Zelda Mame finished

[Zakk]

Now before you guys start in on the control overkill, I have to say that this one was built to the new owner's specs.  As it is, it actually works pretty damn well.  The only problem I've had so far is Analog mame not keeping the mouse settings, but it's stated as a bug on the site, so I suppose it will be fixed sooner or later.  Each player has plenty of room and a good view of the screen.  He wanted each player to have the color matched sticks, he wanted the two rotary sticks, each with fire button one and two, the 4 way leafswitch stick, the vortex spinner, and the glowing trackball.  I have no idea what the cab originally was, but I really had my doubts that it would work out, since it was a dirty, nasty empty cab when I got it. Anyway, here it is (tada).

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Zeldamame/Zelda.htm

[SpamMe]

Nice, that underlay looks fantastic. Where/how was it printed?
Also, was just wondering why the CP box is as tall as it is. Only curious, no offence intended

[Zakk]

Well, there were three things taken into account there... 1) clearance for the rotary sticks with the optics underneath 2) the fact a panel that wide would look a bit odd if it were very shallow, and 2) the wood comes precut to that width, which saves me time on the tablesaw

Oh, and the underlay was printed and laminated at kinkos... it was a bit pricey, but worth it for the results!

[SNAAAKE]

Looks great man.Excellent artwork and theme.That trackball is awsome

I need some info on the trackball.
What type of trackball is it and where did you get it ?
Any other link that might help me install a trackball like that ?

I dont really care about how good it is as long as I can just controls windows and looks nice.

[OSCAR]

Nice artwork, looks sharp!  That is a huge panel, that's for sure!  I gotta ask, what's up with the blue circles on the title graphic on the project page?

Hey, you know what works great for cutting the holes in plexi, a plunge router!  I never use drills on plexi, only a router.  Okay, I take that back; for screw holes I use a single flute countersink bit with drill, but that cuts nice a smooth and doesn't cause any chipping or cracking.  Then I use flat head screws for a flush fit.

With the router, I don't even make pilot holes, just plunge a straight bit right into it.   I've made many plexi overlays this way and haven't cracked a single one.

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/sinistar/cp05.jpg

[Edgedamage]

As always great work Zakk.

[SirPeale]

Awful as always, Zakk.  Why do you even bother?  

[Zakk]

Looks great man.Excellent artwork and theme.That trackball is awsome

I need some info on the trackball.
What type of trackball is it and where did you get it ?
Any other link that might help me install a trackball like that ?

I dont really care about how good it is as long as I can just controls windows and looks nice.

It's a Happ 3" blue translucent, it was somewhere arround $100 CAN from starburt coin machines in Toronto.  For installation, it's just a 3" hole cut into a this piece of sheet steel that is screwed/glued to the panel itself, then bolted through the plexi for added strength.  You can kind of see the process on this cab:
http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Dyno/Dyno.htm
Then I just wired it up to the usb opti-pac.  Windows finds it right away as some kind of default mouse, and off you go!  Feel free to ask any more questions, as sometimes I'm not very clear  

[Zakk]

Nice artwork, looks sharp!  That is a huge panel, that's for sure!  I gotta ask, what's up with the blue circles on the title graphic on the project page?

Hey, you know what works great for cutting the holes in plexi, a plunge router!  I never use drills on plexi, only a router.  Okay, I take that back; for screw holes I use a single flute countersink bit with drill, but that cuts nice a smooth and doesn't cause any chipping or cracking.  Then I use flat head screws for a flush fit.

With the router, I don't even make pilot holes, just plunge a straight bit right into it.   I've made many plexi overlays this way and haven't cracked a single one.

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/sinistar/cp05.jpg

Oh I can only imagine you meant my "oops"

Do you freehand it, or do you have a stencil?  Also, what bit are you using in the router, and do you countersink with it too??? I think you mentioned it to me before, but I'm just scared of that damn thing I think.  I always seemt to try and find alternatives to using it    However, after that last screw up, and the time it took me to re-drill, sheesh, how much worse can it be?

(off to try the router in some scrap plexi)


Oh, and the blue circles on the Zelda name...just so Nintendo doesn't send me a cease and desist order on it.  I know they like to sue sites that use their copyrighted images and characters.  So this is a Zoldo mame cab!

[Zakk]

As always great work Zakk.

Thanks bro!  Now if I could just clear some monitors out of my garage I could get this beast deliverd  

[Zakk]

Awful as always, Zakk.  Why do you even bother?  

It would have looked just fine if it had some nice black player start buttons, without them, it's just a wasted effort!!

[OSCAR]

Oh I can only imagine you meant my "oops"

Do you freehand it, or do you have a stencil?  Also, what bit are you using in the router, and do you countersink with it too??? I think you mentioned it to me before, but I'm just scared of that damn thing I think.  I always seemt to try and find alternatives to using it    However, after that last screw up, and the time it took me to re-drill, sheesh, how much worse can it be?

(off to try the router in some scrap plexi)

Yes, I was referring to your "oops".    Using the below pic as an example, I'll try to explain exactly how I do mine:




First I drill out the control panel wood with a spade bit, or use a router w/ circle jig to make all the holes for buttons, joysticks, spinner, etc.  Then I cut a piece of plexi slightly larger than the wood cp.  I locate the spots for the screws, and then use a c'sink bit (reference www.mcmaster.com part number 3013A112) with a drill press or hand drill.  BTW, I was wrong in my previous post, my c'sink bit is a 3-flute not single flute.

Now I screw down the plexi to the wood control panel so it is secure.  Flip the control panel over so the plexi is on the bottom and start routering the plexi since the wood cp is now the template for the plexi.  This is the router bit I use for cutting plexi:  http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=30166.  Template router bits like this have a bearing at the top, unlike laminate trimming bits with the bearing on the bottom.  I personally like template bits much better than laminate bits exactly because you can plunge with them into your work rather than drilling large pilot holes.  Then I buzz around all the edges and inside the holes with the router and now the plexi is a perfect match for the control panel.

It probably took me almost as long to write this as it would have to actually make the plexi overlay this way.  
It seriously is a very quick, easy, and super accurate way to make plexi overlays without risking cracking them.  Once you start using your router for things like this, you will wonder why you weren't doing it this way all along.  My router is my most valuable tool and I constantly look for ways to take avantage of using it in projects.

 

[SirPeale]

Awful as always, Zakk.  Why do you even bother?  

It would have looked just fine if it had some nice black player start buttons, without them, it's just a wasted effort!!

Yeah yeah...it's all over but the waiting now.

And if you want to get rid of some of those monitor, feel free to ship them my way.

[Pat S]

Nice tip about the template router bits.  I had no idea they existed.  THANKS!!!!

[hyiu]

very nice....

I really like the whole zelda theme....

[Luxury]

ahhh...I too loved playing the Legend of Zelda in the arcades.  (honest to god - I once had a dream about that exact same thing as a kid, then waking up and thinking "How in the world would that even work?")

Great artwork!  Where did you get that awesome piece for your sideart?

[Zakk]

Thanks guys!

Lux: The sideart was just a graphic I picked up off google.  I think it was something like zelda poster or something like that.  It blew up a little but pixilized, but since it's for a vid game, I figure it looks just right  

[SirPeale]

Zakk: RE your website.

Hurry up and start posting about your new cab already, doggone it!  The SI cab you have is just sitting there, taunting me!  I wanna know what you're gonna do.

[JamesS]

I am always impressed when I look at those Cabs Zakk.

Nice job.  Your website is one of the reasons I decided to just buy an old cabinet and make it work for me.

Well in a couple of weeks, we should know how that turns out for me  

[Zakk]

Peale: Ya ya,  I know... however, I spent about 20 mins in the Home Depot today pricing out the parts I need to rebuild my bathroom with a nice spa tub and super silly expensive tile.  I -might- just take a short break while I do that renovation... After lifting these damn cabs for a few years, I think I need a nice relaxing spa tub  Now off to shovel the 10 feet of snow outta my driveway....oh I can hear the vertabrae compacting already!

James: Glad I could be an inspiration!  It is nice when a cab that realistically would have been headed for the trash heap (and the Zelda cab absolutely 100% was on its way there when I intercepted it), can be rescued and put back into use.  Add to that the fact that the replacement parts will probably always be available in one form or another, and the versatility of the finished product, they might just be around another 20 years or more!!

[SirPeale]

Peale: Ya ya,  I know...

Zakk's constant excuses anger Peale.  PEALE SMASH!

Seriously though...PARTY @ ZAKK'S HOUSE!

[Keypel]

Zakk,

I really like it. I think it turned out great. Looks like fun to play.

Nice 3D renders. I'm somewhat of a 3D artist myself. Here is one of my renders:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=13355;start=msg107694#msg107694

You think I could check out your project? I'd like to see your source files. I'd let you see mine as well.

LMK.

[Zakk]

Zakk,

I really like it. I think it turned out great. Looks like fun to play.

Nice 3D renders. I'm somewhat of a 3D artist myself. Here is one of my renders:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=13355;start=msg107694#msg107694

You think I could check out your project? I'd like to see your source files. I'd let you see mine as well.

LMK.

Sure!  I did it up in max.  It might not be all too pretty, as I did it mostly to see if the parts would fit or not.  I got the components from the image library at Oscar's site, then measuerd up my panel, and smooshed them all in there.  It's a great way to make sure all the bits fit.  PM me and let me know where you want me to send or post them, and what format!