You can tell just from the packing job that the Arcade Depot guys have been at this for a while. I was actually quite surprised at how small the package I received was. Everything was very securely wrapped and well-protected.
First thought: All
that came out of
there?Second thought: What have I gotten myself into?
My Pilot, looking a little pissed that I've taken over its spot in the garage to work on this project. Also notice that I really should be mowing the yard instead of building an arcade cabinet.
First step, glue up and screw up the bottom of the third control panel:
The third CP itself is in two parts that attach with dowels and glue. Word to the wise: don't buy those "set of 6 new" ratchet clamps that pop up all over ebay when you search for ratchet clamps. You get what you pay for.
Third CP on:
Via piano hinge:
Third CP side panels. Note that I strayed from Arcade Depot's directions here, as their directions said to glue on the side panels before installing the piano hinge. But then when you got to the step of installing the piano hinge, the directions said to adjust the side panels for proper clearance (which would have already been glued in place at that point had I followed the directions step-by-step).
Gluing the P1/P2 sides (front and back? ends? I'm not sure what to call them in this case) to the bottom panel:
Attaching the rear bottom panel:
Attaching the front panel w/ third CP installed:
Attaching the P2 control panel housing:
Attaching the P1 control panel housing. Notice the growing pile of broken ratchet clamps in the background. These things should have come with a warning sticker: "WARNING: this item is for decorative purposes only. Any attempt to actually tighten the clamp onto wood will result in the cheap plastic housing flying apart and the trigger falling off."
A test fit to see what the finished P1/P2 control panels will look like. I don't want to mount these just yet since I don't have my controls yet.
Installed corner brackets for added support:
Piano hinge for the rear panel:
And now for the biggest pain of the assembly: attaching the hinged portion of the back panel to the piano hinge. It was a ---smurfette--- figuring out how to get it lined up just right. What I did was fed masking tape through the slots in the piano hinge, then closed the hinge and set the panel into place in the closed position, then tightened up the tape. This allowed me to open it with the tape holding it just enough that I could then install the screws.
And finally, a preview of the finished product. The top is just resting in place in these pics - I don't want to actually attach it until I figure out how I'm going to secure the monitor to it. Arcade Depot custom-routed it for my LCD monitor (an HP LP2065), so now I just need to figure out how to hold it in place.
And that's where it stands for now. (Well, actually it stands in the back corner for now - had to get my truck back in the garage before it disowned me, after all.)