Not much has been done in the way of completing my MAME project.
As said many times on this blog I have limited time, no tools, and no help.
I'm basically at the same spot I was 30 days ago with my monitor waiting to be installed. All be it I did make some small progress.
I've painted the wooden bezel that surrounds my monitor in a flat black. Typically you would put your cardboard bezel over this, however I might just use it as is. When doing a dry fit it works out perfectly. In the future I might get a bezel cut from some matt board, but that remains to be seen.
I also purchased a 2"x4" that I cut down into 15" lengths. These will be doubled up and screwed together. On top of this I plan on mounting a shelf for the monitor to sit on. I did pick up the wood I need, however I haven't cut it into size.
I went to the local home depot and picked up some 3" bolts,washers,and nuts.
I partially uncased my Sony PVM monitor and began to loosely dry fit the shelf.
I'm having a hard time figuring out the angle to mount the monitor shelf. Its not easy working with a 110 lb monitor. However by using the back of the Sony PVM case I think I have a general idea as to where it should go. And to be honest, should it be slightly off I think i'll be able to live with it.
Again its just finding the time and the help to bang it out. I'm leaning now towards getting all the cuts done, the holes drilled, and everything else ready for the install. That way when I can find the help it should be a piece of cake.
The only thing that has me nervous is drilling through the side of the cabinet.
The idea is to use the 15" lengths of 2"x4" doubled up as support for the shelf. The shelf would be screwed into the supports. The 2"x4" supports would have three holes each drilled in them. The supports would rest on the inside of the cabinet and the 3" bolts used to keep them in place. I think this would be enough to hold the monitor, all be it might not be the best idea to move it around once assembled.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Excuses, excuses, excuses
Excuses, excuses, excuses........
I enjoy many things, I collect very few. I've never really had a hobby that I stick with to be honest. I tend to get "really" into things but the romance often ends with not really caring. I'm very motivated by things that play into my sense of style and general aesthetic appeal. Sometimes I think if my basement were finished and I was a space that I frequently visited that I would have many more projects and perhaps most important completed projects. But as is my basement is simply "that space" in the house that doesn't get used. I'm sure like it is for many people it becomes the burial ground for junk, and a wasteland of crap. Things we won't use, yet can't part with.
Right now my basement is home to a Tekken 3, a Neo Geo 2 slot, the MOSTLY finished MAME project (a.k.a the reason for this blog), and my Japanese style slot machine.
I also have a few more projects set to make the move from the garage into the basement.
I recently picked up a ton of Japanese parts that included 5 Sanwa joysticks, 40 or so Sanwa buttons, and 8 extra Sanwa ball tops. I was also able to get an awesome deal on some new Jamma harnesses and three 48-in-1 boards. The "future" project includes converting the bar tops into 48-in-1's. Two of which I'll sell,the other I'll keep.
In addition to the bar top project is my Jukebox build......known as the "BossBoxx."
The computer side of this project is complete, all be it the album list is ever expanding. A friend of a friend who is a carpenter has offered his services to help me this build. He was rather stoked on the whole idea, which is a huge bonus for myself. Concept wise the jukebox has taken on a few forms, but I'm not really going to sweat it at this time.
I get a lil flack for my blogs and the fact that I start one thing without completing another. And to be honest I understand, in fact it sort of bothers me that my MAME stays in the state it is. As mentioned many a time on this blog I truly feel its like %90 of the way there. In some respects I often question, is this hobby a good hobby with a guy that has no truck,no tools,really no ability to do required work needed for some of these projects. I haven't found an easy answer to that question because honestly stuff gets done.......it just takes long!
I guess if I were to look really hard into things I could say that I don't love the hobby, I enjoy it. I don't make it a priority, its just something I thought could be cool. It's something that when my basement gets completed I think I will use often, but like my other cabinets right now they are just taking up space. But for all my mixed views on these items one thing remains constant, they make me happy.
It gives me something to do when I choose, it keeps me out of trouble, for the items that interest me it really hasn't been expensive. My brother also recently began collecting and has got what I think to be some decent buys. He has his foosball table, his 48-in-1 contained in a nice simple all black showcase cabinet, his Tekken 3 in a showcase cabinet, his Street Fighter Alpha 3 showcase cabinet, and newly acquired Neo Geo 111-in-1 in a Dynamo cabinet. It was at his house that something became very clear to me, it isn't about how often you play that justifies this hobby or this waste of space as my wife would call it. It's about how much you enjoy it when you do. I've found that it brings my family together. It was an awesome experience to play a game of foosball against my father. Or have my wife join me in a heated battle against my brother and his wife. In reality how many things that we do are a waste of money ? How many things hold our interest for years to come ?
I enjoy many things, I collect very few. I've never really had a hobby that I stick with to be honest. I tend to get "really" into things but the romance often ends with not really caring. I'm very motivated by things that play into my sense of style and general aesthetic appeal. Sometimes I think if my basement were finished and I was a space that I frequently visited that I would have many more projects and perhaps most important completed projects. But as is my basement is simply "that space" in the house that doesn't get used. I'm sure like it is for many people it becomes the burial ground for junk, and a wasteland of crap. Things we won't use, yet can't part with.
Right now my basement is home to a Tekken 3, a Neo Geo 2 slot, the MOSTLY finished MAME project (a.k.a the reason for this blog), and my Japanese style slot machine.
I also have a few more projects set to make the move from the garage into the basement.
I recently picked up a ton of Japanese parts that included 5 Sanwa joysticks, 40 or so Sanwa buttons, and 8 extra Sanwa ball tops. I was also able to get an awesome deal on some new Jamma harnesses and three 48-in-1 boards. The "future" project includes converting the bar tops into 48-in-1's. Two of which I'll sell,the other I'll keep.
In addition to the bar top project is my Jukebox build......known as the "BossBoxx."
The computer side of this project is complete, all be it the album list is ever expanding. A friend of a friend who is a carpenter has offered his services to help me this build. He was rather stoked on the whole idea, which is a huge bonus for myself. Concept wise the jukebox has taken on a few forms, but I'm not really going to sweat it at this time.
I get a lil flack for my blogs and the fact that I start one thing without completing another. And to be honest I understand, in fact it sort of bothers me that my MAME stays in the state it is. As mentioned many a time on this blog I truly feel its like %90 of the way there. In some respects I often question, is this hobby a good hobby with a guy that has no truck,no tools,really no ability to do required work needed for some of these projects. I haven't found an easy answer to that question because honestly stuff gets done.......it just takes long!
I guess if I were to look really hard into things I could say that I don't love the hobby, I enjoy it. I don't make it a priority, its just something I thought could be cool. It's something that when my basement gets completed I think I will use often, but like my other cabinets right now they are just taking up space. But for all my mixed views on these items one thing remains constant, they make me happy.
It gives me something to do when I choose, it keeps me out of trouble, for the items that interest me it really hasn't been expensive. My brother also recently began collecting and has got what I think to be some decent buys. He has his foosball table, his 48-in-1 contained in a nice simple all black showcase cabinet, his Tekken 3 in a showcase cabinet, his Street Fighter Alpha 3 showcase cabinet, and newly acquired Neo Geo 111-in-1 in a Dynamo cabinet. It was at his house that something became very clear to me, it isn't about how often you play that justifies this hobby or this waste of space as my wife would call it. It's about how much you enjoy it when you do. I've found that it brings my family together. It was an awesome experience to play a game of foosball against my father. Or have my wife join me in a heated battle against my brother and his wife. In reality how many things that we do are a waste of money ? How many things hold our interest for years to come ?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Well I Tried......
The last three or so days I've had some killer headaches. I think a full work day on the computer followed by more time on the computer has taken it's toll. No doubt the fact that I have stopped wearing my glasses at work in connection with the new light bulbs have all contributed to this problem. Anyway I promised myself that I would not start another project until my MAME project has been completed. Something I thought should be an easy task as all that is left is the installation of the monitor. Now I will need help lifting the monitor into place, and I will need help to figure out the angle....but once that has been done is really a quick project. I thought to make this project run smoother I would complete the shelf build in advance. So last night I went out and bought some screws. I went down stairs with my splitting headache and began to work. Long story short I split the 2x4 supports, stripped the screws, and cracked the particleboard shelf. Sooooooooo now I need more 2x4 supports, a new shelf, and new screws. I'm glad I didn't paint the bezel as I had planned.
I guess the one blessing is that the shelf I had wasn't the correct size. It was in fact smaller then I had needed which resulted in my screwing two 2x4 supports together. Now I will get a shelf that is the correct size and use one 2x4 support per side. I'll post the pics I've taken tonight, and I hope to resume this project on the weekend.
I guess the one blessing is that the shelf I had wasn't the correct size. It was in fact smaller then I had needed which resulted in my screwing two 2x4 supports together. Now I will get a shelf that is the correct size and use one 2x4 support per side. I'll post the pics I've taken tonight, and I hope to resume this project on the weekend.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I Really Can't Stall This Much Longer
No big secret to anyone that has ever read this but my MAME project has stalled.
Looking at the dates between posts I'm honestly kind of floored by it.
Video games truly aren't one of my deepest passions, all be it I do enjoy them.
The idea of the MAME cabinet was really born out of a childhood dream. None the less to come so far and stall really is ashame.
I've updated my spending to reflect the most recent parts I purchased.
I have partially removed one of cases for my Sony monitors and began to assemble the shelf it will sit on. I've purchased bolts to mount the shelf inside the cabinet. Once completed i'll need the help of a friend, but once lifted inside the MAME project is complete.
I will post some pictures tonight. I've made a promise to myself that I will not start any other project until this project is complete.
Looking at the dates between posts I'm honestly kind of floored by it.
Video games truly aren't one of my deepest passions, all be it I do enjoy them.
The idea of the MAME cabinet was really born out of a childhood dream. None the less to come so far and stall really is ashame.
I've updated my spending to reflect the most recent parts I purchased.
I have partially removed one of cases for my Sony monitors and began to assemble the shelf it will sit on. I've purchased bolts to mount the shelf inside the cabinet. Once completed i'll need the help of a friend, but once lifted inside the MAME project is complete.
I will post some pictures tonight. I've made a promise to myself that I will not start any other project until this project is complete.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Spending Update
DETAILED INFO :
Marvel vs. Capcom = $75
Cabinet Delivery = $60
IPAC = $66
Buttons = $18 (purchased an extra 6 buttons)
Paint & Rollers = $20
Varsol = $5
Spray Paint = $10
Light fixture = $15
Wire = $12
S-Video card = $0 free
Sony PVM 2530 25" monitor = $60
Bolts for Monitor = $9
total spent " $350
Marvel vs. Capcom = $75
Cabinet Delivery = $60
IPAC = $66
Buttons = $18 (purchased an extra 6 buttons)
Paint & Rollers = $20
Varsol = $5
Spray Paint = $10
Light fixture = $15
Wire = $12
S-Video card = $0 free
Sony PVM 2530 25" monitor = $60
Bolts for Monitor = $9
total spent " $350
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Update to Spending
Not much to report, I'm still stuck with a 110lb monitor I can't lift into place.
Not really much as happened other then this MASSIVE stall.
However there were a few small things.
Thanks to the guys over at CGCC again I was able to get video cards with S-Video out for free. They are used to send the signal from my computer to the SONY PVM 2530'S picked up. I have purchased three Sony PVM monitors, delivered they cost me $175.
So that's about $60 each !
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