aftermac Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 (edited) I started building my MAME cabinet yesterday. So far I only have one side cut out... hopefully, I can get more done tomorrow. Since, I'm currently unemployed I have plenty of time to work on the project! I've had a lot of the supplies to build the cabinet for about a year, but never had the time. The cabinet is going to be in the shape of a Centipede cab, but with woodgrained sides (my wife's condition for it being allowed in the house ), black T-Molding, and black front. It's going to have a 20" Mitsubishi monitor and a multi-billion hertz computer to run it. Here's a few pics of the day one progress... I'll post more pics along the way. Full sheet o' plywood, and some plans: Cut down to a bite-sized chunk: More or less reminds me of Centipede: Edited March 13, 2009 by aftermac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar302b Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I started building my MAME cabinet yesterday. So far I only have one side cut out... hopefully, I can get more done tomorrow. Since, I'm currently unemployed I have plenty of time to work on the project! I've had a lot of the supplies to build the cabinet for about a year, but never had the time. The cabinet is going to be in the shape of a Centipede cab, but with woodgrained sides (my wife's condition for it being allowed in the house ), black T-Molding, and black front. It's going to have a 20" Mitsubishi monitor and a multi-billion hertz computer to run it. Here's a few pics of the day one progress... I'll post more pics along the way. Full sheet o' plywood, and some plans: Cut down to a bite-sized chunk: More or less reminds me of Centipede: Where did you find the dimensions? Also, are going to be able to play all the old school laser disc games, ie... Thayers Quest, Mad Dog McCree (shooter), Space Ace, Dragons Lair, etc? And if so, how do you get them for download or disc or whatever? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 Where did you find the dimensions? Also, are going to be able to play all the old school laser disc games, ie... Thayers Quest, Mad Dog McCree (shooter), Space Ace, Dragons Lair, etc? And if so, how do you get them for download or disc or whatever? I actually found two different sets of measurements: Click "Drawings" under "Cabinet" on the left side: http://www.retrospieler.de/ And here... Click "Plans" under "Arcade Cabinet Pages" on the left side: http://www.davidkristiansen.com/arcadecab.htm So far, I don't have any laser disc plans. I intend to use it for arcade games, 2600, 5200, 7800, O2, NES, SMS, SNES, and Genesis. I may add a few others, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deteacher Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 WTG, Mac! I'm jealous because I want a MAME cab, but I have no woodworking skills. I'll have to resort to finding a busted game or empty shell to convert to MAME. I've got everything else: the computer, monitor, controllers, etc. I plan to hit the next auction in Cherry Hill, NJ for the cab...whenever that is. Keep the pics coming! I hope you can find work soon too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 this is a cool project, aftermac! Keep us up to date! :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximebeauvais Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Nice....pictures are always great to see the progress !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Nice work so far, just remember to keep it clean and functional. i.e. don't wind up with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar302b Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Where did you find the dimensions? Also, are going to be able to play all the old school laser disc games, ie... Thayers Quest, Mad Dog McCree (shooter), Space Ace, Dragons Lair, etc? And if so, how do you get them for download or disc or whatever? I actually found two different sets of measurements: Click "Drawings" under "Cabinet" on the left side: http://www.retrospieler.de/ And here... Click "Plans" under "Arcade Cabinet Pages" on the left side: http://www.davidkristiansen.com/arcadecab.htm So far, I don't have any laser disc plans. I intend to use it for arcade games, 2600, 5200, 7800, O2, NES, SMS, SNES, and Genesis. I may add a few others, also. Thank you for the info. and good luck with your MAME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 14, 2009 Author Share Posted March 14, 2009 (edited) WTG, Mac! I'm jealous because I want a MAME cab, but I have no woodworking skills. I'll have to resort to finding a busted game or empty shell to convert to MAME. I've got everything else: the computer, monitor, controllers, etc. I plan to hit the next auction in Cherry Hill, NJ for the cab...whenever that is. Keep the pics coming! I hope you can find work soon too. Thanks! I just missed out on an empty Defender cabinet a couple weeks ago. My wife found it for free on Craig's list, about 10 miles from where we live. I was the second person to respond to the add. If you lived out here we could build you one in my "wood shop" (see pic below). I don't necessarily have woodworking skills, but I took a couple shop classes 18 years ago in middle school! This is one of the few fun projects I've gotten to work on. The tools mostly get used for various home improvement projects. The most significant pieces I still need to buy are, controls: which I'm gonna get the button and joystick bundle and trackball from X-gaming, and wire to a couple spare USB game pads, T-Molding, smoked plexi for the screen, and plexi for the marquee. It's probably not going to have a coin box initially, though. I'm going to install some temporary coin "buttons" instead. Good luck finding a cabinet! I hope to find work soon, but at least I received my first bit of unemployment last week. Eased my mind quite a bit! this is a cool project, aftermac! Keep us up to date! :thumbsup: Nice....pictures are always great to see the progress !!!! Thanks, guys! And there will definitely be more pictures! Nice work so far, just remember to keep it clean and functional. i.e. don't wind up with this. Yuck! That thing is hideous! I'm more or less aiming for what this guy did: http://www.johnandkristie.com/mame/index.html Mine will have dark stained wood grained sides instead of artwork. I'm going to add pinball buttons to the sides, but I like his nice and clean control panel. The keyboard drawer is pretty slick too! Thank you for the info. and good luck with your MAME. No problem and thanks! Now for more pictures... Here's a significant portion of my "wood shop" (ie. garage). Pardon the mess... everything is covered in saw dust and I've never been good at putting my toys away when I'm done playing. On the far right you can see my 88,000 BTU furnace to keep me nice and toasty on 20 degree days like yesterday! Here's the second side cut out: The two pieces are clamped together to sand them even, and round the sharp corners: Here's a (blurry) close-up of cutting the slot or the T-Molding: I love it when pieces of dangerous, not to mention expensive, tools fall off when I'm using them!: Edited March 14, 2009 by aftermac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 The keyboard drawer is pretty slick too! I went with a wireless keyboard, much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 15, 2009 Author Share Posted March 15, 2009 The keyboard drawer is pretty slick too! I went with a wireless keyboard, much easier. Yeah, I could do that too, but I hate replacing batteries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 More progress! The right side of the cabinet with all of the wooden brackets attached: Another angle... with my wife in the background scraping decades of hardened sludge and rust from my tractor... but, that's another project!: Right side standing: Left side complete: Attaching the two sides: Again: It stands! Although still a bit wobbly... Some might call the monitor shelf supports overkill, but that shelf needs to hold 80 pounds of CRT. I don't want it moving. Stay tuned... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximebeauvais Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 going good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 going good Thanks! I'm really getting anxious now that it is starting to look like an arcade cabinet! The best part about this project is that 90% of the materials are just things I have laying around. More pics... Top and back attached... There shall be no lack of ventilation! Attaching the wheels: Supports to keep the monitor where I want it: Yup, monitor fits!: Ye olde biscuit joiner, clamps, cut pieces of MDF, and glue...: ... Makes the monitor bezel!: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonner242 Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Looks GREAT! Cant wait for the finish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akator Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Definitely nice work. Are you impatient to get it finished? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MN12BIRD Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Damn man it looks sweet so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 Thanks guys! Yeah, I'm getting pretty impatient... the closer it gets, the more I just want to play games! My budget might not allow the cabinet to be 100% finished or a while, but I'll get it real close. T-Molding, plexi, and controls might have to wait a bit. I might be gamepadding it for a while. Everything I'm using in the pics was left over from other projects. Should have more pics today or tomorrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Should have more pics today or tomorrow... Hurry! Good work so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 Should have more pics today or tomorrow... Hurry! Good work so far! Thanks! As promised... more pics! Maybe tomorrow I'll "test" the cabinet out... Monitor bezel in place and routed: Marquee light/speaker shelf installed: Door and hinges attached. I wanted it in the front for easier access: Cabinet lock installed: Does this little slot look like an hour of work? It's getting closer!: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Going to do coin doors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yuppicide Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I gotta find out when the next one is also. You're sure to find a good deal there. WTG, Mac! I'm jealous because I want a MAME cab, but I have no woodworking skills. I'll have to resort to finding a busted game or empty shell to convert to MAME. I've got everything else: the computer, monitor, controllers, etc. I plan to hit the next auction in Cherry Hill, NJ for the cab...whenever that is. Keep the pics coming! I hope you can find work soon too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 Going to do coin doors? Eventually, I want to... but, my budget is pretty small these days. It will probably have coin buttons or a cheap low-tech coin discriminator that I engineer. Here's a couple pics of my "testing" today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Here's a couple pics of my "testing" today... Congrats on the test Edge bevel on the bezel woodwork is a nice touch. On my cabinet I stripped the monitor casing and made a custom mount that replicated the one piece front pullout of the original CRT. I've seen to many cabinets with monitor shake. Not here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aftermac Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 Here's a couple pics of my "testing" today... Congrats on the test Edge bevel on the bezel woodwork is a nice touch. On my cabinet I stripped the monitor casing and made a custom mount that replicated the one piece front pullout of the original CRT. I've seen to many cabinets with monitor shake. Not here. Thanks! I tried the bezel sans bevel at first, but it just didn't look/feel right. The bevel makes it much easier to look at. That is a nice mount you made! I might have to do that eventually. The supports I put underneath the monitor actually hold it really tight. It doesn't tip or tilt... of course there is no control panel yet, so I can't test it under real playing conditions. Unfortunately, I have a feeling this won't be the last monitor I have in this cabinet. I've owned it for about 8 years and about the last 6 it's had an occasional twitch. I'd like to fix it, but I'm far from an expert on CRT's. Eventually, it is going to fail, but until then it's going to provide many hours of entertainment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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