Announcing the 'Marvel Arcade' Bar-Top Cabinet Build!

[thefryinallofus]

Announcing the 'Marvel Arcade' Bar-Top Cabinet Build!  I'm building a bartop style arcade machine, with a focus on the marvel and superhero fighters and scrollers from the 90's.  I have an 8-bit blog that I built for the project (I'm a web designer), which can be found here: http://marvelarcade.tumblr.com.  I will post the progress here as well for your feedback.

I decided to focus on the cabinet I want versus creating a cabinet that is authentic.  I wanted to design a cabinet that looks modern but also fits perfectly with the 90's X-Men games.  I chose to focus on the comic book style in the classic marvel red.  It will have the white buttons (pictured on the left mockup) with the black sticks / player-coin buttons on the front.  I wanted it to be minimalist, not having a million buttons, so I chose the streetfighter button layout, and chose not to add player buttons above, but to combine them with the coin buttons on front. 

At the time of my announcing it here, all the woodwork is done and I'm getting ready for primer and paint.  But scroll down to stay up on the progress. 

[thefryinallofus]

Check out the blog http://marvelarcade.tumblr.com/ if you want to see the progress earlier than this. This shows the access ports on the back and side (it's filled with a plastic door that can be opened for easy access). 

[thefryinallofus]

My Dad (he is an amazing woodworker... building a wood speedboat in the shop next to this) helping me with some of the trickier woodwork. 

[thefryinallofus]

Sticks and buttons.  I chose to go with convex buttons... I remember the concave ones from the 90's cabinets... and remember how much they freaking hurt your fingers.  I also read that the convex were kind of an improvement or evolution.  I don't really have any desire to relive the pain in my knuckles, so I chose these guys.  Again, I am balancing the cab I WANT and authenticity / nostalgia.   Joysticks and HAPP.  Bought everything from Paradise Arcade, very friendly company. 

[thefryinallofus]

The sides, bottom, top, and 3 front pieces are all assembled. Monitor bezel is cut.  It will have a piece of plexiglass covering the whole bezel, and one on the control panel as well.  I'm going to attempt to tint the glass over the bezel, so it will be dark and look beautifully uniform.

[thefryinallofus]

So the current progress (for which I have not yet taken pictures) is that the pieces around the marquee box are installed. The plexiglass is cut.  I am currently using wood filler to fill the counter sunk screws, and sanding... lots of sanding - which gets me filthy, which is why I haven't been so quick to snap pictures. We've also cut the slot for the t-molding.  I'll take some photos of the progress and post them soon.

We are getting really close to starting painting.

[Monkeyvoodoo]

This is looking pretty good. Can't wait to see the final product.


Sent from where ever I happen to be.

[darkSSide]

This is going to be nice! But your missing Marvel's friendly neighborhood icon  not that I'm a big fan of him. My favorite is and always will be Wolverine but you have him on twice.

[yotsuya]

I commend you for A) calling it the Marvel Arcade and not the Marvelcade and B) Not using the same stock Marvel figures that seem to be floating around recently. Looks good so far! 

[edekoning]

That magneto image looks really good in red/black. Almost used that same image on my own cab