Arcade Bones (Marquee & Dashboard graphics finalised)

[DrewKaree]

And Bones, whatever you do, don't tell him there's a bigger CP out there

[Bones]

Haven't been able to work on the cab recently as I have been busy playing Rygar! I am really digging my cab, it is such a cool thing to have. I have played it every day since the control panel was plugged in.

But... This week I did make some effort. Through a company I deal with at work (being a purchasing officer has its perks), I sent off some plans for Lexan sizes I needed cut & supplied. The dude has a CNC lathe and his business is plastics engineering. I wanted my dashboard Lexan to have a slight corner radius which I could not achieve with my own tools.

At the same time I gave him my required marquee sizes. I still have Lexan leftover but it is a bit scratched up so I decided not to use it. Besides, I just spent a whole weekend cleaning my garage.

The dashboard setup will consist of a top 3mm layer of Lexan where the corners and edges have been slightly rounded, then I will have an instruction card or the cabinet logo or some other artwork, then a 6mm piece of Lexan the same size as the top part, and finally.....A small piece of Lexan to spigot the assembly into the dashboard access panel.

Confused? Refer Pics. In the photo you can see the approximate position of the dashboard Lexan sitting on top of the vinyl.

I will have to use screws to hold the pieces together and I see no way I can do this without them being exposed. I have decided to countersink and screw from underneath and dress the top with some shiny acorn nuts. Rather than try and conceal these nuts, I might try and bring them into the artwork so they don't look terribly out of place.

I have not completely dismissed the idea of back lighting this section. I need to check it won't cause any glare on the monitor and then make a decision. I envisage the artwork will be a few images and text on a black background so all I really want is a subtle glow. I am even thinking the clustered LED's might be suitable..... More thought required here.

For anyone interested, I asked the CNC dude how he holds such small pieces for machining. He explained the CNC bed is a giant vacuum with little holes that suck down the workpiece. No clamps required! Cool....

Best of all I got the work done free of charge!  Big thanks to Aiden from Starwheel Manufacturing.

[Pixelhugger]

WOW! Very cool. That's a lot like what I've been planning on for the instructional marquee on my cab. Here is a sketch of how I'm approaching it to hide the bolt heads.

[Bones]

Hey that's a pretty cool suggestion/design and I notice your photoshop skills are just slightly better than mine......

[Santoro]

Sorry to hijack Bones,

Pixel, why not just screw into the wood from the bottom?

[SirPoonga]

Pixel, why not just screw into the wood from the bottom?   The glued bolts look like an accident waiting to happen.

Depends on how thick the wood is there, might not be much to grip to.

Instead of glueing nuts why not use a T Nut?  Speaker cabinet builders use them for the speaker holes.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=081-1073
Drill a hole the size of the middle part and pound into wood like a nail.

[c64rulez]

Kind of a late comment, but they say better late than...

Just wanted you to know that I think the way you're documenting your project is admirable. I have seen nothing but the quest for perfection, and finally I confess that this project is the reason I became a BYOAC member.

So, if anyone's to blame, it's you 

[Timoe]

update pics?  What color tmold will you be using?

[Bones]

Thanks C64.

update pics?  What color tmold will you be using?

No updates at this moment. I had a hand operation two weeks ago and still recovering. Hoping to return to construction in a few weeks.


There is very little left to actually do. I need to finalise my marquee and dashboard graphics then I will attach the t-molding (black), and we are pretty much done.

There will still be sideart but I am not treating this as a priority at this time.

[danny_galaga]

now to the HARDEST task- condensing this thread down to 3 pages or less 

[Bones]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

[HoopstarsGarage]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

Nah..   

But I reckon you should stop changing your sig and avartar - it gives me headspins everytime I log on and see that it's changed

[Pixelhugger]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

Not possible.

[Zakk]

OK... Perhaps there is the slightest chance I over-documented the construction process......

Not possible.

Quiet you! 

[DrewKaree]

soooo...........

[danny_galaga]

soooo...........

yes. soooo... will this quote flip it over to 17 pages?

(",)

[danny_galaga]

soooo...........

yes. soooo... will this quote flip it over to 17 pages?

(",)

hmmm, not quite i guess...

[BobbyG66]

17.............................now?

[AtomSmasher]

uh...theres 40 posts per page, which means there needs to be 21 more posts before page 17

[Stingray]

I don't have anything to contribute. I just wanted to pipe in and let you know that I'm still following your progress, Bones. Oh and also to belittle you for being the reason that C64 joined.

-S

[Bones]

Just to add something project related to this page......

I have pretty much recovered from my op and I have started again fooling with my marquee design. I am also having mixed feelings about the black t-molding and I am keeping my eye out for some white stuff.

I am hoping to make some progress again over the next month although I am putting a hold on the sideart for now. I want to get it finished and photographed so I have a better chance of matching the sideart to the overall appearance.

However, the really good news is last night I got over 700,000 on Rygar! 

[danny_galaga]

uh...theres 40 posts per page, which means there needs to be 21 more posts before page 17

way to go destroying my fantasy of clocking it over in one post! dreams are free, brother. dreams are free...

[danny_galaga]

Just to add something project related to this page......

I have pretty much recovered from my op and I have started again fooling with my marquee design. I am also having mixed feelings about the black t-molding and I am keeping my eye out for some white stuff.

I am hoping to make some progress again over the next month although I am putting a hold on the sideart for now. I want to get it finished and photographed so I have a better chance of matching the sideart to the overall appearance.

However, the really good news is last night I got over 700,000 on Rygar! 

believe it or not bones, we sell white t-molding at work (",) . bad news is you will have to buy several hundred metres of it  good news is that my staff discount is cost plus 5%  . i've NEVER seen such a sweet staff discount. if you want i can investigate to see if we sell it by the metre too and i can find out next week what all the costs will be...

edit: beware though. white t-molding marks really easily...

[Bones]

I heard Clark Rubber might sell the stuff but I haven't had a chance to check them out yet.....

Maybe your company has a distributor in Sydney?

PM me with company details if this is the case (if I can get something local). Discount is great but I am happy to pay retail if I can get it close to home.

Thanks man. 

[cagey]

Firstly, I'd just like to say your CP looks really great. One of the few 4+ player CPs that doesn't look like a candy coloured minefield.

Did you get the CP printed in Sydney (I think thats where you're from)? If so, where exactly? Also have you been sourcing other parts from Australia as well? I'm having a bit of trouble finding places that look trustworthy.

I don't think you've printed your marquee yet so I hope its alright to comment on this. To me, the font you chose doesn't really look suitable. It just doesn't seem right for the space invaders artwork, but you've most likely put more thought into it than me.

Cagey.

[Bones]

Yep, I am in Sydney and a company called Etude Promotions & Marketing did the printing for me.

http://www.etudepm.com
My contact was John. (Very nice and helpful bloke in Parklea.)

I purchased the encoder, buttons, joystick, trackball and VGA card from Ozstick.

This thread is as long as they come but if you flick through it I am pretty sure I have recorded where most of the major parts were sourced.

When I am finished my project I will put together a list of credits which will detail local suppliers. This should make it a little easier for the Aussies to find what they are looking for.

[cagey]

Great, thanks alot. Now I guess I'll trawl trough your thread, or maybe it'd be faster just to wait for that list

[jbox]

This should make it a little easier for the Aussies to find what they are looking for.

Thank God for that. All this time I've wasted climbing the highest mountains and scaling those damn city walls...

[Bones]

This should make it a little easier for the Aussies to find what they are looking for.

Thank God for that. All this time I've wasted climbing the highest mountains and scaling those damn city walls...

And you still haven't found what your looking for?

[Santoro]

Little known trivia.. The Edge revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that that song was written after searching supermarkets for Boo-Berry cereal.

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ConanOBrien

[fiscap]

So that's it?? February 4th hits and no more updates? C'mon now - how's the progress coming along?

[NiteWalker]

Phew....Just finished reading all 16 pages.  I am tired. It's 6:42 am here. I did not get up that early...(hint...).

Anyway from start until now I've seen the progress you've made in your cabinet and your skills. Your cabinet is definitely something to behold. Some very unique touches (the home brew speaker grills, the gigantic 4 player aircraft carrier..er control panel, the admin panel, etc.) that beg to be emulated. I'm a ways off of building my first cabinet but I'll keep all your progress and mistakes in mind. Good work documenting it thus far. Now finish it already so we can see some $$$ shots...

WOW! Very cool. That's a lot like what I've been planning on for the instructional marquee on my cab. Here is a sketch of how I'm approaching it to hide the bolt heads.

That's a sweet idea.
*noted in mame arcade cabinet journal*

[M3talhead]

All 'Bones really cared about was hitting the "20k views" mark...

[psychopanda]

Love that orange color on the sides. It makes me rethink the whole 'basic black' cab look that so many people are using. The nice thing is that it's a more neutral color for inside the house.

[Bones]

Thanks for the interest guys.

This year has been pretty crazy for me and cabinet construction has been put on the back-burner with other things taking priority.

However, just 2 days ago I got the urge to get my cab finished and re-visited Illustrator with the intention of finishing my marquee and dashboard graphics.

I am painfully slow in the graphics department so it is difficult to estimate when I will be complete but things are happening again now.

Hopefully in a couple more weeks I can make an update of significance.

Cheers,
Bones

[nullb0y]

ah finally an update (somewhat) i was following this a while ago glad to see it built ^_^

[DrewKaree]

He's actually done.  We just haven't caught up to his "present" yet.  He's from the future, ya know

[M3talhead]

He's actually done.  We just haven't caught up to his "present" yet.  He's from the future, ya know

[Bones]

I have now completed my final marquee design.

Also completed my dashboard design. This is the section that will cover the access panel. The crosses indicate where the six acorn nuts will hold the two pieces of Lexan together (with the print sandwiched in between).

All I have to do before sending the files off for printing is confirm the exact size of the acorn nuts. I want something small and subtle but haven't checked on available sizes as yet......

I had played with the idea of back-lighting the dashboard graphics but my testing shows that the monitor glass will bounce the reflection so I have decided against it.

[M3talhead]

I like it.