MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.

[upper2bits]

Took me about 5 hours to create these plans.  What am I missing?     I'm going to use an old thinkpad x41 laptop and a dell 19" lcd monitor.

[IG-88]

I believe one of your measurements has the wrong numbers on it (second pic) but other than that it looks great! 

Are you going with a lighted marquee?

I just go me a HP 510 laptop yesterday with a jacked up screen for a very similar project. Are you taking off your laptop screen? I can't decide if its worth it to take mine off or just leave it.

[upper2bits]

I believe one of your measurements has the wrong numbers on it (second pic) but other than that it looks great! 

Ah, thanks, Sketchup is weird when you make changes to the original and then pass it off to layout.  Fixed! :-)

Are you going with a lighted marquee?

The front panel marquee is wood right now but I've set it up so plexi can be put in it's place if I want to.  I don't want to add too many features for my first build.

I just go me a HP 510 laptop yesterday with a jacked up screen for a very similar project. Are you taking off your laptop screen? I can't decide if its worth it to take mine off or just leave it.

I have another 19" lcd I'm using for the screen so I'm using the LCD in place on the laptop.  The only thing I've yet to figure out is how to do the power button on the laptop.

[Nephasth]

I don't want to add too many features for my first build.

If you're gunna go, go all out.

[upper2bits]

OKay, I can get a marquee for around $25 which is much better than I expected so I'm changing my layout to include it.   

[BobA]

If you shorten your bottom piece you can make the front a bit taller to overhang it so you do not see the bottom edge.  Same on the back.  That short back piece can overhang the bottom and also hide the edge.  Gives a more finished look.

[upper2bits]

I've been playing with the idea of making it two person instead.  Does this look odd?

My plan is to make the control board separate so I can easily move it around.

[mgb]

I like the 2 player design. looks good

[upper2bits]

This is what I'm thinking for attaching the control panel. I'm not sure if it will be secure enough, I might need to add something at the top as well.  Thoughts?

edit: Obviously the control panel will have notches that accept those pieces sticking out. ;-)

[BobA]

I think it would be more stable with a control panel latch and catch mounted on each side.  Of course this requires your CP to pivot up to access the latches.

[upper2bits]

I think it would be more stable with a control panel latch and catch mounted on each side.  Of course this requires your CP to pivot up to access the latches.

Yeah, I'm worried about it looking cheap with latches on the sides. I was trying to hide it if possible.

[Yvan256]

Yeah, I'm worried about it looking cheap with latches on the sides. I was trying to hide it if possible.

Put the latches inside, like a real arcade cabinet. Then simply drill holes big enough underneath to allow you to reach those latches.

[upper2bits]

I guess I'll play with how to attach it after I have the sections built.  There is one small angle I have to deal with where the control panel lines up with the cabinet but I can probably router that out.  Here is a shot with them in sections.