Sega Cabinet Conversion to MAME.

[AngryCanadian]

Well, it has been years that I have wanted to build a MAME cabinet and just recently an old Sega cabinet fell into my lap (not literally) for practically free so I decided to bite the bullet and try my hand at modding it.

I have absolutely no woodworking skills, but I am pretty handy with electronics so I am lucky enough to have the king of the custom cabinets, Knievel, (who happens to be from my hometown) build me a custom CP and CP box...probably saving me some major headaches.

The cabinet was retrofitted to NFL Blitz and then gutted before it came into my hands. I am not sure what it was originally, maybe someone here will recognize the cabinet and can let me know.

I plan on the following:

1) stripping the cabinet down to the wood by removing the current CP, coin door, marquee, and monitor bezel and then scrubbing it and painting it solid black.

2) sticking with the ever popular (I don't need to be original) black with blue T-molding color scheme. Basically the Neon Mame style colors.

3) either placing the coin door back or removing the lower front panel and replacing with a door or doors.

4) create shelving inside the dead space to house the computer, sub, and my old Sega CD-ROM system (with light guns).

5) obtain a 27" or 25" TV and mount it somehow inside...There are already 2 metal mounting bars but I think I will have to retrofit with some sort of wood bracket to get it in position...probably out of the original TV casing as well...bye bye warranty. 

6) build in a slide out keyboard tray to fit underneath Knievel's CP. I was thinking of making it sturdy enough to mount my Act Labs Force RS steering wheel and shifter on to get in some 270 driving games.

7) possibly bling it up with some LEDs, Neon, or other lighting to make it pop.

Please take a look at the current state of the cabinet and let me know your thoughts. I am up for any recommendations as this will be my first attempt and I want to make it good...so the wife lets me bring it in the house when it is finished. 

Here are some pics:

[superbigjay]

good luck with your project.

The cab structure seems in good shape, and with knievel's CP you are definitively on the good track!

Cheers
Jay 

[BobA]

Looks like a great starting point.   What does the custom CP from Knievel look like so we can picture how it will fit in?

[Malenko]

looks like a great starting point.  I'd guess it was a Virtua Fighter II cab

[northerngames]

it was a virtua fighter

[theCoder]

I think I will have to retrofit with some sort of wood bracket to get it in position...probably out of the original TV casing as well...bye bye warranty. 

Warranty, what's that?  In this hobby, you've got to get used to voiding the warranty within 10 minutes of the package arriving on your doorstep.  My wife thinks I'm crazy that way.

...possibly bling it up with some LEDs, Neon, or other lighting to make it pop.

With you being "pretty handy with electronics", you have a lot of options.  There are lots of cool designs/ideas on this forum.

Good luck with the build and welcome to the hobby.

[AngryCanadian]

Well folks...here is the latest update.

I managed to strip most of the hardware off the cabinet in order to prep it for paint. Several people have told me to use a palm sander and an 80 grit to rough it up, then primer it with a melamine primer, then resand with a 120 grit and it would be ready for final paint. They said they have painted melamine cabinets with this method and had no issues with the final coat rubbing off over time. I hope they are correct because I am going from the current white melamine type finish on the cabinet to black.

I had to use a rubber mallet and bash off parts of the original control panel box. They were attached with staples and glue to the main cabinet. Most likely I will have to cut into that area anyway to mount Knievel's CP box he is building for me.

I am attaching some pics that Knievel sent me of the new CP and box as he was building them. THANKS KNIEVEL!

[AngryCanadian]

Here are some new photos of the cabinet demolition.

I bashed the old control panel side art and wood base off and stripped out all the guts of the system...even steamed and removed the side art.

I will be sanding it and primering it this weekend (I hope).

Few new questions:

1) Any idea what the hole to the right of the coin door hole was originally for? It was covered by a bolted on metal plate that I removed.

2) Any idea what type of screwdriver I need to remove the screws (badly photographed) that have a hex key shape with a solid pin center, so you can't use a hex key to unscrew it. I have tried everything to get these screws off to remove the speaker grille. I may just have to drill them out.

3) Should I keep and use the florescent light fixture that was in the Marquee area or replace it with something better...suggestions?

Knievel's CP should be in my hands by the end of next week...then the party begins!

[Zebidee]

2) Any idea what type of screwdriver I need to remove the screws (badly photographed) that have a hex key shape with a solid pin center, so you can't use a hex key to unscrew it. I have tried everything to get these screws off to remove the speaker grille. I may just have to drill them out.

That is a type of security screw called "post-hexagon bullet head", and you need a special driver/tool for it.  You would need to go to a special supplier to get it.  In Australia, I'd try a company called "Specialty Fasteners".  But don't expect it to be cheap.

They are made of toughened steel, but you could try carefully drilling out just the little centre post (inside the hexagon) with a metal-rated drill bit.  That way you would be able to get a hex key onto it.

Good luck 

[TOK]

Sears sells a driver set that has a variety of bits for tamper proof screws. Think it goes for around 10 bucks.

[andiamo-racing]

harbor freight is your friend 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91310

[ARTIFACT]

Very cool project! Knievel rocks, definitely in good hands there!
I recognize his work on the CP pics.

Good luck!! Make sure to post pics, lots of pics!

[AngryCanadian]

harbor freight is your friend 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91310

Thanks andiamo-racing!

For $5.99 you can't go wrong.

[bluevolume]

I'm going to be building my control panel this week; I'm very impressed with your wood/plexi work.  How did you route out the top of the panel so perfectly?  It seriously looks like CNC work there.

Also, how did you do the trackball cutout on the plexi?  I'm having trouble finding a 3" hole saw.

[AngryCanadian]

bluevolume,

my CP was built for me by Knievel. He has several custom projects he has built and I asked him to help me out by building me one of his standard CP's and CP Box.

You might want to message him for the info you are looking for.

He has posted in this thread so you can find his contact info.

[AngryCanadian]

Here is an update...

I have sanded the original down to rough up the surface.

I cut the front panel with a jigsaw to mount the custom CP to the proper height.

Got some tinted primer to coat the entire cabinet and CP with. The primer is specially made to stick to slick surfaces. This will help the final paint to stick without wearing off easily.

I ordered all the required parts for the CP from Happ, GroovyGameGear, and MameMarquees.

I am planning on painting it all black but have not yet decided on flat black or semi gloss. Anyone have any suggestions for paint?

Here are some pics to keep you up to date on the project.

[AngryCanadian]

Well, I am heading down the home stretch.

I have painted 2 coats for black over the primer on all parts and am just waiting for the weather to warm up just a bit to do a light sand and final coat.

I started to put together and wire the custom CP from Knievel...looks sharp.

Now I have one last major task...a Monitor.

I have a 26.5" width to fit a monitor inside the cabinet, but I am not sure what to get.

I would like to stick with a TV so that I can also hook up my old Sega CDROM to play as well.

Anyone have any TV suggestions? I think a 25" TV will fit...may have to remove it from the case.

Are there any good guides to mounting TVs into Jamma cases? I still have the metal monitor brackets but have no idea how I would use those to mount a TV properly inside.

I will add some new photos when I get a chance.

[AngryCanadian]

Sooooo...I was slacking for a long time over the winter months...too cold in the garage to work on the cabinet.

Here are the latest updates...'CAUSE IT IS DONE!!!!

I decided on a 27" JVC TV since others have had success using one as the monitor...it works great.

I will now just post some sequential pictures that show the final build out progression.

I once again have to give props to my fellow countryman and all around great guy Knievel, for without his help I would have banged my head on the concrete floor many times in frustration. 

Here we go...if there are any questions on what I did please feel free to message me.

[AngryCanadian]

Here are a few more of the finished product.

One thing of note...I ordered a custom wall plate with 2 USB connectors and a headphone and mic jack. I wanted to be able to use my Act Labs Force RS steering wheel and shifter and also a couple of EMS TopGun II guns (see photo  ).

Now...I just need the MAME devs to get those American Laser games rockin'!

PS...YES...that is a Sega Genesis + Sega CD ROM + Sega 32X. Another reason I wanted a TV for the monitor...(more light gun games!)

[Hunk_4TH]

Sweet set up man! What are you using for a monitor? And how did you mount it? 

[Malenko]

looks amazing, best lookin Virtua Fighter Cab I ever saw

[AngryCanadian]

Hunk_4th,

I managed to find a 27" JVC Telvision on craigslist for $75 to use for the monitor. It is model AV-27320. There was a model up from this one that I was looking for but this one is the same with 1 less set of AV inputs. I have the PC connected via component RBG in the back and the Sega system via composite (yellow RCA jack) to the front. The nice thing with these JVC TVs are the speakers are on the bottom and not the side so it fits nicely in the cabinet with no mod. The TV powers back on to the proper AV input after a power loss, so when I use the PC to control the power for all devices the TV powers up when the PC is started.

As for mounting it look a couple posts up at the photos. I cut some 2x4 to the length of the inside cabinet. I angled them so that the TV would angle back as the original monitor did. I basically eyeballed the angle using an empty cardboard box in place of the TV as it was lighter to hold onto while moving the angle up and down to find the right spot.

I used a couple of carriage bolts through the side of the cabinet and then the 2x4s and used lock nuts to hold them secure. Then I got a nice 3/4" piece of hardwood cut to mount on top of the 2x4s and act as a shelf for the TV to sit on.

Just to be safe, once the TV was in the perfect spot, I used some metal L-brackets backed right up the the back of the TV and then drilled them into the shelf to secure it.

The last thing I want to do is wire up the 2 coin door buttons to the power button and reset button of the PC. Then I don't need to open the coin door to power on or reset the PC...not required but what the heck.

[Zebidee]

One thing of note...I ordered a custom wall plate with 2 USB connectors and a headphone and mic jack. I wanted to be able to use my Act Labs Force RS steering wheel and shifter and also a couple of EMS TopGun II guns (see photo  ).

Hey, great looking cab! Where did you find the USB + audio custom plate? 

[AngryCanadian]

I got it from http://www.datapro.net/.

You can design any ports you want with their customizer and then place an order.

Not cheap but it sure is nice to have those external ports.

On a side note, I have a 7 port powered USB hub inside the cabinet that all the devices can get full power without placing a load on the PCs motherboard.

[Knievel]

Oh man did that ever turn out awesome!

The CPO matches in perfectly with Pixel's beautiful Atomic artwork.

Very commercial-looking end result, enjoy!

[Zebidee]

I got it from http://www.datapro.net/.

You can design any ports you want with their customizer and then place an order.

Not cheap but it sure is nice to have those external ports.

Cool, thanks.  Their website is down right now, I'll have another look later.  So, how much did it cost you for the little outlet plate with USB & audio ports?

[AngryCanadian]

Oh man did that ever turn out awesome!

The CPO matches in perfectly with Pixel's beautiful Atomic artwork.

Very commercial-looking end result, enjoy!

You can take a bunch of the credit for the look...your CP and CPO are awesome and adding the matching layout for Mamewah that you made for me tops it off.

I already have requests to build more...I think I am done for a while. 

Thanks again for all the help...GO BLUE!

[AngryCanadian]

I got it from http://www.datapro.net/.

You can design any ports you want with their customizer and then place an order.

Not cheap but it sure is nice to have those external ports.

Cool, thanks.  Their website is down right now, I'll have another look later.  So, how much did it cost you for the little outlet plate with USB & audio ports?

I think it was around $60 shipped. That included all the extension cables to connect it to the PC. Again, not cheap, but it sure works great to hook up external peripherals.