Beer fridge arcade

[Skunkerama]

Hi there,
I'd like to thank you guys in the arcade hobby for the wealth of information that you have posted on the web.

I have created a hybrid arcade machine that I guess a lot of you purists would laugh at but it suits my needs fine.

Using dimensions that I found online I have made a defender style cab from 1/2 inch chipboard (will use 3/4 for next one although 1/2 seems strong enough but it needed bracing).
I  managed to blag a very small desktop pc (800mhz 512mb ram) and a 19" CRT monitor from work. I realise that pc monitors don't give the same look but it's near enough for me. The controls were wired up to a Dell keyboard and this has given me 2 joysticks and 16 buttons which work great after a fair bit of soldering.

The PC and monitor take up the top of the cab with mini speakers and subwoofer. Keyboard slides out underneath the controls so that I can also access the internet when it's all finished.

This leaves a nice big hole in the bottom for one of those husky beer fridges, which will be quite handy for long gaming sessions.


So far I have just finished painting everything satin black. Next up is the glass for the screen cover and also a marquee.

Could someone let me know if it is possible to buy t-strip in the UK? And if so from where? Also I'm looking for a Marquee, anyone know if they are manufactured to size?

Cheers

[buks]

skunkerama,

t-molding/t-strip is hard to find in the uk. You can pick it up 2nd hand especially off e-bay but quality depends on each batch I suppose. I guess the best supplier would be www.t-molding.com in the US.

As for marquees try http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/marqueeshop.htm.

I haven't used either myself but if you do go for it post the results here (especially the marqee).

good luck.

Buks

PS Pics of your cab please !!!!!

[JoeJoe97]

I was very close to doing a similar thign on my cabinet.  I ended up not doing it, but I am somewhat glad I didn't.  My advice to you is make sure the back of the fridge is outside of the cabinet or that you have good air flow over the coils out of the cabinet.

[AtomSmasher]

[electricd]

Kindof a neat idea actually.  Although as big as my cab is, there is no room for beer

[TOK]

Skunk, you have to post pics of this! My buddy is always talking about doing exactly what you said to my cabinet. I don't have room, but the idea is just so damn funny!

[Skunkerama]

Sorry about the delay.
All I need to do now is make a better Marquee, and add some side art.
And finaly fit a fridge. Fridge will fit in the bottom and be hidden behind a fake front.




Just needs a bit more trim for the top and bottom of the Marquee








large space at the bottom for the Fridge, I need to drill out a stack of ventilation holes in the back.





here is the pull out drawer that has the keyboard in it.



The PC fits behind the marquee, you can see the speakers and light also.

[tonyarcade]

Ingenious!

Never even considered sticking the computer up in the marquee area...Hmm...

[DeLong20]

As in the words of the Guinness guys....BRILLIANT!!!!

[toasty]

dude, that is a stroke of friggin' genius! 

Rather than installing a fridge, why not just stick a kegerator for a pony keg down there, and fashion a tap out of a flight stick?  That way, you wouldn't even need to reach down to get a beer!

 

[Purple Lemon]

Innovative idea, but I would have made it a Tapper cabinet rather than Defender.   

[AMDman13]

Sweet! A friend of mine and I were joking about trying to do this when we were mounting my monitor!! Goes to show that we all think alike.. Beer, Women, Arcade games. Not necessarily in that order

[Crafty]

Interesting concept..

excellent use of space behind the marquee for the computer..

How are you going to get people to move away from the controls so you can get a beer???

[missioncontrol]

what about a coin door and coin mechs?

[MYX]

Wow a true Barcade
Beercade
this cabs for you
MAMEWhoaimreallydrunk

As to the computer placement, that is a great idea. Just be careful. If you get the speakers too close to the hard drive...well. At least you will still have beer.

[AMDman13]

what about a coin door and coin mechs?

Uhhh.. He's putting a keg of beer in his cab.. I don't know about you, but I think this is a small sacrifice to make!!!

Unless of coarse you could use the coin door to charge people for beer! Now that would be sweet!!

[DigDreams]

Innovative idea, but I would have made it a Tapper cabinet rather than Defender.   

Funny - I was playing with the idea of building a tapper cab out of a wooden keg.  You would put the monitor in the flat end, and it would allow you to "roll the barrel" to rotate the monitor.

I dropped the idea when I couldn't find a keg of adequate size for a reasonable price - I would ave had to have one made custom (a guy on eBay can do it, but it is expensive).

- DigDreams

[lettuce]

theres a seller on ebay form the UK that sells T-moulding

[Lilwolf]

very very cool.  And yes, great idea about putting the computer up top. 

I second the be weary about ventilation.  I would try and seperat the top / bottom completely if you can.  You don't want humid air going up top... and refridgerators produce more heat then what they can cool...  So make sure your not heating up your computer.

But last... I would try and look around to see if you can buy one of those small pop vending machings and add beer to it... so pushing a button and a beer drops out.  That or a keg itself.  But would be much cooler then a door that swings open (even though that might be cheaper and more practical since you can have other items in there also)

but having a button that you push and a cold beer pops out with make you a god among geeks