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NEC TG-16/TE/TurboDuo => TG-16/TE/TurboDuo Discussion => Topic started by: galam on August 16, 2015, 03:40:40 AM

Title: TG Cab Project
Post by: galam on August 16, 2015, 03:40:40 AM
I just wanted to share a recent project that I have been working on for months now.  It's a total "plug-n-play" job as I wanted everything to be original hardware, and if anything goes, it's easy to swap/replace.  It's fully working, but I was having a hard time getting a good picture of a game running.  I need to move it to a different place in my gameroom where the light glare isn't as bad.  I was just too lazy to do so yet. 

So I picked up this dead Assault cab at a local auction for $10.  When I brought it home, there was still $2.50 in quarters in the bucket, so I actually only paid $7.50.

(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab1.jpg)

Anyway, over the course of couple weeks, I slowly stripped it down and emptied all the guts.  I put the joystick panel on ebay for a starting bid of $30 and it ended up selling for almost $300 to my surprise.
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab2.jpg)
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab3.jpg)

Spent a few days sanding and priming the sides, then insalled the marquee light and LCD bracket for the TV.
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab4.jpg)
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab5.jpg)

I had the marquee made at a local graphic design place, and I was quite happy with how it came out.
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab6.jpg)

I purchased a recapped USA TurboDuo and had a region mod done so it will play all Hu Cards.
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab7.jpg)

Right now, it's just painted black as I am having a hard time deciding what to put on the sides.  I plan on having a couple vinyl decals made up, but I'm not sure what yet.  Still a couple small things to iron out before it's considered "complete", but here it is so far.
(http://dotsandloops.com/games/cab8.jpg)

(I'm prepared for all the insults, so have at it)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Dicer on August 16, 2015, 03:49:46 AM
No insults here, quite nice...

I would have went with a base TG or PCE with an ED or something, but that's me. I can see swapping CD's as a hassle.

Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: turboswimbz on August 16, 2015, 05:13:23 AM
I saw a similar project online at one point.  Short of the PCE jamma conversion this is the next best thing!  Really cool man.  Can't wait to see it finished.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfVsI4zDgvs  _ kinda like the sides on this one . . . but you've probably seen that already. 
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: grolt on August 16, 2015, 05:47:10 AM
It's always saddening to see an original cab gutted, since there are so few of them around at this point, but you gave this one a proper burial and salvaged what you could from the parts.  What you did to restore the system is impressive, and turning it into a full hardware TG-16 system is just awesome.  What are you doing for audio, is it just coming through the screen?  Great work.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: NightWolve on August 16, 2015, 06:14:22 AM
Pretty cool and you didn't use ole X-Ray for making the TG-16 neon sign/marquee. ;)

Honestly, myself, I wouldn't limit it to a NEC console - I'd put a MAME-approved PC in there so I can go full arcade mode, and if I want console, boom, just switch to the other emulators, etc. If you're gonna take up space in your home with an arcade cabinet, it might as well be a bit more versatile, etc.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: galam on August 16, 2015, 06:17:55 AM
Pretty cool and you didn't use ole X-Ray for making the TG-16 neon sign/marquee. ;)

Honestly, myself, I wouldn't limit it to a NEC console - I'd put a MAME-approved PC in there so I can go full arcade mode, and if I want console, boom, just switch to the other emulators, etc. If you're gonna take up space in your home with an arcade cabinet, it might as well be a bit more versatile, etc.

i have two MAME cabs already.  i wanted this dedicated to turbo.
one of my mame cabs is a typical one with about 8000 games on it.  my other one has a usb steering wheel and is used for driving games (outrun, chase hq, etc)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: NightWolve on August 16, 2015, 06:24:42 AM
Aaah, I see, and you have both the space and the time. :)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: johnnykonami on August 16, 2015, 02:12:40 PM
Wow, really cool.  RIP the Assault cab, as that's a great game, but you did say it was dead.  Could you post an action pic?  I'd like to see the screen running something.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: jtucci31 on August 16, 2015, 02:15:15 PM
The (almost) final product looks great! Really love the marquee you have too. Are you thinking of having full artwork done for the sides or just some nice logos? I think either or would look great if done correctly.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: DragonmasterDan on August 16, 2015, 02:18:16 PM
It's looking great so far.

I agree that some side artwork would really make it look fantastic. I wonder if there's still pictures of Sadler's TG16 cabinet.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: turboswimbz on August 16, 2015, 02:20:37 PM
It's looking great so far.

I agree that some side artwork would really make it look fantastic. I wonder if there's still pictures of Sadler's TG16 cabinet.

AH thats where I saw the similar project.  Sadler has some awesome tg-16 display stuff.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: o.pwuaioc on August 16, 2015, 03:08:55 PM
So many of these types of projects are just utter eyesores, but this looks pretty sleek.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: esteban on August 17, 2015, 01:28:50 AM
I want that in my home. I have no room for it, but I don't really needed sleep on a mattress, anyway.

:)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: xelement5x on August 17, 2015, 03:20:56 AM
It's looking great so far.

I agree that some side artwork would really make it look fantastic. I wonder if there's still pictures of Sadler's TG16 cabinet.

AH thats where I saw the similar project.  Sadler has some awesome tg-16 display stuff.

Well, Sadler's cab looks like it was something that was put out by NEC for use in the arcades from what I could tell when I helped move it.  It is probably could be considered an "original" TG16 cab, though the PCE hardware was missing unfortunately :(
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Sadler on August 17, 2015, 04:04:32 AM
galam's cab looks really awesome! He's clearly far more adept than I am. :lol: I need to harass blue to get mine running. I swear it will happen!
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: DragonmasterDan on August 17, 2015, 04:08:16 AM
galam's cab looks really awesome! He's clearly far more adept than I am. :lol: I need to harass blue to get mine running. I swear it will happen!

Do you have a link to pictures of yours?


Well, Sadler's cab looks like it was something that was put out by NEC for use in the arcades from what I could tell when I helped move it.  It is probably could be considered an "original" TG16 cab, though the PCE hardware was missing unfortunately :(

I believe he has the real deal. The actual cabinet that was put out by NEC for use in arcades.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Sadler on August 17, 2015, 04:23:31 AM
galam's cab looks really awesome! He's clearly far more adept than I am. :lol: I need to harass blue to get mine running. I swear it will happen!


Do you have a link to pictures of yours?


Well, Sadler's cab looks like it was something that was put out by NEC for use in the arcades from what I could tell when I helped move it.  It is probably could be considered an "original" TG16 cab, though the PCE hardware was missing unfortunately :(


I believe he has the real deal. The actual cabinet that was put out by NEC for use in arcades.


Here's the original thread (http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=12078.msg232964#msg232964), with pics. :)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: galam on August 17, 2015, 04:28:28 AM
Damn it Sadler.  I wish I thought about a second light-up marquee under the control panel as well. 
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: sirhcman on August 17, 2015, 04:34:35 AM
I told you to make this thread 5 months ago, I told you people wouldn't be negative and critical! :P
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Desh on August 17, 2015, 04:53:39 AM
Wow!  This is really cool!  Sweet job Agent Galam. 
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Necromancer on August 17, 2015, 05:14:07 AM
Looks nice.  The only thing I'd have done differently is a custom control panel with six buttons and three button mode toggle instead of the TurboSticks.
Title: TG Cab Project
Post by: esteban on August 17, 2015, 06:25:55 AM
Looks nice.  The only thing I'd have done differently is a custom control panel with six buttons and three button mode toggle instead of the TurboSticks.

Same here, but I would have ABSOLUTELY included a second illuminated marquee.

It just doesn't look right without the second illuminated marquee.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: schweaty on August 17, 2015, 07:19:28 AM
if your open to suggestions, i would put orange t-molding on it (super easy to do) and i would change the marquee to an orange background.  black backgrounds never show up well on backlit marquees.  other than that, i really like it.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Jibbajaba on August 17, 2015, 07:29:53 AM
Looks nice.  The only thing I'd have done differently is a custom control panel with six buttons and three button mode toggle instead of the TurboSticks.

Yup.  I would have stuck a Sanwa stick in there with an orange ball-top and grabbed 6 grey Seimitsu buttons for each side.  Of course, you can always do that later.

Why the LCD?  I would have just made a JAMMA harness to hook that TurboDuo up to and used the original monitor that game with the cab.

All that being said, this looks like an awesome project.  It would be cool to make a JAMMA cab that you could stick any of your old systems into.  Wouldn't be *THAT* difficult, really...
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: galam on August 17, 2015, 07:32:59 AM
the monitor was one of the original issues with the cab.  Also, it's only 17" wide, so the monitor was vertically oriented.  Wouldn't have been great for all games.

also LCD = Path of least resistance.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Lost Monkey on August 17, 2015, 08:06:36 AM
the monitor was one of the original issues with the cab.  Also, it's only 17" wide, so the monitor was vertically oriented.  Wouldn't have been great for all games.

Which begs the question - how many PCE/TG16 games can be displayed vertically?  I suspect the answer is none, but there were a few on the Saturn and Playstation.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: sirhcman on August 17, 2015, 08:40:47 AM
the monitor was one of the original issues with the cab.  Also, it's only 17" wide, so the monitor was vertically oriented.  Wouldn't have been great for all games.

Which begs the question - how many PCE/TG16 games can be displayed vertically?  I suspect the answer is none, but there were a few on the Saturn and Playstation.

Not sure on PC Engine games but Kyukyoku Tiger II for Saturn with a vertical pvm is a glorious thing! :)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Gentlegamer on August 17, 2015, 08:41:25 AM
What years were the quarters in the bucket?
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Necromancer on August 17, 2015, 08:50:29 AM
What years were the quarters in the bucket?


1987!

(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4812/quarter.png)
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: Duo_R on August 17, 2015, 01:20:27 PM
Yeah when looking at the pics I was thinking "how is he going to flip the screen horizontal. It's a bummer because this cab is very narrow and your not just limited on screen size, but the controls are pretty close to each other. I agree with Jibba, get some real arcade hardware in there instead of Turbo sticks. It really isn't hard to do. But I do like how it is coming out so far.


the monitor was one of the original issues with the cab.  Also, it's only 17" wide, so the monitor was vertically oriented.  Wouldn't have been great for all games.

also LCD = Path of least resistance.
Title: Re: TG Cab Project
Post by: GoldenWheels on August 18, 2015, 02:11:55 AM
I like it very much as is. Very nice work.