The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 09:17:19 pm

Title: New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 09:17:19 pm
I finished this a few monthes ago but never posted any pics.
2 player control panel with 4 buttons each, 4 way and 4 way diagonal.  KE72 encoder, happs trackball with me4.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 09:18:16 pm
Here is a control panel pic.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 09:19:21 pm
Another during construction.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 09:21:22 pm
Here's a pic of the Galaga cab I finished about 3 monthes ago.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 09:24:04 pm
The Galaga game got a new coat of paint after that pic.  I used flat and repainted it in a semigloss.  Here's another pic.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 08, 2003, 11:59:56 pm
One last construction photo.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: Shieldwolf on September 09, 2003, 12:31:39 am
these look great!!! very professional and you can sit too!! Nice job.  I love the galaga cab
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: zorg on September 09, 2003, 04:49:44 am
I finished this a few monthes ago but never posted any pics.
2 player control panel with 4 buttons each, 4 way and 4 way diagonal.  KE72 encoder, happs trackball with me4.


may i ask you where you'r Q'Bert pic is comming from.
I'll like to use the same one and vectorize it.

Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 09, 2003, 09:31:21 am
Its handpainted.  I just copied a pic I saw somewhere on the net.  My earlier games where all hand painted.  The Galaga game was the first I used preprinted side art on.  The sitdown cab art isn't finished yet, I just kind of ran of time/interest.  I'll finish it up soon.  
I have a 7 and a 5 year old who now love the classics because of this little cab.  They couldn't reach the controls of my original upright.  Posted is a pic of my original cab which also featured handpainted artwork.  It won a Mamey.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 09, 2003, 09:35:05 am
Here is a handpainted frogger cab I built for a friend a couple of years ago.  It was my second cab.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 09, 2003, 12:45:57 pm
I used original Galaga art on that game at my brother in laws request.  I even used a galaga monitor bezel which required some modification to fit the horizontal monitor.  I simply used a razor blade and carefully scaped away the paint where it was blocking the new monitor.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: SirPoonga on September 09, 2003, 06:47:14 pm
Please don't say you have dedicated OK buttons.  Press left then right on player 1's joystick :)

Looks good.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 09, 2003, 11:12:13 pm
Yep, didn't know about that shortcut when I built that control panel.  Now those buttons are unlabeled are not connected.
Amazing how few positive comments I received.
Not looking for any pity, but damn, I post about a years worth of work and very few even bothers to say good effort.  You guys are snobs.  I guess I'm not part of your little club.  Cool with me.  I get alot of enjoyment out of building these cabs and that has to be my reward.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: Brax on September 10, 2003, 12:30:23 am
Actually, we're a community. You can't expect to poke your head in and be instant best friends. That being said, we're hardly a private club either.

Many people find this an awfully friendly corner of the web.... maybe you've missed something in your haste, hmm? Happy trails.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright
Post by: zorg on September 10, 2003, 05:14:17 am
Its handpainted.  I just copied a pic I saw somewhere on the net.  My earlier games where all hand painted.  

Woooosh I'll give a lot to have this painting skills and quality level. it's amazing. really a good job.

may I respectfully congrats you for your job.

Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: tmasman on September 10, 2003, 10:04:18 am
I'm more into the authentic cabinets, but I like what you've done. I can see how these would better fit smaller people (some people call them children). They would even be nice to pull a chair up to.

But nice job all around.  & I definately stand in awe of the hand painted artwork. I know it would take me weeks to do something about 1/1000 as nice.

I also think that the general "community" around here has gotten a little more upetty in the last 6 months... I'm not sure why, but eh... You gotta take it for what it's worth.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: SirPeale on September 10, 2003, 10:07:44 am
Amazing how few positive comments I received.

Nice job!  Here's a treat!

(tosses the Doc a bone-saw)

Sorry...best I could come up with. (Get it?  Doc rhymes with Dog)

Your cabinets are nice.  You have pretty machines to play with.  Me?  I'm still trying to paint mine.  I still can't get it to come out right.  I think I'm going to have to take it to my dads and force him to let me use his power sprayer.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 10, 2003, 10:09:34 am
Peale,
Try a roller with semigloss paint.  Works great and is tough enough.  Most importantly you will get a nice textured finish that is consistent.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: SirPeale on September 10, 2003, 02:05:41 pm
Peale,
Try a roller with semigloss paint.  Works great and is tough enough.  Most importantly you will get a nice textured finish that is consistent.

Well, if I wanted a textured finish that's consistent, I'm doing the right thing.  I don't.  I want a nice, smooth glossy finish.

I'm talking to a guy that refinishes wood to see if he can do it.  We'll see.

I had asked a few auto body places, and they were quoting figures anywhere from $150 to $500.  "The wood will soak up the paint, see?  So it won't work."

I think if the wood were primed right it would work out okay, but I think I'll let the wood guy give me some answers.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 10, 2003, 02:37:52 pm
Sounds like you might want to use a laminate.  Super smooth and relatively easy to work with.  Just a thought.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: said7 on September 10, 2003, 04:50:30 pm
This is not the most popular forum on the net. Dont have a hissy fit  if you only have a few replies after a couple days. :'(


btw,
I dont like your cabinets.  
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 10, 2003, 05:11:27 pm
Hey Said,
Thanks for makig a new guy feel welcomed its most appreciated.  I'd love to see some of your work.
Said, I really think you misunderstood my post.  I really didn't mean to offend anyone but its my observation that some of the newer guys have a difficult time engaging folks in conversation.  This is a hobby and it should be fun.  I really do wish you well.  I have no animosity towards anyone here.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: said7 on September 10, 2003, 05:41:41 pm
Sorry, just sounded like you were a little impatient. I do like your painted side art.

No beef here. I really wish I could show you my cab. Im doing my best to finish her up.

Oh and , Welcome to the Forum.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: zero-one on September 10, 2003, 09:34:19 pm
Hi pathdoc2,

I think the upright sit down cab is a great idea!

Did you start building cabs before finding this site?

What red ball-top joysticks did you use on the sit down cab? I'm trying to decide which joysticks to buy.

I'm still in the design phase for my first cab. I did build a single player stand alone control panel to gain some experience and base the design on hard facts. I have lots more to learn.

Cheers,
zero-one
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 10, 2003, 11:46:30 pm
I finished my first cab in early 2000 before ever finding this site.  It originally had a HotRod control panel.  Later I found this site and discovered the Hagstrom LP 24 and build my first control panel and retrofitted it the cab.
I used the pac-man 4 way joystick I purchased from Bob Roberts on the sit down cab.  These are great little joysticks and I can wholeheartly stand behind them.
I'll include a few more pics of my earlier hand painted cabs.  This one is a Streetfighter and was cab number 3.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 10, 2003, 11:47:51 pm
Cab number 4 before I painted the sides.  I forgot to take a pic of this cab completed.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 10, 2003, 11:51:37 pm
Here is the next in the series a Mortal combat 2 with handpainted sideart.
All in all I think I've built 8 different cabs in 2 years.  I'm working on another Galaga cab now.  I'll probably use a tv for the first time in this new cab.  I'm looking for a 25 inch with S video.  All of my cab have been sold to family and friends.  I have 3 more orders to complete.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: SirPoonga on September 11, 2003, 12:19:42 am
I like the sitdown, it is color cordinated.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: kspiff on September 11, 2003, 02:33:06 am
LOL.. I like the cabs, btw, not trying to piss you off.. but that hand-painted MK logo looks like a dragon-horse LOL :D
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 11, 2003, 09:28:23 am
You are right, it does kinda look like a horse.  LOL. ;D
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: night on September 16, 2003, 01:44:17 am
this is the internet man. keep expectations low.
anything beyond that is pure bonus.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: Chris Goodwin on September 21, 2003, 03:02:48 pm
On the sit down cab is that diagonally-labelled joystick a four way diagonal?  If so, how did you set it up so that it would be four way diagonals only?  
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: Edgedamage on September 21, 2003, 04:27:04 pm
Wow great looking original cabs  ;D. While I wait for parts for my Williams cocktail cab restos. I am thinking of making a counter top mame / visual pinball cabinet. Just found another 15" monitor in the trash that works great.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 21, 2003, 10:57:26 pm
The diagonal 4 way in a pac man 4 way mounted at 45 degrees.  It works perfectly.  You simply rotate the joystick clockwise, well I think its clockwise, its been a while and I'm not sure I remember.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: Chris Goodwin on September 22, 2003, 12:19:19 am
How do you have the switches wired to generate diagonals, or do you?  I'm specifically thinking of Q-Bert..my wife loves that game, but we have yet to successfully play it.  Does it play with a four directional joystick wired to up, down, left, and right, or is there something else?  
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 22, 2003, 09:53:18 am
Chris, Q bert is my favorite so I had to have a diagonal 4 way.  Yes it uses standand up down right left input but you have to simply mount the joystick at a 45 degree angle.  Make sense?
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: hyiu on September 22, 2003, 02:40:29 pm
sorry to jump in.....

for qbert.... there is a way to setup the tab menu...
(just for qbert game...) so that you can use a standard 8 way (mounted normally...)and it'll play correctly.....

IIRC... its like setting UP to UP & RIGHT...
LEFT to LEFT & up, down to down & left, right to right and down.... (or something like that....)

I think that will make it playable....
(but I'm not a BIG qbert player.... it was NOT playable before... and it's now playable to me....) but whether its a perfect feel or not... I can't tell....

if you need more help... drop me a line and I'll do some searches... or you can try some advance search....

I'm sure there's a thread about it... but it'll be an OLD thread...
probably in main forum....

hope it helps...
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on September 29, 2003, 03:15:40 pm
I wanted you guys to see the rest of the artwork on my first cab, all hand painted.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: X-0 on October 02, 2003, 08:05:47 am
Quote
I had asked a few auto body places, and they were quoting figures anywhere from $150 to $500.  "The wood will soak up the paint, see?  So it won't work."

I think if the wood were primed right it would work out okay, but I think I'll let the wood guy give me some answers.

*note*  I'm not a wood guy, but I've done this thing a few times with pianos.

Yes, the wood will soak up the paint.  That's why you use a lot of coats.  Have those guys ever seen the glossy smooth finish on a piano?  Of course it works :P

Your guess is right, it takes a lot of sanding beforehand, and a good coat or three of primer.  It also takes a lot of sanding between coats, a lot of coats of paint (car paint works very very well), and it takes a lot of clear coats as well.   Sand the bare wood a lot (up to or past 600 grit), clean the surface with tack cloths every time you do something to it, use a lot of coats, and do a lot of wet sanding/wet steel wool between coats, and follow it up with a lot of clear coats or glazing.  It takes a lot of time, but it can be done if you start with good stock and pay a lot of attention to sanding and cleaning.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: BobbyG66 on February 03, 2004, 04:45:16 pm
You have some awesome hand painting skills, and your cabs are nice also.  Don't listen to the negative people or comments. Have some patience.

I think the BYOAC community is still very small but growing. There's is probably not more than 1,000 people? Total guess.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pathdoc2 on February 04, 2004, 11:06:02 am
Thanks for your kind words.  I've been busy building other projects (music studio) and have ignored this hobby for quite a while.  I've got 3 people asking for cabs and its hard to find the time.  My next cab will be a pac-man theme and will look alot like a real pac-man game but will have a single fire button.  After that its another Galaga look alike and after that it will be some sort of free style generic looking cab like some of my earlier cabs.
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: Stingray on February 04, 2004, 12:47:05 pm
You've certainly built an impressive number of great looking cabs! I really admire your hand painting skill as well.

-S
Title: Re:New sitdown upright and other projects
Post by: pcdoctor on February 04, 2004, 06:06:53 pm
Nice cabinet PathDoc.
Your painting skills are A number 1.