Making a new Zoo Keeper
- Thread starter shirkle
- Start date
Woohoo....3rd update today.
Some good and some just OK updates:
Put the first side on. Turned out great. Went on perfect without any issues. Looks really, really nice. ProK did a fantastic job with matching the look of the original. I have side art on my Ms. Pac too, and it's really glossy and unoriginal looking. It's nice, just not original looking. Zoo Keeper's art isn't glossy like that, which makes it look so nice and much more original.
It's amazing seeing this cabinet go from MDF to a Zoo Keeper in a day.
The front art is giving me a little trouble. It's a hair too small for the front of the cabinet. Not a big deal since it's only a 1/8 or less of an inch on each side, but it also made me realize that my paint isn't perfectly match (thanks Lowes!). So, I'm going to head back and have them rematch it. If it's matched perfectly, I don't think anyone will notice that it's jsut a little too narrow for the front. I was disappointed that it didn't fit perfectly. See the picture below and you'll see the white paper backing on each side where it ran short. And, yes, I assembled the cabinet perfectly- the front is flush with both sides.
Some good and some just OK updates:
Put the first side on. Turned out great. Went on perfect without any issues. Looks really, really nice. ProK did a fantastic job with matching the look of the original. I have side art on my Ms. Pac too, and it's really glossy and unoriginal looking. It's nice, just not original looking. Zoo Keeper's art isn't glossy like that, which makes it look so nice and much more original.
It's amazing seeing this cabinet go from MDF to a Zoo Keeper in a day.
The front art is giving me a little trouble. It's a hair too small for the front of the cabinet. Not a big deal since it's only a 1/8 or less of an inch on each side, but it also made me realize that my paint isn't perfectly match (thanks Lowes!). So, I'm going to head back and have them rematch it. If it's matched perfectly, I don't think anyone will notice that it's jsut a little too narrow for the front. I was disappointed that it didn't fit perfectly. See the picture below and you'll see the white paper backing on each side where it ran short. And, yes, I assembled the cabinet perfectly- the front is flush with both sides.
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NotreCaine
Active member
This is one ambitious project! I love that it's a ZK! Keep it coming!
nerdygrrl
Well-known member
Amazing job. So, so awesome. Thanks for documenting the process.
joseph77
Well-known member
Looks great. If you get a close orange match let me know.
Spyridon
Well-known member
Looking good, but if you want it to have the authentic look, you need to sit the bottom in water and let the sides soak it up. Then it will look like the real deal.
That side art looks great.
That side art looks great.
Dude, seriously. Where were so many Taito cabs water damaged?
I'll post a picture of the original one later today....it's exactly like you guys describe. The bottom is completely swollen and every tiny scratch, nick, or scrape this cabinet ever had got completely swollen. It's crazy. Mine has random swollen areas in the middle of the sides.
I've thought about adding some leg levelers just inside of the base, so that you can barely see them. That way when I move it I don't have to slide it around on its stupid mdf base.
I've thought about adding some leg levelers just inside of the base, so that you can barely see them. That way when I move it I don't have to slide it around on its stupid mdf base.
Well, I got the other sides on, put on the coin door, put on the control panel, painted the black...tons of stuff done. Pictures coming soon.
I also spoke with "scaboo4u" who was checking my boards. His internet was down so he had no way to get in touch with me. He was supposed to ship the boards out yesterday, so hopefully they show up in the next couple of days.
I'm working on wiring now.
I also spoke with "scaboo4u" who was checking my boards. His internet was down so he had no way to get in touch with me. He was supposed to ship the boards out yesterday, so hopefully they show up in the next couple of days.
I'm working on wiring now.
timberterror
Well-known member
Looking pretty badass - Barry
Alright, a couple days late but here are some pictures. I installed the boards today. I also put in the switching PS. I put on the marquee and bezel. One thing missing from these pictures is the metal piece that goes between the bezel and control panel, which is why the bezel is down as far as it is. I added that tonight, but after I took these pictures.
Anyway, enjoy!
Anyway, enjoy!
Dr. Morbis
Member
Any chance you could take a picture of how you've got everything mounted on the back door for those of us who may some day be following in your footsteps??? Thanks.
badgamer
Member
You've done a nice job there....congrats.
How hard was that side art to apply??
john
.
How hard was that side art to apply??
john
.
Really not too bad. My fiancee helped me...she was the holder and I was the smoother. We just went an inch at a time and it came out perfect.
The biggest help with this side art was using a light shining up from beneath the art. That way we could still see the outline of the cabinet pretty clearly. We knew the hardest part of putting this art on would be lining up the curve, and that pretty much took care of that concern.
I can definitely take a few pictures of the inside. One thing that will look odd about mine is that I am not using the coin processor board. I have the hack version of that ROM, so the processor board is on the back door but not hooked up.
One thing that really scares me is that I've never had this game working. Even the old cabinet I had for about 5-6 years and never got it to work. So, after all this time, effort, and money, I'm just praying that when I eventually hit the switch it will actually turn on and work. I'd be pretty bummed out if I just have a beautiful dead ZK.
The biggest help with this side art was using a light shining up from beneath the art. That way we could still see the outline of the cabinet pretty clearly. We knew the hardest part of putting this art on would be lining up the curve, and that pretty much took care of that concern.
I can definitely take a few pictures of the inside. One thing that will look odd about mine is that I am not using the coin processor board. I have the hack version of that ROM, so the processor board is on the back door but not hooked up.
One thing that really scares me is that I've never had this game working. Even the old cabinet I had for about 5-6 years and never got it to work. So, after all this time, effort, and money, I'm just praying that when I eventually hit the switch it will actually turn on and work. I'd be pretty bummed out if I just have a beautiful dead ZK.
Awesome stuff, man. Looks great.
Did ZK's come with dust disks (or whatever they are called) w/ the joysticks like yours has? Mine doesn't have one?
Did ZK's come with dust disks (or whatever they are called) w/ the joysticks like yours has? Mine doesn't have one?
I actually used the original piece that you're talking about.....not even the entire bottom back panel, just that little wooden piece that is glued/stapled to it.
I attached it before I got a router to cut the slots. I had no idea using a router was so simple.
Here are a couple pictures...
I started to assemble the cabinet without glue just to make sure it al fits. Ignore all the dust on the top piece:
The tons of bolts in this game, all sanded and clearcoated:
The control panel with one coat of paint on it. The filled holes are actually perfectly smooth, but you can still see them through the first coat with the flash of the camera. I'm going to sand it a little and then put one more coat before putting on the new overlay.
And something original....I love the original coindoor. I might touch it up a little, but not a full repaint. I LOVE the Taito plate in the middle.
I'd keep that coindoor as original as possible too. Awesome!
timberterror
Well-known member
mjenison
Well-known member
The dust disk is supposed to go between the bottom of the CP and the joystick mounting plate.
The Taito plate can be removed with screws. You can pull of the other hardware as well and repaint the coin door.
I'm not sure where these coin doors come from (the ones with the removable plates), but I've seen them with logo plates for Cinematronics and Williams, too. Wico maybe?
The Taito plate can be removed with screws. You can pull of the other hardware as well and repaint the coin door.
I'm not sure where these coin doors come from (the ones with the removable plates), but I've seen them with logo plates for Cinematronics and Williams, too. Wico maybe?
I knew I put that black joystick disk in the wrong spot as soon as I put it on, but got too lazy to take the thing back out and redo it. I'll probably fix that tonight.
I'm not sure about that coindoor plate. I've had a couple of converted ZK cabinets over the years and I think out of maybe 3 cabinets, only one had that plate on the door. I obviously kept it because I thought it was really cool. I'm not sure if I'll repaint the coin door or just touch it up. It's a lot of work to sand, prime and paint for just those few nicks, so I might just touch it up with some black of that same sheen.
As soon as I get a monitor and one more ROM, it'll be time to test it. Both are on the way.
I'm not sure about that coindoor plate. I've had a couple of converted ZK cabinets over the years and I think out of maybe 3 cabinets, only one had that plate on the door. I obviously kept it because I thought it was really cool. I'm not sure if I'll repaint the coin door or just touch it up. It's a lot of work to sand, prime and paint for just those few nicks, so I might just touch it up with some black of that same sheen.
As soon as I get a monitor and one more ROM, it'll be time to test it. Both are on the way.
