2/3 Scale Ms.Pac style Cab for Kids - OH! SNAP!!

[JoyMonkey]

I built a 75% scale pacman about a year and a half ago, so i wouldn't mind building a ms. pac / galaga version.

Are you going to sell kits?

Any more progress pics?

I'm seriously considering making a bunch of these once I'm 100% happy with the overall assembly design. I have one kit in the works for Chad that's pretty much good to go as it is, but I'd like to figure out the best way of getting a monitor in there. If all goes well, I'd like to make a bunch of different mini cabs and I have a few other cab designs in the works.

Hopefully I'll be doing a little more work on it tomorrow (assembling it, adding t-molding and figuring out the monitor).

[JamieMcShan]

The biggest problem that I have run into building my mini PacMan as well as my full sized Galaga was the custom work that I had to do to figure out how to mount the monitor. If you aren't using a standard Arcade monitor with mounts on it, it's going to be a trial and fit situation each build... unless you use the same vga monitor each time... but then what happens if they stop making that monitor or change the design on you.

Jamie

[JoyMonkey]

Yeah, I think I might be better off adding 1 1/4" inches to the overall width to give me a little more play when trying to fit a monitor in there (the internal width is 15 3/4" right now, I think 17" would give less headaches). It'll make the overall proportions a little off, but I don't think it'll be too noticeable.

[ChadTower]

Or you could use a nontraditional mounting method.

[JoyMonkey]

Or you could use a nontraditional mounting method.

Like duct tape? 

[JamieMcShan]

Nothing wrong with Duct Tape!!!! 

But what I like even better is Liquid Nails... That's what I used. I left the monitor in its housing and just liquid nailed boards to the sides. Then I put runners for it to slide down into.  Easy in and easy out.  My Mini Pac is 15 3/4 inside dimensions and this is a 17 Dell... it was tight, but it fit centered.  I did this same thing on my full sized Galaga with a freak'n heavy 21 inch.



Jamie

[Level42]

I built a 75% scale pacman about a year and a half ago, so i wouldn't mind building a ms. pac / galaga version.

Are you going to sell kits?

Any more progress pics?

I'm seriously considering making a bunch of these once I'm 100% happy with the overall assembly design. I have one kit in the works for Chad that's pretty much good to go as it is, but I'd like to figure out the best way of getting a monitor in there. If all goes well, I'd like to make a bunch of different mini cabs and I have a few other cab designs in the works.

Hopefully I'll be doing a little more work on it tomorrow (assembling it, adding t-molding and figuring out the monitor).

If you will be doing sets, I'm seriously interested in one.........but shipping to Europe might be expensive and risky :S

[ChadTower]

That solution isn't far off from what I was thinking... it shouldn't be hard to put in some basic rails and then make a monitor housing for any given monitor.  Doesn't have to be fancy, just sturdy, and you don't have to decase the monitor.  Most CRTs last so damn long I can't see doing it more than maybe twice for the life of the cab.

[JoyMonkey]

Quick update;
I made a few small adjustments to the side panels, glued the recesses and clamped them together. I also cut the monitor acrylic and a control panel.
Somehow my measurements for the front of the control panel were off by about one full inch 
I was going to add some angled aluminum as extra re-enforcement on the inside, but forgot to buy screws 

[ChadTower]

Nice... coming along nicely.

[JoyMonkey]

I removed the clamps earlier this-morning and the thing is rock solid now. The Titebond glue I used worked wonders! I don't even think I need to add re-enforcement to the inside, but I think I'll put in a little anyway just to be on the safe side.

I double-checked my control panel measurements and everything seems to be right. I think it just needs a little more bending to fit right.

[ChadTower]

Sweet.  Almost ready for mass production and Walmart shelves.

[JoyMonkey]

I picked up some 'cam and post' kits at Rockler, so when I do make another kit it can be slapped together using glue and a screwdriver without a need for any clamps or extra re-enforcements.

[ChadTower]

I have no idea what that is and Google isn't helping.

[JoyMonkey]

'Cam and post' or 'cam and dowel' is the usual assembly method for mass produced self-assembly furniture kits, I'm sure you've seen them plenty of times in furniture kits from Ikea, Walmart, Target etc.
Strangely enough, it is really hard to find them online.

[ChadTower]

Oh, yeah, I've seen those.  I have some higher end stuff that use those in places.

[clanggedin]

If shipping didn't cost an arm and a leg I would be interested in buying kit too.

[JoyMonkey]

I've been crazy at work and haven't had time to make any more progress on this. I have revised the plans slightly, making the interior width 16 1/2" inches, so it'll be a little easier to get a 17" monitor in there.