Couple of Nintendo Questions

Samelak

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Picked up my first Nintendo cab and have a few questions. First, it's a Popeye and I want to convert to DKjr. With Popeye being a horizontal, would I need different brackets and need to reposition to make it vertical? I was also thinking about making a rotatable wood frame to adapt the monitor with the existing brackets. Any thoughts? The other question is where can I find replacement casters? I tried Home Depot and the bolt pattern does not match. Finally, how hard is it to get the vinyl off the sides? I'm not looking forward to sanding it off. Any suggestions on quick removal without damaging?
 
please don't convert an arcade classic like that. Nintendo made a TON of DK Jr's, and if it's a DK Jr you really want, I'd keep your eyes peeled until one pops up.
 
The four of you above have not been very helpful. Quit acting like jerks.

To the OP's questions:

Yes, you need different brackets to rotate the monitor from horizontal to vertical. Post a WTB in the Classified ads section of these forums saying you need vertical mounting hardware for a classic Nintendo cabinet. Expect to pay about $50 for everything you need.

While I don't doubt that it might be possible to create some kind of rotating wood frame to allow the monitor to spin from horizontal to vertical, I would seriously discourage you from trying this. Nintendo cabinets are not wide enough to allow for a monitor to spin inside the cabinet without hitting the sides. You would either need to widen the cab (no!) or cut holes in the sides to allow this (no!). If you're hell bent on having a rotating monitor setup, just put a 19" 4:3 aspect LCD screen in there and run the cab using an inverter and CGA/VGA converter. Then you can rotate the monitor easily.

The blue finish on the DK cabs is not vinyl. It's a gel-coat finish applied at the factory, and it's not removable. You can sand it down to bare wood, but it's a LOT of work and not really worth the effort. If you want to convert the cabinet to DKJr orange, then just sand/repair the sides, prime, then paint in a matching color. Another option would be to prep the sides, and purchase orange vinyl from This Old Game.

Hope this info helps.
 
The four of you above have not been very helpful. Quit acting like jerks.

To the OP's questions:

Yes, you need different brackets to rotate the monitor from horizontal to vertical. Post a WTB in the Classified ads section of these forums saying you need vertical mounting hardware for a classic Nintendo cabinet. Expect to pay about $50 for everything you need.

While I don't doubt that it might be possible to create some kind of rotating wood frame to allow the monitor to spin from horizontal to vertical, I would seriously discourage you from trying this. Nintendo cabinets are not wide enough to allow for a monitor to spin inside the cabinet without hitting the sides. You would either need to widen the cab (no!) or cut holes in the sides to allow this (no!). If you're hell bent on having a rotating monitor setup, just put a 19" 4:3 aspect LCD screen in there and run the cab using an inverter and CGA/VGA converter. Then you can rotate the monitor easily.

The blue finish on the DK cabs is not vinyl. It's a gel-coat finish applied at the factory, and it's not removable. You can sand it down to bare wood, but it's a LOT of work and not really worth the effort. If you want to convert the cabinet to DKJr orange, then just sand/repair the sides, prime, then paint in a matching color. Another option would be to prep the sides, and purchase orange vinyl from This Old Game.

Hope this info helps.

I agree with this, I like the horizontal games like Popeye and Mario Bros. but it's your game do what you want. To convert to vertical about $50 as stated above.
 
I appreciate the advise...and criticism. I actually have the PCBs and artwork for either Popeye and DKjr. I just think DKjr is a better game and would get more play time.. I am not sold on one game or the other, just looking at options. The cabinet came gutted with a lot of wood work needed, so I am not destroying a good example. Most would have tossed this out. Besides, not like am jamming a 60 in 1 and LCD monitor in there to flip.
 
My suggestion would be to trade the Popeye for a DK Jr. Way easier and less destructive.

Popeye used to be a less valuable title but it's picking up in price, especially since large hoards of people have been converting them to DKs for the past decade or two. You can probably find an even swap. Popeye is actually a great game. 10 years ago everyone thought it sucked, mostly because they had very little exposure to it and everyone was DK crazy.

To convert it you may need to drill additional monitor holes in the side (which is sacrilege if you're lucky enough to find a Popeye with only 3 carriage bolt holes per side.) Plus, you'll need a new power supply (because Popeye didn't come with a PP-7B), the monitor brackets, harness, etc. To use real parts, you're probably looking at a few hundo in NON-ART parts. The art is going to cost you another few hundo.

Also, if you have a ply cab, that finish is basically irreplaceable. I'm in that camp of people who won't touch a repainted plywood Nintendo cab and have no interest in a DK or DK Jr. that was originally a Popeye. There are so few true survivors left and there are a growing number of collectors who want a true survivor.
 
Another challenge is supplying all the voltages needed for Dkjr. Popeye only requires +5vdc, Dkjr needs +5, -5 & +12vdc. If you are lucky enough to have a PP-7B power supply, you can just add the power harnesses and connect the directly to the DKjr pcb and call it a day. Otherwise, its a bit more difficult.
 
Yah its his game to do what he wants but why dick up a perfectly good survivor?

Its not like Dk jr is some super rare hard to find game..

Last one I had I think I paid a whopping $450 for last year. Probably cost a few hundred to do a decent job to convert his other cab anyways.

Anyways.. he should sell the Popeye just so people can keep asking if the Popeye is still available.
 
+1 for sound advice

My suggestion would be to trade the Popeye for a DK Jr. Way easier and less destructive.

Yah its his game to do what he wants but why dick up a perfectly good survivor?

Its not like Dk jr is some super rare hard to find game..

Last one I had I think I paid a whopping $450 for last year. Probably cost a few hundred to do a decent job to convert his other cab anyways.

Anyways.. he should sell the Popeye just so people can keep asking if the Popeye is still available.
 
Rotating the monitor without serious mods isnt gonna work, but you could have both horizontal and vertical mounts in there and rotate the monitor manually when you need to. Thats what i do in my dk cab and it works for me.
 
Laminate is more forgiving than vinyl...if you do vinyl you have to make sure to sand that cab really smooth or every imperfection will show through...if you do the laminate you just need to rough up the sides and then glue the laminate over the top..of course you need a router and to have those skills to fit and cut laminate to cab shape etc ...otherwise vinyl may be better option for you...choose wisely..:D
 
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