Bartop Cab Build Log - From Scratch - **FINISHED**

[i64X]

Looks great! I'm looking to do a similar build (19" bartop) in the near future, so I appreciate all of the pictures and documentation.

Is there any chance that you could weigh the final product so I can get a general idea of how heavy these things are?

Steve

I'll try to remember to weigh this when I get home tonight, if I don't get home too late. Good luck with your build. Hint of advice - don't rush anything. It'll only end up costing you even more time and effort later. Planning is the key for sure. There are some things with this that I wish I would have done differently, but that comes with the territory when there's no instruction manual. Live and learn.

[rCadeGaming]

Yeah, just keep in mind there's lots of great games in there that you haven't heard of yet, sprinkled among the useless stuff.  It's possible that you haven't yet found what will one day be your favorite game!

Maybe just strip it to the basics for now, but keep a copy of your full rom set so you can go back through it later when you get time.

[GnobarEl]

Nice project.

Can you share your plans?

Thanks!

[i64X]

Yeah, just keep in mind there's lots of great games in there that you haven't heard of yet, sprinkled among the useless stuff.  It's possible that you haven't yet found what will one day be your favorite game!

Maybe just strip it to the basics for now, but keep a copy of your full rom set so you can go back through it later when you get time.

Oh for sure. I'll likely rip out the ones I know I want, but then start going through them quickly to see if there's any diamonds in the rough. One example of exactly what you're talking about is Gigawing (and Gigawing 2). I hadn't heard of those games before getting my full-sized cab, but they were both in the Favorites list from my friend that owned that cab before me. I'm not really a huge fan of SHMUPS, but both of those games are awesome. I would never have seen them otherwise.

[i64X]

Nice project.

Can you share your plans?

Thanks!

Honestly there were no plans. I worked loosely off of plans provided in Unstupid's thread for the Neo Geo bar top for the rough shape of the side of the cab (I love that Neo Geo shape), but other than that it was pretty much trial and error, luck, and a little guesswork.

[kuchta]

I'll try to remember to weigh this when I get home tonight, if I don't get home too late.

That would be great. Thanks a lot.

Good luck with your build. Hint of advice - don't rush anything. It'll only end up costing you even more time and effort later. Planning is the key for sure. There are some things with this that I wish I would have done differently, but that comes with the territory when there's no instruction manual. Live and learn.

Over the years I've planned so many different variations arcade cabinets that I wanted to build in my head; I'm glad that I'm finally going to actually be getting my hands dirty. Hopefully, I'll be pretty prepared for my build!

[i64X]

Total weight is about 85 lbs. Not really super light, but a LOT lighter than a full-sized cab. haha

I don't need to borrow a dolly and have someone help me move this one. 

[kuchta]

Total weight is about 85 lbs. Not really super light, but a LOT lighter than a full-sized cab. haha

I don't need to borrow a dolly and have someone help me move this one. 

Haha, that's true. Thanks for taking the time to check!

[Vebbo]

I got inspired :-)    Great work.

[i64X]

I got inspired :-)    Great work.

Cheers