The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: Minwah on May 19, 2014, 08:33:17 am
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I've been very much enjoying playing on the vertical mini cabaret I made last year (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132372.msg1359817.html#msg1359817 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132372.msg1359817.html#msg1359817)), so have decided to make a similarly sized horizontal machine.
It's going to be Defender themed, possibly with two joysticks for Robotron...
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I've cut out most of the panels, and started painting the parts which will not be laminated. Here's the side:
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I LOVE this!! I also loved your other mini design. You make great stuff and I can't wait to see this take shape!! :applaud:
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Also loved the last cab - seriously made me think about using the wood laminate on mine.
Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.
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its a weird shape, but I like it!
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its a weird shape, but I like it!
It actually just looks like an Atari cabaret (Centipede, Tempest & Dig Dug) with a shorter height.
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It actually just looks like an Atari cabaret (Centipede, Tempest & Dig Dug) with a shorter height.
I didnt mean it in a bad way. Also, Ive never seen an Atari cabaret "in the wild" but they look neat in the pictures Ive looked up.
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Dunno if you've got to the point of printing artwork yet but if you need someone to go go in with you I've got some ready to go.
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I didnt mean it in a bad way. Also, Ive never seen an Atari cabaret "in the wild" but they look neat in the pictures Ive looked up.
I didn't think you meant it in a bad way, so no worries. :) I've got an Atari Centipede cabaret and it is one of my favorites. It is one of the few mini cabs that sported a full-size 19" monitor. I am trying to put together a Dig Dug mini too, but those parts are pretty hard to find.
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Very interesting. I love the shape and the size ! :applaud:
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Thanks for your encouraging words chaps!
I did somewhat copy the Atari cabaret (Centipede / Tempest) design, as I like it. What also influenced the shape is that this has to be slightly wider than my vertical one, due to the monitor width. So to compensate for the extra width I 'cut in' underneath the control panel...just to make it comfortable as I tend to sit with my knees either side of the cabinet.
Because of this I also didn't want the marquee under the control panel (like the Atari design) as it would be too low. Also I noticed on the Centipede cabaret that the bezel goes into almost a mini marquee at the top...so I am going to have the marquee combined into the bezel, and probably put a light behind it (maybe all the way around the bezel?).
markc74: I'm not ready to order artwork yet...but also, have you seen this?:
https://www.facebook.com/arcadeprintshop (https://www.facebook.com/arcadeprintshop)
I believe they can do laminated control panels and so on, so was thinking about giving them a shot.
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Oh yeah, and I made some more progress, laminated all the panels except the sides, and cut all the details except the speaker / vent holes. I am working on building an adjustable router jig for cutting slots like the Nintendo DK etc speaker area...need some parts but will post when done (if it works).
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Made quite a bit of progress...almost ready to glue and screw together. Just need to finish the base and cut speaker/vent slots.
Here's a pic of the side panels, with batons and dowel joints:
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Base (WIP):
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And assembled, but not glued:
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Painting the internal battons black... That's serious attention to detail ;D
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:cheers: Awesome. I love the uniqueness. I'm gonna have to start employing dowel joints more.
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Painting the internal battons black... That's serious attention to detail ;D
It's easy to get carried away isn't it ;D I did it on my last one and it does look nice when you're working on the guts, so I thought I'd do it again...
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:cheers: Awesome. I love the uniqueness. I'm gonna have to start employing dowel joints more.
Dowel joins are really good for joining the panels together IMO. It's nice to be able to do it even on panels which meet at an angle (eg my top and top/rear panel).
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Just a quick pic of where I am at the moment...
Todo:
Control panel
Monitor bezel/glass
PC
Edit: sorry pic is rotated...on a phone at the moment.
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the pic isnt rotated when you click it, at least not on my machine.
Looks fantastic, the woodgrain really gives it that vintage look. :applaud: :applaud: :applaud:
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I love the woodgrain + black + textured T-molding.
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Just a quick pic of where I am at the moment...
Todo:
Control panel
Monitor bezel/glass
PC
Edit: sorry pic is rotated...on a phone at the moment.
Where did you get woodgrain vinyl at that width?
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Where did you get woodgrain vinyl at that width?
www.vinyldepot.co.uk (http://www.vinyldepot.co.uk)
I was going to laminate it bit decided to go the cheaper route. Very pleased with how it looks :-)
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I ordered some artwork to use to make sure I am happy with the placement of everything...
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Made a card bezel:
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As it happens I wasn't happy with the placement of the joystick (it was too close to the monitor), so I moved the stick and buttons around a bit. Ended up with this:
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Underside of the control panel. The start buttons go into the vertical part of the control panel facing the player - these are not fitted at this point. It is a bit of a squeeze...
'Defender doesn't need a trackball' I hear you scream. I know, but I love Snake Pit...this is why I went for the ServoStik too. There aren't many other 4-way horizontal games to write home about.
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I built a defender just last year. It's my 2nd one. I have to wonder about the placement of that reverse - you worried about it being too far away?
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I built a defender just last year. It's my 2nd one. I have to wonder about the placement of that reverse - you worried about it being too far away?
It is a bit further away than the original as you've seen. I could have got it a bit closer, but not much.
But I'm not too worried, it seems like it will be ok. The joystick is quite short (probably not as short as the original?) which helps - standard 'short' Sanwa shaft, with the base sunk into the 18mm panel by about 4mm.
Also, I've never played on a real Defender (unfortunately) so I don't feel that I 'need' it to be exactly the same.
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I haven't had much time to work on this since my last comment...but I have got the PC in up and running, and the control panel is nearly done. I just need to fit the LED driver board for the start button LEDs - it is a bit of a squeeze as you will see...
Here's the control panel. Somehow I managed to get the trackball slightly off centre, but apart from that I'm pretty pleased.
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Looking very nice chap.
I got my trackball off centre as well but was able to fix it my widening the trackball mounting holes a litt by drilling through with a slightly wider bit. Only worth it if it really bothers you though.
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That's a pretty awesome little cab. :applaud:
What are it's specs/dimensions?
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Minwah is always classing up the place. :applaud:
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I said it was a squeeze...I'm glad wiring this is over!
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What are it's specs/dimensions?
The dimensions are 420W x 635D x 990H (mm).
It's powered by an old PC, to a de-cased 14" Sony Trinitron via RGB (using Soft15khz / Scart). I bought an UMSA (http://www.arcadeshop.de/Audio-Video-UMSA---Ultimate-SCART-Adapter_1108.html (http://www.arcadeshop.de/Audio-Video-UMSA---Ultimate-SCART-Adapter_1108.html)) this time as I couldn't seem to manage to make a VGA to Scart cable that worked properly :-\
The control panel has:
ServoStik
5x GGG True-Leaf buttons
(the above interfaced with a USB gamepad hack)
Mini (1.5" IIRC) trackball
2x leaf switch start buttons
(the above interfaced with USB mouse hack)
PacDrive for controlling the start button LEDs.
4 port USB hub
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This is just about finished. It always seems to be too dark at the moment to get a reasonable picture, so here's a poor one.
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play any neogeo games on it?
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play any neogeo games on it?
How'd ya guess? ;) There aren't that many NeoGeo games I really like, but I had the button layout in mind given how close the main buttons needed to be to the 'thumb' button.
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Finally some (almost) finished pics. I have some artwork to go behind the glass, but I will also need to make a new retainer so putting it off until it warms up a bit. Anyway, pretty pleased with how it looks now. Here are the pics...
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CP
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Low shot.
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Side.
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Rear/side.
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Guts.
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So... what frontend do you use I wonder?
(Cabinet looks great)
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That cabinet looks like it came off a factory floor (in a good way). It looks a little squat because of the depth required for the CRT I think but the fit and finish look spot on. Good work.
I don't suppose you like being pestered about Mamewah, but since Lew mentioned it (kinda) I love it, thanks for sharing what must have been a pile of work. I can't seem to find a concise answer anywhere about using it with Windows 7. Is there a short answer or clear guide about that somewhere?
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So... what frontend do you use I wonder?
I wonder ? :D
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That cabinet looks like it came off a factory floor (in a good way). It looks a little squat because of the depth required for the CRT I think but the fit and finish look spot on. Good work.
Thanks! Yeah, it looks a bit out of proportion being so deep but short...looks ok though.
I don't suppose you like being pestered about Mamewah, but since Lew mentioned it (kinda) I love it, thanks for sharing what must have been a pile of work. I can't seem to find a concise answer anywhere about using it with Windows 7. Is there a short answer or clear guide about that somewhere?
I don't mind being asked about Mamewah, although I have (still) never tried it with Windows 7 so am not the best person to ask. You could try reading through this thread...it may have some useful info but it is probably not a 'short' answer (sorry!):
http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=137431&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1 (http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=137431&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1)
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Finally some (almost) finished pics. I have some artwork to go behind the glass
So, it took me a while but I've got some new redesigned bezel art which sits behind the glass. While getting that printed I decided to go for some small sideart too...
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Really cool ! Love it :applaud: