176 replies to this topic

[blackvulcan3]

So after getting my chores done, the wife allowed me to play cabinet builder.

 

I bought some 50mm 10g chipboard screws, wood glue, putty and a countersink bit during the week.

 

So I had two hours to myself, I charged up my old Ni-Cad powered drill just in case. Good thing I did as my LI-Ion battery is now on the fritz. The Ni-Cad held up well.

 

All I did today was drill the holes for the back box to check assembly, just a dry run. It all came together fairly well, I am NO woodworker but basic measurements and drilling straight I am competent enough to do. Measure twice, measure again, drill once (hopefully).

 

Its not perfect but its pretty close, plenty of sanding to do. Tomorrow is mothers day so next weekend will see the cabinet holes commenced. 

 

 

By the way, I am leaning towards Twilight Zone graphics as Indiana Jones is ludicrously expensive and as the cab is modelled on a SuperPin the good graphics appear to be limited (unless someone can tell me how to get a good cabinet cross over to Widebody).

 

 

Also, I think I've found the playfield, it looks good, it will fit and its the right price.

 

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/tv-home-entertainment/hd-televisions/soniq/soniq-e43v15c-43-full-hd-led-lcd-tv/837614/

[RustyCardores]

Hmmm.... I only payed $440 for my Samsung. Soniq is not a "great" panel IMO. 

As for graphics.... check this thread http://www.vpforums....net art&page=1

[blackvulcan3]

Really, that's cheap for a Samsung. I'll have to do more digging. I have a 55 inch Samsung LED and its beautiful. I am hesitant about a lower brand monitor, like to see it first.

As for the decals well great minds think alike, I just spent 90 minutes salivating over that thread. How good is Stuzza, what a legend.

[RustyCardores]

Let me know if you need some decals printed, I work closely with a print lab in BrisVegas

[blackvulcan3]

So instead of screwing together base today I spent the day familiarising myself with Future Pinball.  All I can say is WOW.

 

I saw a German guys cabinet build on youtube a while back

 

 

and they used FP, it looked good but when I tried about 18 months ago I couldn't get the Sci Fi table to work so I didn't bother. Well wasn't I wrong in not pursuing FP.

 

FP has been awesome today, I have learned so much in the space of 8 hours. The tables are gorgeous and some of the blindmankind original tables are unbelievable.

 

I'm certainly not starting a VP vs FP debate, I just love Pinball, but I am sour on myself for not playing these excellent tables earlier. My kids and wife would not stop playing Masters of the Universe and Goonies and made me promise to ensure they are in the final build. They will be, so will many others.

Edited by blackvulcan3, 15 May 2016 - 06:10 AM.

[RustyCardores]

If you want FP tables then SLAMT1LT's are the best IMO... http://speak1970.wix...pinballemporium

 

Make sure that you are running BAM so that you can run updated physics etc. 

 

That said (and not wanting to start a FP v VP debate either), after many MANY hours invested in FP I deleted it from my cab once the "just as pretty" VPX came along. I could just no longer handle the poor flipper physics of FP and playing them upset my VP coordination.

Edited by RustyCardores, 15 May 2016 - 08:50 AM.

[blackvulcan3]

I must admit, I did notice some funny flipper concerns, that may annoy me over time, today it was all new and fun. I did run BAM pretty much from the outset and using the xml's for upgraded physics, but as always, cheers for the tip RustyCardores.

 

My middle child just saw the Frozen table, I may have to build a second cab at this rate. 

Those are some sweet looking tables.

 

If you want FP tables then SLAMT1LT's are the best IMO... http://speak1970.wix...pinballemporium

 

 

[blackvulcan3]

By the way (to anyone that it interested) I wasn't aware prior to my last post that there was a genuine concern about some of the FP modding/hacking etc. I've since read some of the other posts. If I inadvertently offended anyone I apologise.

Anyway, back to the build and hopefully my power supply gets here this week.

Edited by blackvulcan3, 16 May 2016 - 12:11 AM.

[RustyCardores]

I don't think the original FP author is too keen on BAM if that's what you mean. But FP has been dead in the water for quite some time now with regard to updates & better physics etc.  That's why BAM came along, as it allowed better physics to be used without modifying the original FP code in anyway.  Possibly a grey area that could be argued either way I guess.

[blackvulcan3]

So quick update, after many hours of searching, calling Australians suppliers, no one can supply a pack similar to the wide body ultimate pack from Virtuapin. To be honest, Paul from Virtuapin was the most receptive and friendly during our conversations (even sympathetic to the plight of us poor Aussies getting slugged with postage and exchange rates) but for just over a grand I can have exactly what I need delivered to my door in just over a week. Cant beat that.

 

The minister for war and finance has approved the purchase (since I showed her the Masters of the Universe pin and she can't stop) so in about a month, before EOFY, I can buy it. 

 

I have a few spare hours this weekend so hopefully a dry assembly run on the main cab. I have picked up some more off cuts for internal structures. I still don't have my power supply which is annoying, Slowways couriers.... I have a fresh Win 7 install on SSD for my HTPC over the weekend which will have to eat into my building time.

 

Oh and Far Harbor for Fallout 4 comes out at midnight. I can't see me sleeping this weekend....

Edited by blackvulcan3, 18 May 2016 - 12:54 PM.

[blackvulcan3]

 

Busy morning, off to masters to get some thin nails to tack the cabinet together so that I can drill out the pilot holes. I was surprised how well that works when you are on your own without big enough clamps to be of any use. Once the first couple of nails were in everything went together without much fuss.

 

So lots of holes drilled and countersunk, I assuming next I will glue and screw (unless someone can tell me why that may be a bad idea???). I may cut out the coin door (I'm using a faux coin door) first but the fan holes I will probably do very late in the build to ensure I don't want to put something where I have a hole.

 

I was having random stutters over the past couple of days, a windows service (svchost) was sucking up half my CPU resources and 2GB of ram. Once I disabled it hasn't been repeated. The new PSU I got this week is quieter than I thought it would be (Coolermaster 550W Storm), not modular but it does what I need)

 

http://www.shoppinge...y/RS-550-ACAAB3

 

I'm going to pop a piano hinge for access to the back box so I will cut that too soon.  I'm going to sand the corners for the legs a smidge to give a flatter surface to drill into once the cab is glued together.

 

Still don't have a main playfield but thats for another day.  

[sawbill]

Nice job on the mitre joints at the front edges of your cabinet!

[blackvulcan3]

I'd love to say I did them sawbill, but I had them laser cut. I couldn't do a 45 that nice if you paid me. The woodworking for me will be the hardest (not the most time consuming) but the hardest. I'm very much learning as I go for the cabinetry.

[DDH69]

Yep, glue and screw.

 

I also cut my back panel and put in a piano hinge (900mm from Bunnings - just cut it with the hack saw).  I bought two barrel locks on eBay to keep it closed - perfect.

[blackvulcan3]

So a slow weekend and nothing done on the actual cabinet but other things sorted.

 

I did make a purchase today of the speaker set, I went with the Logitech Z333. I had intended to purchase the Z443 but the Z333 has a small dial away from the subwoofer unit for volume control and power. This was the selling point as it won't take up too much real estate at the front of the cab. I shouldn't need to adjust it as if I leave the switch on once the system is powered it will come on but it will be handy to have the volume control seperate.

 

For some reason I cant post the link to the Logitech website but if you search for them you will see what I mean.

 

I tried them out at work today when I got back from lunch, I will have to get the bass level right as once it get too much bass it can distort. These aren't audiophile speakers by any stretch but they will do just nicely in the cabinet.

 

I got a 17 inch monitor for $10 last week that I may fashion into the DMD. I have a 32 inch Voxson TV or 26 inch Samsung to choose from as the backglass. I'd like to decase the Voxson before I make the decision, the Samsung fits in nicely without modification and has a nice black bevel. Ultimately the PQ on the Samsung will be nicer I reckon but if the extra real estate of the Voxson fills the back box better I may just go with it.

 

I still don't have a playfield but am leaning towards the Soniq 43 inch. The PQ was surprisingly good in store at JB Hifi.

 

I've just installed PinballX, prematurely. It didn't work as intended but as it says in the documentation, get your tables 100% working first then sort it. I need to start downloading cabinet versions of the VPX tables I have. I also have to sort out a 3 monitor solution for FP. I have seen the thread, I just haven't sorted it yet.

 

I really am enjoying the FP tables but the flipper power for some games means it struggles to get up ramps with decent hits. I find that a little frustrating being that the tables play differently. VPX is still the gold standard for me for the flipper response.

[blackvulcan3]

So today I bought the playfield TV. I saw the TV that I had looked at was being run out at $299 from JB Hifi, 43inch LED Soniq.

 

At that price I was happy to take a punt, if before assembly is complete I'm not happy with it, the kids will love it in their playroom to replace their Barbie 18 inch TV I'm sure.

 

I will set it up with all the monitors attached this weekend.

 

It looks like I should have enough cash to buy the VirtuaPin pack on 22 June or thereabouts, so hopefully around the beginning of the new financial year I will really be able to kick this on.

 

Now to talk to Stuzza about graphics. This is going to be the hardest choice of all.  I like his classic diner one with the Corvettes but I may ask him to do an NFL themed cab.

 

I'm still stuck on the speaker panel height and how this mixes in with the plastic/glass backglass, I've seen a few setups but its the actual install that I can't get my head around just yet, whether to rout out or screw using a 90 degree metal hinge. If so do people have the glass/plastic sit on top, is this recessed or flush?? Just confused.

 

Anyway, really looking forward to having three screens running this weekend. 

[Nemo]

Great deal on that television ! And ouch....a barbie tv ?? Think your kids are going to nitpick on your new set.....THEY want that 

[blackvulcan3]

$299 and I got what I paid for....but with some tweaking in the service menu I have it to a very acceptable level, but, it does not save the sharpness level which makes everything grainy. I've contacted Soniq for a helping hand.

 

I gave it a run on FP first and I've got it working but will need considerable time spent on sorting it out. It works and thats a start. VPX next.

 

The third monitor, which is VGA, won't run from my motherboard for some reason, onboard graphics may be switched off in the BIOS but I haven't checked that yet. I was going to spend time tweaking it but I may just spend $13 on a DVI-I to VGA adapter as the 750GTX has two HDMI and a analogue switching DVI-I output so I know it will work.

 

As for the Barbie TV, I have 3 girls, zero boys, so despite it being our smallest TV its also our most popular. 

[RustyCardores]

 

 

I'm still stuck on the speaker panel height and how this mixes in with the plastic/glass backglass, I've seen a few setups but its the actual install that I can't get my head around just yet, whether to rout out or screw using a 90 degree metal hinge. If so do people have the glass/plastic sit on top, is this recessed or flush?? Just confused.

 

Do people even use a cover glass in the top box?  I didn't, the backglass TV besel is recessed into the side of the top box that's all.

 

If I was to do it again, I would prob have the TV, DMD & speakers being able to be placed from the front, then a full acrylic sheet drop into a groove (or small black aluminium channel) at the bottom and be held with a couple of small screws at the top.  This acrylic screen I would reverse print with graphics, leaving only the TV screen and DMD areas clear. I would also drill speaker patterns into it for sound.

Edited by RustyCardores, 10 June 2016 - 12:10 AM.

[blackvulcan3]

Hey RustyCardores, from what I have seen some do some don't. Some use whole plastic covering TV and speaker panel, some do a split and some, like you, use none. I'm leaning towards using none if I can get the right fit on my top monitor, which is still to be determined & this weekend I am on daddy duty with the wife doing a triathlon (she exercises for both of us).

 

This is only for convenience and not for what I think would look the best. I think an acrylic as you described would be awesome.

 

I emailed Soniq last night and they had resolved my PQ by 10am by email. Factory reset and all worked as decribed, I tweaked the settings tonight and with the sharpness now at 5 and not 50. The type is now crystal clear (I'm using it now to type this). The colour is good, not Samsung quality, but very good and for the price I am thrilled with the result & I am quite fussy on PQ.

 

I have all three monitors on the floor of my extended dining room/man area at present. Its a mess but the encouragement (read - nagging) will see it dropped into position in the cabinet sooner rather than later.    

 

By the way, I'll take you up on the offer of assistance with printing in the next few months if the offer still stands. Cheers mate.