Building A Virtual Pinball Cabinet

[SmoothBalls]

Hello there, loved your 1st video, wish i had a setup in tools like you but hey ho on we go

 

[L33]

Hello there, loved your 1st video, wish i had a setup in tools like you but hey ho on we go

The tools are definitely a big help, but some of them look better on camera than they do in real life

Glad you liked the vid...just working on the second now. Not sure whats more work...the cab or the video editing.

 

[seattlemark]

L33, now that I truly see how hard it would be for someone like me who is "carpentry challenged", I feel better about the fact that I haven't attempted to build a cabinet. Plus, I don't have the all the same power tools, nor the extra shop space at the moment. But at least since I'm in the U.S., if I decide to buy a ready made Cab someday, I won't have the incredibly high (but understandable) shipping charges you had mentioned nor the Import Taxes. But still, ready made cabinets are plenty expensive even before shipping charges and taxes, and I would have to find the space for such a cab. In the mean time, my 40 inch TV rotated to portrait mode on an inexpensive articulated wall mount will still be okay for the foreseeable future.

Your first video was fun to watch, and I look forward to the others!

 

[SmoothBalls]

Either way your input is appreciated, good luck

 

[L33]

L33, now that I truly see how hard it would be for someone like me who is "carpentry challenged", I feel better about the fact that I haven't attempted to build a cabinet. Plus, I don't have the all the same power tools, nor the extra shop space at the moment. But at least since I'm in the U.S., if I decide to buy a ready made Cab someday, I won't have the incredibly high (but understandable) shipping charges you had mentioned nor the Import Taxes. But still, ready made cabinets are plenty expensive even before shipping charges and taxes, and I would have to find the space for such a cab. In the mean time, my 40 inch TV rotated to portrait mode on an inexpensive articulated wall mount will still be okay for the foreseeable future.

Your first video was fun to watch, and I look forward to the others!

I definitely wouldn't have attempted to do this if the cabs were readily available for me...but once I knew they weren't, it became a bit of a challenge for me, and something different to take on I suppose. Im almost making it up day by day, but if all goes well them Im sure i'll feel that it was worth it.

One thing I did greatly underestimate though, was the size of the unit, and like you said, it's having the space. Ive just made all the parts for the cabinet and put them together...and it's huge! It's certainly a conversation starter when people see it

 

[mpad]

Yeah. I built mine a bit smaller and thinner so I can put it on the dining table if needed, or in upright position into the corner if not. It's still heavy though
Just didn't have the space in our small flat, so went "mobile" - with 40"

And building is definitely a big fun part of the hobby.

 

[SmoothBalls]

I have a 44 inch Panasonic plasma which is is in permanent Tate mode as i play a lot of Cave, Shmups/shooters also (see Hibachi Avatar) i run a 15 mtr HDMI cable upstairs and play that way, once you go Portrait you never go back.

 

[VPcabs]

Hi Francis. We ship machines all over the world. Shoot me a PM if you're interested and I can get you more info.

L33, I've been very interested in importing one, and always wondered how much to factor in for the shipping & tax costs. Was it a virtuapin you were looking at, and did they quote you for shipping or did you get a quote from a specialist shipping company/courier?

 

[L33]

Backbone done, or rather backbox done...flippin auto correct. Well, I say done, 4 sides are done, but I'll finish the rest of it when I suss out how the Tv and speakers fit. Not worked that bit out yet. Video part 2 will be up tomorrow too. Progressing slowly, but in the right direction I think. Just never realised how big the whole thing is so Ive gotta get this right or it'll look pants!

 

[SilverBalls]

L33, now that I truly see how hard it would be for someone like me who is "carpentry challenged", I feel better about the fact that I haven't attempted to build a cabinet. Plus, I don't have the all the same power tools, nor the extra shop space at the moment. But at least since I'm in the U.S., if I decide to buy a ready made Cab someday, I won't have the incredibly high (but understandable) shipping charges you had mentioned nor the Import Taxes.

Where you are really lucky in the US is you can buy the cabinet flat packs from Virtuapin which are incredibly good value from what I can see. When I built my cab in 2010/11 I had no clue about carpentry, and I would have snapped up a flat pack if available. Even today 4 years on I still haven't seen them in europe... Sadly. Maybe one day IKEA will sell them .

I remember I had the cabinet shell done it became an enjoyable obsession to get it finished, but it was a lot of work.

 

[SilverBalls]

Backbone done, or rather backbox done...flippin auto correct. Well, I say done, 4 sides are done, but I'll finish the rest of it when I suss out how the Tv and speakers fit. Not worked that bit out yet. Video part 2 will be up tomorrow too. Progressing slowly, but in the right direction I think. Just never realised how big the whole thing is so Ive gotta get this right or it'll look pants!

Sounds like good progress. Looking forward to the video.

Are you going for an iPac, Ledwiz, Plunger kit, or undecided yet? One thing worth considering is flipper feedback (or at least leave space in your design to add contactors later). I added it as an after thought and it was one of the best enhancements I did. If you want a simple method you can wire solenoids to an Ipac using an Optocoupler and that way you get the flipper thump on every flipper keypress (is: not software controlled) so it works for TPA and PFX2 as well as VP.

Definitely worth going for the leaf switches to, although for my two side nudge buttons normal arcade buttons were good enough.

 

[seattlemark]

Where you are really lucky in the US is you can buy the cabinet flat packs from Virtuapin which are incredibly good value from what I can see. When I built my cab in 2010/11 I had no clue about carpentry, and I would have snapped up a flat pack if available. Even today 4 years on I still haven't seen them in europe... Sadly. Maybe one day IKEA will sell them .

I remember I had the cabinet shell done it became an enjoyable obsession to get it finished, but it was a lot of work.

Oh good to know, SilverBalls. While I am "carpentry challenged", I am handy with electronics and wiring. (Because I took years and years of Electric Shop in school, I never had time to take a wood shop class which I regret now.)

Ah, good ol' IKEA, we even have that in the Seattle Area.

---
Edit: Oh my gosh, I had no idea how inexpensive it was till I did web search for Virtuapin Flat Packs and went to the site. It's starting at just $280 US for a "Flat Pack - WPC-style Standard Body Virtual Pinball Cabinet " (or $20 more for a wide-body), with only $89 shipping to me on the Standard for example. And the "Flat Pack - WPC-style Virtual Pinball Cabinet Backbox" is $80 + $50 Shipping. Of course, there are all the other parts to buy too from Virtuapin (which are nicely packaged in kits), but that's okay if one buys their own TV to use (that are so cheap today everywhere). For the Computer, I would simply run the HDMI from my regular computer, that's already on a dolly and rope for for when I bring it to the portrait TV. And no shipping cost for the TV or Computer's weights. The net price I suspect would be way cheaper than buying the full ready-made Virtuapin Virtual Pinball Machine. Something for me to start thinking of for the future. Thanks again for the advice SilverBalls. In the mean time, I will just enjoy L33's videos.

 

[L33]

Sounds like good progress. Looking forward to the video.

Are you going for an iPac, Ledwiz, Plunger kit, or undecided yet? One thing worth considering is flipper feedback (or at least leave space in your design to add contactors later). I added it as an after thought and it was one of the best enhancements I did. If you want a simple method you can wire solenoids to an Ipac using an Optocoupler and that way you get the flipper thump on every flipper keypress (is: not software controlled) so it works for TPA and PFX2 as well as VP.

Definitely worth going for the leaf switches to, although for my two side nudge buttons normal arcade buttons were good enough.

Think Im going down the ipac route for simplicity. Definitely will be getting the leaf switches too and some sort of feedback...but gotta suss all that out yet. Thinking of having 2 setups...A 3rd monitor setup for now (PFX2), and a DMD setup if and when FS bring out CAB support. Just stuck on how big the 3rd monitor needs to be. Cant find any info on this.

 

[L33]

Ok...Part 2 is now up on youtube. Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b-y3WJWCWo

Progress is a little slow, but it seems to be heading in the right direction. Thanks again for all the help and advice on this thread.

L33

 

[seattlemark]

Ok...Part 2 is now up on youtube. Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b-y3WJWCWo

Progress is a little slow, but it seems to be heading in the right direction. Thanks again for all the help and advice on this thread.

L33

It is very entertaining, and educational! I love the line in the "opening crawl", “There was only one way to fix this, but if it went wrong it could spell the end of the Death Star…I mean the pinball cabinet.” (I never heard the term "opening crawl" before, until I found it by doing a web search looking for what that's called in the S.W. movies.) L33, You are not only good with carpentry tools, but a great Videographer. Thanks for going through all the effort of filming this, and making the videos so fun for us as well!

 

[wolfson]

Ok, here's Part One. Hopefully the link should work.

Ive already realised a couple of issues I may run into regarding the cab...but I shall cross those bridges when i come to them.

https://youtu.be/HpAYBDp-TJ4

L33

well done L33,looking great,i`m useless as tits on a bull,so i`m going to buy the finished product,nice work area.i`m hoping you end up with a great pinnie,all the best !!!!

 

[SilverBalls]

Think Im going down the ipac route for simplicity. Definitely will be getting the leaf switches too and some sort of feedback...but gotta suss all that out yet. Thinking of having 2 setups...A 3rd monitor setup for now (PFX2), and a DMD setup if and when FS bring out CAB support. Just stuck on how big the 3rd monitor needs to be. Cant find any info on this.

Initially I had an old 4:3 19" monitor for 3rd screen DMD, however most of it was hidden. Therefore the smaller the better, so a secondhand 15" would even suffice. I think some people have use those small USB powered screens but I am not sure how well they work.

 

[L33]

Well...big tidy up now that the main part are out the way. Don't want to do anymore until I have all the other parts sourced...so, I've been sourcing. I'm actually a bit stuck though now. I'm a bit confused with computer spec and graphics card etc. There seems to be conflictions. And how on earth do you run 3 TVs from 1 computer? Has anyone here done this? If so, could I please ask for a little advice on that. I can't seem to find that info anywhere. Cheers everyone, and thanks for the feedback on the videos. They are as much work as making the cabinet itself.

 

[mpad]

No problem. Modern cards run 6 displays.

 

[Jeff Strong]

Well...big tidy up now that the main part are out the way. Don't want to do anymore until I have all the other parts sourced...so, I've been sourcing. I'm actually a bit stuck though now. I'm a bit confused with computer spec and graphics card etc. There seems to be conflictions. And how on earth do you run 3 TVs from 1 computer? Has anyone here done this? If so, could I please ask for a little advice on that. I can't seem to find that info anywhere. Cheers everyone, and thanks for the feedback on the videos. They are as much work as making the cabinet itself.

Modern video cards can do multi-monitor support easily by default, so you just need the proper cables. I personally recommend something in the Nvidia GTX 9xx series. The 970 seems to be the sweet spot.

EDIT: what mpad said