Total Carnage! I love it!

[wp34]

I've been looking for a Smash TV cabinet for many years with no luck.  My buddy and I used to play it over our lunch break back in the early 90's and it has always been one of my favorite arcade games.  I was planning to build a Mame cabinet similar to Malenko's Open Ice project that would allow me to play Smash TV and Total Carnage and my son to play NFL Blitz. 

Then this cabinet showed up on Craigslist Thursday and it was only 5 minutes from my work.    I noticed after trying it out for a few minutes that it was a lot more fun playing Total Carnage on a dedicated cabinet than on my Mame setup.  There was one at our local auction two years ago (probably this exact one) and I lost out on the bidding.  I decided to buy and it create a combo Smash TV/Total Carnage setup similar to Delusional's.

Tasks -

1. Clean, clean, clean
2. Fix the sound
3. Replace the t-molding
4. Refurbish the front base
5. Repaint some of the black areas that are dinged up
6. Repaint the black metal parts that are rusted
7. Either replace the joysticks or just the handles
8. Fix the marquee light
9. Install Jamma switcher
10. Find and install Smash TV PCB
11. Replace both speakers
12. Install Any Coin mechs

[wp34]

The front of the base is pretty rough and that lock bar has to go.

[opt2not]

I'd buy that for a dollar!

[wp34]

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Ha ha! 

[wp34]

I replaced the leg levelors with casters that screwed right into the same posts.



 The bottom cleaned up pretty well.


It came with manuals that look like they have never been opened.  For some reason this was really, really cool to me.

[Slippyblade]

You gonna do a restore on it or just clean up and play?

[yotsuya]

Be careful with those wheels, they look like the ones I put on my NBA Jam. They're rated at 80lbs... They didn't hold up at ZapCon. They got bent like a Mofo moving the game around.

[Malenko]

Honored to be an inspiration!  I'd rather have a dedicated smash/carnage over playing it on MAME

I'd rather have the leg levelers, keeps the cab in place on flat ground and you just tip it back to move it.  Be thankful you didnt have to strip black paint off the sides!

[wp34]

I'd rather have the leg levelers, keeps the cab in place on flat ground and you just tip it back to move it. 

Be careful with those wheels, they look like the ones I put on my NBA Jam. They're rated at 80lbs... They didn't hold up at ZapCon. They got bent like a Mofo moving the game around.

These are rated at 80lbs so they are probably the same ones.  The casters don't look beefy enough but I'm hoping they handle the occasional movement on carpet in my basement.  If not I can put leg levelers back on.  My son's Madden game is really tough to get out from against the wall which is why I'm trying these.

[wp34]

Honored to be an inspiration!  I'd rather have a dedicated smash/carnage over playing it on MAME

I like how your CP is 4-player but the joysticks are level with each other.  It is very well done.

[wp34]

You gonna do a restore on it or just clean up and play?

A little of both.  It needs a lot of cleaning as well as some "restore".  I'm pretty picky on games I'm keeping and like them to look new if possible.  It is funny because my wife likes the little dings on the cabinets that show the history.

Here is the pick list -
1. Clean, clean, clean
2. Fix the sound
3. Replace the t-molding
4. Refurbish the front base
5. Repaint some of the black areas that are dinged up
6. Repaint the black metal parts that are rusted
7. Either replace the joysticks or just the handles
8. Fix the marquee light
9. Install Jamma switcher
10. Find and install Smash TV PCB
11. Replace both speakers

[Malenko]

9. Install Jamma switcher
10. Find and install Smash TV PCB

 

Shame Karate Champ has a one-off pinout and a vertical monitor

[wp34]

9. Install Jamma switcher
10. Find and install Smash TV PCB

 

Shame Karate Champ has a one-off pinout and a vertical monitor

Yeah it is a shame.  I'd love to include that board as well. 

[wp34]

Both speakers are blown but that doesn't appear to be the sound problem. I connected a speaker I had laying around but no dice. 

I'll add replacing those to the to-do list.

[spoot]

LOL, yeah, those speaks are toast.

[yotsuya]

6" car stereo speakers are a great drop-in replacement, and you don't have to use their ugly-ass grilles. I used a brand new one on Polybius, it was hidden behind the stock grille, and you couldn't tell the physical difference, but you sure could tell the audible difference.

[wp34]

6" car stereo speakers are a great drop-in replacement, and you don't have to use their ugly-ass grilles. I used a brand new one on Polybius, it was hidden behind the stock grille, and you couldn't tell the physical difference, but you sure could tell the audible difference.

Good to know.  Finding arcade 6" and 4" 4ohm replacements is proving to be difficult.  I may just go that route.   

[wp34]

The side-art is pretty decent but I'm a little concerned about pealing around the back and bottom of the cabinet.  Any suggestions how to protect/preserve this?  I thought about getting some black or clear "corner protector" strips to cover the edges.  I'm open to other ideas.

[wp34]

We tried some Modge Podge on the side art tonight in one small spot.  The artwork flakes so bad that it was breaking as I was trying to apply the glue.  Also I was hoping the Modge Podge would hold the side art down flat but I'll need to clamp it to get it to dry flat.  I may try glue next.

[Malenko]

when that happened on the TMNT cab I have, I just broke the art off cleanly, then bondo-ed the missing part. Since your cab bottom is all black, it should be easy to blend the repair into the existing art.

broke the lifted pieces off:


bondo:



takes a lot fo time and skill, if you arent comfy with it, I think woodglue and clamps is your best bet.

[wp34]

I like what you did with that TMNT but the bottom and bottom-back of mine is blue to the edge.  I'm not sure I can blend it all that well.  Something to think about though.

[wp34]

6" car stereo speakers are a great drop-in replacement, and you don't have to use their ugly-ass grilles. I used a brand new one on Polybius, it was hidden behind the stock grille, and you couldn't tell the physical difference, but you sure could tell the audible difference.

I'm having trouble finding an inexpensive 6" speaker.  6.5" are plentiful.  I may go with a 5.25" and make an adapter.

The cabinet has a 6" woofer and a 4" "tweeter" with what appears to be a cross-over between them.  I'm assuming that if I get a full-range 6" car speaker to replace the woofer and can leave the 4" spot empty. 

[yotsuya]

Let me see what I ordered and send you a link.

[wp34]

Let me see what I ordered and send you a link.

Thanks!

[wp34]

This cabinet has a neat feature I haven't seen before.  There is a door on the right-front side that is removable.  It allows you to pull the PCB out through the front.


Here are some more shots of the front of the cabinet.









Metal bezel clip that needs repainted.

[Malenko]

This cabinet has a neat feature I haven't seen before.  There is a door on the right-front side that is removable.  It allows you to pull the PCB out through the front.

Yeah, its an awesome feature, dedicated MK1s are like that too. You plan on filling those bolt holes?

[yotsuya]

Berzerk does that too. That is a nice feature.

[wp34]

This cabinet has a neat feature I haven't seen before.  There is a door on the right-front side that is removable.  It allows you to pull the PCB out through the front.

Yeah, its an awesome feature, dedicated MK1s are like that too. You plan on filling those bolt holes?

Is this basically the same cabinet as MK1?  As I'm researching parts I'm running across MK references quite a bit.  Even the joysticks seem the same.

Yep I am planning on filling the bolt holes and picked up some plugs at Menards last night.   There is enough laminate left over from my Tron project to cover the front.  I'm just not sure how well the corners will look with that three-sided front. 

[Malenko]

plugs? Just get some bondo and get to work!


I believe the TC cab was the basis of the MK1 cab, theres been a few midway cabs with the angled front (including a black and blue generic cab). But after MKII everything was squared on the front

[wp34]

plugs? Just get some bondo and get to work!

Ha ha!  There will be bondo.  No doubts there.

[wp34]

Looks like I have a cap kit in my near future.  It will be my first one.

[Malenko]

why? I dont see any bulged or leaking caps, just one with glue on it.

[wp34]

why? I dont see any bulged or leaking caps, just one with glue on it.

I assumed that cap was leaking. Good news because I really didn't want to cap it.   I'm having trouble with the horizontal size but otherwise the monitor seems pretty good.

[Malenko]

so replace the horizontal width coil or resistor and you should be golden.  If you can solder theres no harm in recapping, I just prefer not to unless I have to.

[wp34]

so replace the horizontal width coil or resistor and you should be golden.  If you can solder theres no harm in recapping, I just prefer not to unless I have to.

Thanks Malenko.  I'll recap this one at some point but I'd like to avoid it in the short term just so I can get it in my basement.  Too many projects in the garage.

[wp34]

The front is going to get painted instead of laminated.  I'm pretty good with a router but am not sure I can flush-trim route the PCB door since it is so close to the edge and there are a lot of angles to mess with.



It was pretty obvious from the black overspray on the t-molding that she has been repainted once before.


My bondo ended up being a little old and the first coat went on rough.   I went and bought a new can for the 2nd coat and it was much easier to work with.



Two coats of hammered black paint on the metal glass retainers.  I used that paint on my Asteroids Deluxe coin door and it goes on a little gray.  I'm going to going over it with semi-gloss black for a final coat.

[Slippyblade]

I remember when I first signed up on the forums and read somebody recommending Bondo - I thought they were nuts.  Then I used it, soooo cool. 

[wp34]

I remember when I first signed up on the forums and read somebody recommending Bondo - I thought they were nuts.  Then I used it, soooo cool. 

I had the exact same reaction.   

[Malenko]

tape a trash bag to the inside.  looks like you have everything patched up really well!

[wp34]

tape a trash bag to the inside.  looks like you have everything patched up really well!

Thanks! 

I had trouble getting tape to stick so I ended up wrapping the PCB in a sheet and the monitor in a trash bag.  I forgot how much dust you get with bondo though.  It is as bad as routing MDF.