Space Duel Mame Conversion

[DK1105]

I'm currently in the process of converting a Space Duel into a Mame cabinet.  The goal with this conversion is leave the Space Duel as untouched as possible.  So far the only thing I have done is install new light grey glass and make a black bezel and swap out the original coin door for a Happ one I had laying around from an old Mame cabinet I took apart year ago.  Only switched them out because the original one was missing the coin mechs.

The cabinet is in decent shape but has some chipping and water swelling on the right side but nothing major.  Artwork on both sides looks great just a bit dirty in spots.

When I got this cab is was entirely gutted with the exception of the coin door so it was the perfect candidate for a conversion.  Everything other than the glass and the $2 bezel I made has been spare part I had laying around the house.  LCD monitor, friends donated laptop with broken screen,decent 2.1 speakers, Ipac2, Magstick and button from old Mame build.

CP is just foam core for mock up right now.  I haven't settled on a CP design yet but I leaning toward what I have now.  I think I'm going to find some atari volcano's for player 1 and 2.  I'm still flip flopping on if I want to put original marquee on or not.  Once everything is up and running I plan on making swappable metal CPs that use the original mounts.

I will also be moving my Millepede cabinet up from the basement into the living room as well.  How I got permission to do so I have no idea but I'm not going to question it.  Our basement has flooded a few times in the last year and have had a few close calls but have been lucky that it was on the highest part of the basement.

I have 1 rule with this build.  THOU SHALL NOT CUT
I think this rule should be implemented more often.

[dmckean]

It looks to be in really good shape. It's a shame it was gutted.

[geeteoh]

Keep us updated. I have the same project!  Space Dual cabinet to mame - no cut.  Except mine wasn't gutted and I'll be using Raspberry PI 2.

[SlammedNiss]

Must be a pretty popular build, as I have a gutted Space Duel cab myself in my basement in need of some MAME.

[DK1105]

Time for an update.  I got side tracked and completely forgot about updating this thread.

Found a gorgeous original marquee on Craigslist for a song and dance over the summer so I ran and picked that up.  Made some retainers out of aluminum angle stock and gently persuaded it to shape with a vice.  Control panel is made out of cheap hvac steel and some thin wood paneling backing for some extra rigidity and they feel just a nice as an original steel CP.  Also installed a nicer LCD.  All mouse and keyboard stuff is controlled from ether my tablet or phone thanks to the wonderful unified remote app.

Now the biggest update is I installed a 16 port cat5 patch panel for easy swappable control panels.  I had to make my own standard with port 1 and 2 wired to joysticks 1 - 4 and ports 3 - 6 for each players buttons. Port 7 controls the start buttons.  8 - 16 right now are open for what ever I might want to add later.

I made sure to keep the cost of making a CP down so I can just made new dictated ones when ever I want to.  No more playing defender with fighting game controls.  I think the next CP is going to be a nice 2 player fighting set up or Robotron/Smash TV.  Neogeo will happen some time soon but my current CP is comfortable playing 4 button neo games.

I still need to clean up some wiring and reroute my ground wires.  I can't stress how much nicer things are thanks to a less than $20 patch panel.  Everyone should fight the urge of the franken panel.

[vwalbridge]

What's with all the gutted Space Duels? Good to see you are not hacking up the cab.

What are the buttons on the bezel for?

[yotsuya]

What's with all the gutted Space Duels? Good to see you are not hacking up the cab.

What at the button on the bezel for?

I'm sure it has to do with the limits of the color vector monitor.

[DK1105]

What's with all the gutted Space Duels? Good to see you are not hacking up the cab.

What are the buttons on the bezel for?

It has to be that color vector monitor.  Not exactly the easiest thing to source.

Well the space duel CP wraps up rather high to cover were the glass starts so that was a great place to put the start buttons.