Started a Full size(ish) Arcade Build a week or two ago starting with a mock-up of it in cardboard. (
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=121348.0 )
I built 5 bartop arcades from scratch already, mostly to pay for the big arcades pieces and practice. Still have two more in pieces I put aside so I could start a real arcade build. So far I have purchased enough wood for the shell, except for the back panel. I will be using plywood or something for that as I am trying to keep costs down and it wont be visible.
I first started by drawing out the rough shape I wanted on a sketch pad. Measured the height and width free hand. Had gotten some large cardboard boxes from Home Depot so I could mess those up and not the MDF.
I made all my marks on the cardboard and began a slicing and dicing it up and pieced it together as the Box-Cade!
Had some TVs and monitors laying around and chose the 20" LCD for this build. Will keep my width to around 2' or so. On a side note I fixed that 32" for next to nothing but decided to sell it for moneys.
Did some little revisions to the "Cardboard" side panels before tracing onto the MDF board. Then cut one side out to use as the master piece. You guys weren't kidding about the amount of dust produced by MDF.
Outlined and cut with a jig-saw just a little bit outside the line to be finished with a router. ( WAY more dust than I have ever seen using the flush trim bit )
I now have identical pieces!
That is it for now, must go to Home Depot for some plywood, and other crap I may need. After I dust myself off.
This cab is un-named and has no theme, all I knew was I wanted to build one. Am still trying to pick a good theme. Any ideas are welcomed.
Also haven't decided on what my control panel will look like, wont have a trackball or anything. ( although I would love to have the bowling game )