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Construction 04/09/05 - The cab got its first proper workout this weekend when my brothers and nephews came around. I'm really glad I went for the two player setup; it's a little tight but 2 player co-operative or versus action is incredible fun. In preparation I secured the control panel (velcro is suprisingly strong), put in the light and stuck on the sideart. In retrospect I should have gone for smaller sideart and used a matching marquee.... but there's always next time (^_^) The Name That Song game is great fun too - in the preceeding weeks I've downloaded about 300 80s/90s/00s songs from best of compilations at allofmp3 28/08/05 - I got a lot done this weekend! Routing the slot for the t-moulding was a real nightmare. Because I'd already screwed it together I could only route between the screws. This was a very slow process - I didn't want to accidentally hit the screws - and because I was viewing the router side on I got covered in nasty mdf dust. When I installed the t-moulding I had to cut out the vertical part of the "T" for all areas that didn't have a cut. After this I touched up a few areas of the paint and gave it two spray coats of acrylic sealer. I also installed the speakers, fan and fan grilles. I ordered a styrene marquee which is quite light and so I was able to attach it with velcro only. Easy to remove when I need to take out the monitor to move the cab. 24/08/05 - I've received the marquee, graphics, t-molding and router bit from the States! I'll be able to get a lot done this weekend. The sideart turned out a little bigger than I had ordered - it covers almost the entire side of the cabinet. I'm not 100% sure if that will look good, so I may end up getting something less overpowering printed up locally. 21/08/05 - Most of the painting done, just need to finish the bottom edges. Obviously the monitor will sit back a little further in the case. Things left to do: 1 secure and wire up the control panel 2 install speakers 3 install the marquee lighting and marquee 4 stick on the sideart 5 rout and apply the t-moulding to the sides 6 order and install the safety glass I'm still waiting for the marquee, sideart and t-moulding to arrive from the States, but as soon as I wire up the control panel it will be playable (^_^) The PC software is 95% done too. 14/08/05 - Ok, installed the rear panels, filled and started priming: The top hole will have a fan pulling fresh air onto the monitor, the bottom one is just for ventilation. Grilles will cover the not-so-neat cuts. It's quite obvious in that shot that the rear panel isn't flush! MDF has a tendency to split a little when screwed into near the edge, causing things like this. But I'm not so bothered since it is around the back and will look a lot better when painted black. I put the black sticky vinyl onto the control panel and it looks a lot better. I think eventually I will create a new control panel cause I'm not 100% happy with the button layout, but it will suffice for the moment. I also decided to use the monitor without a stand and install a marquee cause it looks so much better. I ordered this one from Classic Arcade Grafix: This means I will have to sit down to use the cab comfortably, and in an amazing coincidence I found two classic hourglass stools at the Camberwell Sunday Market - for only $10!!! 06/08/05 - Looking a bit better now! Control panel layout is mostly done, stuck the joysticks and buttons in to see how it all worked. The screen cover is temporary, will eventually replace it with some glass/acrylic. I'm debating whether to take the base off the monitor; it will lower it enough to put a marquee in, but it means the players will have to be sitting down to look at the screen comfortably. At the moment with the monitor sitting on the workbench it's a perfect height to stand and play, and I can adjust the monitor angle for comfort. A couple of panels left to install at the back and then it will be ready for priming and painting! 24/07/05 - Cut and assembled the basic shell. I've roughly worked from the design of Oscar's Bartop, except mine will be two player.