Arcade Bones (Marquee & Dashboard graphics finalised)

[RaggedEdge]

I just have one question Bones.....Is the weather always so damn nice there?  It seems like every photo has pure blue sky and plenty of sunshine.  Here in Houston Tx. it's only that way maybe 20% of the time.  Anyway, I remember the sanding part.  You are smart wearing the mask.  I was blowing that crap out of my nose for weeks.  It gave me a sore throat too!

[Bones]

I just have one question Bones.....Is the weather always so damn nice there? It seems like every photo has pure blue sky and plenty of sunshine.

Yes, it really is that nice here. It only rains during the nightime and all of our woman are hotter than Jessica Simpson.

[Bones]

Hungover today. Update will be short.

Finished sanding and cleaned up surfaces with a rag and turps. Applied two coats of MDF sealer to visible areas with a paintbrush. Results are average. I will buy some rollers mid week for future coats.

I will try and finish sealing remaining areas of cabinet this week in preparation of more fine sanding and further undercoating next weekend.

[danny_galaga]

its really starting to come together! that white knight mdf primer is the bees knees! use a really fine foam roller...

[Bones]

its really starting to come together!

Yes, my journey up this steep hill is almost complete, I am anticipating the downhill rush that will build to a climax sometime before November.

that white knight mdf primer is the bees knees! use a really fine foam roller...

Fine knee foam bee roller, gotcha. Thanks mate I will check Bunnings.

[cdbrown]

I brushed 2 coats of that same primer - was quite thick stuff and now I have very visible brush strokes.  I wish I had have used a roller, now I hve a lot of sanding to do to bring it back to a nice surface before top coating.  Make sure to get foam brushes as well to do the edges.
http://www.camartech.com.au/ress/shop.php3?aisle=painting-brushes#

[Bones]

I put the first coat on really thin and it remained quite see-through in many areas. The second coat went on smoother and a lot quicker and the wood surface became more hidden.

But yeah, my crappy painting skills and the $30.00 paintbrush I brought that dropped hairs everywhere have ensured I have a lot of finishing work to do....

I will continue doing what I have done with the paintbrush but after the initial base has been put on and cut back nice and smooth, I will definitely use rollers from that moment forward.

[tommy]

I think you should start over, i don't care for how it's looking. 

[ChadTower]

I just have one question Bones.....Is the weather always so damn nice there?

[Bones]

Chads right. I don't even really exist.

[danny_galaga]

Chads right. I don't even really exist.

who said that?

[Bones]

Again, nothing much to report this Saturday.

I sanded down the sides previously primed with a paint brush and applied a third coat of primer with a fine foam roller. (Thanks danny)

Results are better. Priming and sanding will continue for another week or three.

My little assistant helped with the insides.

[M3talhead]

I guess I'll be the first..........


AAAAAAawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Boz]

I'm so excited to see the finished product, I can't stand it! Vicarious living is one of the century's greatest inventions. I know you've been working on it for many months now, but aren't you going apes**t not being able to play it yet?

[nullb0y]

the child seems a bit happy for painting 

[Bones]

I'm so excited to see the finished product, I can't stand it! Vicarious living is one of the century's greatest inventions. I know you've been working on it for many months now, but aren't you going apes**t not being able to play it yet?

Yeah, you would think that but the answer is no.

It's not that I don't want to play it because I do, but it's more like- "OK, this has gone on long enough".

Right now I just want it finished. I am yearning for free weekends.  I have been motivated enough to work every weekend since I begun but it's starting to wear off a little so close to the finish line.
 

[paigeoliver]

Bones, can you possibly take another picture of your assistant working on the cabinet, specifically one that makes it absolutely clear that it IS an arcade cabinet. It could be useful to me in persuading future wives.

[Bones]

It could be useful to me in persuading future wives.

To do what? Paint cabinets for you?

[paigeoliver]

It could be useful to me in persuading future wives.

To do what? Paint cabinets for you?

No, to let me build games in the living room!!

[Bones]

No, to let me build games in the living room!!

I am pretty sure I can't help you there. Even I don't try and push my luck that far.....

[Boz]

I've read through this thread more times over the last 2 weeks than I care to admit. But... Mr Bones, I have a couple of mix-n-match, oddball questions for you.

1. Would you mind posting a couple of additional pics of the back of your control panel (the part that seats against the cabinet) I'm having a hard time seeing how you've planned to secure it to the cabinet so that it won't move at all.

2. What influenced your decision to use those ball top joysticks as opposed to the "competition" variety? Authentic feel? Price?

3. Comment: looks like your rocker switches (your admin switches) are upside-down unless it's the rule of thumb in Aussie that "toward the equator" is off. 

I have to say, however, that your design and the hard work you have put in to this project has inspired me more than many others because you aren't a veteran woodworker (had to buy your first sets of tools), had never built a cabinet before, and don't strike me as a geek (TBD )

EDIT: provide link to control panel pic I'm talking about above

EDIT 2: Ok... nevermind on question 1. I thought you were actually going to use those case latches. (my bad)

[Bones]

1. Would you mind posting a couple of additional pics of the back of your control panel (the part that seats against the cabinet) I'm having a hard time seeing how you've planned to secure it to the cabinet so that it won't move at all.

Sorry man, I am unable to supply more pics at this stage as everything is back in pieces again but I will post something at a later stage during final assembly.

I think you may be struggling with the angle of this photo. The white painted section is the CP box (coffin  ) and the CP fits into this and is held down by gravity only. The CP has legs around 2" deep that locate it and stop it going anywhere. The coffin itself is bolted down and cannot move. (The case latches hold the dashboard in place only)

2. What influenced your decision to use those ball top joysticks as opposed to the "competition" variety? Authentic feel? Price?

Nothing in this project has been based around a budget (except paying freakin $100 in freight for a freakin bezel) and I did not get a chance to try the joysticks out before I purchased. Here in Oz there are limited suppliers of arcade parts so I pretty much ordered what was available at the height of my excitement.

There is another place selling some Happ's joysticks now but I like to do my shopping all at the one place and this was what Ozstick had available at the time. I had a goal when I started to make this cab from locally available parts, in reality I now wish I hadn't. I had some bizare idea about supporting the developing hobby in my country...blah blah blah.

3. Comment: looks like your rocker switches (your admin switches) are upside-down unless it's the rule of thumb in Aussie that "toward the equator" is off. 

Are they really? Ohh well, live and learn. Thank you for highlighting my stupidity.

I have to say, however, that your design and the hard work you have put in to this project has inspired me more than many others because you aren't a veteran woodworker (had to buy your first sets of tools), had never built a cabinet before, and don't strike me as a geek (TBD )

In reality all I really purchased was a circular saw, jigsaw and dropsaw. But you are right, my woodworking skills are very amateur and nah, I am more of a dork than a geek.

Thanks for all the nice comments and glad you have found the thread useful and perhaps my journey even a little humorous, after I finish all this horrid painting there will be more interesting updates on the way.

Cheers,
Bones

[ChadTower]

Nice on having the daughter help you.  My older son and I have tons of quality time working on games.  My younger son doesn't care to do it yet, it's still over his head.  He just wants them on and playable.

[Bones]

Nice on having the daughter help you.  My older son and I have tons of quality time working on games.  My younger son doesn't care to do it yet, it's still over his head.  He just wants them on and playable.

Yeah it has been cool getting her involved and she enjoyed the painting but man, she has left me with some rough work to fix up. Who would have thought a 4 year old would do such an average job....   

[Bones]

Saturday update

Have now put three very thin coats of sealer on the sides which were sanded at 240 grit between coats and the insides were also sealed with a single coat thicker coat.

Also started painting flat-black where this needs to go. Touch up will be with a paintbrush and I will then apply another full coating using the roller. When all the black is done to final finish, I will sand the sides and apply a final coat of sealer in preparation for undercoat & colour.

Waiting for paint to dry is a waste of time.

[Boz]

As I was planning out my own control panel today on paper, I wanted to know just how big the coffin top actually was. From the measurements on page 5 (I believe), I used Photoshop to resize the last big copy of it you posted, to the full 47 x 22. I used Illustrator to print it out on as many sheets of paper as it would take and taped them all together to get a real-world idea of the size.

DUDE! That thing could sink the titanic! Very nice! 

At any rate, my under-design CP will likely be slightly smaller, but not by much since four person gaming is the fun I hope to have.

[Bones]

Yeah.... It is big. This pic shows the proportions well. I just couldn't bring myself to build a squashy 4 player CP.

When the colour goes on it will be interesting to see what effect colour has on the appearance and size.

[Santoro]

That CP does conjure images of a coffin when it's open like that   

That is going to be a kick-ass cab for sure.

[Bones]

That is going to be a kick-ass cab for sure.

Well hopefully, if it's ever finished. The only thing I hate more than painting is sanding before I paint....   

Progress has definitely slowed.

[tommy]

I was just looking at your drink holders... do you have any extra wood protection from all the condensation that's going to come of those drinks?

Hate to see you start to put everything in the cab and have problems.

Aloha. 

[Boz]

I was just looking at your drink holders... do you have any extra wood protection from all the condensation that's going to come of those drinks?

I believe those are actually speaker holes. The one's just above the control panel, right?

Or was that a joke -- intended on suckering in the noob who responds and lining him up for unending ridicule. ~sigh~

[Bones]

In2ishun is right. The holes are for speakers.

Anybody who brings a drink near my finished cab will be beaten with great vengeance and furious anger.

[Freeplay]

The only thing I hate more than painting is sanding before I paint....

Bones... I'm with you, sanding and painting suck.
Why hasn't anyone tried building with pre laminated mdf ( Kitchen Cupboard Stuff? )

[DrewKaree]

The only thing I hate more than painting is sanding before I paint....

Bones... I'm with you, sanding and painting suck.
Why hasn't anyone tried building with pre laminated mdf ( Kitchen Cupboard Stuff? )

Because unless you use the right tools, the stuff tends to chip on the edges quite easily.  Even if you DO use the right tools, it still can happen. 

Laminating after cutting your parts out requires the right tools as well, but you're not locked in to the colors they have in stock, although there's a better than average chance that NO ONE needs any color other than the stock stuff, so that might be a wash.

Price is also another consideration, although your area may be different than mine.  A sheet of MDO (that's what they call the stuff I believe you to be talking about) is $10 more per sheet by me, and it's also heavier than even a sheet of standard heavy-ass MDF

[Bones]

It has been sometime since my last significant update and although I have been working constantly on my cab, I really don

[Bones]

Yesterday I applied two coats of undercoat over the top of my previously sanded and primed white surface. The undercoat is basically white with a black tint added to produce a grey finish. This was necessary in order to obtain the final colour I have chosen for my cab.

It was later explained to me that the original MDF sealer I used could have had the black tint added which would have reduced much of the previous work and help keep cost down.

At first I was a little pissed about not realising this but considering the problems I had along the way with the putty expanding, the amount of work and paint used would not have changed anyway.

The cab photo pretty much looks white not grey so I have included my paint stirrer which is in fact white and the difference can easily be seen.

[Bones]

My colour of choice is called Jack-O-Lantern and is identified by the Wattyl colour code 19A-1A. It is not orange like a piece of fruit but has a more

[Elfman]

Damn, that almost looks Photoshoped.

Looks good though!

[Bones]

Damn, that almost looks Photoshoped.

I suppose I will take that as a compliment!

I have worked incredibly hard in the painting department and invested much more time than I thought it would initially require so I am optimistic for good results....

[tommy]

NO. you're not going orange are you? Grey or blue would be good.