A noobs adventures in cab ownership!
- Thread starter ChrisBEANS
- Start date
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Big day today!!!
Firstly, due to my (probably irrational) fear of breaking the chassis I've been putting off removing it.
Thanks to perfect step by step instructions from Grant, it came out without incident or any reason to be as fretful as I've been!!
PSU removed too for service.
It is currently cranked to the max and the board gets 5.08v when turned on, however after a few hours it drops to 4.98v (higher on a four slot, which I did to test).
The six slot remains stable and works perfectly, but it can't be good to have a PSU that does that, right??
Hopefully post service, my screen will be bright and vibrant, and the PSU will last another 30 years
Grant's advice is in the link below if it's of use to anyone:-
https://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=43090
Second big thing of the day, is something I imagine I'll live to regret...
I bought three cabs within in a couple of days.
U4 because I really wanted it, six slot because I hadn't realised that there was such a thing as a UK built/made version and it looked like it needed love, and finally a Blast City so that I could complete my Metal Slug arcade collection and play MS6 on a 31kHz screen.
After a while, I realised that taking on three cabs at once was silly, and without disassembling the whole thing then getting the Blast upstairs was impossible.
My heart is with the Neo Geo stuff, and so the Blast is off to a new home.
It's currently sitting in the living room awaiting collection at mid day...
I'd love to keep it, and restore it a little, but I've bitten off more than I can chew with three cabs and I have to be realistic
ChrisBEANS2021-05-31 11:09:31
Firstly, due to my (probably irrational) fear of breaking the chassis I've been putting off removing it.
Thanks to perfect step by step instructions from Grant, it came out without incident or any reason to be as fretful as I've been!!
PSU removed too for service.
It is currently cranked to the max and the board gets 5.08v when turned on, however after a few hours it drops to 4.98v (higher on a four slot, which I did to test).
The six slot remains stable and works perfectly, but it can't be good to have a PSU that does that, right??
Hopefully post service, my screen will be bright and vibrant, and the PSU will last another 30 years
Grant's advice is in the link below if it's of use to anyone:-
https://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=43090
Second big thing of the day, is something I imagine I'll live to regret...
I bought three cabs within in a couple of days.
U4 because I really wanted it, six slot because I hadn't realised that there was such a thing as a UK built/made version and it looked like it needed love, and finally a Blast City so that I could complete my Metal Slug arcade collection and play MS6 on a 31kHz screen.
After a while, I realised that taking on three cabs at once was silly, and without disassembling the whole thing then getting the Blast upstairs was impossible.
My heart is with the Neo Geo stuff, and so the Blast is off to a new home.
It's currently sitting in the living room awaiting collection at mid day...
I'd love to keep it, and restore it a little, but I've bitten off more than I can chew with three cabs and I have to be realistic
ChrisBEANS2021-05-31 11:09:31
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Thanks!!
Hopefully, by the time the chassis and PSU come back I’ll have the EL panels too, then it’s largely finished and and I can crack on with attempting to 1cc every Metal Slug on real hardware
(this is going to take me years, right?!)
One very minor thing with the six slot board itself...
With the volume slider all the way down there’s still volume. It’s not even particularly quiet. With the volume up it gets very loud as expected.
Opposite problem with the headphone volume. Even when cranked to max it’s very quiet.
I’m guessing that this will be due to the potentiometers being old and crappy, but my question is, is it something that a well intentioned noob with a soldering iron can fix, or should I leave it to the pros?? (Or live with it, which is very much an option!)
Hopefully, by the time the chassis and PSU come back I’ll have the EL panels too, then it’s largely finished and and I can crack on with attempting to 1cc every Metal Slug on real hardware
One very minor thing with the six slot board itself...
With the volume slider all the way down there’s still volume. It’s not even particularly quiet. With the volume up it gets very loud as expected.
Opposite problem with the headphone volume. Even when cranked to max it’s very quiet.
I’m guessing that this will be due to the potentiometers being old and crappy, but my question is, is it something that a well intentioned noob with a soldering iron can fix, or should I leave it to the pros?? (Or live with it, which is very much an option!)
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Sad news!!!
Grant’s had a look at the chassis and the silver lining is that the chassis appears to be in good nick.
The cloud to that silver lining is that this means the tube is weak and will need replacing
I’ll find out from Grant exactly what screen I need and then I guess I start looking out for one
Grant’s had a look at the chassis and the silver lining is that the chassis appears to be in good nick.
The cloud to that silver lining is that this means the tube is weak and will need replacing
I’ll find out from Grant exactly what screen I need and then I guess I start looking out for one
K1ngarth3r
Active member
Before swapping the tube, I would get it checked out with a rejuvenating tool.
You can check how strong the guns are and can clean / rejuvenate the guns which might breath some extra life into it.
You can check how strong the guns are and can clean / rejuvenate the guns which might breath some extra life into it.
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Well... I certainly don't need a new tube!!
Grant's outstanding!!!
I don't mean to do his legs by giving people unrealistic expectations of him, but the brightness and vibrance has enormously improved, it was cheaper than I expected, and it was literally 24 hours between dropping off both the chassis and PSU and picking them up again.
I'm a very happy camper
Grant's outstanding!!!
I don't mean to do his legs by giving people unrealistic expectations of him, but the brightness and vibrance has enormously improved, it was cheaper than I expected, and it was literally 24 hours between dropping off both the chassis and PSU and picking them up again.
I'm a very happy camper
Monstermug
Active member
Looks amazing mate. I can listen to that blazing star intro all day and never get sick of it. Something magical about it. Time to get some 1cc'ing in.
thegreathopper
Active member
Well done
thegreathopper2021-06-02 18:25:10
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Monstermug said:
No point in putting all the panels back on and bunging it squarely in the corner until the EL panels arrive and are fitted, and I’ve maybe splashed some paint on the walls, but then you’re absolutely right, time to get some serious hours in on Metal Slug!
I’ll message you direct to arrange that Vendetta now, but it’s one I’ve wanted to 1cc since I was a child, and I think it’s much better suited to the Electrocoin than the U4, so I reckon I’ll give it a good bash in there
I’ll ask you this here just in case the info is of use to others too, but any advice on videoing the screen without getting the refresh strobing? Your YouTube videos always look spot on...
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Thanks, I’m glad people are enjoying it. I know I enjoy reading others, so I’m trying to contribute...
I’m double classy and professional... all the sanding has been done in the kitchen on the draining board!
It’s only been metal and paint (and a little filler) so it’s not like I’ve had to suffer a load of sawdust in the house.
The painting’s been done just outside the back door (occasionally propped up on the bins
) and then brought in immediately to dry.
I did try to make a paint booth indoors, but it was a disaster!!!
I’m double classy and professional... all the sanding has been done in the kitchen on the draining board!
It’s only been metal and paint (and a little filler) so it’s not like I’ve had to suffer a load of sawdust in the house.
The painting’s been done just outside the back door (occasionally propped up on the bins
I did try to make a paint booth indoors, but it was a disaster!!!
ChrisBEANS said:Thanks, I’m glad people are enjoying it. I know I enjoy reading others, so I’m trying to contribute...
I’m double classy and professional... all the sanding has been done in the kitchen on the draining board!
It’s only been metal and paint (and a little filler) so it’s not like I’ve had to suffer a load of sawdust in the house.
The painting’s been done just outside the back door (occasionally propped up on the bins) and then brought in immediately to dry.
I did try to make a paint booth indoors, but it was a disaster!!!
Crumbs... for someone who seems to know what they're doing, you really don't seem to know what you're doing.
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Ha!! I really don’t!!!
I’m winging it massively!!
I generally get an idea on what I intend, ask a silly question on here, take advice, google it too, see if someone’s done it on YouTube and watch that too, then I do a half arsed job, photograph it, and show you guys!
That’s the whole process...ChrisBEANS2021-06-05 20:43:17
I’m winging it massively!!
I generally get an idea on what I intend, ask a silly question on here, take advice, google it too, see if someone’s done it on YouTube and watch that too, then I do a half arsed job, photograph it, and show you guys!
That’s the whole process...ChrisBEANS2021-06-05 20:43:17
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Ignore. Double postChrisBEANS2021-06-03 10:09:59
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Still absolutely stoked with the screen on the big boy right now!
I’ve now put the painted PCB cage back over the six slot today, so that’s a lot tidier. Couple of stickers in the post to finish that off, but we’re getting there.
With the six slot it really is just a case of waiting on a couple of bits and we’re done!
Couple of issues have arisen today though
First one is a very ‘First World Problem’ so I apologise in advance, but if anyone has any insight I’d be grateful...
The NeoSD Pro works great in the four slot, and works great in the OMVS (consolized MVS), but doesn’t work in the six slot.
Tried it in different slots too, no dice.
Voltage is the same on both machines (about 5.1), and both have UniBIOS 4.0...
Any ideas??
Second issue is potentially more serious, unfortunately.
The short that I had on the U4 is back. Best guess is because it’s been moved around a bit.
We can eliminate the CP as that’s since been rewired and is now super tidy and really well insulated.
It’s not the four slot, because that machine now has a completely new MVS in it.
I think I’m going to have to try to see where all the wiring goes and what the score is. It’s not an area I’m extremely comfortable with, but every day’s a school day huh??
I’ve now put the painted PCB cage back over the six slot today, so that’s a lot tidier. Couple of stickers in the post to finish that off, but we’re getting there.
With the six slot it really is just a case of waiting on a couple of bits and we’re done!
Couple of issues have arisen today though
First one is a very ‘First World Problem’ so I apologise in advance, but if anyone has any insight I’d be grateful...
The NeoSD Pro works great in the four slot, and works great in the OMVS (consolized MVS), but doesn’t work in the six slot.
Tried it in different slots too, no dice.
Voltage is the same on both machines (about 5.1), and both have UniBIOS 4.0...
Any ideas??
Second issue is potentially more serious, unfortunately.
The short that I had on the U4 is back. Best guess is because it’s been moved around a bit.
We can eliminate the CP as that’s since been rewired and is now super tidy and really well insulated.
It’s not the four slot, because that machine now has a completely new MVS in it.
I think I’m going to have to try to see where all the wiring goes and what the score is. It’s not an area I’m extremely comfortable with, but every day’s a school day huh??
ChrisBEANS
Active member
To be fair, I’ve only tried it in one and six...
One for obvious reasons, and arbitrarily six... stand by!
One for obvious reasons, and arbitrarily six... stand by!