Wow...I've obviously been neglecting this thread as I've tinkered with the cab. Now that it's almost done I'll at least get some updates with some of the pics I've taken along the way. I hate when people dump a ton of stuff at once to their page so every day I'll bring a new chapter :)
Just because I'm mostly done doesn't mean I wouldn't like feedback. I'm not sure if it'll ever be "done"
Chapter 1
--------------------------------------HARDWARE--------------------------------------
eMachines 1.3mHz celeron w/ XP home.
-512MB of memory
-Rage Pro video card
-Buffalo wireless network card (the only thing that made the jump)
Dell p1110 21" trinitron monitor ($25 at Goodwill!)
The Mac actually ran the games better, but the the PC can boot straight into MameWah, making it less computer-like and giving me the option to pick games using a joystick.
I'm still using hacked Playstation Dual Shocks with Spiffyshoes' solderless hack running through Radio Shack PS-->USB adapters.
Chapter 1
--------------------------------------PAINTING--------------------------------------
Got the cabinet stripped down, cleaned, reinforced, then cleaned again. I chose a lovely "gumball red" color in Olympic latex paint. It's the closest I could find to the bright red laminate used in cabs like the Neo-Geo.
Let me just say that despite going to art school, doing a project like this with standard latex paints was a learning experience.
Started putting on paint. After letting it dry overnight, I found out that I could peel the paint off of the side in one solid piece. Apparently I should've put primer on first. Off to Lowe's. Picked up some Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 primer. It's the only one I could find that listed laminate as one of the surfaces it would cover. I put on the primer. The cabinet looked pretty good white. I considered keeping it that way. But instead I started putting on coats of red. It was looking kind of pink. About 7 coats in it was looking red, but the paint was very inconsistant. I had lighter spots showing through with every coat.
I asked one of the guys at Lowe's paint counter if he had any suggestions. He told me it would never really cover and would always look bad. He then seriously suggested the best course of action would be to cut new sides and paint those. Does this guy really suggest to everyone trying to make something looking better with paint to buy a new one and paint it? He drove me to fill out a comment card. I then moved on to Home Depot hoping to get some decent help. I was told by a helpful woman in the paint department that deep colors like bright, primary red, need MANY coats to look consistant. I was also told I should've used the "deep tint" version of the primer. I took her advice and after 12 coats or so it looks quite even.
I also painted the insides of the side panels black, repainted the top and back black, and stripped down and spray painted the coin door and any metal trim with Krylon semi-flat black. No wonder every conversion was painted black, it'll cover anything. Things were starting to look much better.