The Legend of Zelda. Calling it finished.

[Wyo]

That 20EZ looks like its missing part of the vertical frame around the tube??  Its definitely newer then mine is, and in way better shape! good job!

Yeah, Nerdtendo  told me the previous owner took it off before he got it.  I'm not really gonna need it right? I was planning on modding the frame I've built already to accommodate the CRT mounted horizontal.  I was thinking of just using some angle iron or something...

I saw you posted pics of your Sanyo today too and saw which brackets I'm missing. Haha. We're on the same wavelength right now.

[ChanceKJ]

I honestly don't think it will matter much that they're gone, (anyone who knows better can feel free to correct me). I'm sure if you really want to replace them arcade boneyard might have a new frame. I'm missing my flyback cage.

...my next question is why would anyone need to remove them anyway?

[yotsuya]

I honestly don't think it will matter much that they're gone, (anyone who knows better can feel free to correct me). I'm sure if you really want to replace them arcade boneyard might have a new frame. I'm missing my flyback cage.

...my next question is why would anyone need to remove them anyway?

They sell them to extremely anal retentive restorers who might need them for their builds. 

[yotsuya]

In all seriousness, when guys part out machines, some of them part EVERYTHING out because they know they can make money off people who need individual parts.

[34k]

Raiding my parts bins while drinking means great deals for everybody!

[Vigo]

IIRC, some cabs had dogbone shaped wood monitor mounts that could get in the way of some of those tube frames. Might have been removed to fit it in a cab with special needs. 

[ChanceKJ]

hmm, interesting.

Well, regardless of the frame bits or not, this build is about to go even more "Next Level ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---" status. Classic Nintendo Sanyo monitor, classic Nintendo hardware, modern cab with a game theme built into the cab. You put that artwork outta the park and this will be getting my vote for sure. 

[pbj]

cab with special needs. 

We're all adults here.  You can say retarded.

[Wyo]

Raiding my parts bins while drinking means great deals for everybody!

Yeah, I need to stay out of your parts bin when Ive been drinking....especially on an empty stomach.  Bad things happen.  Haha Thanks again!

[Wyo]

That's awesome. I love it when you see fellow arcade enthusiast helping out one another. Makes this community really great.

Yeah, man its what its all about.  34K and I were just talking about you the other day at his house actually.  He was showing me his vintage mini DK and I was telling him about your sick creation using one of those.  Haha.  Hopefully youll come out to one of the get togethers soon.  I want to say we are having two this month....one at Hyperspace (which will be the last because Xyla is moving out of state) and then one at 1 UP.  So hopefully youll make it out.

Plus, both 34K and I are VW guys.....and we figured you had to be too based off your handle? Actually, come to think of it...Craftymech is also into german cars....whats up with the Denver Arcade scene guys?  Were all into the same stuff. haha

[Wyo]

Just clickin away....click, click, click.






This recreation should be the most intensive of the artwork Im using.  Its not going to be totally spot on to the original art....but as long as the images are close and recognizable I'm cool with that.   

[vwalbridge]

That's awesome. I love it when you see fellow arcade enthusiast helping out one another. Makes this community really great.

Yeah, man its what its all about.  34K and I were just talking about you the other day at his house actually.  He was showing me his vintage mini DK and I was telling him about your sick creation using one of those.  Haha.  Hopefully youll come out to one of the get togethers soon.  I want to say we are having two this month....one at Hyperspace (which will be the last because Xyla is moving out of state) and then one at 1 UP.  So hopefully youll make it out.

Plus, both 34K and I are VW guys.....and we figured you had to be too based off your handle? Actually, come to think of it...Craftymech is also into german cars....whats up with the Denver Arcade scene guys?  Were all into the same stuff. haha

Hey Wyo thanks for mentioning my vintage DK build! I'd love to make it out to at least one of those events! Please PM me the dates/times if you get a chance.

Funny you mention VWs. Actually my handle is just my first initial and last name. (I know...real creative  ) but I did own a 2000 Jetta for several years. Man, I loved that car. Sucka was zippy!

Also, your artwork is looking pretty sick. Can't wait to see the end results. No pressure.   

[Wyo]

Heres how Link turned out. (edit: It should say "The Legend of Zelda:The Arcade Game") haha.  Anyway, I will use this image for the side art, maybe the marquee....not sure yet.  Now to start the smaller images....I have a couple more of Link, plus Ganon, and also Princess of Zelda I found that I would like to incorporate.



Also, I got the Bios and NES adapter for the playchoice pcb from Buffet over on KLOV today.  I ordered a bunch of molex connectors to go with the wire harness I have coming. 

I also ordered a bunch of smaller yellow buttons from Happ that I will use for the playchoice menu selections.   I thought about using 5 of the yellow triangle buttons for these that Happ sells but I opted not to because I dont want to clutter up the control panel.  Maybe Ill do gold triangles in the artwork around the smaller buttons I ordered and put the labels underneath?  Just talking out loud here....not that far yet. Haha.

[Wyo]

Im not going to bore everybody by posting up all the images that Im planning on vectorizing and then posting after I vectorize them....but I thought Id post this that I found because I thought it was pretty cool and it will be one of the main three images Im planning on using for the control panel and bezel (DK style)

It will require a bit of shading (in addition to the vector work) to match the other original NES Zelda artwork. 

[Wyo]

Yesterday I was the student and 34K was the master.  He was gracious enough to invite me over to his arcade and teach me how to recap my Sanyo for this project.  He was a great teacher!  He literally had a white board and markers! I felt like I was back in school....except in this class, I wasnt actually bored out of my mind.   For those of you that dont know, 34K has a youtube channel that is definitely worth checking out.  He just finished a year long restoration of 3, not one, but 3 Nintendo red tents.  He is an awesome resource and a wealth of knowledge with these cabinets.

Check out his channel here...

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBitBar/videos

Okay, so heres what I started out with.  The Sanyo is in pretty good condition.  When we bench tested it, it was showing a bit of horizontal collapse.



So a cap kit was definitely in order.  Like I said, Ive never done one of these before.  I was definitely a bit intimidated but I was in the right place to learn.  34k has a sweet set up in his garage for electronics work...beats my Walmart soldering iron for sure. ha



Here 34K is showing me how to solder the first few caps..



He left me to it after a few examples.  It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.  It definitely helped to have good equipment.  The back of the monitor board with most of caps done.

[Wyo]

After reflowing the solder on the connectors and finishing up the cap kit, we put the monitor back together and fired it up.



Hey! It didnt explode!  I was stoked! Most of the collapse was gone as well.  Ha, as you can see we are testing the Sanyo with Craftymechs TPG (Test Pattern Generator)  This thing is bad ass.  Really helps dial in the colors.  Here it is running through a few patterns....we still need to make a few adjustments.





So with the monitor capped, 34K helped me test out this pile of parts Ive collected over the last month or so on one of his newly restored Red Tents.  A Playchoice 10 PCB, a Nintendo VS. wire harness (it will work), and also the Buffet NES to Playchoice adapter and bios.  I also brought my Everdrive N8.

[Wyo]

We installed the BIOs onto the Playchoice 10 pcb and installed the adapter.  I had a CIB NES Legend of Zelda just for the occasion. Ha.





Fingers crossed.....it works! 



I was amped.  Pretty cool to see things starting to come to life.   At this point, I have pretty much everything I need to put the electronics together.  I received a original Nintendo Isolation Transformer for the Sanyo this week.  I also got a new Happ Switching power supply as well.   Next week, back to work on the art..... 

Again, a big thanks to 34K for his sharing his knowledge and hooking me up with a few needed parts.  Also want to thank Crafty for his TPG....that tool is badass!  Also, this week Chance has been helping me out with some of the artwork illustrations as well....so THANK YOU!!! This community rocks!  One of the reasons I love this hobby! 

[ChanceKJ]

  

Its so awesome seeing TLOZ running on a fully restored red tent, just looking at pictures of his and mine sitting here side by side makes me chomping at the bit to get to work.

[Wyo]

 

Its so awesome seeing TLOZ running on a fully restored red tent, just looking at pictures of his and mine sitting here side by side makes me chomping at the bit to get to work.

Yeah, the one thing I think I've learned this summer is to mellow out and take on one project at a time....unless of course youre 34K restoring three red tents simultaneously.....because that only counts as one restoration. Haha

[ChanceKJ]

I need to write that loophole down. 

[ChanceKJ]

Hey, did you get the Everdrive working on the PC-10?

Saying yes, may cost me a LOT of money down the road.

[Wyo]

Hey, did you get the Everdrive working on the PC-10?

Saying yes, may cost me a LOT of money down the road.

I meant to post about that. The jury is still out on that.  When I first plugged in the NES adapter TLOZ wasn't working at all, then I tried the Everdrive, which didn't work either.  I pushed down on the EPROMs on the adapter and Zelda worked, but I forgot to test the Everdrive again.  So i won't know for awhile until I get my set up running again. Heard mixed things about the Everdrive. Powerpak seems like the better option. Retrousb is currently sold out tho.

[34k]

You did a great job dude! I've seen "pro" work that wasn't as good as what you laid down on that chassis.

The artwork is looking sweet. That looks like some top notch tracing there. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Bummer we forgot to test the Everdrive after we got your board working. Oh well, it's an easy test if you want to bring stuff back down here next Tuesday.

[emphatic]

This is bloody marvelous.

[34k]

Here are a few more pics from the project.

1. This is what Zelda looked like before re-seating all of the EPROMs.
2. Everdrive Installed
3. Everdrive Borked
4. Wyo trying very hard not to burn himself

[ChanceKJ]

/Drool. DualSystem restored to goodness.

 


I'm seriously having a hard time this second sitting here looking at my red tent, and not wanting to gutt it and start work.  Soon.

[Wyo]

/Drool. DualSystem restored to goodness.

 


I'm seriously having a hard time this second sitting here looking at my red tent, and not wanting to gutt it and start work.  Soon.

HAHA, 34K.  Awesome pics, thanks.  I did get a few battle scars from my first cap kit.  I kept forgetting that a soldering iron is not a paint brush.  You dont touch the tip. Haha

Yeah Chance, they look just as amazing in person....inside and out.  I was fortunate to see all three shiny Red Tents side by side in person.  Craftymech was lucky enough to add one to his collection.   

[ChanceKJ]

Wait? Aaron took one off his hands?

[34k]

Wait? Aaron took one off his hands?

Yup. The third is also for sale.

[ChanceKJ]

You do know I'm coming to you for advice and tips the day I start my restore.

[CraftyMech]

Wait? Aaron took one off his hands?

Yep I did! I've got two boards right now, one with SMB & ExciteBike, and the other with Dr. Mario and Mighty Bomb Jack. Looking for the right PPU so I can get Castlevania up and running (I have the daughterboard).

34K did amazing work on the Tents. The monitors inside are sparkly clean, and the exterior parts are nice & shiny. Painted in a paint booth by Wyo & 34K, with automotive paint. Those guys are pros!

[ChanceKJ]

There was a Dr Mario complete on eBay for 160ish the other day. Its high on my list too so I was quite tempted. I'm trying to get my hands on a pair of 003 PPU and a second CPU to go with my set of BalloonFight Roms. I had a complete Castlevania but it went in a big trade for a TON of parts I needed for my DK build. I'll keep an eye out for you Aaron.

We really took Sam's thread off the rails here didn't we. Haha!

[pbj]

Problem with dr Mario is that it has a thirty second soundtrack.  And you can't disable attract mode music.

[Wyo]

Haha, it's all good. This thread has no rails....if it did I wouldn't have changed directions 1000 different times. Ha

Anyway, this stuff is all new to me so it's good to be learning!

[Wyo]

Well, it's been awhile.  This project is not dead.  It's been on my mind quite a bit over the last 8 months of inactivity. 

Life has a way of getting in the way of things.  As we all know.  Unfortunately for me, and the Legend of Zelda....it got in the way big time.  I lost my job.  I was working as an Artist and Sign Maker for a local theme park up until winter when I was laid off.  I was a seasonal employee....so I knew it was coming.  However, I was told it would turn into a full time position eventually....it didn't.

So because of that, I was forced to scramble and come up with quick cash....which of course means, I had to sell off pretty much everything I own.....including The Legend of Zelda.  Except, it was unfinished...which meant I had to do something with it quick.  So I turned it into a Red 5 slot Donkey Kong with a 60 n 1 and sold it off. If sold off everything, including the Playchoice PCB and Sanyo. 

Here is what used to be Zelda.....



It sucked.  BUT, everything has a silver lining.  I'm pretty OCD and a couple things really bothered me about the direction Zelda was going.  One, I didn't like that it was 3/4 inch wood.  The only reason I did that was because The gold chrome t molding was only avaliable in that size.  Well, now it isn't.  I can get it in thinner 5/8....so I will be doing that.  Also, the chrome vinyl.  Honestly, I loved the chrome look for the novelty.  But it bothered me.  It looked great from a distance and in the pics but it had a weird texture up close....like orange peel.  I hated that. So moving forward, I will be painting the cabinet metallic gold using automotive paint and adding gold chrome highlights in the artwork and such. 

So just an update.  I start a new job in the next couple weeks...a government job, so it should be a bit more stable. I've already started on the new 5/8 plywood cab and its already upright....but we are still in mid winter.  As it gets warmer, I will post more progress pics.  I'm going to try new techniques this time around....and make sure it's done to a higher standard. 

Anyways, it sucks to start over but I'm glad this happened in a way, so I can move forward in a better direction.  I WILL have this done by the end of summer.

[n3wt0n]

Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Glad to hear you start a new job soon and that you can see the silver lining in all of this. I thought the first one was pretty amazing so I will be waiting patiently to see the next version of the Zelda cab.

[yotsuya]

I'm glad you're going to proceed on the next version with paint instead of foil. I had visions of the cab getting bumped or inadvertently scratched, tearing or ruining the foil. You'll bounce back just fine! Glad to see you found another job.

[vwalbridge]

I was just wondering where this project was a couple of days ago. Good to see that you will be back at it

I saw your previous Nintendo projects pop up on Craigslist here in Denver. I was wondering why you were selling them all off. Looks like you didn't have trouble selling them.

Maybe we can meet sometime at one of the Colorado meet ups.

Welcome back!

[Wyo]

I was just wondering where this project was a couple of days ago. Good to see that you will be back at it

I saw your previous Nintendo projects pop up on Craigslist here in Demver. I was wondering why you were selling them all off. Looks like you didn't have trouble selling them.

Maybe we can meet sometime at one of the Colorado meet ups.

Welcome back!

Thanks guys!  I still lurked here pretty much everyday....I just haven't posted much.

Yeah, both my FIFJ and DK:Pauline were up on CL.  I didn't get any bites locally for a couple months so I ended up selling them on KLOV.  They are both on the east coast now.  I hope to rebuild them when things stabilize.

I hope we can meet up!  I missed you at a couple of the past G2Gs.   I'm gonna try and make it out to hyperspace on the 20th but that's my bday so it might be tricky.  We'll see. .

[DeLuSioNal29]

Great minds think alike!  Was thinking about this project too.

Glad to hear that you landed a new job

I'm on the East coast. Who did you sell them to?

D