Well, it's about time I started a thread.

Started playing arcade games since summer of 1980. It's been over a year since the last arcade in town closed shop.  

I've tinkered with mame years ago, and honestly don't remember why i decided to embark on this project (i have no memory)............damn i really cant recall......but alas, onward we go. I didnt want to go at it alone (for electrical and software part of project..frontends..) so i talked with a buddy and got him interested. So my cab project became 2 cabs.

Side panels cut


Good clamps, crappy clamps, every clamp i could get my hand on, I'm putting all my faith in glue only.


First cab upright....


Back door for maintenance purposes.


Second cab coming along. Having only 2 32" clamps really slowed the progress down.


Since i was alone during the week handling these big panels. I made a beam using leftover 2x3 and some mdf, I made it as wide as interior of cab. This was so it would give support as i glued and placed panels.


Thx again to Sparky for the 2 coin doors, here's the first for my cab.


And the second which originally comes from a Disks of Tron cabinet. Needs to be restored.


Sanded, undented, and repainted with 1 coat


2 Cabs side by side


First Control panel box.


picture to Test speaker panel angle


My top-back angled panels on both cabs came out short, and i cant figure out why. That black strip on inside is duct tape to cover the damn crack so i can fill it with wood filler from other side. I did this whole project under the influence and this is the only thing that didnt add up right for some reason, any way i had already bought wood filler expecting mistakes, but that panel is the only one which needs filler in the joints.... 4:20


Wood filler gunk.. damn this crap dries up surprisingly fast.
To be sanded...


First control panel box. Needs to be sanded.


Really starting to take form. CP just resting there for pic.


And finally..
Naming the machines was toughest thing i find.
I have always been a huge metal fan and my buddy is a huge Budweiser supporter  

Here's my marquee i made out, gotta retouch it a bit. Inspired by Iron Maiden and old song "Acacia Ave."
the period is a Eddie Happy face
Yeah it's got arcade in the name....deal with it


We are stumped as to naming my buddies machine.
So far only thing that sounded ok was plain and simply "Budweiser Arcade" which i would make out with a bud logo. If any of you can think of anything gimme your suggestions.
I already know what to do for cps overlays. ill upload when i do them (after i know the exact dimensions of our cps)

Allright hope you enjoyed this massive first thread in projects forum....
I'll post more as progress continues....

W O W!! Great job! J'ai hate de voir le resultat final
Le marquee est cool, I'm a big Maiden fan too!
Je ne suis pas un buveur de Bud mais j'ai quand meme hate de voir le resultat aussi!!

As tu tout fait en MDF???

Yep, 3 feuilles de mdf. 5/8

Looks cool.  Will be curious to see when you install the monitors.

Good job !!  I believe one of those cabs is based on Lusid's plans or those  included in the Project Arcade book, is that right ?  Probably the one I will be tryin in the near future.

Keep up the good work !

Quoted from Mamezilla

Good job !!  I believe one of those cabs is based on Lusid's plans or those  included in the Project Arcade book, is that right ?  Probably the one I will be tryin in the near future.

Keep up the good work !

both are based on Lucid plans that i found on the net before the book arrived(thk god cause the cd included in the book was broken). Originally this was gonna be like a Street fighter 2 cab , with the cp staying inbetween both side panels, but that made play area a bit tight , 24" wide (was fine when we were kids, but we've gotten biigger eh.)

I am planning to do the same to the other cab.
If all goes well i should be priming the cabs this weekend.

edit: damn... snow announced for this weekend..... ARRRGG!!!!! is it ever goin to end!!!!

Brava!!!

Go get em lads! that Maiden Font suits an arcade game better than most arcade fonts!!

Mad respect and enthusiastic cheers to you both, building not one, but two scratch-built
cabs should earn some sort of formal certification imho.

Because you asked for some input, see if you agree with this (getting my art director hat
on) only because I have major respect for these two projects here :

The Maiden font has awesome sharp and angled straight lines, is bright, and yellow, and
commands enough attention that you may not even require the decorative camouflage
background....

if you increase the size of that Iron Maiden font, I think you'll find that you won't even
require the army background to draw proper attention to the marquee.

The Maiden lettering is made up of primary colors and sharp lines, and the camouflage is
earthy tones and rounded, which compete for the eye's attention, specially when backlit,

in Short, are you able to jack up the size of the Maiden font with a black background?

What do you think?

again, just my thoughts.

Mad props to you both
Craig

thx for the input. My marquee aint final.

Reason i put that camo background is im planning on painting the cab a darkish green like what shows up in camo background. I'll make one with black background and post em both when done. We'll get a better perspective at that point.

I can definetly bring up the font size though.

Off to the garage I go......

Nice looking cabs and looking good thus far.

Not much to report. Been configuring software this week.
The little i did is the following...

repainted my buddy's coin door another 6 times. This time using a flat black.


The speaker panels, 1 for each cab. both identical. 1 front viewed, and one shot from the back


I grooved the speaker holes. First time ever using a router i borrowed from my brother.


Closeup of slot I cut out for speaker's volume knob, i still have to drill a hole where knob will stick out. the square didnt have to be perfect as this is the back of panel.


Updated progress shot, I still have to fit my coin door, glue the front panels, get speakers ready so i can install them in speaker panel once panel is glued(ill be painting before putting in speakers. then we make the monitor shelf, Guy from work is gonna check if his 22" monitor is still working, if so, he is gonna give it to me for free!

My bud pased by today so i got a bit of work done today on cabs.

Hmmm what's this for...


...seems familiar.


Another shot....


Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaa, just like the real deal... One flick of the switch and the whole cab will come alive, marquee, pc, monitor and speakers.
I'll post pics of how the wiring will be done when i get to it...


Picture of moniter shelf.Couldnt clamp it using clamps, so i glued and screwed it there(using screws as clamps)


One coin door reassembled, with original Bally plate which we put back using rivets.


Air holes for monitor heat + Speaker panel in place, need to drill hole for volume knob.


Coming along well....


We wanted that coin box flush with opening in front so we built a little table for the coin box, with ledges.


Inside shot of my coin door.


Grills i painted for air holes in back of cab.


PIc of me holding up grill.....   :p


That's it for now.. I got a couple of holes left to drill for volume knob, and power cord. And then i can finally start the oil based primer on these beasts....