The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: eccs19 on October 29, 2005, 06:45:25 pm
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I just picked up this machine. The guy was asking $350 CDN, but I ended up getting for $175. It's rough, but I think I can do something with it. I was originally thinking I would restore it back to Mr. Do!, but when I saw the condition of it, I now think I will convert it to Mame.
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Here is my first question regarding this cabinet.
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If it is original, why not restore?
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If it is original, why not restore?
I'm still not 100% sure if I should or not. Perhaps I'll put the cab back, but still put mame in. Perhaps keep the original parts to put back to original. I don't think it's a proper Mr. Do!. that's my main thing. The guy I got it from had it for about 10-12 years, but I suspect it's not an original Mr. Do! (I could of course be wrong, as I stated, I'm by far from a arcade machine expert. Any opinions are appreciated.
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it looks like you've got a bootleg of mr do.
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second, the marquee says mr du. sorry bud.
thats the first thing i noticed and ended up windexing my PC's monitor... lol
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A cap-kit shoud fix the "bend" in the monitor's picture...
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<EDIT>
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A cap-kit shoud fix the "bend" in the monitor's picture...
Are cap kits easy to come by (Canada)? I've soldered in the past. Can I do if myself, or should I get someone to do it? (I know there is a lot of voltage in there)
Thanks!
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You can order capkits from many places online, I live in the UK and managed to get hold of one so I'm sure you'll be able to =), also if you have soldering experience you should be fine... I had never soldered before and my first capkit went without a hitch
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Nice grab for C$175 ... cabinet has sort of that StarGate look, but is cut too straight ... could be a homebrew (I own two non-factory cabinets made in SW Ontario, although neither is an upright).
As for capkits, I will be ordering mine from Bob Roberts when I finally get around to it ... I have a chinese monitor (in one of the homebrews) that I have yet to identify. You could buy all of the caps on your own, but I like the convenience of a fully assembled kit.
While I haven't yet capped any of my own monitors, my understanding from the CGCC guys (most of whom seem to be in London, Cambridge, St. Thomas, etc) is that, once you get past that initial fear of discharging the tube, it is easy stuff (just watch polarities).
JAMMA is a standard for wiring arcade cabinets, comprising a single harness to handle video, audio, coinage and controls. It allows easy switching of games in a single cab (pinout is the same, so just have to pull the board and put in a new one). I would not be at all surprised if your cab is already JAMMA.
If so, then you can interface your controls directly to your PC via a JPac (interface board designed to link JAMMA cabinets and PCs) and ArcadeVGA (video card that can drive an arcade monitor). [You'll still have a bit to consider and there are other options, but this would give you a start].
http://www.ultimarc.com
One interesting issue for you to ponder is monitor orientation ... yours is currently vertical, which is great for vertical games (e.g. Galaga, PacMan), but will be tough to handle for horizontal (most fighters and scrollers). You can rotate the monitor to horizontal, but then your vertical games will looked squished.
Cheers.
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Nice grab for C$175 ... cabinet has sort of that StarGate look, but is cut too straight ... could be a homebrew (I own two non-factory cabinets made in SW Ontario, although neither is an upright).
As for capkits, I will be ordering mine from Bob Roberts when I finally get around to it ... I have a chinese monitor (in one of the homebrews) that I have yet to identify. You could buy all of the caps on your own, but I like the convenience of a fully assembled kit.
While I haven't yet capped any of my own monitors, my understanding from the CGCC guys (most of whom seem to be in London, Cambridge, St. Thomas, etc) is that, once you get past that initial fear of discharging the tube, it is easy stuff (just watch polarities).
JAMMA is a standard for wiring arcade cabinets, comprising a single harness to handle video, audio, coinage and controls. It allows easy switching of games in a single cab (pinout is the same, so just have to pull the board and put in a new one). I would not be at all surprised if your cab is already JAMMA.
If so, then you can interface your controls directly to your PC via a JPac (interface board designed to link JAMMA cabinets and PCs) and ArcadeVGA (video card that can drive an arcade monitor). [You'll still have a bit to consider and there are other options, but this would give you a start].
http://www.ultimarc.com
One interesting issue for you to ponder is monitor orientation ... yours is currently vertical, which is great for vertical games (e.g. Galaga, PacMan), but will be tough to handle for horizontal (most fighters and scrollers). You can rotate the monitor to horizontal, but then your vertical games will looked squished.
Cheers.
I don't think it's a home brew. It looks to well built inside. (maybe that means it is homebrew, who knows? <g>
I'm thinking that I may just do it myself. I just need to get a soldering iron. (I have a gun, but from what I remember, they get to hot for fine electronic work)
I figured it was the Jpac and ArcadeVGA that I needed. Should they be order directly from Ultimarc, or is there someone here in Ontario that I can get them from?
I think I will stay with the vertical monitor, as most of the games I play run that way. I'm also building a minimame for the kids, and it's gonna be horizontal.
Thanks for the info.
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I don't think it's a home brew. It looks to well built inside. (maybe that means it is homebrew, who knows? <g>
I'm thinking that I may just do it myself. I just need to get a soldering iron. (I have a gun, but from what I remember, they get to hot for fine electronic work)
I figured it was the Jpac and ArcadeVGA that I needed. Should they be order directly from Ultimarc, or is there someone here in Ontario that I can get them from?
I think I will stay with the vertical monitor, as most of the games I play run that way. I'm also building a minimame for the kids, and it's gonna be horizontal.
Thanks for the info.
RE: Homebrew ... tough to tell ... both of mine are as well-built as my factory cabinets ... I guess I should have said "localbrew" as I have seen a number of cocktails like mine, all in SW Ontario.
RE: JPac and ARcadeVGA ... I always order directly from Andy ... usually arrives in 3-5 days. Eventually you will probably receive a bill from DHL to cover whatever customs charges (typically GST) plus their fee (relatively small amount).
RE: Vertical ... you'll want to search for similar projects to see what FrontEnds are available (I handled this particular problem with a 3-sided cocktail, with the FE running horizontal).
Still thinking of coming to the auction on Saturday ?
Cheers.
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RE: JPac and ARcadeVGA ... I always order directly from Andy ... usually arrives in 3-5 days. Eventually you will probably receive a bill from DHL to cover whatever customs charges (typically GST) plus their fee (relatively small amount).
RE: Vertical ... you'll want to search for similar projects to see what FrontEnds are available (I handled this particular problem with a 3-sided cocktail, with the FE running horizontal).
Still thinking of coming to the auction on Saturday ?
Cheers.
I guess I will have to place the order for those parts. I think I'll want to cap the monitor first to make sure that it is OK. (I hope that's all it needs)
Before I picked up this cab, I was considering building a 2 sided cocktail. I was going to do it so it would sit in a corner, and you could play either horizontal or vertical. It wouldn't be able to be played like the traditional cocktail, but at least it wouldn't take up much space, and could play both types of games.
Due to the fact that I spent money on this cab, I don't think I will attend this auction. I know the wife would be scared knowing I was going after buying this one. <g>
Perhaps after Christmas when I get this one done, and there should be less chance of the Christmas people raising the bidding to much.
Thanks once again!
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Thought an update was in order. Didn't want anyone to think I was sitting around doing nothing. <g>
I've got the sides sanded down now, and almost ready for prime. I just want to give the rest of the cab a quick once over with sandpaper, and will prime everything all in one go. As you can see by one of the pics, I had to remove about 3 inches off the bottom. (slight water damage) I figure by the time I put some feet and the bottom back in, I should only lose an inch or so. I don't think that's to bad all things considered. I've decided to go with a Neogeo type layout for the controls. I think that will work well with what I have. I've got a set of controls / buttons on order, along with a cap kit for the monitor. (I've got it discharged, so once I get the kit, it won't take long to change. I think I'm going to paint it a dark blue. (still now 100% sure on that yet)
I also think that short term, I'm going to put it back together with the Mr. Do! guts, and once Christmas is over and done with, then I will bring mame into the picture.
That's it for now!
All the best, and again a BIG thanks to anyone / everyone who has helped me along the way!
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Just thought I would post an updated picture. Here is the CAB all painted and ready for assembly. Still working on the control panel. It still needs another coat of paint. I've got the t-molding. (you can see 2 samples on the machine) I may install the rest of it tonight. I have the marquee complete. It's nothing compared to some of the ones I've seen on here, but considering the fact it's not a printed one, but all done with vinyl, I don't think it turned out to bad. (I've got my own vinyl cutter, and a bunch of old pieces of vinyl) I'm thinking that I'm gonna put a the "Joust" bird on the side. It won't take up the whole side, as I don't have any vinyl wide enough, so I think it will just be the top half. I may put something on the bottom as well. Still undecided.
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"Mr. Blu!" ? Heh. I think you should make your own original artwork rather than just slapping a random one on like Joust. Just my opinion.
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"Mr. Blu!" ?
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Strange, shouldn't it be me doing the testing? I think the kids are going to enjoy this thing. Just a hunch! ;D
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Nice clean panel ... looks great.
And, yes, the kids love the machines ...
Cheers.
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Nice clean panel ... looks great.
And, yes, the kids love the machines ...
Cheers.
I'm not a terribly fancy guy, so the basic / clean look works for me. Considering what I've got to work with, I think it turned out OK. Still have work to do, but it's getting there. Mostly installation of parts is all that's needed at this point.
Best Regards
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I'm not a terribly fancy guy, so the basic / clean look works for me.
I spent 18 months designing the ultimate Frankenpanel. After I had bought a few machines (actually, I was 99% after the first machine), I decided that clean panel design was the way to go.
Cheers.
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It looks very nice.
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It looks very nice.
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Yet another update. I ended up just going with a generic graphic on the side, and it turned out better than I expected. I'm very pleased with it. Not to fancy, but not real plane. I would say at this point of the project, I just have to really put the glass back in front of the monitor, and I'm good to go till after Christmas when I do the full conversion. You will probably notice the void under the control panel, but I'm leaving that for now. Once I do the complete conversion, I plan on either putting the speakers there, or a keyboard drawer. Once I get everything set up, if I decide I can live without the keyboard, then I will probably put the speakers there. After Christmas when I start the final conversion, I will update this post.
Again thanks to all that helped out in my first cab project!
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I think I like that sideart.
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I think I like that sideart.