BZ cabaret - considering new cabinet build

joeycuda

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I have a Battlezone cabaret project that's in storage. The cabinet is rough, not swollen from water, but just crumbling at bottom, top is crumbly, back is crumbly..

I've had 2 BZ uprights, but think this might be my keeper. Due to size and fact that sides are woodgrain, I believe this is a good candidate for new cabinet. I'd reuse the few interior wood pieces I can, new sides, top, back from 3/4" MDF, and 3/4" ply bottom.

Anyone done an Atari cabaret cabinet yet? I don't believe they dadoed the joints or anything fancy. Hardest part should be cutting the recess for the marquee, but I have the tools to do it.


Joey
 
I have a Battlezone cabaret project that's in storage. The cabinet is rough, not swollen from water, but just crumbling at bottom, top is crumbly, back is crumbly..

I've had 2 BZ uprights, but think this might be my keeper. Due to size and fact that sides are woodgrain, I believe this is a good candidate for new cabinet. I'd reuse the few interior wood pieces I can, new sides, top, back from 3/4" MDF, and 3/4" ply bottom.

Anyone done an Atari cabaret cabinet yet? I don't believe they dadoed the joints or anything fancy. Hardest part should be cutting the recess for the marquee, but I have the tools to do it.


Joey

Got pics? Maybe the original is not as hopeless as you think.
 
I don't have any pics handy.

Thanks, but it's not that I couldn't bondo and soak all the edges in wood hardener, it's that I'd rather have the game in a 'new' cabinet than one with severe repairs. I hate that particleboard material, but would repair edges, if I were saving artwork or a rarer cabinet.

I kinda of like the challenge and also, I'd be keeping the game, not worried about perceived value given that the cabinet is not original. Repairing the edges from top to bottom, cutting out and replacing the crumbling cabinet top, and re-vinyling just doesn't seem worth it, given the condition of the cabinet.

Joey
 
Here is an Atari cabaret reproduction (different style cabaret). I do believe the Battlezone's are built about the same way (different shape of course):

http://www.arcaderehab.com/tempestcompletion.php

I am in the process of doing the same thing for a Centipede cabaret. All I have cut so far is the sides. No dadoed joints or anything. It shouldn't be to difficult. My problem is trying to find the woodgrain vinyl that is a close enough match. What Arcadeshop has is spendy and from what I have heard, not very close.
 
Wow.. I just checked out the Tempest build. Wow...well - that's pretty much exactly what I want to do.

I imagine good woodgrain won't be cheap. But...if it's not close, I don't want to buy that.

Although not original, I wonder about using a formica type laminate for the sides, then a flush trim bit, then t-molding. I would like to use black formica for the front, if I can find a similar/satin texture.

Joey
 
In looking at my Dig Dug cabaret that I am using to model my reproduction, the front is indeed black formica over plywood. I have heard of people using woodgrain laminate on the sides, but I have also heard that it doesn't match very well either. My problem is that I want to be able to put my new Centipede cabinet right next to my very nice Dig Dug cabinet and not have it stick out like a sore thumb.....
 
The black formica shouldn't be hard to find, though might have to buy a larger piece than you need.
 
That's my Tempest... I'm Very proud of how that came out.

What's funny is that I just this weekend finished up a Battlezone Cabaret restore (I have all atari cabarets except for asteroids) after being in pieces for the past 5 years!

The black formica is just vertical grade formica. Any lumber or formica dealer should have it.

When I made the front panel for the Tempest, I made a template for the speaker and marquee holes, cut those out with a router. Then I created another jig to cut the recesses for the speaker grill and the marquee. Wasn't as difficult as it sounds, and it came out great.

The cabinet all just 1" blocking, IIRC. The bottom panel blocking was 2".

I've been on a 2 year quest for the proper woodgrain vinyl for both my Dig Dug and Galaga mini projects. Formica seems like the only answer, unfortunately even the vertical grade stuff may be a little too thick, leaving edges exposed after the T-molding is put on.

I still can't believe this stuff can't be sourced. All of the cheap crap office furniture you see in office supply stores has that crappy vinyl veneer.
 
Can you post or send me a link to the BZ cabaret pictures/restoration? I could see starting on my project this year, and I'd love to see them.

Great to see this thread again. I was just looking at RAM Controls last night, wondering what parts in the BZ joysticks would actually need replacing.

How thin is the vertical grade woodgrain laminate? I would think that, even on top of the 3/4" cabinet material, it wouldn't noticeably protrude past the edge of the t-molding..? Maybe.

I'd like to build a 'new' Atari Football cabinet, so I'd have the same dilemma there.

Thanks-
Joey
 
I have some "before" pics:

http://www.arcaderehab.com/photo_albums/main.php?g2_itemId=119

Cosmetically, the game was fine. Most of the work was electronic with monitor repair/re-cap, power supply and power brick rebuild, board repair. Cleaned the cab and repaired/relubed the joysticks after de-hacking the wiring on the CP. I actually need a new stick for the right hand side as the case is cracked.

The joystick parts that typically need to be replaced are the gimbels, centering bellows and microswitches. On both my controllers the centering bellows are perfect, and the gimbels were worn. I'm going to save the gimbels from RAM (a must have) until I have a perfect pair of sticks to rebuild at the same time.

Vertical laminate is 1/32". I used the black - have not seen woodgrain in that thickness, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I used to have a Ms. Pac mini with formica sides that looked pretty sweet:

http://www.arcaderehab.com/mspacmini.php

Not sure what kind of formica was used on it though, as it was done by the guy I bought it from.

The football cab may be a pain in the ass if you want to do it faithfully. The monitor mount slides out, IIRC and there is a seperate base.

http://www.arcaderehab.com/football.php
 
I have a Football project, but am missing the base. The base would be easy to build, but my cabinet has a tiny bit of swelling where the control panels close, to snag on, and the side art isn't perfect. I have a set of the new sideart that thisoldgame did, so I wondered if building a new cabinet might be worthwhile. I could probably restore the one I have, but who knows.

If I built a new one, I'd use as much of the old as possible, but with new side panels, then woodgrain laminate main cabinet an base, then apply new sideart. It's not high on my priority list, but I'd like to restore another Football to keep.

Joey
 
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