the cab on its sides and route the speaker panel cleats because I was stupid in my layout. 

I also need to get some CP latches from Happ.  I like those.



AJ

[mcseforsale]

No full face here.  Not much need for it.  The trails are mostly directional and smooth.  MTB traffic is like the Atl traffic in that respect.  But, they're starting to cut some better stuff.  I grew up in Ct and the MTB there is SICK.  Miss it a lot.

Oh, and full face?  Like this one?



AJ

Mmmm, yes they are.

The weather here has substantially improved. I've managed to get the garage cleaned up and with it my bike. I need to replace the chain on it, but i've got a new one coming in the mail. I'll have to dust off the full-face next week and hit the rockies. 

[ChanceKJ]

.

[mcseforsale]

Yeah.  Mine's just part of the collection.  It's probably not even "legal" anymore.  It's a 1999 Team GT.  I collect GT stuff.

Arcade content:  Worked a little on the coin door placement.


Oh, and that's another GT behind the arcade...
AJ

[mcseforsale]

Just a quick update.  Had a birthday party today but I managed to do some mockup this morning.  Had my neighbor (the owner) come over and get a pic to send his buddies.  Figured I'd share the sheer scale of this thing.  He's almost 6'.  I'm 6'1" and it's taller than me too.
 


Next up?  CP plexi routing, routing the trackball mount flush to the CP and some clearance for the monitor glass.

AJ

[mcseforsale]

BIG update today.  I finally found some time to work on the old girl.  It's looking good!  I found out that my harbor freight straight edge is a piece of crap by trying to cut 45s with it.  So, I free-handed them and they turned out really nice (I'm still using a skilsaw.).  I also started working on the CP retaining mechanism.  ChanceKJ, you're gonna crap when this comes together tomorrow.  But for now, just a teaser while the Gorilla glue dries:



Oh, and I sanded the back smooth.  No more gaps and it feels like a shaved.....oh, nevermind.:



I'll update tomorrow when I show you all the most bestest CP mount of them all!  MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

Thanks for the warning. I'll go get a box of Depends in anticipation.

[mcseforsale]

OK.  Glue's dry! 

So, the attachment mechanism for the CP box is a riff on this:



One piece is glued/screwed into the cab.  The other one is glued to the CP box so the orientation is such that the one attached to the case captures the one on the CP box, holding it very still.

Gluing up the cleat on the back of the CP box:


Tip it into place and down/back to lock it in:



Small 1/4" dia. pins made from dowel are used on the front panel of the cab to locate and hold the front in place.  Feels pretty tight!
Here's what it looks like from the back inside the cab:


Here it is from the top.  You can see the cleat mounted to the cab is reinforced by a 1x2 piece of hardwood.  This should be a great place to capture the plexi, too.


Phew.  Glad that worked!   

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

HEATHEN!!

...that's pretty clever actually. 

[mcseforsale]

Hehe.  Thanks.  I'll probably put a latch on the front, just for safety....but it seems pretty solid.

It's the reverse of what I did here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,117977.msg1259958.html#msg1259958

AJ

[yotsuya]

Hehe.  Thanks.  I'll probably put a latch on the front, just for safety....but it seems pretty solid.

It's the reverse of what I did here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,117977.msg1259958.html#msg1259958

AJ

Yeah, I'd slap a latch on the front (open the coin door, reach up, unlatch). I could see it getting pulled up and off during a rousing game of SF or TMNT.

Nice idea!

[mcseforsale]

Thanks.  Stole the idea from dad.  He used to hang cabinets that way.  Made it easy to hang them with one dude.

AJ

[yotsuya]

Thanks.  Stole the idea from dad.  He used to hang cabinets that way.  Made it easy to hang them with one dude.

AJ

Yeah, I used a French cleat to hang my wall-mounted jukebox. Putting a latch on the lower front should make it pretty solid.

[mcseforsale]

I *KNEW* it had to have a name.  Yeah.  I have a couple of latches, but I'm not feeling the love on their finish.  I might just get a Happ CP latch and be done with it.  I thought that's what I'd ordered, but the flimsy Nintendo types showd up instead.


AJ

[yotsuya]

I *KNEW* it had to have a name.  Yeah.  I have a couple of latches, but I'm not feeling the love on their finish.  I might just get a Happ CP latch and be done with it.  I thought that's what I'd ordered, but the flimsy Nintendo types showd up instead.


AJ

Yeah, I would just make sure the latch is on the inside of the cab, maybe even a pair, one on each side, but you should be able to hide them pretty well. It's pretty much the way most CPs lock down. 

[mcseforsale]

So, I'd normally use these Happ latches:


But what I thought I ordered and what I got was a bit different:


They're thinner and more flexible then the Happs and I'm not sure I like how strong they seem. 

AJ

[yotsuya]

Yeah, those Happ latches are the ones I was thinking about, but you should be ok with the other ones - they remind me of the ones on my Dynamo.

[mcseforsale]

Lots of rain of late, so it's been going slow.  But I did get out for some good old fashioned fun:



Anyone need a hug today?



Plexi is coming this weekend.  Once I get the bike rebuilt, I'll start working on the speaker panel and begin planning the CPU tray.

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

 

[mcseforsale]

Rain, rain!  Lots of rain.   

But, I did get some time last night to start on the plexi for the CP.  Neighbors must hate me what with the router routing at 9pm.  But I was able to get most of it done.  My drill batteries died while making the pilot holes for the router bit....probably because I had to go so slow making the holes so the plexi didnt' crack.  I still need to finish 10 of them or so.  But good progress none the less.

The most nerve wracking part...HOLES!




After 20 min with the router and 1/2" trim bit:



I'll be putting a 45 degree chamfer on the TB and joy holes once I get the last 10 button holes done. 

AJ

[mcseforsale]

Dammit, dammit, dammit.  Got the plexi cut and the football cut out and the damn rain set in...just after I set up the plunge base on the router to inset the TB mount.  Ugh...



AJ

[ChanceKJ]

The peanut gallery demands an update.

[mcseforsale]

Yeah, I was just moving it around in the garage.  I gotta get working on this thing!  Been riding a bit, but not working on the cab.  It's been SOOOO hot lately.  I printed the joystick specs and need to get the router out and get back to work. 

Getting ready for a yard sale tomorrow (humbug  ) and then a kids birthday party on Sunday (double humbug  ).  I should be able to get some time in on it Sunday.

Promise 

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

Excuses Excuses Excuses Excuses, Excuses.

Excuse.

Excuses Excuses.

Yeah?

 

[mcseforsale]

Small problem....YARD SALE.



Dammit!

AJ

[mcseforsale]

OK, so the temp broke to below "melting" and I was able to move some stuff around and dig the old girl out.  I finished the routing for the CP top.  Clearance for the trackball mount, the t-molding slot and the 1/8" 45 degree chamfer on the bottom to hide the thickness difference for the plexi.  I fudged a bit, but overall, it looks pretty good. 



Profile.  The burns are just from the washers on my spindle bearings.  Somehow, they're just a skosh oversized...but there's no real marks....just a hotspot.



Glad to be back at it.  I'ma gonna start working on the internals after cutting the holes for the speakers.

AJ

[ChanceKJ]

I tripple dare you to angle your joysticks. 

[mcseforsale]

Oh, and because I'm a glutton for punishment, I got this, too:



Needless to say, I'll be shoving the bike in the min-van for awhile.

AJ

[yotsuya]

I tripple dare you to angle your joysticks. 

I dare you to strap that onto your back, jump on your bike, haul ass down the street, and see if you can get airborne.

[mcseforsale]

Actually, I'm planning on doing 45 degrees on both outer joysticks for Q-Bert.

HA!

No angled joys here!

AJ

I tripple dare you to angle your joysticks. 

[ChanceKJ]

I tripple dare you to angle your joysticks. 

I dare you to strap that onto your back, jump on your bike, haul ass down the street, and see if you can get airborne.

HAHAHA! I instantly had thoughts of those old black and white videos of flying machines pre-Wright brothers.

[yotsuya]

I tripple dare you to angle your joysticks. 

I dare you to strap that onto your back, jump on your bike, haul ass down the street, and see if you can get airborne.

HAHAHA! I instantly had thoughts of those old black and white videos of flying machines pre-Wright brothers.

Yep. That photo of it reminded me of those GI Joe hang gliders. :-)

[ChanceKJ]

Huh,  You know, i never had G.I. Joes.  Only GhostBusters toys. And Lego. A TON of lego.

[yotsuya]

Huh,  You know, i never had G.I. Joes.  Only GhostBusters toys. And Lego. A TON of lego.

I'm sure they didn't market GI Joe: A Real American Hero toys to you Canucks. :-)

[ChanceKJ]

you'd be surprised. the cartoons were a hit, so the toys were a hit.

[mcseforsale]

Feeling a bit old now....my GI Joe was 12" and had a beard made of felt.  And he was GROOOVY baby!



AJ

[yotsuya]

Feeling a bit old now....my GI Joe was 12" and had a beard made of felt.  And he was GROOOVY baby!



AJ

I never had the large GI Joe dolls, er, action figures.

[mcseforsale]

Action Figure!  It's an ACTION FIGURE!  LOL.  Mine was a hand-me-down so by the time I got it, it was pretty busted up.  I never got into war toys.  Mostly cars and motorcycle toys.  From the age of about 4, all I ever really did was ride bikes.  Then the BMX boom in the early 80s and I was hooked.  In the winter, it was pond hockey and building model cars....which I still do time to time.

AJ

[BGoulette]

GI Joe hiked the Appalachian Trail?!

Feeling a bit old now....my GI Joe was 12" and had a beard made of felt.  And he was GROOOVY baby!



AJ

[mcseforsale]

GI Joe hiked Mt. Everest in his desert camo.  Chuck Norris is based on GI Joe.

AJ

[mcseforsale]

Well, I'm back at it.  The weather around here is finally not in the melting zone, so I got out the tools and started working again.  I started a new job and stuff about 6 weeks ago, so I've been terribly busy.

I got the speaker holes and mounts built.  Basically 2" holes routed with a 1/4" roundover.  6 3/4" speaker grills, etc.  Looks pretty nice.  I have to make one final cut on the back of the panel to allow for the plexi, but it's essentially done.  I'm going to make this panel removable with some cool fasteners...I just haven't worked that out yet. 






Next, on to the marquee box.  The back is removable and is screwed into a permanent cleat made from nice pine 1x2.  I'll be using the Nova Matrix from GGG, so the marquee box can be shallow.  Single hole for any electrics that need to pass through.  1" with 1/8" roundover.  I'm going to cover this with some rubber with a slit in it to keep light leak at a minmum.





next up is sorting the PC.  I haven't decided if I want to de-case the PC, or leave it as a lump in the bottom.  This thing is pretty tippy and the weight might help.  Plus, the PC going into this is a monster and might serve as a media server since the owner is a musician and needs a place to keep his recordings and writings.  Decisions, decisions.

AJ

[mcseforsale]

And the build progresses a bit.  Began case-modding the old HP Pavillion.  I got some special plans for the PC and power supplies.  It should be interesting/entertaining how I come up with this idea, but I'll keep y'all posted.

So, for now, drilled all the rivets holding the external case to the skeleton of the PC and pulled the skin off:



Test fitting the original side cover:


I'll be re-using the access panel since I really like the details punched into it.  I'm going to try some different stuff on this build.


That's all for now.  I'll be heading to HD on Thurs to get the rest of what I need to build my idea.  I'll update after that.

AJ