Project Code: CHOOKMAME

Here’s cab # 3.  Obviously a Berzerk cab (in very nice shape). The boards are gone, or I might consider restoring it completely and keeping it, but this one is already spoken for, and it is promised a nice home to keep it safe and in restorable condition for a few more years yet.  This cab needs to be stripped (of parts) and cleaned, and I need to figure out the layout for the control panel.  There isn’t much room on there for trackball and joysticks, not to mention spinner...

T-molding and mounting brackets coming out.  Gonna have to work on those mechs too to get them running.

Wow! So old it had a jungle growing inside it!!  Very clean job inside, but not the original wiring...wonder what game had been running in this cab? Maybe just a repaired Berzerk...

Here is the cabinet stripped out.  The marquee is going to stay, and the control panel is going with a black/blue/red motif to match the artwork.  Now to figure out the mounting for the 20” monitor!

Here’s one of the monitors with the P-II system that will be the mame nervous system. Starting to come together!!

UPDATE!  The monitor shelf is installed,and the monitor is in place!

Here is the start of the control panel layout. It would be a lot easier if we didn’t want that trackball in there!

The Lucite is cut and bolted to the panel. First joystick is now in place, and just waiting on a hole saw big enough for the trackball hole.  UPDATE! The panel is drilled.

Here’s the Wico trackball we picked up used.  Now if the opti-pacs ever go back on sale we can actually use it! UPDATE!  I took the Wico for my cab, and we got a brand new HAPP for this one.

You know, it’s a little known fact that plexi will only crack on the very LAST f*****g hole you drill in it. Learned to drill pilot hole first, then use hole saw on reverse to start the cut. Dammit.

Here we go, no lucite, but the controls are 90% in place.

Control panel is complete, and the monitor is in place. Not much left to do on this one except wire up the lights and chase out a few bugs!  (oh and move the ‘fire’ button to the top position). We may lay a custom graphic under the plexi later, but for now it is clean and functional!

Jay (the guy eagerly awaiting the completion of this cab) plays the first game on his new machine.

Finished!

Note:  The artwork on this cab was restored/repaired in this renovation. The marquee is original. All that would be required to convert this back to vintage condition would be a repro control panel, a boardset and a monitor, so don’t e-mail me about killing a vintage cab!!

UPDATE!  I was asked to add an Oscar Controls spinner to Chookmame. Below shows the underside installation, and the engraved spinner.  Now to add the graphic underlay! (Pictured at bottom)

Finished!

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