Retro themed bartop (Retrocade). First time build 2P

[gomeq]

Test fitted the piano hinge. This gave me the opportunity to place the supporting beams for the control panel and the monitor bezel in the correct position.

Did a quick test fit for the monitor mount. Pretty happy with the result so far.

[gomeq]

The cabinet needs some air vents so I came up with the idea to do some pixel art on the back door panel. This is a test I did on some left over MDF to see how it would end up.

Happy with the result but have my doubts if it will interfere with the retro design direction I'm going for. On the other hand its just a detail on the back.

[gomeq]

control panel hardware finally arrived



Cut out the monitor bezel and added the monitor mounting plate. Also printed some test designs tot see how they would fit.

[gomeq]

Here is a small update on the project. Added the back door. Fitted the plexiglass plate, installed the speakers and painted everything.

Now need the let everything dry and start with the installment op the hardware.

[mafiafan123]

Here is a small update on the project. Added the back door. Fitted the plexiglass plate, installed the speakers and painted everything.

Now need the let everything dry and start with the installment op the hardware.

Looks neat!  What type of speakers are those?

[gomeq]

Looks neat!  What type of speakers are those?

3 inch 4ohm 10 W Stereo Speakers
 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32695620877/32695620877.html

[gomeq]

Drilled the holes for the buttons and joystick and tested how everything would fit. To be honest, I'm very happy with the result so far.

I'm still not sure what color I want for the t-molding. In one picture you'll see for example pieces. What do you guys thing?

Does anyone have any experience with dark themed marquees. How many light will the let through?

[yamatetsu]

Based on your t-molding examples.



My favorite would be red. Dark brown would work, too, but red pops more.

[mafiafan123]

Based on your t-molding examples.



My favorite would be red. Dark brown would work, too, but red pops more.

I like the dark brown but that's my opinion

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[markc74]

Orange. Ties the buttons and artwork together nicely. The rest don't look right at all.

Cool invader on the back 

[gomeq]

Based on your t-molding examples.



My favorite would be red. Dark brown would work, too, but red pops more.

Thnx for the examples. I doubt between the orange and dark brown color. I guest black will also be an option.

[yamatetsu]

Does anyone have any experience with dark themed marquees. How many light will the let through?

If you are worried about the black parts letting light through, you can block those parts with thin cardboard. Cut it to marquee size, print the marquee, put it onto the cardboard, use a scalpel or something like that to cut out all non-black parts. Now you can doubletape that cardboard to a piece of plexi, then put the marquee onto that and put a second piece of plexi on it.

[gomeq]

Well I do want some light to go through the dark areas. I'm worried it won't be enough.

[yamatetsu]

That will depend on the material you print the marquee on, then. You probably will need to put a strong light source behind it.
There is this guy Lucian045 in this forum who prints marquees and artwork for forum members. Maybe you can contact him via email and ask him whether his material lets light through dark areas or not.

[gomeq]

Printed the designs to see how they would fit and look on the cabinet. I think it looks nice.

I still have my doubts about color of the t-molding.

[GSXRMovistar]

That looks killer! Now thinking black t-molding would go very nicely.

[NIVO]

Oinge FTW! Remember that 70's orange shag carpet that we all had or knew someone who had it in their living room? I mean the rig does say RETROcade right?

[Mike A]

I had orange, green, and brown shag in my bedroom growing up. 

[Locke141]

This is coming along nicely.

In regards the choice of T-molding, if I was you I'd think about where this build is going to live. Bright orange t-molbing may fit the 1970's theme but it may stick out like a sour thumb in your living room. Just something to consider.

[ugleymatt]

Thanks for sharing the build process of this, very useful.

One question i had was how are you powering the speakers?

[gomeq]

One question i had was how are you powering the speakers?

I bought this amp
http://s.aliexpress.com/f6rMFfAZ

[gomeq]

Finally had time to add the decals. They came up really nice I think. Also added the t-molding but forgot to take a picture of that.

I'm really not happy with the monitor bevel so I think I'm going to redo this part.

Next stop is also the wiring inside. No need to find some time to start working on this part of the job.

[yamatetsu]

How about doing a decal for the bezel? Right now the bezel stands out too much.

[gomeq]

How about doing a decal for the bezel? Right now the bezel stands out too much.

I'm indeed thinking about replacing this bezel with an acrylic glass plate and putting a decal on it. The monitor sits way to deep now and doesn't look right to me.

[ugleymatt]

This is coming on very nicely.

I agree that the monitor bezel doesnt look quite right as it is, the rest of the cab is so superb. The depth of the monitor might not matter as much when you get the glass infront of it though. So maybe try that before you go changing the monitor location too much.

I'm making mine out of plywood and was originally going to stain it and keep the wood effect, but i am now looking at a vinyl artwork and seeing how you have made the CP top and front into a single piece with that lovely rounding has confirmed that for me.

Are you planning on putting plexiglass over the control panel or leaving it as is? After seeing yours i am considering the piano hinge CP as it looks like a great way to get access easily. Would also make it very easy to access the joystick to switch into 4-8 way modes.

How do you lift the panel up? just pull the joysticks i guess? I thought of maybe using strong magnets to keep it closed down.

[gomeq]

How do you lift the panel up? just pull the joysticks i guess? I thought of maybe using strong magnets to keep it closed down.

Haven't got the best photo to show you at the moment but notice the two metal plates in de corner. These will click on magnets that sits next to the wooden bars that supports the control panel when in closed position.

I can open the panel by pulling on the joysticks but a better way is to open the back door and push the panel out from the inside.

[ugleymatt]

Thats exactly what i was considering doing, so nice to see that two people had the same idea at least.

I'll have a look at my control panel plans and see how i can modify them.

[gomeq]

I added the emulationstation theme to github. For anyone who's interested here is the link to the repo.

[BrandonLaw]

I've made a few arcades, but I'm really enjoying the side/control panel artwork.  Are you considering sharing the theme by chance?  That would be great!  (I'm in the process of building a bartop for my folks' new place which is a wood cabin, and this would go great!)