What do I need to build a Donkey Kong cabinet from scratch?

[Dr. Blair]

Okay, this is probably a frustrating question for many of you scratch build masters. But the truth is, many of us beginners don't have any idea where to begin. We drool over your projects, but ignorance prevents us from ever attempting our own.

So, with that said, on behalf of all the beginners out there, what do I need to build a Donkey Kong cabinet from scratch?

To be clear, what I'm asking here is, what screwdrivers, mallets, power tools (saws), nails, screws, hinges, clamps, levels, glue, wires, paint, varnish, sandpaper, brushes, artwork, wood (MDF), wires, multimeters, lamps, monitors*, chips,** etc. are needed for this project?

Again, in case there was any doubt, I'm talking about starting this project from absolute zero! I plan on making huge mistakes and wasting a lot of money so other beginners don't have to!

And before everyone gets mad at me, after reading the posts here, and on KLOV, and BYOAC, I think that I know a lot of the answers to the above. But as I said in me "hello" post, because my goal is to draft the ultimate beginners guide, I want to use one thread to get a consensus on what's needed.

I look forward from hearing back from all of you!!!

(* with regard to monitor choice, I plan on using a lightweight LCD for safety and simplicity reasons for now.)
(** With regard to chips, again for simplicity's sake, I think I will Mame for now.)

[Dr. Blair]

In furtherance to my post above, I thought it would be easier if I broke the question down into categories. That said, what do I need in the following categories:

1. External building supplies (wood, mdf, etc.)

2. Power tools (saws, drils, types of blades, drill bits)

3. Building tools (screwdriver, brushes, hammers)

4. Planning and diagnostic tools (measures, levels)

5. Artwork (CPO, side art, beezle)

6. Consumable goods (nails, screws, paint, sand paper)

7. Components (joystick, coin door and mechanisms, hinges, beezle lamp)

8. Shop misc. (clamps, cutting table, etc.)

9. Other

Also, because I'm clueless, specific recommendations such as brand name and where to buy would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

[Etienne MacGyver]

start with finding the parts that you need on ebay
(coindoor, bezel retainers, control panel, marquee and things like that)

and defenetly find some good cabinet plans..

for the rest i would say :

1. MDF
2. Jigsaw, Cordless drill, circular saw (for long straight cuts)
3. a hammer could come in handy  
4. Tape rol measure, a bevel might be also handy
8. clamps are always handy

but i am sure there will be others that have ideas also  

[Blanka]

If you go LCD, try to find a second hand 20 inch HP LP2065 or similar. Use tftcentral.co.uk to lookup the panel type of this screen, and then do a reverse on other models that use it if you can't find the HP. The IPS panel used, is 20 inch, and one of the fastests in response for gaming, and the viewing angles are perfect. If you mount it vertically, it is close to the size of a real DK screen. Since it is 1600x1200 pixels, you can use some very nice MAME tridot simulation. This CRT simulation has become really acurate the last year.

[Dr. Blair]

Thanks for the preliminary advice Blanka and Entienne.

@Blanka: I will put that HP on my watch list. The problem that I'm going to run over to in Japan is that a lot of stuff (like the monitor that you recommended) may not be available. We'll see though...

@Entienne: Your list is a good starting point. I'm going to do a little more research on this site and others (e.g., wood working forums) and see if I can come up with a list of exactly what I think I need for tools and materials. When I'm done, I'll come back here and subject my list to the scrutiny of the forum.

@All: In the meantime, any advice on tools and materials would be very much appreciated!

[Blanka]

Dell 2007FP   16ms or 8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05) or Samsung S-PVA (LTM201U1)
NEC LCD2090UXi   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
LG L2000C   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
BenQ FP2092   12ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
Philips 200P7   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
Philips 200P7ES   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
Philips 200P7EG   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
NEC LCD2090UXi-BK   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
HP LP2065   8ms G2G   20" LG.Display S-IPS (LM201U05) or AU Optronics AMVA (M201UN02 V6)
Philips 200P7EB   8ms G2G   20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U05)
LG L2000CP   8ms G2G   20" LG.Display S-IPS (LM201U05)
Quato IP201   16ms   20" LG.Display S-IPS (LM201U05)

These models have the right panel. Maybe the LG, BenQ or NEC is easier to get in Japan.

[Dr. Blair]

Thanks, Blanka. I'm sure that I'll be able to find at least one of those monitors over here.

[Dr. Blair]

I'd love to base my scratch build off of scr33n's red Donkey Kong cabinet plans. Does anyone know if he ever posted them?

I see that the measurements from DarthNuno and others are burred in this thread (https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=783.0), but I couldn't find a file with updated plans available anywhere.

I see also that another new member, Importchoice, is working on putting together some solid plans in this thread (https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=3182.0), but after seeing scr33n's results, my guess is that scr33n's plans are probably pretty close to perfect.

If scr33n's plans aren't available, I'll try correcting the Jakobud plans with the measurements in scr33n's Donkey Kong Thread.

Thanks everybody!

[Etienne MacGyver]

AFAIK Screen never published the plans

[scr33n]

Here the plans, use it with Microsoft Visio (with Visio you can print every single page and then paste them all together) 

http://ifile.it/7ea3b45/DonkeyKongPlans-163x85cm.vsd

Right measures 163cm x 85cm.

Try it and feel free to contact me if you have problems...

[Dr. Blair]

Yes!!!!!!!

I feel like a demi-god has just offered me a helping hand in my quest! Thank you so much!

I will be sure to keep you updated here on my progress. And, I'm also pretty certain that I will shoot you more than a couple questions. 

I'm stoked.

[Dr. Blair]

What do you guys think about the quality of this Nintendo coin door? Is it worth bidding for or no?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-coin-door-/150743478008?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231902eef8

[Cacker]

Hi - Did anyone get the plans from the link below ?    If so, could you pm me the file please ?

If I click below - it wants me to download a program.

Hope someone can help.

Cheers
Frank

Here the plans, use it with Microsoft Visio (with Visio you can print every single page and then paste them all together) 

http://ifile.it/7ea3b45/DonkeyKongPlans-163x85cm.vsd

Right measures 163cm x 85cm.

Try it and feel free to contact me if you have problems...

[Etienne MacGyver]

It wants you to download the visio viewer i guess (which is free)
http://www.microsoft.com/nl-nl/download/details.aspx?id=21701

[scr33n]

Hi - Did anyone get the plans from the link below ?    If so, could you pm me the file please ?

If I click below - it wants me to download a program.

Hope someone can help.

Cheers
Frank

A new link:

http://www5.zippyshare.com/v/18726282/file.html

enjoy