Why is this taking so long???
I am working on using the digital picture frame for my Super Neo 29 right now. When I bought my Neo Candy it came with the Hyper 64 marquee with a small screen and camera that allows you to view your opponent/others to view what is being played. My cab looks to have been rewired at some point and whoever did that removed some of the necessary parts to operate the screen. So I decided some months ago to replace the video screen with a digital picture frame loaded with scans of mini marquees from Neo Geo. I posted it as "shoot it of salute it" and wanted to get peeps opinions on the idea. Really I wanted to see how much I would get blasted for deviating from the stock config of the machine. In short, I decided to go forward with the project. At the time, I had no idea what was involved .
Here is where I am on the project.
Purchased the Digital Picture Frame I think I spent $180 for the one I went with - pretty good size...9" IIRC
Collected many of the mini-marquees scans (Thanks dub!)
I loaded to scans and quickly found that the dimensions of the mini marquees are different from the picture frame. The digital picture frame stretches the mini-marquees to fit, but in doing so it distorts the picture. I played with the scans to add some black space at the bottom - this padding fixes the distortion issue. Looks good now.
Next, since the orientation of the original screen was horizontal and the new frame will be mounted vertically, I needed new marquee artwork. So I began searching for it, but quickly found that there is even less out there for Super Neo 29 Type 2/Hyper Neo 64 that there is for for the original Super Neo 29. I think I found nothing at all. That left me with the prospect of designing new marquee, cpo, and sideart myself. (I also am working on a couple of new control panels, as my two player cp is rusted through) If I am going to redo the marquee and cpo, I want the side art to match as well.
About 3 months ago I was searching through everyone's postings here of their candies. I was looking to get ideas for a custom job or some pictures of stock machines that I could use to design my artwork. I came across one that really caught my eye. It was a homebrew Super Neo 29 that was done in blue as an Atomiswave cab.
www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110616&referrerid=16378
see posts #272 on page 11
Legztec had vectorized all the artwork in adobe and it looked fantastic. On a whim I emailed him, let him know how much I admired his work and let him know that I wanted to do something similar. I also asked if there was any way he would possibly sell the files to me . To my surprise he gave them to me - its posted out on arcadeotaku for those that are interested.
Since then, I modified the CPO to include the Super Neo 29 logo. I made a single player and two player version. I also modified the marquee by simplifying it. (removed wording for Atomiswave, removed all company logos except SNK, rearranged some stuff, and added Super Neo 29 logo on either side of the area where digital frame will be. I then adjusted the files for sizing so I knew that they would be proportioned correctly for the size I wanted them to be printed. I then sent the CPOs and marquee files to Scott at mamemarquees and had him print them for me. Went with ultimate on the marquee and with adhesive backed control panel overlays. Everything turned out beautifully. It looks very professional. The cost for the prints was $140 shipped for both CPOs and the marquee. I received them from Scott three days ago.
While I waited for the work to be done, I finished cutting/filing my new metal control panel. Using the rusty cp as a template, I cut a replacement from a sheet of steel. I found a door to a file cabinet to use for this purpose. The thickness of the steel was a perfect match. I think the new steel feels like it is better quality than the original. After a lot of work it is a drop in perfect replacement. Not wanting to have rust creep in again, I decided to paint the cp with white appliance paint before applying the new CP overlay. The appliance paint should make a very tough enamel layer. I applied the first coat of paint to the CP yesterday. Unfortunately, it is so cold that it was pretty slow to dry. Checked it this morning, and it turned out nice. I will do some sanding tonight and try to paint the other side.
I really want to finish fixing my control panel before I get deep into the marquee project, as it is, the only way I can play my neo 4 slot is with a Saturn pad I modified as a neo controller - this was for my other CMVS project.
After the CPs are finished, I will need do the following to complete the marquee project:
- Cut two sheets of plexiglass to replace the existing marquee. These will be used to sandwich the marquee art I had printed between the two pieces.
- Paint the marquee section of the cab so it will be white (it has typical yellowing like so many other cabs)
- Cut the marquee art so the digital frame can be seen through it.
- Fashion some steel plates to mount the picture frame and hold it in place.
- Add a small marquee light behind the frame so the marquee art is lit.
- Run power for the picture frame and the marquee light.
To sum it up, I have accomplished a decent amount on my Super Neo 29 restoration project, but my biggest excuse for not getting more done is family obligations. Like many other members here, I am in my thirties. I have to balance work responsibilities, time with my wife and children, and try to eek out time for my hobby between items on the honey do list. The work continues to progress slowly and I will definitely post pics when I finish each section.