The Legend of Zelda. Calling it finished.

[Wyo]

Fired up my nes to verify. Definitely 4 way.

Thanks a lot for doing that!!!   

[Titchgamer]

That is becoming rather beautiful!

[killerinstinct]

Good job so far

[Wyo]

Thank you sirs! I'm really happy with the way it's turning out so far.  I'ts really cool seeing the vision come to fruition all these months later.  Big thanks to all you guys for your help!  I'm also really glad that I  started over and used the paint and let the flake and the chrome trim give this thing bling.  It was to much before.  Anyways, Almost done cutting out the bezel tonight. This is about three hours worth of work below. 

 Also, so you guys can see what I'm thinking for the side art, I found this image in the Hyrule Historia book.  It's really small....but I thought really cool! I'd like to recreate it, and maybe add Ganon holding Zelda hostage in the background....possibly modding the Ganon image I've already using.  I'm keeping the chrome embossing simple on the side art....just a border and the Nintendo logo. No filagree! I can't handle that anymore. Haha.  I think that'd look subtle and cool. We'll see....

[sokignano]

That is awesome! I cant wait to see more!

[nordemoniac]

That's a great idea for the side art! But brown hair color then, to match the bezel art?

Would almost be funnier if you did it like Donkey Kong, where Mario is in the background.
Ganon running away with Zelda, while Link is busy fetching triforce pieces. 

I at least always forgot why I was running around doing puzzles, "Zelda who?"

What style are you thinking, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong/Fix it Felix, or more like Donkey Kong Junior?

[sokignano]

Too bad you couldn't use the above image but add Gannon and Zelda in the background. Have link posing on the cliff side kind of vertically center and to the left and Gannon stealing away Zelda into the Cave entrance of dungeon 9.

[theAEoN]

The art and design on this cabinet is inspiring! Everywhere I look on it are small details which make this an amazing and unique build 

[emphatic]

Stunning! 

[vwalbridge]

The age old question:

Is Link left or right-handed?

[Titchgamer]

As he carries his shield with his right hand I would assume Left.

But all great warriors are ambidextrous :p

[sokignano]

Especially when your an NES sprite!

[Slippyblade]

In cannon, Link is left handed.  That was one of the problems with Twilight Princess, actually.  It started development on the GameCube... and he's left handed.  When they ported it to the Wii, they had to literally mirror the entire game left to right to make link right handed, so that the combat controls were more comfortable to right handed players.

[nordemoniac]

In cannon, Link is left handed.  That was one of the problems with Twilight Princess, actually.  It started development on the GameCube... and he's left handed.  When they ported it to the Wii, they had to literally mirror the entire game left to right to make link right handed, so that the combat controls were more comfortable to right handed players.

Cool fun-fact 

[Wyo]

That's a great idea for the side art! But brown hair color then, to match the bezel art?

Would almost be funnier if you did it like Donkey Kong, where Mario is in the background.
Ganon running away with Zelda, while Link is busy fetching triforce pieces. 

I at least always forgot why I was running around doing puzzles, "Zelda who?"

What style are you thinking, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong/Fix it Felix, or more like Donkey Kong Junior?

Yes, that is what I was thinking.  Modify the colors to match the rest of the link images.  And yeah, I was thinking of doing something similar to what you guys are suggesting....DK/FIFJS style combo link posing like Felix, and having Ganon in the background witha distressed Zelda.  I like the idea of dragging her into the cave! 

[nordemoniac]

Can't wait to see what you'll end up with 

[Wyo]

Well guys, I survived making the bezel tonight without having a heart attack.  Believe me, my heart was racing with so much at stake.  Last thing I wanted to do was mess this up and start over! haha.  First I transfer taped and placed the vinyl artwork with all the negative shapes on top of the gold foil.  The funny thing is, the gold foil has a clear protective film over it.  I keep thinking to myself how funny would it be if I forgot to remove it before layering the graphics onto it.  Id be so pissed!!! haha. Fortunately, I force myself to remember to remove it before laying the graphics.

I posted a picture below how I make my long scary cuts.  I like to tape the ends of the ruler down on both ends so that the ruler doesnt walk while I make the cut.  Taping down the ruler also creates tension on the graphics, so it wont move as well.  So far, it works great for me.

After the graphics were attached to the gold chrome, I cut out the remainder of the unwanted top layer and then applied it to the smoked plex.  This was the really nerve racking part as I didnt want to use transfer tape and I didnt want to ruin the artwork.  I had a very narrow border on each sides of the bezel plex so I just lined it and hinged it in the middle.  Fortunately, it went pretty smoothly with only a few, "oh God, no" 

[Wyo]

In keeping with my traditional dark blurry pics, here are a few from tonight from where I stand. (Im a night owl....love working in the blur of the night. ill post better pics at the end of the build) Up next, design the side art and wire it up.  I got the Lapai amp in the mail yesterday, so I pretty much have everything I need going forward.  Finish line is coming!

[Titchgamer]

Amazeballs

Really loving this!

Regarding side art not sure how it would work but looks cool in my head...

How about just having outlines of the scene you want to portray instead of full images?

Sort of like silloueres if that makes sense?

[Wyo]

Possibly! I think that may look good, like outlines of the background and then full character artwork?

Speaking of amazeballs, have you guys seen this LOZ game for the NES?



It's called the Legend of Link. I managed to secure a physical NES copy and am stoked I can play it in this cabinet.  However, I think it would be really cool to build a dedicated "modern art" Nintendo cabinet for it....along the lines of what chance suggested in the beginning of this thread.  I would love to stencil and paint that side art.  Ah....one project at a time.   

[Wyo]

I just noticed that the attract screen spells Ganon "Gannon".  I thought I googled the correct spelling before I printed the instruction card....and from everything I've found, including the instruction manual...I made sure it was spelled Ganon.  So I guess that's an error on Nintendos part? Whew.

[Titchgamer]

Looks cool

[killerinstinct]

I see that you use plywood instead of MDF is that less heavier than MDF? I bould once a DK cab in 18mm MDF and would like to use other wood for my upcomming builds but only that it is less heavier

[Wyo]

I see that you use plywood instead of MDF is that less heavier than MDF? I bould once a DK cab in 18mm MDF and would like to use other wood for my upcomming builds but only that it is less heavier

Yeah, plywood isn't as heavy as MDF.  There are pros and cons of each but I like using plywood for my builds.  The great thing about MDF is that it requires a lot less prep work than plywood, however it produces a lot of harmful dust when cutting.  And I'm not sure if there is a swelling issue if it gets wet? I'd assume so. Plywood doesn't really have that issue. 

Also, I just got used to using it.  i couldn't find 5/8 MDF when I built my FIFJ and DK:Pauline. The big box stores don't carry it so I just took what they had in that width.

In the future, I'd like to find furniture grade sanded plywood to build with.  The local big box stores only carry okay quality sanded ply in 5/8 so that is what I've been using.  I'd like to find a place that carries 5/8s in a higher quality wood to save myself some work.

[elvis]

Yeah, plywood isn't as heavy as MDF.  There are pros and cons of each but I like using plywood for my builds.  The great thing about MDF is that it requires a lot less prep work than plywood, however it produces a lot of harmful dust when cutting.  And I'm not sure if there is a swelling issue if it gets wet? I'd assume so. Plywood doesn't really have that issue.

Not sure about the US, but here in Australia plywood is at least 50-100% more expensive for the same amount of material compared to MDF.

MDF should be sealed quickly if people want to use that.  I use a 3-in-1 primer/sealer/undercoat immediately (literally the day I buy the stuff) on any sheet of MDF I buy, and it will happily avoid swelling.

My games room has survived literal flooding (living in the sub-tropics is fun) and I have multiple MDF cabinets that have happily gone on without swelling due to the prep work I put in earlier.

[Malenko]

There is your UCA winner for full sized cab this year, if we even have the UCAs.

[emphatic]

That's a winner in my book. 

[05SRT4]

Anyone else getting a crazy nostalgia vibe? This build is bringing back memories from when I would play NES before I went to school.

Such a great game and theme to build around. You nailed it with the graphics and wood work. UCA winner for sure. 

[opt2not]

It's looking very beautiful! 


BUT, I'm not so keen on the diagonal placement of the Zelda title in the marquee. I know this is late feedback, but seeing it all put together is throwing me off a bit. For me, it's clashing with the horizontal lines of the bezel and making it seem off-balanced.  Every other visual line in the cabinet is horizontal, but then the diagonal at the top makes it feel tilted. I would have kept the title and lines horizontal to match the rest of the cab.

Just my honest feedback though, I love everything else going on here.

[harveybirdman]

The greens of the marquee and bezel wash eachother out as well maybe it's just the black retainers and the dark pics but I agree with Opt on the diagonal placement of the title as well.

But still super fresh build bruh.

[Titchgamer]

It's looking very beautiful! 


BUT, I'm not so keen on the diagonal placement of the Zelda title in the marquee. I know this is late feedback, but seeing it all put together is throwing me off a bit. For me, it's clashing with the horizontal lines of the bezel and making it seem off-balanced.  Every other visual line in the cabinet is horizontal, but then the diagonal at the top makes it feel tilted. I would have kept the title and lines horizontal to match the rest of the cab.

Just my honest feedback though, I love everything else going on here.

Now you mention it....

Yeah....

Damn it!!

[sokignano]

If look at the donkey Kong cab it does that too. But I still love the who package!

[Wyo]

Yeah, I tilted it to match the DK, FIFJ, DK3, DK:Pauline, DK:Remix, etc...art packagesMost of which have opposing horizontal and diagonal lines.  However, I just realized I tilted it in the opposite direction as the rest. Oops. All good, I'm just gonna have to live with it at this point.  Maybe in the future Ill rotate it the opposite way.

thanks again guys!

[opt2not]

  However, I just realized I tilted it in the opposite direction as the rest.

Ahhh maybe that's what was throwing me off. Oh well.

[Wyo]

I'm probably gonna switch the angle.  I want this thing to fit in with the rest.  I'll just reprint when I do the bezel instructions. It's only $20 and I got a few pieces of dirt under the center of marquee vinyl that are kinda driving me crazy.  Damn OCD! Haha.

This is why we test print fellas! 

[thomas_surles]

You should check out legend of Zelda - Outlands rom hack for the Nes. It's supposedly the best rom hack for the game. It's pretty good so far.

[markc74]

THATS your game room? Wow.

[nexusmtz]

THATS your game room? Wow.

If you think that's something, you should see the rest of his place!

[Wyo]

Lol. That's the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown.  Anyways, everybody knows that isn't my game room because it's not covered in gold from floor to ceiling.  It's a sight to behold! Goooooold!!

[Wyo]

Just a small update.  The cabinet is now fully functional.  I cut a cardboard monitor bezel and wired up the inside of the cabinet.  I installed the bezel art retainer bracket And per your guys sugesstions, I wired the sound output from the NES to the speaker on the front of the cab.  I enjoyed some NES games last night, it was a lot of fun.  I hadn't played for awhile.   







Next update will be art concepts and pics....that's pretty much all that's left.