176 replies to this topic

[blackvulcan3]

So with a quick trip to Jaycar (Australian electronics part store) I picked up a DVI to VGA adapter for $13 and I was good to go. The H81M Plus motherboard has nothing in the bios to enable the onboard video once a video card is in place, so I had to get the adapter. I'm hoping the 750GTX ti (Windforce edition) will be powerful enough to run all three during gameplay, time will tell I guess.

 

The pics below are two of the three monitors that will go in the cab and one for testing. The middle monitor in the pics is a 23 inch old HDMI PC monitor used as the backglass during testing. Have a look at the clarity of the play field text on the large monitor. I'm really impressed, I played TFTC on it last night and I was very impressed (except playing with your head at 90 degrees tends to stuff your next up after a while   )

 

Also in the pics (sorry the first one is washed out but I had to increase the exposure so it could be seen) is the logitech z333 that do a really good job. My PC is currently sitting in my Silverstone HTPC case, it won't be come time for the build of course.

 

Edited by blackvulcan3, 11 June 2016 - 12:56 AM.

[RustyCardores]

So with a quick trip to Jaycar (Australian electronics part store) I picked up a DVI to VGA adapter for $13 and I was good to go. The H81M Plus motherboard has nothing in the bios to enable the onboard video once a video card is in place, so I had to get the adapter. I'm hoping the 750GTX ti (Windforce edition) will be powerful enough to run all three during gameplay, time will tell I guess.

 

The pics below are two of the three monitors that will go in the cab and one for testing. The middle monitor in the pics is a 23 inch old HDMI PC monitor used as the backglass during testing. Have a look at the clarity of the play field text on the large monitor. I'm really impressed, I played TFTC on it last night and I was very impressed (except playing with your head at 90 degrees tends to stuff your next up after a while   )

 

Also in the pics (sorry the first one is washed out but I had to increase the exposure so it could be seen) is the logitech z333 that do a really good job. My PC is currently sitting in my Silverstone HTPC case, it won't be come time for the build of course.

 

 

Looking good!

 

Don't be in too much of a rush to de-case the PC.  I have mine laying flat on it's side with the top side off for extra ventilation. The second machine I made has it's PC fully cased still, as it was a case with multiple big fans.  Neither have given me any heat issues.

 

I was originally going to have the PC on a slide out shelf (out the back) for easy servicing, but then realised the machine is always going to up against a wall anyway. If I need to service the PC (which I've never had to touch on either) I can have the glass and table screen out in a couple of minutes anyway.  And if I need to service anything else (like adding a button or fixing a wire) it needs to be done from the top, so in the end the de-casing and sliding shelf was just not worth the extra build effort for me.

 

Having a fully sealed back keeps the box neat plus it's nice and strong too. It's also given me a good area to attach the laser light, the disco lights and the LED back lighting .... yes... I like lights lol

Edited by RustyCardores, 11 June 2016 - 02:13 AM.

[blackvulcan3]

Nice tips RC. I will be pulling the PC out of the case but only cause its a $300 HTPC case with a display on the front, otherwise I'd just leave it. 

 

So, finally after many hours of searching, struggling and finally asking some pretty stupid looking questions, I finally have ONE game working on all three monitors. No surprises that I focused on NBA Fastbreak. Here's how it looks

 

 

I've been burning the candles at both ends recently, trying to do a million things, plus playing single dad to the 3 kids while the wife got some much needed overtime, so I am stuffed, mentally and physically.

 

Having said that I still managed to download a few totally incorrect backglasses (PNG using Media Packs instead of dB2S files) so I may as well start that again.

 

I'm finding that the Visual Pinball tables are so much harder to set up than FP but I still haven't managed to get a FP table to play across multiple monitors correctly (its on the back burner at the moment) so what do I know.

 

I finding that the excitement of getting things done is getting me through it. The timeframe for the table accessories has been put back, maybe August now, I hope the Aussie dollar doesn't plummet before then. 

Edited by blackvulcan3, 15 June 2016 - 10:07 AM.

[blackvulcan3]

So its been just over a month with no noticeable change. 

 

Lack of funds has been a killer of late but I press on. 

 

Can anyone assist with the angle of the playfield? I'm unsure whether to seat it flat and adjust the table in game or lay the playfield to about 6 degrees slope??

 

I have planned to build a frame around the outside of the playfield TV so and use cross members to brace it to the frame at the usual TV mounting points. This will also enable me to spread the weight of the admittedly light TV but I can lift it up easier with a hinge at the rear once the glass is out.

 

Can anyone see any pitfalls to this design? I've seen what I believe to be similar.

 

Hopefully I'm still on target for the August delivery of the all the goodies to make this baby start humming.

[DDH69]

Playfield angle is art not science.  Things to think about:

- Does your playfield TV look good at that andgle?

- Are you placing glass over the top (allow for glass guides, etc)

- Are you using backbox hinges, these have an interior part that will need to be catered for by position and / or counter sinking.  Be sure if you use backbox hinges that they don't position where your playfield frame support rails need to be

- Do you need room at the back / sides for LEDs / strips?

 

I have my playfield TV at about 5mm below the glass at the front and about 60mm at the back.

[blackvulcan3]

Thanks DDH69, my concern is really, being a first build, I'm going to get it wrong.

 

I get backbox hinges in the kit and wanted to fit them more for the look than functionality as I have gone cheap for DMD (at this point, unless I come into some money soon) and will have to counter sink the third monitor.

 

Do you sit your playfield in a frame or just rest it on the outer edges with timber supports? 

 

Thanks heaps. BV3.

[DDH69]

BV3, for both of my builds I made a frame for the playfield and then that frame sits on rails.  My two build threads are here and here.

 

I like having a frame around the playfield, it adds strength, particularly when you need to move it around.  At the end of the day, large screen TVs are not designed to lay flat on their back, so all around support stops any sagging / bending.

 

With the backbox hinges its the piece that goes inside the cabinet that the bolt screws into from the outside that you need to account for.  Cutting the DMD monitor into the cabinet itself is another issue.  The DMD monitor protruding down into the cabinet sould not come near your playfield at all (unless you made your cabinet way shorter).

[blackvulcan3]

Well I did it today, purchased the ultimate cab builders kit from VirtuaPin. With the button kit it was $1011 AUD delivered.

 

Hopefully Paul can get it processed before the weekend and it may be here in time for my week off from the 15th.

 

There's suddenly a lot to do.

[blackvulcan3]

So after some unavoidable delays from VirtuaPin, I received one of my three parcels today.

 

Once shipped it only took 3 days to get to Australia, unfortunately it then took 7 days to go from one end of the state to the other. Our postage carrier is the worst. 2 boxes to come, maybe Monday or Tuesday I guess.

 

Its Friday night in Australia so it looks like next weekend I will finally start the business end of this build. Seems like a long time, but it will all be worth it shortly.

[blackvulcan3]

So late this week the third of the three boxes got here, the legs....and they are beautiful. Thank you Paul from VirtuaPin for the great stuff. I will post some pics over the weekend.

 

I have also gone and bought an i5-4460 to replace my G series Pentium. That should help move things along a little, I didn't have too many issues with the Pentium, but the i5 should help out with some minor stutter (I hope). The 750ti may be next to be replaced if need be.

 

So assembly is next and then the big decision on which cabinets graphics to have. Still no idea but I am closer to a conclusion, damn stuzza and his lovely work makes it too hard to want only one.

 

I need to carve a speaker panel and create the frame for the playfield. That shouldn't take long I hope. Sunday is Fathers day here, busy day tomorrow so hoping to get some time to spend on the cabinet soon. 

 

If only I didn't have a job....but then I couldn't afford my toys...but then I would have the time...plenty of time and no cash for toys...

[DDH69]

Yes Father's day, so do what you want ..... pinball.

 

BTW - not having a job is good for a while, then wears thin.  Sure you get to write a lot of pinball related software, but eventually the wife gets sick of paying all the bills!

[blackvulcan3]

Well it is Fathers day and I finally found some time (about 2 hours) to disassemble, glue and screw the cabinet together in its final position.

 

Took a lit bit of manoeuvring to get it all as close to perfect as I could manage.

 

I dropped the whole left hand cabinet side while working on the right, a few little marks, nothing that some wood putty and a dirty great big decal won't fix.

 

It looks pretty darn good though, I must say. Measured up the button holes but not the legs.

 

I know I said I would put pics up of all the VirtuaPin gear but all I want to put up is a picture of the legs. They are so beautiful and anyone who may be thinking of cutting costs without going real pinball legs, just don't do it. Skimp somewhere else, they really are gorgeous.

 

 

Don't know what I will do next, but whatever it is I can't wait. Maybe think up a plan during the week.

 

I'm now off to enjoy Fathers day with some Fallout 4. If only this could be my Groundhog day.

[blackvulcan3]

So after a quick discussion with a local "criminally expensive" glazier, I sought out a forum member (thank you RustyCardores) to point me in the right direction re printing and glass in Australia. 

 

I have narrowed down the cabinet at to 3 of Stuzza's creations, or perhaps something created that is similar to an existing. The 3 are 50's (with Corvettes), Action Pin & Back to the Future.

 

There is a greyscale version (custom) that is particularly nice. (Post 945 by court461 Page 48). I am seriously inclined to do the same regardless of the artwork I end up using.

 

I think Action Pin would suit the greyscale treatment. I think I need to contact Stuzza to discuss and make a donation.

 

Next up is filling, sanding, priming and painting. Black on Black. That'll work.

Edited by blackvulcan3, 05 September 2016 - 09:34 AM.

[blackvulcan3]

Installed my i5 -4460 tonight. Started up VP on all three monitors, sweet as, played perfectly. 

 

FP has no end of dramas, it was working beautifully before but immediately after upgrade to the i5 the main playfield is tiny and in the top left corner. MOTU won't even start now. Restart TOTC still has playfield issues. May turn to the FP dudes on here for help.

[blackvulcan3]

Crisis averted. Went to single monitor mode in BAM. Played a game like that. Restarted and went back to 2 monitor mode and seems to be working. Thanks anyway. Hope it doesn't return.

[blackvulcan3]

Got the glass manufactured locally & hopefully it will be delivered tomorrow.

 

6mm toughened glass to size for my cabinet. I had to slightly modify the glass size width as I only used 15mm ply and not 18mm (3/4 inch for those not used to metric).

 

It is 620mm of a total width of 630mm, leaving about 5mm either side. This will mean that of the 15mm width, 10mm will hold the glass, happy with that and it shouldn't be too much of a drama to slide it in and out when needed.

 

I am about to talk to stuzza about custom art work, I have something in my mind that he doesn't appear to have done yet. Hopefully he can if the images are available. Wait and see...

Edited by blackvulcan3, 20 September 2016 - 12:36 AM.

[DDH69]

Sounds good.  The glass is always a fun bit.  I remember when the glazier delivered the glass for my current cabinet, I looked at it and thought I'd mis-measured.  It looked so small away from the machine.  As it turned out the tape measure was correct and everything went together without issue.  I trust the same ease of assembly will come your way.

 

Stuzza did the art for both of my cabinets and was very thorough.  Despite his modesty he's a talented fellow.

[blackvulcan3]

So I got my glass today, great job, no cracks, smooth edges but they put a dirty great big etching in one corner. Apparently its Australian Standard that they have to, despite being told what it was for.

 

 

Oh well, hopefully the lockdown bar will cover it, at least I will always know which side goes which way...

 

Stuzza is flying on the artwork. Sides and back box near to done and the front is not far off. What a legend. 

 

Putty and sanding this weekend and hopefully primer. Its starting to get real.

Edited by blackvulcan3, 21 September 2016 - 07:16 AM.

[DDH69]

I got caught by the etching on cabinet #1 and had a big argument with the supplier.  For cabinet #2 I was very specific and it is quite OK to have it without, you just have to be very specific.  Hopefully your etching is not too big and you can "hide" it in something like the top left (that's what I did for #1)

[blackvulcan3]

Luckily I'm not the cranky type (mainly because when I get cranky I tend to get real cranky real fast) so I took it in my stride.

 

Lesson learned. 

 

What I can't believe is that so far the cheapest I can get my decal printed & delivered is from Gameongrafix.com out of the USA for just a tick under $250 AUD. Some of the quotes here in Australia have been rude, over $450 before delivery. Ouch. Make a profit, by all means, but don't gouge me. A lot of suppliers don't return calls or emails, must be too small a job or they are just too busy.