Drilled a speaker hole today, not sure if I'm going to do the other, or just cut the whole thing out and attach a speaker grill. Need to figure out a way to paint all the little holes too.

Finally got around to purchasing some desoldering braid, and finished unsoldering the volume knob from my disassembled speakers, and extending it via wire a few inches. No pictures at this (or any other) time, as this is my first soldering project, and looks the part.

Plan on getting the speakers installed this weekend, but I havn't decided whether to route slots into the panel above the TV, or drill holes in a spiral pattern. The advantage being that I don't have to run a router in the living room. So far, though, I've been unable to find a suitable drill pattern, so I may have to make one up.

Also, Screaming let me know (some time ago) that he's updated his icons. They're available from LocalArcade.com

Wasn't really happy with the last marquee, so I'm working on this one, based on the title screen from the movie. Work in progress:

Screaming from the Build Your Own Arcade Controls forums was kind enough to send some additional icons.



Icons (right click to save)

Received my T-Stik + adapters today (that's 89 days from the order date, for anybody keeping track. As such all future encoders will be the keywiz from Groovy Game Gear, who also offers a switchable 4way/8way joystick that can be switched without diving under the control panel).

The install was not too bad, and they work well, however the joysticks are a bit more loose and have more play than they did before the install. The original t-stiks can be tightened up quite a bit (nut tightened against washers against actuator), but the t-stik plus has a spring (nut tightened against washer against spring against washer against actuator), and simply can not be tightened down as much. Not a big deal, I suppose, but I do prefer the tighter feel of the originals.

Picked a name for the cabinet, and created/printed a draft marquee (doubled up inkjet transparencies).
Things I learned:

• it is nearly impossible to get multiple 8.5X11 transparency sheets to line up seamlessly.
• the Epson 2200, though a fine printer, is poorly suited to printing transparencies (the exit rollers push the ink out of the way, see horizontal white lines in picture below)
• acrylic corners are sharp, cut my fingers up without even noticing when trying to stuff the transparencies into my marquee holder)
• glue sticks will not hold transparencies together