Author Topic: Centipede Conversion Re-Conversion (Read 5993 times)

JoyMonkey · « **on:** February 16, 2006, 10:44:02 pm »

This is a Centipede that's been converted to In The Hunt; I bought it from Peale about a month ago (thanks again!) and I'm only just starting to get a look at it now (it's out in my garage where the evenings have been cold to say the least).

This cab is way beyond restoration, so I'll be cleaning it up a little and Mame-ing it. This is the second time I've Mamed an existing upright cab and I'm hoping to do a good job this time. I've tried out a test control panel (two player, 6 buttons and a 3" trackball in center) and it seems to work just fine; originally I was going to try 4 buttons per player and was worried that it might be a little tight for space, but it turns out I can fit 6 buttons per player comfortably so I'm going for it.

For the time being, here's a plethora of photos showing the cab being raped of it's In-The-Huntiness. I was surprised to find the full bezel under the painted glass, hopefully I'll find time to scan it and post it on Mahuti's Arcade Art Library along with the marquee. A lot of these photos are for my own reference, but I thought I'd throw them up here anyways...

Fuzi · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2006, 11:21:45 pm »

Post deleted by Fuzi.

PM sent instead.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2006, 08:49:56 am »

Actually, looking at this photo I've realized that my 6-button per player idea won't work.

I hadn't anticipated the 3/4" pieces of particle board either side of the CP, so I'm loosing 1 1/2" of control space. I'm not big on fighters, so cutting back to 4 buttons isn't going to kill me; I just thought it would be nice to try the 6-button layout for once.

I'm also debating whether or not to yank the speaker panel and replace it with stereo sound.

Oh well, back to the drawing board...

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2006, 09:21:27 am »

Here's what I've come up with for a 4-button layout. I have the buttons in a diamond formation so playing Missile Command will still make sense. The start buttons might end up being moved to the front of the control panel, since I'm not sure if there's enough room on the panel itself.
The joystick holes seem a little big (they're 1 3/4"), thats because I'll be using Suzo inductive joysticks.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2006, 09:48:57 am »

And here's a scan of the original panel's profile (scanned at 150 dpi). I'm going to redraw this and cut and bend-up the new one.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2006, 11:03:56 am »

Looks like I'll need to re-position the start buttons to the front face of the panel, oh well. Here's a scaled PDF with the dimensions and angles of the original Centipede CP.

Q*Bert_OP · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2006, 05:44:29 pm »

What the hell is that air horn? doing in there?

Level42 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2006, 06:08:29 pm »

Looks like a primitive (yet effective) alarm system

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2006, 06:54:49 pm »

Quote from: Level42 on February 17, 2006, 06:08:29 pm

Looks like a primitive (yet effective) alarm system

Yep, I don't think it's working anymore, but it looks like the airhorn would have gone off if someone tried to smash in or pull out the coin-door lock. Peale was saying that he's come accross a couple of them in the machines that he and his boss are selling.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2006, 07:13:41 pm »

I had a little extra time after work, so I cnc'd the control panel, bent it up and made some new latch clips for it. At the last minute I thought 'what the hell' and went for a 6 button layout anyway, although I think it might be a little too crowded now, I can always make a new one next week. It seems to fit perfectly on the cab, but I haven't attached the piano hinge or new latch clips. Hopefully I'll have time over the weekend to give it a proper fitting test.

SirPeale · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2006, 03:19:40 pm »

Quote from: JoyMonkey on February 17, 2006, 06:54:49 pm

Quote from: Level42 on February 17, 2006, 06:08:29 pm
Looks like a primitive (yet effective) alarm system

Yep, I don't think it's working anymore, but it looks like the airhorn would have gone off if someone tried to smash in or pull out the coin-door lock. Peale was saying that he's come accross a couple of them in the machines that he and his boss are selling.

Actually, it likely works just fine. You would have to tear the coin door from the machine to get it to go off (the proper way) but there is a trigger you can hit to get it to go off.

Problem is...once you set it off, it goes off for ~3 minutes straight.

cool_guy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:31:14 am »

This particular machine used to be serviced by me. We acquired a ton of machines with that so called "primitive" alarm. IT WILL TEAR YOUR FACE OFF!!!! I started disabling them on the route w/ a couple of zip ties after accidentally setting a couple off. If the can of R12 is still full then it will work. I recommend setting it off outside for giggles = )

SirPeale · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:37:56 am »

Everyone, this is the guy I've mentioned in my work stories, AKA Cool Guy. He's one of the smartest people I know. Put him in a room with Oscar, RandyT and Andy from Ultimarc, and they'd make the ultimate d00msd4y w3ap0n...I know this.

ChadTower · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2006, 10:06:15 am »

Sweet, I hadn't seen this thread until now. Good to see cool_guy in here, we've heard good things about him.

I say you take the air horn to Coffee Time, set it off inside, then run like hell.

jcroach · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2006, 04:49:16 pm »

Hey, would you be willing to scan that bezel for the arcade art library?

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:32:35 pm »

Quote from: jcroach on February 27, 2006, 04:49:16 pm

Hey, would you be willing to scan that bezel for the arcade art library?

I hope so. I've already scanned the marquee, just need to get around to doing the bezel.

Major Rock Hardy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2006, 07:23:28 pm »

Quote from: cool_guy on February 21, 2006, 12:31:14 am

This particular machine used to be serviced by me. We acquired a ton of machines with that so called "primitive" alarm. IT WILL TEAR YOUR FACE OFF!!!! I started disabling them on the route w/ a couple of zip ties after accidentally setting a couple off. If the can of R12 is still full then it will work. I recommend setting it off outside for giggles = )

if that stuff in the air horn is really R12 - you could potentially sell it to a mechanic as it is pretty expensive stuff these days. Also bad for the ozone layer if released into the atmosphere.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2006, 09:11:27 pm »

Quote from: Major Rock Hardy on February 28, 2006, 07:23:28 pm

if that stuff in the air horn is really R12 - you could potentially sell it to a mechanic as it is pretty expensive stuff these days. Also bad for the ozone layer if released into the atmosphere.

Thats all well and good, but will it get me high?

Wade · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2006, 02:48:34 pm »

I know, people get tired of hearing this... but that cab is SO restorable. Side art is only about $60, overlays are available, you'd just need a few random parts to make it look just like a Centipede again. Could still leave MAME in it.

Wade

SirPeale · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2006, 07:12:56 pm »

Quote from: Wade on March 03, 2006, 02:48:34 pm

I know, people get tired of hearing this... but that cab is SO restorable. Side art is only about $60, overlays are available, you'd just need a few random parts to make it look just like a Centipede again. Could still leave MAME in it.

Possible? Sure. But frankly I can't wait to see what he's going to do with it. That CP is class-ey!

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #20 on:** March 04, 2006, 09:56:31 am »

Thanks!
Actually, that first CP didn't work out as good as I'd hoped for; I placed the latch clips a little too far apart so the whole CP didn't quite fit the cabinet with the clips attached. So I made another one that looks pretty much identical on top, but the clips now fit the original cabinet latches perfectly and I pre-drilled it for a scrap piano hinge I had lying around.
I'll probably be making a third CP on Monday, since I've decided to go with volcano start buttons instead of Peale's black magic start buttons. I think I can comfortably fit them right above the trackball too. I've got it down to a sience now; I can CNC and bend up that CP in about 20 minutes total

Next week I'll be ordering 2000 feet of vinyl prints at work, so all of a sudden I've got to decide what I want for atrwork and slip it in with the big order.

Mamezilla · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2006, 09:56:39 pm »

Great CP JoyMonkey ! Could you give the dimensions of it ? I have an old beaten up Gravitar cab and the original CP on it has tons of holes. I 'd like to check if metal CP for those cabs are the same, so that I can consider having one made like you with your specs, if you don't mind.

Thanks

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2006, 10:09:00 pm »

Quote from: Mamezilla on March 09, 2006, 09:56:39 pm

Great CP JoyMonkey ! Could you give the dimensions of it ? I have an old beaten up Gravitar cab and the original CP on it has tons of holes. I 'd like to check if metal CP for those cabs are the same, so that I can consider having one made like you with your specs, if you don't mind.

Thanks

Gravitar CP's look like they're the same as Space Duel CP's, but Centipede's CP is a little deeper to accomodate the trackball, so the overall shape is definetly different. I posted the Centipede CP profile dimensions in a PDF above, here they are again:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=50220.0;attach=40259

mmmPeanutButter · « **Reply #23 on:** April 18, 2006, 03:20:39 pm »

Quote from: Wade on March 03, 2006, 02:48:34 pm

I know, people get tired of hearing this... but that cab is SO restorable. Side art is only about $60, overlays are available, you'd just need a few random parts to make it look just like a Centipede again. Could still leave MAME in it.

Wade

I'm with wade.

SirPeale · « **Reply #24 on:** April 19, 2006, 07:28:36 am »

Why? Centipede is a common cabinet. It's already painted over, the CP already drilled, the monitor turned to another orientation. *Could* he restore it? Sure. But I don't think he should, unless he really wants to.

Now it would be a totally different story if it were a complete Centipede, and I'd have to have him beaten, and the cab taken away.

SirPeale · « **Reply #25 on:** July 14, 2006, 11:38:08 pm »

So...how is it going?

danny_galaga · « **Reply #26 on:** July 15, 2006, 12:41:21 am »

um, what the hell is this?

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #27 on:** July 15, 2006, 11:09:54 am »

Quote from: Peale on July 14, 2006, 11:38:08 pm

So...how is it going?

Funny you should mention it, I'm going to make another control panel for it today (this time without a trackball) and do a little work on that ---smurfy--- red paint tomorrow.

Quote from: danny_galaga on July 15, 2006, 12:41:21 am

um, what the hell is this?

That's a high-tech anti-theft device. If you try to rip the coin-door out without properly unlocking it, it sounds the air horn.

danny_galaga · « **Reply #28 on:** July 15, 2006, 09:09:37 pm »

Quote from: JoyMonkey on July 15, 2006, 11:09:54 am

Quote from: Peale on July 14, 2006, 11:38:08 pm
So...how is it going?
Funny you should mention it, I'm going to make another control panel for it today (this time without a trackball) and do a little work on that ---smurfy--- red paint tomorrow.

Quote from: danny_galaga on July 15, 2006, 12:41:21 am
um, what the hell is this?

That's a high-tech anti-theft device. If you try to rip the coin-door out without properly unlocking it, it sounds the air horn.

i love it! great idea (",)


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