Anyone ever do a Mini Cabinet?

[Hoagie_one]

I got this idea while searching Ebay for a monitor.  I saw that ebay has a catagory for monitors smaller than 14 inches so I went there to see just how small they go and saw 8 and 9 in SVGA monitors that can do 600x800 resolution.  I was just thinking that a crappy computer, a tiny monitor a bit of plexy, one joystick and a few buttons and I'd have the cutest little table top cabinet youd ever see.  I cant imagine these things would be toohard to build and they'd be sweet gifts for xmas.  You could put a tiny little lighted marquee and side art.  I'm thinkin about it.  What you guys think?

[RandyT]

I think it would be very cool.  I have in my possession a 5.5 inch RGB monitor that would be awesome for a small arcade machine.

My only concern is where do the guts go and the probability of having to manufacture custom controls to make everything fit.

The 9" VGA model would be pretty cool and I have been thinking about this one for a while, as I have about 50 of those monitors ranging from excellent to fair condition.  The scale would be just large enough for use with normal sticks and buttons, and maybe even have enough room inside for a mini-ITX system.

If you do this, please report back.  I'd love to see the results.

RandyT

[Hoagie_one]

i would probably go without a case.  just put a vent on teh cab itself and hook the guts wherever they could fit.

Tell me, you interested in selling any of those little vga's?

[GSXRMovistar]

I'm still in the middle of my main project a full stand up cabinet but I'm also toying with the idea of a desktop system.

I have a spare laptop lying around, nothing too powerful (PIII 1Ghz) and I'm thinking of gutting it and sticking it inside a small cabinet with some simple two player controls (four buttons each) whilst this would rule out the six buttons fighters it will be fine for playing the classics and neo-geo type games.

The LCD screen may not be as authenticate as a CRT it will cut down on a lot of weight making it very portable. The mains adaptor for the laptop powers everything (screen/pc/controls-via USB ipac) so that makes it simple to wire up.

I have some very simple mock up designs at the moment (always designing, never building!) but would love to finish this little idea.  Although seeing how this arcade building hobby is going at the moment I

[Hoagie_one]

if you ant to share your plans, id appreciate it and even give you dredit for it if i use em, lol

[GSXRMovistar]

Sharing plans? time to run off into the corner and hide!  

Like I said at the moment they aren't really plans just simple mockups which, I already know that the Happ controls wouldn't actually fit in them at present.

I'd also like to consider building materials other than MDF, to both cut down on size and weight.

As soon as I have any plans worth sharing (damm i said it again) I'll post them on my site and anyone to use/modify/copy/share/credit/start another legal row!  

[Hoagie_one]

aye, same here.  I'm in the idea stage right now.

[mj147]

Well I think mine might fit as a mini. It is my first and its for my  5 and 3 year old. It stands 4 feet high and has a generic cab look. I can post pics of the progress...as it is about 90% done. It has a lighted marquee and is a single player cp. Just received my t-molding( from t-molding.com) and had a marquee made from emdkay.
Ill try to post pics tonight.

mj147

[Hoagie_one]

cool