John's Arcade Forum - Classic Arcade and Pinball Collecting and Restoring Discussion Forum - RETRO MAME - Nintendo Vs Forum

Hi All,

I've posted a few times on here while introducing myself. I mentioned that I was inspired by Johns restoration of his Pac-man cabaret and that I would build one from scratch. I had also mentioned that I would be filming the whole build from start to finish, John's Arcade style, albeit without the charisma and know how  :D.

If anyone interested in watching me build a Pac-Man cabaret mistakes and all then the here is the link to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnWMrBGGue0&list=PLodL6wnVHl6cv5nV2t8qxG9ZxmoRpgbsw

I'm currently on part 7 and it can be a little slow going sometimes due to real life stuff, however I'm going to try and post a new video soon.

I'm going to try and keep the cab as original as possible by using a CRT monitor (well a Scart RGB CRT TV, come on it cost me £2!) along with an original 1980 Pac-Man midway board and original coin door.

Also, here's the link to the newly created BYOAC thread if you just want to look at pictures: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144519.0.html

I'll try and keep this thread up to date when I post a new vid.

Oh also, without a doubt, John's Arcade is my favourite channel on Youtube. I don't want to blow smoke up you arse John but your channel is the best. VSauce comes a close second, but when push come to shove, I shall watch watch your vids first  ;D

Looking pretty cool man. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Thanks mate.
Now things are warming up a bit in the garage I can make some more progress :D

I have a new video up on the channel showing a few things added on to the cab as well as a package from eBay that will be attached to the cab at some point.

Ok, I've made a bit more progress on the cab.
I've started to dismantle the tv and seperate the tube from the chassis and create
A frame and mounting point for each.

Video here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bRR8Z8C_qTQ

I've added a few more Youtube videos with progress of my Pac-Man cabaret.
A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 11. Getting a Pacman arcade board working: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcrcgmUIOFA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcrcgmUIOFA)
A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 12. Making an IO board and mounting the PCB : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q07Ev5bp94I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q07Ev5bp94I)

Can't figure out how to embed photos from Google+ so here is a link to a picture of the cab:

https://goo.gl/photos/jH4vcEknuMthaBdd9 (https://goo.gl/photos/jH4vcEknuMthaBdd9)

looking great.... 

i'm trying to decide what my next scratch build style will be.  cabaret for sure, but which one?   I'm going to put my black tiger board in it, so debating which cabaret style to build.

The midway one has good plans available...

Ian offered a cabaret that looks really good, i'll have to ask him again to see about plans...

Thanks dm73. Yeah, cabarets are great because if space is limited it means that you can fit more games in  ;D.
When you start your build, it would be great to see pics/videos of the build.

I had a quick look at gameplay of Black Tiger as I had not come across that game before. At fist I thought i looked similar to Ghosts and Goblins and then I realised that it was by Capcom which would explain why. Might have to have a go on that on my MAME machine.

Part 13 is up on Youtube:

A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 13. Goodies from the USA and TV replacement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUaxNqpc_Mk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUaxNqpc_Mk)

I've finally started on the Control Panel for the cab! Video link if interested below:

A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 14. Making a start on the control panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHhI1__scIg

After lots of measuring I managed to get the control panel cut to size and screwed together. I've got a photo bucket account now so I can upload pictures. Picture of the CP below:

(https://i.imgur.com/NF29LQe.png)

I also managed to get hold of a NOS Pac-Man cabaret CP overlay!  ;D Picture below:

(https://i.imgur.com/NPZQPGp.png)

So far the cab is going to have:

Original PCB
Original Coin Door
Original Control Panel Overlay
Original Wico 4 way joystick

Next I'm going to fit the latches and drill the holes joystick and button holes.

Sweet, keep up the good job!

Thanks yocke  :)

Two new parts of my build are up on Youtube if anyone is interested:

A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 15. Control Panel clamps and button holes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJrkJvSzN0
A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 16. Creating the CP metal overlay  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiLmJXFOM2U

I managed to get hold of some Control Panel clamps and fitted them. Seems to keep the control panel securely in place.

(https://i.imgur.com/UTX5QWt.png)

I also drilled the holes in the CP:

(https://i.imgur.com/mdVaPBJ.png)

To make the metal overlay, I created a simple metal brake which I used to bend some custom 1mm sheet steel that I bought:

(https://i.imgur.com/5KL0Xse.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/HIfXzsi.png)

Then drilled the holes in the metal. This was quite tricky and I had to hammer the metal flat after the step bit caught on the metal.

(https://i.imgur.com/R9EAbc3.png)

But with the CP overlay on, no one will ever see the dents ;D:

(https://i.imgur.com/NF29LQe.png)

Zoomed out pic:

(https://i.imgur.com/sHVzoE1.jpg)

Next up, on to the control panel wiring :)

Wow! That's super cool. NICE WORK!  :o :o :o :o

Thanks John  ;D

I've been building this for a while now, so fingers crossed I can get this finished by the end of the summer and then move on to the next build...

A bit belated as I posted the new video a few weeks ago, but here goes:
A Pac-Man Is Born: Part 17. Fitting and wiring the Joystick and buttons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLC8zOkLtlI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLC8zOkLtlI)

So time to fit the joystick to the control panel.
I started off by cutting a hole for the joystick to fit through and also some (crudely cut) notches for the switches to fit through.
I will have to come back to this a tidy this up at a later date, but for now it seems to work well:

(https://i.imgur.com/2SioPGn.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/08n3ast.png)

Next I routed out the hole to a depth of 5mm. This is so the joystick will sit flush with the top of the control panel and allow the metal overlay to fit over the top:

(https://i.imgur.com/VuGjqTR.png)

Now to put the control panel back together along with the joystick. Looks alright  ;D: Although I forgot to fit the dust washer  ::)

(https://i.imgur.com/6DLmOu8.png)

So now the joystick is fitted, it was time to hook u the controls to the board. Firstly, I wired up the ground which is pretty easy when there are only 6 switches :D.

(https://i.imgur.com/40LCjQP.png)

Then the wires for each button:

(https://i.imgur.com/40LCjQP.png)

When hooking the board up to the power, video and sound I made a little IO box. I also pre-wired a couple of DIN connectors, one for the controls and one for the coin and service switches.

So I mirrored the DIN connection at the control panel with the ground and other wires:

(https://i.imgur.com/7jY8auI.png)

Then all I need to do was connect my own DIN cable between the IO box and the control panel, power up the cab and have a game of Ms. Pac-Man (I currently have the fast version of the ROMs):

(https://i.imgur.com/AiZrh0h.png)

Playing Pac-Man/Ms. Pac-Man with a leaf switch joystick is pretty fun and also very weird when you are so used to clicky microswitches.

Now that the control panel is pretty much done with the exception of paint etc, the next thing to tackle is the front panel and coin door.

GREAT JOB!!!!