First cab - based on Q*bert design **nearly finished**

[turbopsi]

After reading and reading, double checking and a little more reading I have finally started my own Mame cab.

I owe my motivation to this site and the community of people who support it.

Like anyone else starting a cab for the first time I needed a design. I narrowed my choices to 2 retro designs - Centipede and Q*bert. I decided to go for the compact Q*bert. Thanks to Jakobud's plans, the only modifications I made was extending the control panel depth.

Here are some progress pics....

[turbopsi]

Not sure about the control panel shape yet. Its either going to be straight or angled as in the pics below.

[turbopsi]

Restored coin door.
Couldn't find a black hammered finish paint here at the local suppliers.. Bunnings, Auto retailers ..
I ended up using VHT wrinkle finish spray paint. After a few coats it come up alright but I would have still preferred hammered.

[turbopsi]

Monitor, Speakers and Fluro.

Speakers are 5" response 2 way coaxials which will be pewered by Creative Insipre 3000 2.1 system.

TV is a 51cm Hisense. Inputs are component and s-video. To my suprise it has a panasonic tube.

[turbopsi]

I'm currently sanding and preparing the cab for painting.

I have picked up a can of White Night MDF Primer and Semi Gloss enamel for front, top and back.

Not sure about the sides yet.
I'm testing my novice skills in Illustrator at the moment and it ain't good so far

[eggedd2k]

lookin good m8

[dennis808]

How did you get that mounting frame on the TV picyure-tube? Was it already around the glass when you stripped the TV apart?
I really like the look of the cab already...

[turbopsi]

Thanks guys.

The metal surround including the corner mounting brackets are part of the tv. It's what holds the tv to the front plastic bezel when in the case.

All I did was add metal strips underneath to spread the load over the mdf.

Here's a close up pic.

[paigeoliver]

Make it straight, the panel bumping out in the front is mating design styles of two completely different kinds of cabinets. Its like bolting body parts from 1990s cars onto 1970s ones.

[turbopsi]

I know where your coming from and I am the same with cars ..Believe me !
I also like my cars and cringe at what some people see as a cool modification.

Classics should be restored, not modified.

In the case of my cab my aim is to have the retro feel without adhering to a particular design.

I'm leaning towards the straight edge myself.

[the3eyedblindman]

Make it look like a dedicated Q bert! please, I love when people build repros instead of straight up mame cabinets. they are way cooler, it can play as many games as you want, just make the cabinet look like a Qbert, original sideart, marquee, etc.

[koolmoecraig]

Man, that is sweet.

I always thought Q*bert had the best ergonomics(best height, monitor angle etc.) That why I used one in my build: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=26333.0

Would you consider building an extra to sell me? I wanna have two mame machines. One vertical on horizontal.

[turbopsi]

Man, that is sweet.

I always thought Q*bert had the best ergonomics(best height, monitor angle etc.) That why I used one in my build: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=26333.0

Would you consider building an extra to sell me? I wanna have two mame machines. One vertical on horizontal.

Your cab is all class and can see why" the3eyedblindman" would like to see my cab themed accordingly.

If my SF side art does not work out I might have to go the q*bert theme.

Your right about the height, monitor angle etc..

[koolmoecraig]

I am totally serious about buying a cabinet from you. Would you be interested in building one for me?

I like how you used the wide coin door instead of the over-under. It matches the horizontal monitor. My over-under matches the vertical monitor. Cool.

So what do you say?

[turbopsi]

I thought you were located in the U.S ?

[koolmoecraig]

I thought you were located in the U.S ?

I am in the US. Southern Cali to be exact. I just don't have the tools or room to build my own cabinet. My Q*bert is an original cabinet.

[Mr. Bubblehead]

Make it look like a dedicated Q bert! please, I love when people build repros instead of straight up mame cabinets. they are way cooler, it can play as many games as you want, just make the cabinet look like a Qbert, original sideart, marquee, etc.

I second that.  Make it look like an original cab.

[lebanull]

very nice!!

[turbopsi]

I thought you were located in the U.S ?

I am in the US. Southern Cali to be exact. I just don't have the tools or room to build my own cabinet. My Q*bert is an original cabinet.

I dont think shipping from Mebourne Australia would be worth it. Look me up if you ever visit Melbourne

My workspace is a single car garage with a car in it most of the time.
Give it a go. Trust me it's not that hard, a little fustrating at times but you work your way through it.  I built the whole thing using a $99 circular saw, cordless drill, sander and router. The only thing I have built prior to the cab is a dog house !

I can assist with any info you need.

[koolmoecraig]

Ahhhhh. Stupid me thought you were in the US.

[turbopsi]

Here's the Cab neraly finished. Ignore the MK3 marquee, just wanted to cover up the blank space.

I was nervous to see how the Street Fighter side art would look. It looks pretty good in person the pics dont do it much justice.


Still to do..
-wire up CP
-build and configure PC
-design and print new marquee.

Nearly there ....

[D5A1AC]

It's looking really good so far - it seems very well planned out and built. I like the attention to detail even where no one's going to be looking, like that rear vent. Very nice indeed.