Marquee size question and lighting (picture inside!)

[sofakng]

Well, my cabinet is almost complete...  I've put on the first layer of paint today and so before I seal everything up I started thinking about the marquee...

Here is a picture that might better explain:


I've been following the Project Arcade book (LuSiD's design) and this is how my marquee "area" has turned out.

The top of the sides (the straight section) is slightly over 8 inches long.  However if you measure from my speaker shelf to the top of the cabinet it is only 6 1/2 inches long.  The total width of the marquee area is 26 inches.

So, looking at the picture, will a marquee fit in here OK?

I'm about the drill speaker holes tomorrow and then permanently drill the top of the arcade on.   Do I need to purchase anything to put a marquee on?  Does the design of my cabinet look OK to install a marquee?  (are the sizes OK?)

Any help or advice you can give would be greatly appriciated!

I've already screwed up the speaker shelf supports (they are too long and will interfere with my bezel) so I don't want to screw this marquee area up now either!

As for the lighting, what should I buy?  I was just going to get one florescent (sp) bulb and put it directly in the middle of the marquee.  Should I get a something different?  What size should I get?  How far back should I put it?  How will I power it?

Again, any help would be greatly appriciated!

[sofakng]

I'm about ready to order my Marquee but I'm still unsure what size to order.  The marquee will sit OVER (on top of) the topmost piece of the wood in the cabinet, right?  (so I measure from the very top of the marquee area...?)

How far down do I measure?  My speaker shelf is angled so do I measure to the very bottom of the front edge of the speaker panel?  ...or do I just measure to the top of the speaker shelf?

In case it matters, I'll be using the Happ's Marquee Retainer to hold it in case.  I'll also be using plexiglass to sandwhich the marquee.

[FractalWalk]

"The marquee will sit OVER (on top of) the topmost piece of the wood in the cabinet, right?  (so I measure from the very top of the marquee area...?)"

Yes.

My speaker shelf is angled so do I measure to the very bottom of the front edge of the speaker panel?

Yes.

In case it matters, I'll be using the Happ's Marquee Retainer to hold it in case.

It matters, because the retainer will block out part of the marquee.  Make sure that your marquee has a good 1/2" to 3/4" edge around your graphics to account for whatever will be blocked by the retainer.

[sofakng]

Thanks for the reply.

Seeing as how the height of my marquee area is 6 1/2" in should I get it slightly larger (in case my measurements are slightly off) and slightly longer?

I'm aware of the concerns about the edges.  I'll have the graphic printed in the middle of the marquee and leave plenty of room on the edges.

Also one more question, do you typically put one piece of plexiglass in front of the marquee?  What size plexiglass?  Do you put another piece behind the marquee? (I would think this might make the marquee area too thick...)

[DennisInMN]

Sofakng,
I, too, am following the book and have come up with the same measurements as you.  I just finished painting my cab this weekend and got my light and speakers installed a couple of days ago.  I ordered a marquee from mamemarquees.com and hopefully it will be here middle of next week.

I think people typically use two pieces of plexi to mount the marquee.  That way you can just use the two pieces to hold  the marquee flat and don't have to mess with any sort of adhesive.

[DennisInMN]

As for the light, I just an 18" under counter fluorescent fixture from Wal-Mart.  I placed it toward the top of the back angled section, as I had removed this piece to mount the speakers.  There is a diffusing piece of plastic over the bulb, so if it isn't bright enough I can remove it and make it brighter.  I think it will be bright enough though.

[FractalWalk]

Seeing as how the height of my marquee area is 6 1/2" in should I get it slightly larger (in case my measurements are slightly off) and slightly longer?

I would . . . and in fact I did.  The viewable portion of my marquee was about 6-1/2" and I ordered it 8-1/2" wide. I also added 2" to the length. This account for the retainer and any measuring errors I made.


Also one more question, do you typically put one piece of plexiglass in front of the marquee?  

I used one in front and one behind. I don't think thickness would matter but my plexi was 0.08" thick.  As far as the total marquee being too thick, I don't think that is a concern as the Happ's retainer will hide all the edges and the light should shine through just fine.

[sofakng]

DennisInMN:  Wow, not only are we doing the same thing but we're both at nearly the same part in the project.  I've just installed my speakers and marquee light.  The light is a bit too big so I had to mount it more towards the left side, but if its too bright on that side I'll just put a piece of wood or something to block the light so at least it looks even.

FractalWalk:  Well, the 6 1/2" is the total height of the marquee area.  All of that won't be visible because the marquee retainer will be covering part of that.  I've been the retainer takes up between 1/2" and 3/4" on the top and on the bottom.

So, the actual marquee can't be large than 6 1/2" (in my case) or else it would go PAST the top shelf (or past the speaker shelf).

DennisInMN:  What size did you end up ordering from mamemarquees?  (I'm ordering from them, just as I did my control panel overlay)  I'm assuming you ordered a 26x6.5?

[FractalWalk]

So, the actual marquee can't be large than 6 1/2" (in my case) or else it would go PAST the top shelf (or past the speaker shelf).

I purposely ordered mine ovesize and then trimmed it down to match my marquee area exactly.

[sofakng]

Just have to be careful that your words or logos don't stretch across all 8 inches or else they be chopped off...