*** StephenP1983's Arcade Cabinet ***

[Timoe]

Here is a panel for BYOAC member, Stephenp1983.  It will fit right into the cabinet he has in the works.

It's looking to have a Street Fighter theme.  It will be powered by an Ipac2 and will feature a Happ 3" trackball, 2 Happ Super 8-way sticks, and a J-stick in 4-way mode.

We'll cover this one in Plexiglass and the control panel box will be covered in Formica on the outside.

As usual, I'll be taking many photos.

[Timoe]

Here is a link to the artwork and design thread in the Artwork-Zeleot Forums.   

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=58115.0

[Macarro]

Hi, I

[Timoe]

ooop

[stephenp1983]

Everything looks great Tim.  I can't express how well Tim has worked with me so far on this.  He has been very patient and informative on all my questions, and has helped me get exactly what I wanted in a control panel, but couldn't build myself.  Thanks alot Tim

And here is the final layout for the artwork:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7569/controlpanelfinalfx0.png

[Macarro]

Sorry, Timoe, but I think my post is related to yours since you are going to use only 4 screws in the corners.

Anyway, I

[Timoe]

no problem.  Actually, I will not be using screws.  It will be four (4) dowels.  I will drill matching holes in the panel to accept the dowels.  The fit is very tight and it does not move during gameplay.  However it can be removed when you need it removed easily.

For your situation I would recommend Euro style hinges at the front as they can move the panel away from the outside edges while opening.

[Timoe]

Today we got the trackball mounting plate installed and cut the plexiglass top.

[Timoe]

Here is the recess for the trackball.

[stephenp1983]

So my buddy and I here finished up the cab tonight other than painting.  It has alot of imperfections but I'm happy with it for my first cab.  The design was based on Mike's Plans at www.arcadecab.com as I originally planned to use an xarcade.  Luckily I found Tim, and now I won't be using one for long.  You can see we changed the control panel design from Mike's to hold both a regular control or a 2 player xarcade.  Somewhere around the road we were off a little bit and thats why the door at the bottom is messed up.  THe cab goes in slightly, but is mostly unoticeable.  So here are the pictures so far:

























Side art from the movie poster, (still thinking about whether or not to use it)

[Timoe]

So what is making you think of using a Goonies theme for this cabinet?

And when will you build a street fighter themed cabinet to match the control panel?

And what will be different about the street fighter themed cabinet?

I was just playing Goonies II on the NES a few days ago.  For some reason I played that game alot as a kid.

[stephenp1983]

Well I originally wanted a Goonies them because its one of my favorite movies, and games growing up on NES, I was planning to have this cabinet which will only house a 20 inch monitor, and then build a larger one like the lusid design that could hold like a 27 inch tv when I had room, but now that I think of it, it will be awhile before I could build another so I'll probably just scrap the goonies Idea for now and make this one a Street fighter theme since that is what the artwork on the control panel will be

[Timoe]

I made some progress on the control panel box today.

I prefer formica on anything that will get handled alot.  It's really durable and it always comes out perfect, unlike paint.

I started with the four box pieces cut to size.  I left some extra material for the front and rear pieces.  I use 2x2 material for the frame and start by attaching the frame to the front and rear pieces with glue and countersunk screws.

[Timoe]

I dry fit the pieces on a flat surface to mark my angle cuts for the front and rear pieces.

[stephenp1983]

Look great Tim, I was curious as I'm not much of a wood worker, how are the sides attached to the four wooden blocks in each corner?  Are they glued or screwed in some way?

[Timoe]

Look great Tim, I was curious as I'm not much of a wood worker, how are the sides attached to the four wooden blocks in each corner?  Are they glued or screwed in some way?

They are glued and screwed so this panel should be plenty sturdy.  I just installed the dowels and even before glueing the bottom of the dowels to the box I can lift the whole thing just by the control panel top.   ~tight.

[stephenp1983]

Cool, I was just trying to get an understanding of how it was put together.  So the dowels are what holds the top on right?  I assume the top part has holes that the dowels fit into.

[Timoe]

Cool, I was just trying to get an understanding of how it was put together.  So the dowels are what holds the top on right?  I assume the top part has holes that the dowels fit into.

Yup.  I tried panel clamps before but they are not necessary.  Besides, there is not enough room inside the box to use panel clamps anyway.

I use this same set up on my panel and it works great.


If you click on the pic below, I have highlighted the screws and such.

[stephenp1983]

Everything is looking great, I just checked on the artwork and it should be shipped out pretty soon.  I hope it turns out ok after all the revisions I had to do.

[Timoe]

First pic shows the t-nuts covered with the putty.

The second pic is after 2 coats of primer.

[stephenp1983]

I should be bring the arcade home tonight.  I'll probably paint it this weekend after I get paid friday.

[stephenp1983]

Painting begins tonight, going to lowes right now after work

[Timoe]

where is your digital camera?

[stephenp1983]

I lied I didn't get to the painting tonight because I was just too tired.  I did start sanding the cabinet and filling in the gaps with the silicon chalk.  I got that done and will start the paint tomorrow.  It took me an hour at Lowes to get the paint I needed as the guy there wasn't too bright:)  I'll be sure to take some pictures once I get some of it painted.

[stephenp1983]

2 coats of primer have been added, I'll take some pictures shortly and post I'm taking a break before I start the paint

[stephenp1983]

Here are some pictures after the second coat of paint.  I know the paint job is bad, but I'm hoping I can get it to look a little better after the 3rd coat.  And my cat just because he is sitting funny.

[stephenp1983]

update:

I got the plexi in for the marquee and the bezel.  I also added a third coat of paint to the cab and it turned out pretty good.  I borrowed my father in laws sander, and that made it alot easier to sand.  It looks liike I will have to add one more coat on one side that turned out kinda messy.  Other than that its almost done.

[Timoe]

I'm just waiting on the parts and the artwork to arrive.  We should be finished with the control panel in the next few days.

Here is a shot of the underside painted blue.

[Timoe]

Opinions?

[Timoe]

Stick options

[theCoder]

Stick options

I'd go with the first.  The ball sticks are more "traditional" than the bat.   As far as the button color mix, you get a better contrast with the red on the right, given the colors of the characters.  You can't really go wrong either way. 

On the blue backside picture, are those black squares tie wrap tie-downs?

[Timoe]

On the blue backside picture, are those black squares tie wrap tie-downs?

Yes, they are the wire tie downs.  When I go to do the wiring I will make big loose loops with the zip ties.  Then I route the wires through the loops as I go and zip it up at the end.

[leapinlew]

Stick options

Seeing as how it's a Street Fighter - it probably makes more sense to go with the bat.

[Timoe]

Look at this tangled mess!

[stephenp1983]

Awsome pics Tim its looking great.  After all the mess with the artwork, I think it really turned out good.  Ok I believe the way I want to do the buttons and the stick is as follows.

I want to go with the baton black joysticks, just because that is what I am use to and prefer.  For the buttons the last picture lay out that has the 7 blue buttons for player 1 and 7 red for player 2.  I like the player b uttons to the left of the coin buttons. I pretty much like the layout of the last picture, but what do you think about having the coin buttons match the particular side and then the 4 ways alternate like blue on the left and red on the right.  Just asking for an opinion as it may look better like you have it in the picture


http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=58197.0;attach=59250;image

[stephenp1983]

After looking more closely I think I like the red buttons with bison on player 1 and the blue buttons for akuma as player 2.

But if you have already wired it for the blue on player 1 that is fine too.  Dont want to be to much trouble.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=58197.0;attach=59217;image

[Timoe]

Here it is.

[Knievel]

Looks great Tim.

I think having the Supers color-coded to the buttons would look much nicer than the black sticks.
They've got them in blue and red now so why not take advantage?

[Timoe]

I had these black supers on hand and I wasn't using them so I offered em.

I've always wanted to use one of those colored supers though.

Stephen, maybe down the line?

[Brumaz]

fantastic looking CP there!
keep the ball tops!