Sub Mini Bartop Arrives

[ark_ader]

Hello,

After I built my full sized arcade cabinet I wanted to try out a smaller version that played just vertical games.  I have a lot of old laptops laying around, so after "thinking about it" for a month, I decided to get the tools out and have a bash.

I'm a big believer in trying something new and learning from it, with the mistakes made from my full sized monster (I ended up getting an axe to it and tried to erase it from memory) like not measuring properly and taking my time.  This time around I think I have it very close to what I sketched on graph paper.

The build is nearing completion with the marquee, bezel and artwork to be put on.  I have been playing it with a mock control panel but need to finish the final product this weekend.

There is a IBM ThinkPad 365x booting on CF with MAME .35 and ArcadeOS.  It runs very well for a P120, but it is the size of screen and the requirement to play just basic 80's games with the Thinkpad excels.  I have yet to try Vantage as the speed of emulation is not an issue.  Boot time is under 30 seconds!

I have yet to paint it, and that will give me the opportunity to document the build.  I have been trying to to find T-Molding that would fit the sides, but I have been thinking of using P-Trim instead.

Other jobs yet to do is plumb the wiring for the lights and the best location for the keywiz.  I need to add buttons for credit and start and Fire2.  I used the Jakks TV Game joystick and it works a treat.  Pity I could not reduce the length of the handle  as it is fixed.  I'm using Sanwa buttons due the reduced mounting room.

I figured on making a lightbox for the marquee and simple artwork off the Epson.  I want it to be a pacman themed unit, as I will make a dig dug version when my woodworking skills get better.  Looking at the picture one would think it would fall over, but the weight of the laptop ensures rigid operation.

Any comments?   


Sorry about the image..new camera...   

[blueznl]

Where's the pic? 

[BobA]

Cute.

More pics please if you can.

[IG-88]

Yes, and measurements too!

[TOK]

That looks like its going to be very cool when its done! Is the angle of the stick uncomfortable, though?

[blueznl]

Darn, now I have to reveal my own P38 project 

[danny_galaga]

very nice. dont forget to post some pics when its completely finished (",)

[ark_ader]

Well I have made some progress and some mistakes too.  I hope to use this as a prime example of "what not to do the next time around" but if I do make the exact one again, at least I know my drill points 

I took it outside to paint so here is the other pictures I made a short while ago on my camera phone.

This is what it looks like bare:



The sides and note the many drill holes for the goodies planned inside the cab.




My able bodied assistant helps me out time to time.



The Back - The 365x is passive cooled and gets warm after one hour so traditional cab airflow cooling works in this case.  (case geddit?)



My control panel without the artwork.  That plexi is a  to cut.



Now getting ready to paint....



Well got the marquee and speaker housing to cut before it gets dark. My Theme is going to be Pacman.  Black with yellow lettering just to be different.  Thanks to TOK I adjusted the control panel to save some future injury.  The buttons are Sanwas.  Silent and soon to be deadly on dig dug and tempest.

Comments?

[psychotech]

!

..deadly on dig dug and tempest

   

Looks awesome!

The CP overlay on the other hand (as long you still had your hand/fingers).. why not use polycarbonate (PC)? Yeah, it scratches more easily etc. but then again, it's so much more easy to handle and it's quite cheap if you ever had to replace it.? At 2 or 3 mm's its still soft enough to cut with sharp scissors..

Well, just a thought..

Psycho.

[TOK]

This is just a matter of preference, but I think I'd slightly stagger the buttons instead up having them in a line. Its an odd feeling to have one directly below the other.
Or maybe ditch the left side buttons all together, move the stick to the left and leave just two buttons side by side like on a real two button game, but I understand you might have some need for the buttons on the left.

[theCoder]

...The 365x is passive cooled and gets warm after one hour so traditional cab airflow cooling works in this case. 

No active cooling?  I bet it's going to get pretty toasty inside.

[ark_ader]

This is just a matter of preference, but I think I'd slightly stagger the buttons instead up having them in a line. Its an odd feeling to have one directly below the other.
Or maybe ditch the left side buttons all together, move the stick to the left and leave just two buttons side by side like on a real two button game, but I understand you might have some need for the buttons on the left.

Well I'm using Arcade Os with the Keywiz and I need it to look acceptable and functional.  I thought of using micro pushbuttons, but as the old saying goes: why spoil the ship with a halfpenny of tar.

I want to configure the Shazzam feature on the Keywiz to perform Esc and shutdown, reboot etc.  As of the alignment of the buttons that's potluck on my part as I guessed the drill mounts after measuring (not learning my previous mistakes am I?).

My luck I will have a lefty wanting a bash, and even cross hand playing is fun to a point.  Those Sanwas are brilliant clickless and sporty, well you couldn't blame me for doubling up.....

As for the passive cooling, I have created small cooling vents at the bottom and will install a small fan to force air up.  I do not want a fire, even though I could be tempted to dance around it if the opportunity arose!

The Plexi cutting is easier now with a tile scorer, as I found out late last night to the amusement of my friends' garden party next door.  All they heard was screech screech  screech.   

I will treat them to more scoring later today.

Thanks for the comments, and more pics on the way.

[Kremmit]

..deadly on dig dug and tempest

 

Tempest?  Where's the spinner?

[ark_ader]

Well I have managed to nearly finish it.

I have the glass, marquee and control panel finished to a state that I'm happy with it.  Of course you will never be "happy" with it and tweaks and changes are part of the process.   The art was a big problem.  Nothing fit properly.  I have yet to reprint all the bezel and side graphics.

The 365x Thinkpad proved to be a  at the end, due to the orientation of the motherboard strapped to the plastics of the screen i.e. it liked to turn off the screen half way through a game.  Next time I will leave the motherboard in the plastics....

The lighted marquee will have to be swapped with a florescent tube rather than traditional flashlight bulbs.  It doesn't really light up well.  Side art needs to be applied as well as the black plastic MDF covering I have made for it (to hide all the sin).

The weight is real good, as I thought of putting an additional weight I snagged from a Dreamcast driving wheel I hacked, but it works fine.  The glass was from one of those anti glare VDU screens and worked well.  I have yet to resolder the Keywiz as I need more inputs.

My next project will be a Sub Mini Dragon's Lair or Space Ace themed Atari cabinet.  The euro cabs did not have the LED display and will keep with Daphne's on screen scoring. Somehow a LED display would not work in such a small space....

I'm looking forward to that project starting next month.  Cannot wait. 

Here's the nearly finished pic:



Sorry for the fuzzy picture as it was late and my Nokia cant do night shots well....

[Jeff AMN]

That's all kinds of awesome. I need one of those for my desk at work. Break time would be so much better with a dose of MAME.