The Vewlix Fighter Cabinet - WIP. The cab is dead my friends.

[Epyx]

Are you going to get Street Fighter IV for PC in July? I will be scooping this up as it seems like a perfect cabinet ready pc game

[Gatsu]

I've got it pre-ordered....but right now Im close to cancelling my preorder.

I already have it on Xbox 360 and there won't be a PC in my cabinet since all the mame games don't look arcade true on a LCD monitor.

I'll have to wait and see really.

[Epyx]

Ya if you have an Xbox 360 and aren't going with a pc in the cab the pc version is pretty much a moot point.

[Gatsu]

yeah after running the benchmark software last night on my desktop....which can run Unreal Tournament 3 at full spec.....can't run SFIV unless I set it to 1024x768 and the fx to low.

sad.

so yeah....SFIV in the arcades is only 720p on the 360 anyways. So my LCD tv does that. So I'm happy.

[Sosetsuken]

[Gatsu]

ok...I've got a better processor, same video card and 4 GB of ram. Why was I not getting a good grade?

[Sosetsuken]

If I put on any AA or AF it halves my FPS which is weird.  No AA/AF and i get like 120fps :/  Maybe a driver bug (used 185 & 186 beta too).

[Gatsu]

just another reason to stick with a console for this cab. lol.

[RetroGreg]

This is looking great. Good job with the angles and I really like how you slotted the sides for the tv. Awesome!

P.S. - I'm sticking with the 360 version of SF4 as well. Plus you can always play some 360 arcade titles on your cab now that you'll have it in there anyway. The JLW's you ordered will work great for Pac Man Championship Edition in 4 way mode. That's what I'm using right now as well.

[Gatsu]

Thanks for the kind words Retro.
Yeah to run SFIV right now the 360 is the easiest especially for this monitor. Since it only displays 1080i max, the pc version is overkill. 720p looks nice enough for me....and since the Vewlix cab SFIV ran on only goes up to 720p....Im not complaining.

No real building progress sadly. Its been way too hot the past week. In the hundreds with high humidity. Getting covered in sawdust is just not comfortable. Once it rains I'll probably make some progress.

But I did manage to get the speakers hooked up to the amp to test it out. Works decently enough. It may need more bass but I'll have to get everything together first in order to really give it a yay or nay.

Still waiting on my order from Lizardlick for my buttons and sticks. I figure probably another week or so hopefully. But we'll see.

Also debating on how to get the artwork for the CP and the move lists printed. Mamemarquees I might go with for the CP....since its durable. But I'm not sure about the move lists. There are 3 spots on the cab that will have moves/instructions on them. (going by the original design Im copying anyway.)

Here's a shot to see what I mean.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donovanmyers/3426290323/sizes/l/in/set-72157615957035070/

2 of them would need to be adhesive backed....the other thats on the CP would just be sitting under plexi.....so.....I dunno.

What do you guys think?

[Sosetsuken]

Thanks for the kind words Retro.
Yeah to run SFIV right now the 360 is the easiest especially for this monitor. Since it only displays 1080i max, the pc version is overkill. 720p looks nice enough for me....and since the Vewlix cab SFIV ran on only goes up to 720p....Im not complaining.

No real building progress sadly. Its been way too hot the past week. In the hundreds with high humidity. Getting covered in sawdust is just not comfortable. Once it rains I'll probably make some progress.

But I did manage to get the speakers hooked up to the amp to test it out. Works decently enough. It may need more bass but I'll have to get everything together first in order to really give it a yay or nay.

Still waiting on my order from Lizardlick for my buttons and sticks. I figure probably another week or so hopefully. But we'll see.

Also debating on how to get the artwork for the CP and the move lists printed. Mamemarquees I might go with for the CP....since its durable. But I'm not sure about the move lists. There are 3 spots on the cab that will have moves/instructions on them. (going by the original design Im copying anyway.)

Here's a shot to see what I mean.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donovanmyers/3426290323/sizes/l/in/set-72157615957035070/

2 of them would need to be adhesive backed....the other thats on the CP would just be sitting under plexi.....so.....I dunno.

What do you guys think?

Gats depends on whether you'll have Plexiglas over the top of them.

I Reckon;

The Movelist on the CP:  Route out an indentation in the cp that fits a piece of Plexi and just whack the CP list under it, no need for adhesive.

The Movelist under the monitor: Make that whole length under the monitor a sort of pull out marquee style bit of plexi so you can just drop new move lists in or take others out.

The Marquee;  Just do it like a traditional marquee with it sandwiched between two pieces of plexi.

I'm not sure you'll want any of the 3 Adhesive backed, since its a Vewlix Cab and when you get KOFXII in that bad boy you might wanna change the signage around for at least a few weeks after KOF XII comes out

I'm not too worried about the PC version of Street Fighter IV either, after i've realised i'll need the 360 for KOF XII.  I'm actually looking forward to KOF XII more than I was for Street Fighter IV.

Anyways Gats, if it were my cab I'd just make all 3 non-adhesive and whack some plexi in front of them.

[Gatsu]

ya know...thinking about it....none of that artwork is on the original vewlix....except the one on the control panel.

So I may do some tweaking in photoshop to get all the moves on 1 sheet to fit the control panel.

It'll be cheaper as well.

[Gatsu]

Some good news. Its looking like I have all of next week off for the 4th of July. So this will be perfect crunch time to get the cabinet done.

My goal is to have the cabinet fully assembled and painted, then everything mounted and wired up before the 4th. Then on the 4th....have a big reveal party and play SFIV and other fighters until everyone gets bored and goes home. lol.

So tomorrow after work (payday...w00t!), I'll deposit my moneys and head to gamestop to pick up some 360 controllers to hack up for the CP. Friday afternoon I'll go to the local sign shop and get the vinyl decal made for the main marquee so it should be ready by the time the cab is painted and ready.

Also got some confirmation emails from Lizardlick saying all my parts are on the way. w00t!

[Franco B]

Keep us posted bud!

[Gatsu]

Well look what came in the mail today. 



This makes me happy.

[Gatsu]

Alrighty....a bit of an update. Got all the front panels cut out and placed infront of the television to see how they fit. Got the speaker "box" cut and put in place.
Not sure if I'm digging how the front panels look right now....I'll have to see how they are painted.

I do have photos....but I won't be able to post them till tomorrow afternoon. They are on my sisters camera....and she still has it and hasn't emailed them to me yet.

So......

tomorrow I shall bring photos.

Also...doesn't look like I'll be finished when I want to be. Hit a snag financially and have to wait for this weeks pay before I can buy the rest of the stuff I need to mount the CP, the board the buttons & sticks are gonna be mounted on.....and the artwork. I might have it playable by the 4th...but not 100% done.

[Sosetsuken]

Ah sorry to hear about ya financial snag mate, keep up the great work tho gats!


(And pics ASAP )

[Sosetsuken]

Oh and forgot to say, sorry gats I stole your Sig Bar idea

EDIT: Also, Gats I got KOF XI, KOF Neowave, KOF 98 Unlimited Match, KOF 2002 Unlimited Match and Street Fighter EX3 working on my arcade cab.  Theres a build of PCSX2 out there (Can't link to it as it has roms etc, just google "PCSX2 Maetel") thats compiled with speed hacks that allows all these to play 100% speed flawlessly.

[Gatsu]

PM me the links if you don't mind. the force is not with me today. lol.

[evitagen]

I'm digging this project quite a bit.  I've been wanting to make this kind of cabinet myself lately and the Donovan Myers plans are only for the 2 TE sticks kind of CP, and I wanted a CP more like yours.  Why build an entire cab if you're just putting in 2 TE's you know?  I have a few questions though.  Do you have the plans for this that include the way you did the CP, because I'd love to use them.

Also, is the CP thick enough to accomodate a happs joystick?  I'm sure I could make it a bit thicker if I needed when I start my build, but by the looks of it it might just have enough room for a happs stick.

Love the project man.

[Gatsu]

yep I've got the plans that incorporate the full control panel. I've got it in google sketchup.

I agree...why spend all that time and money if you're not gonna all the way and make the cab as authentic as possible. But different strokes for different folks.

I was originally gonna use happ controls....so when I cut all the pieces out they were for happ. I think I increased the pieces to be around 3inches tall.

Glad you dig it.

I'll have more pictures as soon as my sister decides to send me the pics off her camera. I've asked her about 8 times today...

[Sosetsuken]

why spend all that time and money if you're not gonna all the way and make the cab as authentic as possible

EXACTLY!  Yours will be the definitive version mate!   

[evitagen]

yep I've got the plans that incorporate the full control panel. I've got it in google sketchup.

So awesome.  Is there any way you could allow me to snag a copy of those sketch-up files?  It's awesome you built it with happs in mind.  Most people would probably think that was blasphemy but I prefer the happs over sanwa.

When I start this build you might just have a few PMs when I run into a problem.  Cutting those angles for the CP seems like it's going to be kind of tough.

[Gatsu]

the sides were cake. it was the 2 angles on that front piece that were the toughest. But if you have access to a table saw that can angle the blade you'll be ok.

[Gatsu]

why spend all that time and money if you're not gonna all the way and make the cab as authentic as possible

EXACTLY!  Yours will be the definitive version mate!   

dunno about that....I just hope I don't screw up all this work with a poor paintjob.

[mj147]

Keeping an eye on your progress Gatsu as a viewlix style cab will be my next build.

Nice choice on the Sanwa sticks. I made me a fighting stick using Sanwas JLW's  for SF 4 and I wont go back to happs.



On a different note................get them pics from your sister 



mj147

[Gatsu]

Finally she decided to send me the photos....so here they are. All thats left to cut out are those annoying top rounded pieces that are still kicking ---my bottom---. And the plexi. So I might just go ahead and paint the cab and do those last.




(that thin board under the front of the CP box is just to hold it up....its not a part of the cab.)


Front of the speaker box board...holes aren't perfect...but Im gonna sand the rough edges and hopefully when they are painted the imperfections will disappear.


Case with no CP on it.


rear of the case. Yeah...Im gonna leave it that open so the tv gets good ventilation.

Feel free to ask any questions.

[HaRuMaN]

Oh man... that's gonna look so sweet when it's done...

You can deliver to Arizona, right?

[Sosetsuken]

Man that looks amazing Gats!  Good job buddy.  If your gonna use a roller for the paint, go for the disposable foam rollers, they leave the best finish imo.

[Gatsu]

thanks guys. I'm glad you dig it. I can't wait to get this thing playable....but its gonna have to be next week before I can do anything else sadly. Ran out of cash and wasn't able to get my paycheck this week.

So Im gonna have to sit on it for a few days. 

But thankfully there's not really a whole lot left to do.

[evitagen]

Very nice.

For the top piece, you could do something like this guy did:  http://forums.shoryuken.com/showpost.php?p=6365113&postcount=37

Still looks really cool to me and a hell out of a lot easier, imo.

[Gatsu]

O_O I didnt even think of that. hell to the yeah. thanks for that link man. That is just friggin sweet.

[evitagen]

No problem.  I almost like it more.  It's angular just like the rest of the cab.

[langdonx]

Great work so far... very inspiring.  I have a quick question: What are the dimensions of the full unit?  Especially as far as depth is concerned?

I saw you mentioned you'd be able to take it apart for moving, but it would of course be more ideal if you didn't have to do that.  I built a cabinet a few years ago with mameroom.com plans and decided on making a thinner cabinet so that it could fit through all the doors in my house.  I think I ended up taking off 2" or so.

[Gatsu]

Im not sure about the depth or height...but I remember the width of the cab being 32 inches. I'll have to check the plans when I get home and get back to you.

Really Im reconsidering being able to break down the entire cabinet....because taking it apart and putting it back together too many times can cause issues. So I'm probably just gonna have the control panel be removable via some bolts. That way it can fit through any door sideways.

[Gatsu]

Priming has begun.

Photos shall come once I have more done.

[Gatsu]

Probably not a good sign....but as I was priming....I started looking at all the pieces drying.
I heard a little voice in my head say "I don't wanna do this anymore..."

I guess I am losing steam with the project. Probably because I missed my deadline and its now going into the 2nd week past deadline, and still no real progress.

I'm close to finishing, but there's still so much left to do. And I can only do a little at a time. Or I have to buy this to finish that.

Maybe I need to step back, make a list of whats left to do....and as I do it, mark it off or something.

Suggestions?

[Kaytrim]

Check lists are always good to keep track of progress.  Once you finish painting this case things aught to move along at a quicker pace.  Also have a plan in place so you know what is next.

Keep at it buddy,
Michael

[langdonx]

I know how you feel as well... a friend and I started making 2 cabinets on February 6th, 2006 and the summer really killed our momentum.  We ended up finishing on August 10th.

A checklist is a must... not only to give you a good sense of progress, but also to avoid future "now i need to buy this" moments.  Come up with a good plan, buy everything now, and then just push through!

Good luck.

[Namco]

I know how you feel. I hit that mark somewhere between wood working and painting on my project. But it all becomes worth it once you get the artwork and can finally do the control panel. Then you bolt it all on and step back, man it's magic at that point!

I will all be worth it once you get done with the painting and start wiring. It helps to have an outlet of some sort, like another cab in the corner to play so you don't rush through your current project.