abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Using a standard Taito cabinet, I started to convert it to an Atari 2600 machine Originally, I was using a rare piece of Atari hardware called a "Video Multiplexor" (Yeah it was spelled that way). It allowed up to 8 games to be plugged into a strip and a user could pick between them. I had it running well until I came across the Harmony cart. With that, I started on a quest to up the game of what this machine would be.. The following post are a documentation of the progress as it happened. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) I designed this as the marquee for my Atari 2600 cabinet but am thinking about creating it with a faux stained glass technique. I am unsure if I am going to be able to create the rainbow of colors, though. The method to create faux stained glass is quite cool and easier than you would expect. Quite the same effect as regular stained glass: http://suzyssitcom.c...ined-glass.html Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) This is the "Faux Stained Glass Marquee" test below the one I created with Photoshop on paper (which is above). I will have to install it in the cabinet to see what it looks like with a light behind it before I am completely sold. I think I have to retrace the lighter black lines with a darker color too. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Here is what the marquee looks like installed in the machine with a back-light. I think I may need to use something to disperse the light. Normally white paper behind the glass works. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 This is what it looks like from the side. I do like the brush texture that I added to the red background. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) I laid down the ledding on a piece of new glass for the faux stained glass window as the bezel around the TV monitor of the Atari machine. I now need to add the color to it in the same way I created the marquee. The center will be absolutely clear. All of the other windows will be different colors and the very outside will be the same red as the marquee. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Started to paint Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) This looked pretty good Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Well, it looked pretty good until I added the red on the edge. Too close in color with the orange. I am going to wait for the thing to try and place a light color purple over the top of the orange. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) I tried purple and it started to look just like the bottom brown colors. I washed it off quickly. I then used opaque white over the top of the orange and it lightened it up quite a bit. I also added texture to the red around the edge by tapping a dry brush all over a fresh thin coat Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Here is a close up of the textured area. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Okay.. The glass is mounted and looks pretty good in it Since it is not backlit, I may have to light it slightly from the top. I took this picture with a light aimed into it. The cabinet is in need of a paint job and some wood putty. I am liking what I see, though. Edited June 6, 2013 by abrondino 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 Back-lit test. Nah.. I like it better front-lit. I just have to use dimmer lights and hopefully not get a glare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacManPlus Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 That looks freakin' awesome. Great work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Slick. Are you setting it up to support paddles, or just joysticks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 7, 2013 Author Share Posted June 7, 2013 Both. I purchased an auto switcher that knows when one of the other is used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 I bought 4 plastic Atari covers because I am going to cut them apart and use the grooved tops as the cover over the control panel. I am also going to use a real piece of wood in the front for the wood-grain look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 (edited) Original Atari joysticks and paddles are going to be taken apart and made to look like they are sunken into the panel. The goal is to have a mixture of an Atari and a traditional arcade control panel. Edited June 8, 2013 by abrondino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 I'm looking for an Atari logo to put on the front of the woodgrain for this. I'm thinking a small metal belt buckle may work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gemintronic Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Why hasn't anyone thought of a Jamma compatible 2600 board? Someone tell Kevtris to make one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share Posted April 14, 2014 I bought a Cuttle Cart 2 so that I can use the 7800 games as well as the 2600 games in this machine. I do have a Harmony Cart that currently works really well, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrondino Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 After quite a few tries, I am unable to cut the tops of the 2600 machines to where it looks smooth. I have decided to go the route of emulating the top of the 2600 by getting multiple square metal (preferably powder coated to match my new control panel) and affixing them to the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moving2 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 abrondino- AWESOME work. I can see you're really thinking outside the box to make this a truly unique piece of Atari art. Great work so far. Eagerly awaiting your updates! After quite a few tries, I am unable to cut the tops of the 2600 machines to where it looks smooth. I have decided to go the route of emulating the top of the 2600 by getting multiple square metal (preferably powder coated to match my new control panel) and affixing them to the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Nice work. I'm curious about the auto-detection of controllers. Do you actually have that working? Generally speaking, to switch between paddle and joystick , the only thing that would need to be switched is the fire button. The paddle controller fire button is the same as right direction (or left?) on a joystick. If the game isn't looking for a paddle, it shouldn't hurt for the pot to be connected. From there, I guess you could just constantly monitor for a discharge/charge pattern. If the game is using a paddle, it will discharge the cap on the paddle input then it will charge again through the potentiometer in the paddle. Some sort of missing pulse detector circuit could switch to joystick mode if no activity is found on player 1 paddle in port 1 (except Tac-Scan uses port 2 instead of port 1) Detecting the need for the driving controller vs. joystick won't work like that, so I guess no Indy 500 for this cabinet project. Then there's the special case of the keypad controller which uses all the digital I/O and the two analog inputs so that wouldn't work either. What Atari 2600 arcade cabinet would be complete without Basic Programming?! For a foolproof solution, you'd almost need to do a lookup against the game signature when it's loaded and somehow output the required controller. I wonder if a custom version of the Harmony firmware could output a signal on the USB port... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onemoretime Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 I don't know how big you want your label, but in best electronics revision 10 catalog, on page 155, they are selling prototype metal labels from the Atari 2700 run that never happened. They are only a buck for two, and they have self adhesive backing on them. Best does have a minimum order, but it's hard to look in that thing and NOT spend 20 bucks. I would like a dozen of everything.... Anyhow, since you're doing a one off cabinet, why not use a one off label? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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