[ LAZY CAB ] Giant Space Invaders Bartop as a TV Rack/Housing for my big screens

[chris77]

Hey Guys,

long time no see 

After finishing my Big Bang Pin Visual Pinball my next arcade project will be the

LAZY CAB 



A bartop style TV Rack/Housing for my giant 40" 4:3 Pioneer VGA Plasma or 37" NEC CRT Monster.



First I used a simple TV Rack for my big screens, but it looked never right in my arcade - I missed the arcade style...




so the idea was to build a retro styled housing/bench for the screens... and to play my arcade and console games comfortable (thats why I call it the LAZY CAB ) on a nice sofa/couch via wireless controller.

quick and dirty sketchup:


inspired by:



**************************************************


specs

cabinet
******
- solid MDF cabinet (19mm base / 16mm cover) for the heavy screens (the NEC CRT is over 100kg!)
- control panel with 2-3 jumbo buttons to power and start the PC, TV, sound and lights (we play the games with wireless controller)
- shelf under control panel for RF/Bluetooth Controllers, remote controls, games and other stuff
- shelf under TV for PC, soundsystem and maybe original consoles
- chrome T-Molding
- grey/black tinted glass for bezel and to get a better TV black level
- LED animated Space Invaders Logo/Marquee
- RGBW LED-strip for under-floor

screens
******
- 40" Pioneer 4:3 Plasma with VGA resolution (nice for retro arcade games)
- alternative: 37" NEC CRT

pc-setup
*******
- win7 64bit
- Intel Pentium G3258 Anniversary Edition (nice to overclock to 4.5 Ghz, open multi)
- 120GB SSD for operating system and all games (using All Killer, No Filler - best of MAME, just about 600 Games)
- Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H Z97 Mainboard
- 8GB DDR3 RAM
- Palit GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB
- X-FI SB0460 soundcard (love the "crystalizer" function)
- 450W PSU high efficiency
- PC case

sound system
***********
- 4.1 Teufel Concept E 100 4.1 Multimedia-System with big subwoofer

controls
******
- wireless XBOX360 controller for PC
- wireless arcade stick with original arcade components like buttons and joystick
- AimTrak Lightgun
- maybe extra original controller for consoles

artwork
******
- Space Invaders themed retro artwork printed on laminated foil


**************************************************


Let the party begin!


first ideas and sketches:



edit... new plan. more place for all my original consoles, games and other stuff which should be hide


inside the cabinet, shelf for soundsystem, PC, controllers


Stay tuned,

cheers Chris

[Dal1980]

I'm not one for going off the theme of things and suggesting different plans but this idea popped in my head.

What about an arcade cabinet like you want but the design of the cab looks like its melted into the table. That way you get everything about the cab at a lazy height without the cp. I'm not near anything to sketch a drawing of what I mean but you seem to be a visual person anyway so probably doesn't need much more explained about it.

This probably doesn't fit the style your looking for but why waste a perfectly warm pile of meadow muffin of an idea. Perhaps I've inspired someone reading this idea... to press the ban button lol

Anyway good luck with the build

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[chris77]

Hey Dal1980,

I updated the first post with some specs about the build. The control panel is just to power the PC, TV, sound and lights, we control the games via wireless controller on a sofa/couch.

But I like your idea with the transformed arcade styled table 


cheers
Chris

[morton]

I dig it. Better than my sideways CRT on a plant stand. Gonna be cool to follow this one. Always a fan of that cabinet's art.

[chris77]

next steps:

a ton of MDF







cheers
Chris

[chris77]

routed slots for T-Molding


also for the glass stand


LED jumbo buttons



PC and soundsystem


cheers
Chris

[reptileink]

This looks like a really cool idea. Will be watching! 

[chris77]

thanks guys 


woodworking in progress:


more stuff arrived:


LED christmas lights for animated marquee lights:


magnetic clips and holders:


cheers
Chris

[chris77]

had to change the plan a little bit, to get more stabilization at the back






cheers
Chris

[leapinlew]

Looks good!

[TOMMYGUN]

I was thinking the same thing, using x-mass lights to light up my next build but then i remembered that those animated lights need to be set every time you power on they dont remember the setting
Unless you extend the function button.

[chris77]

leapinlew, cheers 

tommygun, thanks for the info, I have to check this out, but if I remember correctly I read something about a memory-function.


more woodworking:








greetz
Chris

[chris77]

grey/black tinted bezel glass arrived today - it's callled SGG Parsol Glass 

I will use it to cover the screen behind the glass and to get a better black level for the Pioneer Plasma.




love the tinted glass on a Ninja Warriors cabinet




EDIT:

new project name: Gargantua - go big or go home LOL




cheers
Chris

[chris77]

working on the control panel and a bit on the glass (routed a slot for "glass-stop")









cheers
Chris

[chris77]

today's arrivals








greetz
Chris

[leapinlew]

That's quality work.

[chris77]

next steps...


roll on


mounted aluminium stripes as a cooling element for the LED strips


added some cornices to get more stabilization



cheers
Chris

[rablack97]

rip off that crappy adhesive on your leds and replace it with this...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DZ5KIYA/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

[chris77]

routed holes for low noise fans at the back






time to get some primer for the MDF, ready for painting the cabinet...

cheers
Chris

[pbj]

This has gone from "stupid idea" to "I want one", personally.

[chris77]

thanks pbj 

first layer of paint applied








greetz
Chris

[talkgeek]

This has gone from "stupid idea" to "I want one", personally.

..thinking the same

[morton]

This has gone from "stupid idea" to "I want one", personally.

You know when the forum regulars are coming around that OP has started a great project. I too want one.

[chris77]

thanks guys!

under-floor painting is ready


got a RGBW LED strip, hope to get some nice effects and some lightness to the cabinet


cheers
Chris

[yotsuya]

This has gone from "stupid idea" to "I want one", personally.

You know when the forum regulars are coming around that OP has started a great project. I too want one.

I personally don't think it's a good idea, but Chris makes quality stuff, so I think if anyone can pull it off, it's him.

[TOMMYGUN]

I dont think the wheels are a good idea, atleast not for me, when i play fighting games like Final Fight i pull the joystick realy hard BAM BAM BAM, that tabletop would fly right off the table 

[KoolKolo]

I dont think the wheels are a good idea, atleast not for me, when i play fighting games like Final Fight i pull the joystick realy hard BAM BAM BAM, that tabletop would fly right off the table

There are no joysticks on the Lazy Cab.
Chris will use wireless joypads and will sit on a couch in front of the Lazy Cab.
This is just a replacement for an ordinary tv bench and a very coo replacemelnt, if you ask me

[morton]

I dont think the wheels are a good idea, atleast not for me, when i play fighting games like Final Fight i pull the joystick realy hard BAM BAM BAM, that tabletop would fly right off the table

Table top?? Paul Bunyan's maybe! 

I personally don't think it's a good idea, but Chris makes quality stuff, so I think if anyone can pull it off, it's him.

I love your honesty, and get where you're coming from, but you want to see this finished just as much as the rest of us... cuz it's gonna be cool.

[chris77]

thanks guys!

@morton: LOL, Paul Bunyans Bartop   
@koolkolo: thanks for the explanation, hope everything is clear now   


OK, the beast is on wheels, I love the hover craft effect, it seems that the cabinet is an inch in the air... can't wait to see it with LED lightning.






now it's time to apply ground coat everywhere on the cab.

cheers
Chris

[thomas_surles]

I had a similar idead to this. I got a megnavox oddysey 3000 pong consle. Its curent setup is in front of a 15 inch black and white crt surveillance monitor. I was thinking about framing up the monitor with a marquee for it.

[TOMMYGUN]

I dont think the wheels are a good idea, atleast not for me, when i play fighting games like Final Fight i pull the joystick realy hard BAM BAM BAM, that tabletop would fly right off the table

Table top?? Paul Bunyan's maybe! 

quote
yeah i did not see it was a big cab, i have been watching the entire forum including finished builds, i thought it was a tabletop, its fu in huge realy cool stuff

[chris77]

ground coat day



cheers
Chris

[chris77]

...meanwhile working on the control panel

the top gun switch is the power switch





EDIT...

some progress on the fans and the grill

can't decide which fan grill... the chrome or the brown one (can be painted black)













greetz
Chris

[leapinlew]

Brown but paint it black

[TOMMYGUN]

I can see you are a German, that would make this cab german kraftwerk 

[chris77]

tommygun, leapinlew: thanks guys 

small update... painted the grill black


cheers
Chris

[chris77]

first layer of black:



cheers
Chris

[smass]

Crazy idea...but I love it.   

I have a 36" crt monitor sitting on top of a wood AV stand that houses my retro consoles.  Now I am considering building out a faux arcade enclosure around the TV - it would look sorta like a 36" monitor bar-top enclosure.  It's in the basement with my other arcade machines so the wife is unlikely to see it.  Thanks for the inspiration...I think...   

[chris77]

hey smass, cheers 

some contrast for the cabinet



greetz
Chris

[pbj]

There's something about this that's so black, it's like how much more black could this be?

And the answer is none. None more black.

[chris77]

And the answer is none. None more black.

  haha, OK, no more black... it's time to get the artwork

cheers
Chris

[chris77]

tested the RGBW LED strip



love the under-floor lightning

cheers
Chris

[chris77]

ordered some more toys

I think I will use a retro pull switch instead of the top gun switch to power on the cabinet (and as a handle to lift up the control panel). the top gun switch is just too filigree for the giant cp.



cheers
Chris

[rablack97]

is that main power?

i thought a switch to turn on a PC had to be momentary.

[chris77]

yes, it's for main power respectively to power a relay contactor for the mains.
for the pc I will use one of the push buttons.

cheers
Chris

[chris77]

The Beast is finally painted  what a stress 



cheers
Chris

[chris77]

the pioneer plasma is in the cabinet... had to build some stands first:






EDIT

with glass




cheers
Chris

[thomas_surles]

< insert line here >

Looks good

[chris77]

mounted the marquee and the upper speaker stand + some attachments for the plasma.








fan grill turned out nice and the speaker position matches with the vented/open handles






cheers
Chris

[chris77]

installed some more RGBW strips inside the cabinet





greetz
Chris

[smass]

Is that TV a 4:3 format plasma?  Jealous! 

[chris77]

yes, it's one of the very rare 4:3 plasma screens with native VGA resolution, very nice for retro arcade and consoles.



cheers
Chris

[chris77]

first wiring attempts 



cheers
Chris

[chris77]

working on the LED interactive marquee, I love the animations... totally 192 LEDs !

Youtube Video
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cheers
Chris

[leapinlew]

lols! I am loving this thing. I know I'm not the only one who started off not knowing how this is going to go, but it's been a blast watching this build.

[pbj]

MFW your "stands" look better than anything I've ever built ever...

[chris77]

...getting closer

cabinet is assembled and the control panel is wired















cheers
Chris

[markc74]

This looks great. I'm very jealous of that screen 

[chris77]

first tests with pc and plasma



EDIT




cheers
Chris

[chris77]

time for the controllers.

we can choose between a wireless XBOX360 PC controller or an hacked wireless arcade stick with seimitsu/sanwa jostick and buttons



cheers
Chris

[chris77]

planning to install more shelves at the back... for all my original consoles, games and other stuff which should be hide




edit...







cheers
Chris

[DeeGor]

Sweet build Chris as always.

[chris77]

thanks DeeGor, long time no see 

cheers
Chris

[chris77]

shelves are painted


ordered some more toys for cab

aimtrack lightgun with force feedback


usb extender


36v power supply for the force feedback solenoid


the IR bar for the lightgun is hided behind the artwork



cheers
Chris

[Ian]

Great quality build! But this is not my cup of tea... it's too f'n ridiculous.

[yotsuya]

I hope you’re never planning to move, my friend.

[DeeGor]

I just picked up the same USB extender off eBay.  It just barely fits when mounting it on ¾" MDF.  I may end up routing the back of the board just to give it a little more to grab on to.

[chris77]

@ Ian
I know this build is not for everyone. I searched weeks over weeks for a nice retro TV rack/bench... I found nothing... this was the beginning of the lazy cab idea

@ yotsuya
yeah, moving to another place could be a problem  I think I have to order some of these bad boys :


@DeeGor
good to know 

cheers
Chris

[leapinlew]

Well, I think it's the bee's knees! Keep on Keep'n on!!

[chris77]

thanks leap! 


preparing for the artwork





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cheers
Chris

[chris77]

Aimtrak arrived today   






greetz
Chris

[chris77]

a very difficult position for routing a T-Molding slot... so I decided to glue the mold  I hope it will last long




edit

mounted the IR sensor bar for the aimtrak lightgun... at a 15° angle for better aiming




edit2

Rolling on chrome




cheers
Chris

[chris77]

playing with the bezel artwork, printed on 20 sheets of paper  ... I think it's time for a final print on laminated foil



greetz
Chris

[chris77]

testing the vinyl around corners...




and working on some details




cheers
Chris

[chris77]

wooohooooo, vinyl apllied




cheers
Chris

[chris77]

no updates lately... got the chance to get one of my favourite pinball machines - an nice Indiana Jones.



I hope I find the time to print the remaining artwork for the Lazy Cab next week.

cheers
Chris

[zinger]

Nice! Did the hat and plane come with it?

[chris77]

thx!
plane is on board, the hat not