The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: markc74 on April 01, 2005, 10:21:33 am

Title: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on April 01, 2005, 10:21:33 am
Hi all,

Just recently finished (are they ever REALLY finished???) my bartop-like arcade machine after being inspired to do so by all the people here.

Quick pic:
(http://www.markc74.co.uk/images/arcade_home)

I
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: spriggy on April 01, 2005, 12:35:04 pm
Well Done.
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on April 01, 2005, 03:32:41 pm
I agree - I used the X-Arcade because I bought it for a previous (unfinished) project when I wasn't really confident enough to build one from scratch.

By the time I finished it though I was really thinking about building a customised panel to go with it and did a mockup here:

(http://www.markc74.co.uk/photos/updatedcontroller.jpg)

I might have to wait a little while to build it though as my missus has become addicted to Puzzle Bobble and I can hardly even get on it anymore!
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on April 01, 2005, 03:38:00 pm
Forgot to mention - saw your Jungle Hunt cab and was really impressed with how it's haping up.

What are the dimensions of it?
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: spriggy on April 02, 2005, 01:22:26 am
That mock-up does your BT a lot more justice.

As for my Jungle Hunt BT, she's 405mm(16")wide, 630mm(24 3/4")deep & 590mm(23 1/4")high.

Doing some more on it tommorrow.
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: ras2a on April 02, 2005, 07:19:54 am
Sweet little cab Mark...

I must make one of these next, they are just TOO cute.

Craig
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: Felix T Cat on April 02, 2005, 08:27:40 am
Very nice design.  On your website I can't get the plans download to work though.  Is it just me ?
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on April 02, 2005, 07:21:04 pm
Cheers Craig - I have to admit I'm pretty chuffed with how it's turned out though there's a few things I'll change if I make another one - new cp, try and make it a bit smaller etc.  The best decision was to use an ArcadeVGA card - it made the games look 10x better.

Felix - my fault completely - I started the site a little while ago but got tied up with work stuff so couldn't finish it.  I'll upload some plans in Illustrator and PDF on monday.
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: SideShow Rob on April 03, 2005, 04:37:25 am
Hi Mark,

Nice cabinet! I now wish I had stuck to my original bartop plans...

Regarding your chosen monitor (Toshiba 21" 21N21B TV) and the Arcade VGA card...I was lead to believe that the SCART socket on that model of TV was not RGB, and the picture quality was not as good as you would get from a true RGB SCART TV (this was from a guy on the old Ultimarc forums...)

Obviously, you are very happy with the picture quality...any chances of putting up a few pictures of games running on the TV? If they look good, that would save me redesigning my cabinet plans...

Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: Felix T Cat on April 03, 2005, 07:42:07 am
Markc74,
No hurry by any means since until it warms up a little I won't be starting on anything anyway.  It is a very nice looking design.  Congrats.
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on April 03, 2005, 02:49:48 pm
Hi Slideshow Rob,

To be honest - I couldn't tell you if the Toshiba is true RGB or not but the quality is definately fantastic and an amazing jump from the previous TV/composite out.

I've added some pics below but these are only as good as my 4 year old digital camera - in real life it looks better I think.

(http://www.markc74.co.uk/photos/arcadevga1.jpg)

(http://www.markc74.co.uk/photos/arcadevga2.jpg)

(http://www.markc74.co.uk/photos/arcadevga3.jpg)

(http://www.markc74.co.uk/photos/arcadevga4.jpg)

(http://www.markc74.co.uk/photos/arcadevga5.jpg)

The only thing I regret about the toshiba was it's screen shape as it made creating the small wooden bezel around the edge a nightmare - a flatscreen tv would have probably saved me a day's sanding!
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: gearguy on April 03, 2005, 04:55:45 pm
If that's not RGB, I'd be suprised since I've actually seen RGB footage that looks worse than that.
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: SideShow Rob on April 04, 2005, 07:56:28 pm
Hi Mark,

Thanks for the picture posts...the quality does look very good.

I think a trip to Argos is in order soon...and my cabinet plans will not have to be modified - good news all round.

Have to place an order with Andy @ Ultimarc ...the fourth in a month now...but the Arcade VGA card looks worth it.

Did you hack your own VGA-SCART cable...or did you purchase one?

Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on April 05, 2005, 12:30:30 pm
I purchased a VGA Breakout cable and hacked it to make my own cable.

Minwah and Sune S helped me out with instructions on how to wire up the cable which are available on the Mamewah forums at:

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1980&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: BobBorakovitz on June 03, 2005, 04:51:58 pm
sorry to resurrect such and old topic, but are you planning on releasing the plans for your bartop anytime soon?  I'm looking for good plans, and your bartop looks really slick...  if you have them in some form could you maybe email them to me?
thanx if you're listening...
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: markc74 on June 11, 2005, 03:13:26 pm
Hi BobBorakovitz,

Apologies for the v.late reply I've been on a course all week which has kept we away from real life...

Anyway - I'll try and post these for you tomorrow as I've got all the plans in Illustrator and I don't know where the CD is off-hand.  Are these any good for you?  Otherwise I'll PDF them.  Let me know.
Title: Re: My bartop arcade machine
Post by: gingerone on July 09, 2005, 11:51:03 am
Hi Mark, just wondering if you are using mamewah and if so what res are you running it at?