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View Full Version : WTT: Arcade Cabs



sisko
03-08-2004, 11:45 AM
Fabombjoy was kindly generous and gave my his old Tempest cab. Originally, I intended to convert it into a MAME cab, but I have since realized a few things.

As much as I love this cab, I cannot convert it into a MAME cab without doing some creative carpentry, and thus permanantly desecrating the cab (cuts need to be made). Also creating a replacement control panel will not be easy!

Before I make the modifications, I thought I would offer the cab up for trade only.

This is an original Tempest cab, model number 289XX. It has the original side art, marquee, instruction poster, and control panel. It is a gutted unit. No vector monitor, no harness, and no board. I have completely disassembled the unit and cleaned it something fierce. No more musty smell!

Some screws are pretty rusted, and all should be replaced (typical drywall screws...Home Depot has them). One of the coin doors is broken, but the coin mechanism is there (don't know if it works). The general condition of the cab is pretty good considering its age. I don't know if the control panel works.


My requirements:

A two player cab with at least 4 buttons per player, but 6 is preferable. I need the control pad in tact (the buttons and joysticks in place). I will probably switch them out anyway, but its important for me to see how they are mounted.

Original side art and marquee. I really don't care much about the game, something retro or obscure would be pretty cool though :)

It needs to be deep enough to hold a 17" PC monitor at its shallowest point (about 18) inches, OR it can be shallower if it has a working arcade monitor.

Any harnesses are unecessary.

Any boards are unecessary.

It has to be able to fit through my door! Dimensions are 34" wide by 72" tall.

I need you to arrange pickup and drop off. Try as I might, the cab simply will not fit into my little Toyota or my girlfriend's Honda. I am in Southeast Michigan, and can make myself available most anytime.

Flack
03-08-2004, 02:06 PM
If you change your mind, there are lots of people who have turned Tempest cabinets into MAME cabinets. Here's one (http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/nerfbendr/mamecab.html). Here's another (http://pursglove.tripod.com/home2.htm). Instead of modifying the CP I think you would just recreate one out of wood or something and go from there.

Whatever you end up doing, good luck! I just finished my MAME cab and would be glad to help in any way possible.

sisko
03-08-2004, 03:03 PM
Thanks for the tips.

There is no way I can modify the control panel, since its actually made of metal, not wood. I would definitely have to create one from scratch, which is a lot easier said than done.

Also, the control panel would be extremely cramped with a two Joystick, unless I extended it some, which I think it would be really ugly if done. I should have enough room should I make it only 4 buttons, but the main problem is the monitor.

The mounting board for the original vector monitor is considerably smaller than a 17 in PC monitor. The PC monitor would fit if I cut away the mounting board and slid the PC monitor forward (thus the permanent desecration). I could in theory just get an arcade monitor, but $500 for a 19" is WAY more than I want to spend. Not only that, I'm too chicken to mount it. I've never seen one mounted before, so I would be guessing on everything.

If no one wants to trade, then I will have to proceed as planned. There just seems to be a lot of sentimentality towards this cab, so I thought I would offer it up to give someone the chance to save it, and at the same time make my job much easier.