Galaga Multi w/ 22in LCD monitor..

[gonzojoey]

This wont be a fancy build, but figured I'd document it anyways.
Acquired a gutted Ms Pacman cabinet that someone had covered the outside with black laminate, so I figured why not make it into a Galaga. Since I didnt feel like building a dedicate cabinet this time around, this will just use a multi-board for game play.

[gonzojoey]

T Molding and Kick Plate art work installed..

[gonzojoey]

Installed a jamma harness (cut off the "extra" since this is only a 1 joystick build with an LCD monitor). The board in the machine right now is actually just a 9 in one since that's all I had on had at the moment, but it'll work for testing purposes.
Haven't decided exactly how i'll do the power in the cab, but for now just using an extension cord. For the game board, I'm using a molex power brick instead of installing an arcade power supply.

[gonzojoey]

Picked up a multi Control Panel from ArcadeShop.com with the trackball hole. I also ordered the Galaga themed multi overlay from ThisOldGame.. but it still hasn't arrived yet, so I figured I'd go ahead and get the CP wired up. Picked up some 12 pin interlocking power connectors from RadioShack so the CP wiring can be disconnected properly.
Once the CPO arrives, I'll install it...but for now the CP is working fine

(you can see in the pic that instead of using bolts through the CP for the clamp downs on the sides I tried using some liquid nails type stuff to attach the supports. Obviously my mix wasn't right since one popped off as soon as I applied pressure to it.)

[gonzojoey]

Rookie Mistake!
I wired the P1 and P2 buttons backwards
Since I cut the wires to correct lengths, I cant just swap them. I'll have to move the wires on the connector side since I cant do it on the CP side. Damn.. I guess there's always something, right?

[gonzojoey]

I have a 22in LCD that I de-cased and mounted to a board that's the same width of the inside of the cab. Its not officially installed yet, so for now it's supported by the original monitor brackets that were left in the cabinet.
I have a trash Ms Pac glass bezel from another build that I'm using for spacing. Since the monitor is more narrow and longer than the original, I masked off where the new bezel design needs to go with blue tape.
I plan to use an original looking Galaga style bezel design, but sized to fit this monitors shape better. I reached out to someone on this board to help me with the design. Once that is final, I'll post some pictures.
 

[wordsworth]

Cool cab! I'm a sucker for Galaga and you don't see a bunch of them around here. Looking forward to seeing it when it's finished.

[Generic Eric]

Cool cab! I'm a sucker for Galaga and you don't see a bunch of them around here. Looking forward to seeing it when it's finished.

That is because Malenko has them all.

[wordsworth]

Ha! Malenko is king!

Hey gonzojoey, what are you doing for a coin door out of curiosity?

[yotsuya]

Is there any chance you could find a 4:3 monitor? 16:10 monitors look too skinny in vertical builds. Other than that, I like what you are doing.

[Malenko]

That is because Malenko has them all.

I wish.  I have 1 I restored running a 60 in 1, and the other one I restored for my buddy Bobby(HoBoJoe). I plan to get a legit Galaga PCB and make a jamma adapter for it.
I'm with Yahtzee on getting a 4:3 monitor though.

[gonzojoey]

Ha! Malenko is king!

Hey gonzojoey, what are you doing for a coin door out of curiosity?

I picked up a used Midway coin door I need to repair. Only one of the bolts on the frame is still there, the other three are broken off.  Once I figure out how to fix it, I think I'll go ahead and wire it up as normal, but I'm thinking about changing up the colors on the standard red/ black 25 cent label and making it green/ black instead.

[gonzojoey]

Is there any chance you could find a 4:3 monitor? 16:10 monitors look too skinny in vertical builds. Other than that, I like what you are doing.

I'll have to see what I have available. I have some older square 19in monitors, but I was going for a larger play area..more like the Arcade Party machine (but that's a 26in monitor, I think)

[nitrogen_widget]

Is there any chance you could find a 4:3 monitor? 16:10 monitors look too skinny in vertical builds. Other than that, I like what you are doing.

I'll have to see what I have available. I have some older square 19in monitors, but I was going for a larger play area..more like the Arcade Party machine (but that's a 26in monitor, I think)

If that monitor is a 22 inch 16:9 a 19 inch 4:3 will actually give you a bigger play area.
A 23 inch wide screen will give you the same play area as  19 non wide screen monitor.

This is providing you are not stretching the game to fill the screen which it looks like you are in the pictures.

[gonzojoey]

If that monitor is a 22 inch 16:9 a 19 inch 4:3 will actually give you a bigger play area.
A 23 inch wide screen will give you the same play area as  19 non wide screen monitor.

This is providing you are not stretching the game to fill the screen which it looks like you are in the pictures.

This monitor is "supposed" to be 16:10..but it looks like its about the same playable size with some dead space on the top as the 19in. Once I get my permanent board in there, I'll have to see if it looks any different. For now, the games aren't stretched out (at least, I don't think they are).

[yotsuya]

They don't look stretched out in your photo, but nitrogen_widget is right in the sense that you'd get a bigger play area with a 4:3. Hell, I'd try to get a Dell 20" screen off eBay.

However, I get it if you want to stick with what you have on hand. I'd mask off the unused part of the monitor on your bezel at least to give the appearance of 4:3 proportions, if you display is doing it that way. But that's just me. 

[nitrogen_widget]

I think the angle of the picture gives me the illusion of it being stretched out.

[BobA]

Here is all the info you need on actual screen sizes for different LCD monitor formats.  Yes 4:3 format in 20 inch is much more useful for old games then the newer stretched screens.  See specifically the chart for monitor size.

LCD Monitor Chart

[gonzojoey]

Thanks for the link to the LCD info.
I'll be sticking with my current monitor just because that's the best I have right now.. But next around I'll stick with something 4:3 .
Working on the coin door tonight. Hope to have a few more progress pics tomorrow evening.

[gonzojoey]

Finally a little progress..
Coin door is installed (no coin mechs at the moment) and the monitor bezel design is complete. Printed it just on paper and taped it under the glass to test fit and I think it turned out alright. I still need to find someone to reverse print this for me so I can stick it to the underside of the glass.. but that will come later.
(Sorry for the poor cellphone pic.. its hard to get a good picture in my workshop area since the lighting isn't great)

Still waiting on the CPO from ThisOldGame..hopefully it'll be here soon..

[gonzojoey]

Overlay installed and hole for trackball cut out. Will mount trackball later tonight..hopefully.