80's Taito Cab from scratch

[scr33n]

Hi to all, (and sorry for my bad english  )

as promise to Darthnuno I post the construction of a classic Taito cab from 80's (Qix - Elevator Action etc .... my favourite cab - I live in Italy and my country it's impossible to find a cab like this  ..... so i start with construction from scratch).

The original cab:



So come on .... start the project ..... 

I start with some search in internet, and I found some measuements:

I started with a sketch on paper


I drew the outline on wood (MDF 1,9 cm thickness)



Now .. the 2 pieces are ready





time to smooth with sandpaper:



OK.....

now start with the assemble of the cab, I used some pieces of iron at L







Not bad for me ..... 

Continue .......

[DarthNuno]

Wooow.... A cab' built from scratch  Impressive... I never do that... Wow 

Do you already have an idea bout the paint, the side art models ?

Do you want to replicate this one exactly  ? 



You've done a really clean job regarding the cut of the curves on the sides, congratulation

I really love that picture :



The cab in the middle of the living room   

Wanne see more now   

[scr33n]

Thanks Darth,

the cab it's already finished (I'm still waiting only the print - marquees and control panel from Mamemarquees ordered 30 November 2007  Italian post arghhhhh!!!!!!!) and I don't like the color and sideart of the original one ... so i paint the cab all in BLACK!!!!! Not bad ... You will see  ......

My bassethound Bob ....




install the top of the cab:


and the first test for control panel:




I made the support for the monitor (21 inches TV - thank you Darthnuno for help with the choice of TV - Bluesky 21" it's perfect  )



and supports for tv and control panel inside the cab:




installed the coin door: (not the original one ... in Italy it's impossible to find this coin door  ... but ok no problem ..)



ok in position:



and semi-finished marquee zone:



OK ..... I'm very happy 






to continue ....

[scr33n]

so....

this is the control panel:



in position:



I built the base with two wheels, like the original cab:




first test with monitor inside the cab (Vertical position):



Carrying handles installed behind the cab:





Perfect!! 



Now.... the control panel clasps installed on the cab:



and under CP:




I've order some items from Arcadeshop.de ....

IPAC:


LEAF SWITCH:



BUTTON:



COVER FOR SPEAKERS:



and from T-MOLDING.COM




... I'm ready to start with T-molding  very stressful... i've never try this  :









ok ... very simple, no problem 

[scr33n]

..... Continue making holes on cp, (1 player, with 6 button)



in position with buttons and joystick installed .. test ..







I can't wait...  fast test with galaga and pacman:





I use Advancemame with Advancemenù under pure Dos (The best!!!  )



to be continue .... 

[DarthNuno]

GGreeattt job !!!!! Congratulation .... almost finished 

Yes, advancemame in pure DOS is the BEST solution, you're right  I presume you've done a VGA to SCART custom cable isn't it ? What is your graphic card ? ArcadeVGA is the best one for playing different games with different frequencies, but others graphic cards work perfectly too, like old ATI PRO, GForce II MX, ...
What is you setup up by the way ?

Please... what's next       

[Igorstellar]

  ;DWOW

GOOD  JOB !!!

[scr33n]

  Thanks Darth - grazie Igorstellar 

Yes i use a vga to scart cable with Riva Tnt vga card (To much problems with ArcadeVga .... already sold on ebay  )

ok go on ....

installed speaker and speaker grills:







now ..... the upper piece ... the place for the marquee ... using the Router 



neon  in position:




Light on !!!


to take in position the marquee:





To be continue ..... 

[scr33n]

 

I built a marquee retainer with a piece of aluminum:



and i cut 2 piece of plexy for marquee print:



ok ... in place and light on: 



Now the difficult part, I tried to built a bezel from scratch.... this is the result:   


start with a piece of mdf:




cut it with the right measure so can fit with the tv screen:







finished .... nice   


first test after a lot of work with sandpaper To reach the correct curvature:






Perfect  ... I am satisfied with the work done 

 

[scr33n]

 

after Having dismantled all the cab  arghhhh!!!!! 
start with the paint ... white primer (2 coats):









nice result ... 


now i can paint the cab with a black satin (I decided together with my girlfriend    )

sorry for the photo quality (digital camera  - dead)









bezel - all black:



.... paint dry ....


start with t-molding fase  3/4 " Black Leather Style:












  

 

[scr33n]

 


take a look at this particular:









Switch (80's style  ) - switch on everything, volume regulator and small light (Indicates that everything is on  ):

 

[DarthNuno]

Wow... very great job Screen 

...and this is the first time I see this :



  home made bezel done in mdf  It looks great 

I suppose your cab will be in your living room ? So I understand why you've to get the 'appoval' from your girlfriend regarding the color 

Good choice for the horizontal monitor orientation by the way  The best *classic* arcade games are 'vertical oriented'... except Dragon's Lair of course 

Thanks for all these pictures 

[scr33n]

Thanks to you Darth !!!!!

no, no , the cab is vertical monitor orientation (i want to play all classics games  ... i'm 35 years old ..so  you can undestand me  - how old are you Darth?)

 

now ... the smoked glass (very difficult to find here in Italy  like many others things  ) :



this is the original... I try to replicate it:



i used some piece of angular black pvc like this:




finished 




in the right place: (Pictures taken today with a new digital camera  better isn't it? (c) DARTHNUNO  )






with monitor switch on and Galaga - great image quality!!!!:





and Donkey Kong (Darth .. you try to beat Pacman record? I try with Donkey Kong  Thanks again for the christmas gift  )





Remember .. everything running under pure Dos with Advancemame+Advancemenù and a vga to scart cable ... PURE RGB !!!! Like Darthnuno teaches

https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=314.15

I use:

- Tv with rgb signal (pal and ntsc 50/60 Hz)
- Riva tnt 32
- Amd Sempron 2000+
- Soundblaster Pci 128
- Dos 6.22

Everything works perfectly!!! 

As you can see i'm still waiting for Mamemarquees prints - Control Panel and Marquee 

more pics:










 

[DarthNuno]

Thanks to you Darth !!!!!

no, no , the cab is vertical monitor orientation (i want to play all classics games
 ... i'm 35 years old ..so  you can undestand me  - how old are you Darth?)

LOL... a little mistake in my sentences. I mean "Vertical" of course for all the best classics : Pac Man, Galaga, Xevious, Tron, Bomb Jack, Donkey Kong, Galaxian ... etc 

I'm 34 years old ... same Era than you and most of us I presume 

Regarding your control panel setup, I presume your girlfriend won't play with you 

Great job 

[scr33n]

 

yes, my control panel set up is a little strange......

Now i explain ....

only 1 joystick ... too small the control panel 
the 3 buttons on the left 

when i was child i used to play with space invaders - galaxian and galaga phoenix etc... with button and not with joystick (Here in Italy there were these cabs ... not the original one  I know, strange setup ... but nostalgia  ) so....

and if i want put the tv in horizontal position, i can play with track'n'field , another my favorite ....

  Unfortunately, my girlfriend does not like videogames 

but i can take the cab home ... It is also her lover of all is 80's