Author Topic: Shiny-est Control Panel Ever?!?! (Read 4643 times)

Minwah · « **on:** June 17, 2004, 01:32:33 pm »

I've been working on this panel for the last couple of weeks (on & off)...basically it is nearly finished, needs a couple of screws and I have to wire up the controls (waiting for some PCB feet) . Also the analog stick needs finishing (see this thread: http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20409 )...

The panel is made of aluminium, some I had left over from my Mini's dash...eventually I will cover it with a CPO

Minwah · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2004, 01:32:58 pm »

One from the front:

ChadTower · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2004, 01:46:09 pm »

Now that sucker will stand up to some abuse. Did you brush that pattern on yourself?

Lance · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2004, 02:04:44 pm »

What did you cut the hole for the trackball with?

Apollo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2004, 04:45:17 pm »

It is possible to use a 3" wood hole saw on aluminium so it's probably that ( or a 3" meatl hole saw of course lol ).

SirPoonga · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2004, 05:34:17 pm »

It's ... ummm ..... unique

I have seen shinier. That dude that painted his cabinet like a car, with primer, couple layers of color coat, and a couple layers of top coat.

Minwah · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2004, 08:13:21 pm »

Chad: No, don't think I have the patience for that...bought a sheet from a classic car specialist.

Lance: Used a tank cutter - has a pilot drill with an arm coming off the centre, with a scribing type cutter on it. You adjust the size and I used a hand bradle and a bit of effort. Surpisingly it came out *exactly* the right size, and nice & clean too

SirP: Yeah, I remember, you could see the guys reflection in it

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2004, 10:09:56 pm »

NIIICE..nice and cool..now all you need is a slikstik steel handle(added touch to the coolness)

Just a sugggestion !

stuzza · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2004, 10:12:33 pm »

That is shiny!

Looks good. I've just finished a panel with a checker plate overlay which has a similar effect.

Brax · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2004, 10:34:01 pm »

Quote from: SNAAAKE on June 17, 2004, 10:09:56 pm

NIIICE..nice and cool..now all you need is a slikstik steel handle(added touch to the coolness)

Just a sugggestion !

Contrast is your friend. The red balltops add a nice counterpoint.

Minwah · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2004, 04:44:21 am »

Quote from: Brax on June 17, 2004, 10:34:01 pm

Quote from: SNAAAKE on June 17, 2004, 10:09:56 pm
NIIICE..nice and cool..now all you need is a slikstik steel handle(added touch to the coolness)

Just a sugggestion !

Contrast is your friend. The red balltops add a nice counterpoint.

Yeah I do like red balltops. Actually since I modified the joystick+shaft it would be quite hard to fit SlikStik handles anyway. I'm not too keen on those SS handles either, they look a bit heavy to me...

Minwah · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2004, 04:45:44 am »

Quote from: stuzza on June 17, 2004, 10:12:33 pm

That is shiny! Looks good. I've just finished a panel with a checker plate overlay which has a similar effect.

Is the chequer plate an image or real? Just wondered as I have a big panel of the stuff...

patrickl · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2004, 06:02:26 am »

Interesting controller layout. Why did you put the stick and buttons so far apart?

Minwah · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:24:57 am »

Quote from: patrickl on June 18, 2004, 06:02:26 am

Interesting controller layout. Why did you put the stick and buttons so far apart?

Well the buttons are for use with the stick, spinner and trackball, and as a rule I will use my left hand for those, and right hand for buttons. There are a few games where I will use left hand for stick, and right hand for spinner or trackball, but that is the best layout I could come up with...where would you have put the buttons?

patrickl · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:42:37 am »

Quote from: Minwah on June 18, 2004, 11:24:57 am

Quote from: patrickl on June 18, 2004, 06:02:26 am
Interesting controller layout. Why did you put the stick and buttons so far apart?

Well the buttons are for use with the stick, spinner and trackball, and as a rule I will use my left hand for those, and right hand for buttons. There are a few games where I will use left hand for stick, and right hand for spinner or trackball, but that is the best layout I could come up with...where would you have put the buttons?

It's just that I can't remember seeing a layout like this before. I'm still looking for a good one player layout. So I was wondering why you choose this specific layout (trying to learn something).

Maybe I would put the stick in the middle (or as close to it as fits) and the spinner and trackball to the left of it (but then I hardly play any spinner or trackball games)

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2004, 02:32:11 pm »

Actually yeah I was wrong..I was messing around with the pic in photoshop.SS steel stick wont look right.It will be like black stick on a black surface...

Anyhow I am still wondering how thick is this material ?
You drilled the holes with a drill+spade bit or a drill press ?
Just curious...

Again,it looks great

Minwah · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2004, 05:29:38 pm »

Quote from: patrickl on June 18, 2004, 11:42:37 am

It's just that I can't remember seeing a layout like this before. I'm still looking for a good one player layout. So I was wondering why you choose this specific layout (trying to learn something).

Maybe I would put the stick in the middle (or as close to it as fits) and the spinner and trackball to the left of it (but then I hardly play any spinner or trackball games)

Well remember that is an analog stick, so it won't actually get *that* much use...

I think because my cab is relatively narrow, the gap between the stick and buttons doesn't seem too bad (haven't actually played it yet tho, stick needs finishing). So far the spinner & trackball feel great while playing tho

Minwah · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2004, 05:31:44 pm »

Quote from: SNAAAKE on June 18, 2004, 02:32:11 pm

Anyhow I am still wondering how thick is this material ?
You drilled the holes with a drill+spade bit or a drill press ?
Just curious...

The aluminium is 2mm thick. The button holes and joystick hole I made with a metal hole punch (great tool), and the trackball hole with a tank cutter (see my earlier post about that).

GameDork · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2004, 03:07:28 am »

I've been thinking about using diamond plate to put on my panel, but I don't think the shears at my work would cut it. Maybe I'll use some brushed stainless steel.

Looks Good, I love Metal!!

Minwah · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2004, 10:20:51 am »

Quote from: GameDork on June 19, 2004, 03:07:28 am

I've been thinking about using diamond plate to put on my panel, but I don't think the shears at my work would cut it. Maybe I'll use some brushed stainless steel.

Looks Good, I love Metal!!

Yeah metal is cool...I wouldn't want to work with stainless tho, but if you have the tools at work then go for it

Blakey · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2004, 02:32:35 am »

Stainless is fine!

I'm using 0.9mm brushed stainless, which looks very nice (although Minwah's panel is extremely cool, and I would have used that finish if it was available)

I just guillotined mine down 1mm today and folded it to fit my CP ends on the sheet metal folder. Couldn't have been easier (he says, having successfully done it)

Definitely glad I went this way instead of powdercoated mild steel.

Minwah · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2004, 03:03:46 pm »

Quote from: Blakey on June 23, 2004, 02:32:35 am

Stainless is fine!

I'm using 0.9mm brushed stainless, which looks very nice (although Minwah's panel is extremely cool, and I would have used that finish if it was available)

I just guillotined mine down 1mm today and folded it to fit my CP ends on the sheet metal folder. Couldn't have been easier (he says, having successfully done it)

Definitely glad I went this way instead of powdercoated mild steel.

My mate made a table in his VW camper out of stainless steel in same finish as my ally, so you can get it...

Bear in mind I cut my trackball hole out using a tank cutter and a LOT of time and sweat (even with ally)...so that's what puts me off stainless...

You'll have to put some pics up when you're done - I like seeing metal panels

Blakey · « **Reply #22 on:** June 23, 2004, 09:46:08 pm »

Seeing as you asked:

I cut mine with... a laser. No sweat.

There's one more like this one, and one with 2 sticks, each with 6 buttons, plus a 57mm tball in the middle. Folding those two today.

Blakey · « **Reply #23 on:** June 24, 2004, 09:41:00 am »

More shiny:

patrickl · « **Reply #24 on:** June 24, 2004, 10:29:20 am »

This is like an REM song ... "Shiny happy CP" (or was that people?)


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