25" TV in a Centipede Cabinet?

[Justin]

has anyone achieved this?   I'm planning on buying a Centipede cabinet and MAME it.  (It was already gutted, painted, and converted, so no harm done here)

Does anyone know if this cabinet design/shape was used in Atari for a Horizontal monitor game?

This conversion looks like a Centipede to me:
http://mamefans.metropoliglobal.com/down/Museum/CPS/UNSquadron.CPS1/Cabinet2.jpg

[BobA]

I have an Atari cab with a similar profile that I have not been able to identify but if it helps the max width is 23.5 to 23.75 inches.   It has the original monitor mounting piece and is set up for a 19 inch monitor that is placed horizontally.  

BobA

[Howard_Casto]

has anyone achieved this?   I'm planning on buying a Centipede cabinet and MAME it.  (It was already gutted, painted, and converted, so no harm done here)

Does anyone know if this cabinet design/shape was used in Atari for a Horizontal monitor game?

This conversion looks like a Centipede to me:
http://mamefans.metropoliglobal.com/down/Museum/CPS/UNSquadron.CPS1/Cabinet2.jpg

Thats not a centipede.... it's a standard dynamo cab used on most cps2 games and literally hundreds of other models.  A 25 inch will probably fit in this cab, but not in a Centipede, as it's narrower.  

[Larry Smith]

The inside width of a centipede cab is 23 3/4" so it is possible with a little work.
You will need to remove the original monitor mount and replace it with a shelf for the TV.
It isn't easy to remove but it's definately possible (I did it). Another concern is depth, a 25" TV is probably deeper than the original 19" monitor so for the TV to fit it will have to sit a little farther forward in the cab than the original monitor or let it stick out the back (that's what I did).

[Justin]

Hey larry, thanks for the input!  

Any chance you could post some pics, or provide a link?  I'd like to see what you have done with the Centipede cab, as I am open to ideas right now.

Thahks!

[Larry Smith]

I don't have any pics yet but here is what I've done so far.
20" computer monitor in a rotating mount, it sticks out the back a couple of inches so I will have to make allowance for that when I make a back panel for my cab (it came without a back panel).
To get the wood  panel hat the monitor attaches to out you will need to separate it from the side bracings that it's stapled to, just hit it from behind (several times) with a large hammer. Next if you need the bracings removed for your new mount/shelf pry them off with a crowbar (tough) and remove everything through the back of the cab. Otherwise I think it's easier to remove the thin side supports for the monitor glass and the thin wood strip behind the control panel that the monitor glass sits against and take it out through the front of the cab.
If you look at a centipede cab these instructions should make sense  

[Justin]

My Centipede cabient has arrived!

The centipede has a VERY narrow control panel, at only 23.5" usable space on the top, and a mere 22.25" usable space on the bottom  (because of the side wooden supports).  

I think I have found a way to fit 2 joys, with 6 buttons each, plus a spinner and a trackball.  It will involve making the panel deeper, following the design of Capcom dynamo cabinets.

If anyone happens to have a dynamo cabinet, could you please post some pics of the control panel 'box' in detail?  I'd like to replicate that to gain extra 4-5 inches in depth.

Thanks!

[Larry Smith]

Have you considered making swappable panels?
What I did was to remove the metal CP, then I cut a few inches off where the metal control panel attaches. I attached a hinged piece of plywood to act a a keyboard shelf.
I recreated the curves of the front of the metal panel with 2" quarter round molding and a strip of plywood. I cut 3/4" off the side brace where the metal panel sat on and now it's easy to make additional panels, I just cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to fit the top.
I'll try to post some pics so you can see.

[Larry Smith]

OK here are a few pics.



As you can see it's not finished yet. It needs a coat of paint and a latch to keep the keyboard drawer closed. I am also considering a pull out tray for the keyboard.



Here is a pic with the CP removed. You can see the panel clamps and the parallel cable used for connecting it.

One thing you can't quite see from the picture is that the keyboard drawer extends a ways into the cab. It like this:
       
   \
     \
       \
       !\  <hinge>
       ! \
       !

[Justin]

That *is* very cool!      I must say, I'm not too fond of the idea of swapping panels to switch between games, but this yhiing you have done is a great, clean implementation.  (Yes, I know it still needs paint and finishing, but I can see it coming together)

And that rotating monitor, tell us more about it please.  Is it motorized?

[Larry Smith]

No, not motorized and it doesn't turn as easily as planned but I can turn it by reaching in the keyboard drawer so it will be useable even after I install the bezel and monitor glass.

As to how it works, the large rubber casters(4") support most of the weight and 4 smaller rubber casters(2") are mounted to the circular monitor mount like a lazy suzan. The 2 metal casters keep the works from 'walking' off the big casters when it turns.

It was a LOT of work and I'm not sure I would do it again if I had it to do over but I'm proud of it and very pleased with the results.

BTW the monitor is an old IBM P200(made by Sony). It has a more rounded face and larger dot pitch(.31) than current computer monitors.