My DAPHNE in a DL cab project

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Some people have requested that I start a thread about my DAPHNE cab project with some pics...so here it is...

To give you some info and background (for those who care...the rest can skip down to the pics...lol):

Started collecting laser games in 2002. My first one was a DL cab that was actually complete except for a working scoreboard. Since then I have owned a Space Ace, and Space Ace Dedicated, DL 2 (twice), Thayers Quest, three DL machines, a Space Ace '91 kit that I never installed in the DL 2 cab...and misc parts and stuff...
I was never very good at fixing the LD players so as time went by and the players became scarce through either breaking, no parts available, or the hoarders out there (you know who you are), I started researching the DAPHNE option. Now I understand all you "purist" who will grumble and all that...get over it... :p
(that is sarcasm...by the way...jeez)
Anyhoo...I decided NOT to spend hundreds of dollars anymore on parts and such and built the DAPHNE cab.
I had aquired a brand new reproduction DL cab in 2006. Beautiful cabinet that sat wrapped up and safe in my garage for years. I knew that was going to be the cab I put the DAPHNE unit in so I started collecting the parts for a nice Intel computer, some misc DL parts I no longer had, and reading up on DAPHNE and FE (front end) software. After getting the parts together I built the computer running DAPHNE about 3 months before I even considered putting the cabinet together. I wanted to just mess around with DAPHNE and such without having to get inside of the cabinet all the time to mess with stuff, or turn on the computer, or whatever.
After the DAPHNE system was stable and running the way I wanted I decided to build the cab. I had an original DL control panel from a couple of years ago and some SA art, but wasn't really wanting to waste the SA art on a cab that was going to be running multiple laser games. SO, I sold the art. After trying to decide what kind of art I wanted on the cab I remembered the multi-art from the old ultracade cabs. It has DL, DL2, and SA art all-in-one. I decided to go with that. The art is pretty hard to come by but thanks to Jason Finn, who had some sitting brand new in a tube, I was able to get it at a great price. Thanks Finny!!!
So..the cab started coming together...but its not 100% complete yet. I needed a cable for the DL scoreboard to run on DAPHNE, and I needed a Cinematronics coin door. Got both but haven't installed them yet.

I have to thank a FEW people who made the project possible though:
Jason Finn: Thanks for everything buddy!
88mph: Built me a DL scoreboard for DAPHNE!! Life saver!
tobyocc: For ALL the support when it came to DAPHNE issues, cabinet monitor issues, and everything else!!! I think we PM'd each other for a year!!
andys80s: For the scoop on ROM files and how they work!!

I am sure I am missing someone! Sorry if I did.

Here is the scoop on the actual cab:

DAPHNE running Hyperspin FE
3.2gig P4
3 gig memory
1TB hard drive
ATI Radeon Card
wired keyboard and mouse
wireless network card
two speaker harden karmen speaker system with subwoofer

CAB has:
Original DL CP
Ultracade Art work
Cinematronics coin door

Running These Laser Games:
Dragons Lair (HD version)
Dragons Lair 2
Space Ace (HD version)
Cliff Hanger (restored high def version)
Begas Battle
Super Don Q
Badlands
Esh's Aurunmilla
Astron Belt
Thayers Quest (runs with the keyboard)

I recently started adding MAME games (oh..the horror..bleh). So, the cab will run both MAME and DAPHNE using the Hyperspin front end. AND, since most of the MAME I play is old school 80's stuff I don't have to hack up the control panel. Just added a button...

Sorry for the long winded post!!

Jess
 

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Some people have requested that I start a thread about my DAPHNE cab project with some pics...so here it is...

To give you some info and background (for those who care...the rest can skip down to the pics...lol):

Started collecting laser games in 2002. My first one was a DL cab that was actually complete except for a working scoreboard. Since then I have owned a Space Ace, and Space Ace Dedicated, DL 2 (twice), Thayers Quest, three DL machines, a Space Ace '91 kit that I never installed in the DL 2 cab...and misc parts and stuff...
I was never very good at fixing the LD players so as time went by and the players became scarce through either breaking, no parts available, or the hoarders out there (you know who you are), I started researching the DAPHNE option. Now I understand all you "purist" who will grumble and all that...get over it... :p
(that is sarcasm...by the way...jeez)
Anyhoo...I decided NOT to spend hundreds of dollars anymore on parts and such and built the DAPHNE cab.
I had aquired a brand new reproduction DL cab in 2006. Beautiful cabinet that sat wrapped up and safe in my garage for years. I knew that was going to be the cab I put the DAPHNE unit in so I started collecting the parts for a nice Intel computer, some misc DL parts I no longer had, and reading up on DAPHNE and FE (front end) software. After getting the parts together I built the computer running DAPHNE about 3 months before I even considered putting the cabinet together. I wanted to just mess around with DAPHNE and such without having to get inside of the cabinet all the time to mess with stuff, or turn on the computer, or whatever.
After the DAPHNE system was stable and running the way I wanted I decided to build the cab. I had an original DL control panel from a couple of years ago and some SA art, but wasn't really wanting to waste the SA art on a cab that was going to be running multiple laser games. SO, I sold the art. After trying to decide what kind of art I wanted on the cab I remembered the multi-art from the old ultracade cabs. It has DL, DL2, and SA art all-in-one. I decided to go with that. The art is pretty hard to come by but thanks to Jason Finn, who had some sitting brand new in a tube, I was able to get it at a great price. Thanks Finny!!!
So..the cab started coming together...but its not 100% complete yet. I needed a cable for the DL scoreboard to run on DAPHNE, and I needed a Cinematronics coin door. Got both but haven't installed them yet.

I have to thank a FEW people who made the project possible though:
Jason Finn: Thanks for everything buddy!
88mph: Built me a DL scoreboard for DAPHNE!! Life saver!
tobyocc: For ALL the support when it came to DAPHNE issues, cabinet monitor issues, and everything else!!! I think we PM'd each other for a year!!
andys80s: For the scoop on ROM files and how they work!!

I am sure I am missing someone! Sorry if I did.

Here is the scoop on the actual cab:

DAPHNE running Hyperspin FE
3.2gig P4
3 gig memory
1TB hard drive
ATI Radeon Card
wired keyboard and mouse
wireless network card
two speaker harden karmen speaker system with subwoofer

CAB has:
Original DL CP
Ultracade Art work
Cinematronics coin door

Running These Laser Games:
Dragons Lair (HD version)
Dragons Lair 2
Space Ace (HD version)
Cliff Hanger (restored high def version)
Begas Battle
Super Don Q
Badlands
Esh's Aurunmilla
Astron Belt
Thayers Quest (runs with the keyboard)

I recently started adding MAME games (oh..the horror..bleh). So, the cab will run both MAME and DAPHNE using the Hyperspin front end. AND, since most of the MAME I play is old school 80's stuff I don't have to hack up the control panel. Just added a button...

Sorry for the long winded post!!

Jess

Thanks for the great writeup Jess, I may have to go this way myself, there are costly parts I am still lacking, and I am pretty close, but at least I can get it done this way.

Looking forward to doing something, I have an LAI DL cab (non orig), so I am happy to add a button etc

One again, thank you
 
True...

@Rcade: Yea...thats true...I know there are many people who have done this before...lol

Of course...not with ultracade art...ha! (j/k)

J
 
I like the choice of side art, but I would have trimmed off the white before applying it.

attachment.php


Also, I'm not sure about the control panel layout. Why two buttons on the left but only one on the right?
 
Questions..

I don't use the right buttons...and since I am the only one that plays the machine 95% of the time I decided not to add another button to the right side..

I "found" the HD files for SA and DL by searching for them....Google can be your friend...if you have the patience for it :)

Didn't trim the side art because I liked the contrast against the black...guess it was a personal choice...may change it some day..but probably not...

J
 
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