Marvel Bartop Arcade First Time Build

[Chisharpe]

Wanted an arcade since I was a kid and now I'm turning 30 I thought it was about time I got one sorted out for myself.

I stole the plans off lifehacker and used them at work to get the wood cut into the shapes I needed. I then cut the side panels out with the template provided on my jigsaw. The only thing I would have done differently was cut the two side panels together instead of separately.

I then put it all together and test fitted the monitor and the computer parts





After that I cut the control panel out



And test fitted the buttons




I then wired my buttons into the board and hooked it up to the pc for testing




Next was cutting and fitting the plexiglass which I had cut to sis I just had to drill the holes for the control panel


I then made the marque which was pretty simple as I used a poster



I then started on the artwork. I did want to use vynil but I couldn't work out how to use photoshop and being on a budget couldn't pay anyone to make the art and the generic ones that allot of the suppliers use I didn't really like if I'm honest. So I used posters instead 😂







I was going to use artwork on the inside of the cab but now it was all together I didn't really want to take it apart so I ended up buying a tester pot at work and using that to do black on the insides. Once that was done it was time to put the artwork on the sides again a poster. I'm pretty happy with how it came out I've also lacquered the sides for protection.







And that's how far I am.

I still have to fit the chrome trim I've got comming it's a double sided take affair as I don't have a router for t moulding unfortunately but I've seen a few guys use it and it looks pretty good. Also some feet and fix the screen in place and finish off the software sides of things which will take some time.

The computer I used was a
Q6600 intel @3.4
4GB DDR2
750gb hd
GTX 460 768mb
19" generic monitor.

It was taken from random builds I had laying about.

So far it's cost me £92

Hope you like it?

Chi.

[plazma]

What size is the monitor?

[Malenko]

What size is the monitor?

Diagonal    19"; 48cm
Aspect ratio    4 : 3
Panel    TN
Native resolution    1280 x 1024 ( 1.3 megapixel)
Brightness    300 cd/m² typical
Contrast    700 : 1 typical
Response time    5 ms
Viewing zone    horizontal/vertical: 150°/ 135°; right/left: 75°/ 75°; up/down: 70°/ 65°
Display colour    16.2 million
Display area h x w    301 x 376.32 mm; " x "
Viewing zone CR>5    horizontal/vertical: 160°/ 155°; right/left: 80°/ 80°; up/down: 80°/ 75°
Pixel pitch h x v    0.294 x 0.294 mm
Horizontal sync    30 - 80 KHz
Vertical sync    56 - 75 Hz
Bandwidth    135 MHz

[Mike A]

I like the comic bookeyness of it.

[Wyo]

You did a great job on this. I love how it looks with the comic book collage.

[mpwalters]

As a newbie myself, I appreciated how the art was handled. Within the possibilities of what the builder was able to achieve, but different, colorful, and consistent.

[yotsuya]

Welcome aboard, Chisharpe. Don't be a scurvy dog or we'll make you walk the plank.

[hahnchen]

Nice work. I love the comic book theme!

[firedance]

Nice bartop 

guess the chrome trim u mentioned is normally used for car bodywork ?

if so you may find it wont stick that well to the mdf edges, i have recently done the  same, had to use contact adhesive instead- http://www.everbuild.co.uk/adhesives/contact/All-Purpose-Contact-Adhesive

[Titchgamer]

Nice build mate
I love the Comic Book collage thing you got going on.
How did you stick the posters out of interest?

[Chisharpe]

Bit more done. Edge trim sorted bezel sorted and also starched the hd at the back and I've fully configured the hyperspin system.







Next up is to get a coin button and to fit the back panel and cut out the slots for the power cables and add a piano hinge.

Chi

[Chisharpe]

Nice bartop 

guess the chrome trim u mentioned is normally used for car bodywork ?

if so you may find it wont stick that well to the mdf edges, i have recently done the  same, had to use contact adhesive instead- http://www.everbuild.co.uk/adhesives/contact/All-Purpose-Contact-Adhesive

Yep had this problem. I used a glue gun 😂 Held well so far but thanks for the tip.

[firedance]

No Problem

[smass]

What did you use to adhere the posters to the mdf?  I am considering a similar approach on a budget bartop I am building for my brother. 

Also, have you considered clear coating over the posters with a varnish?  Sort of like decoupage?  I just wonder if the poster material will tear easily

[Malenko]

Id swap the middle 2 buttons so its red vs blue, it just looks weird the way you have them.

[Chisharpe]

What did you use to adhere the posters to the mdf?  I am considering a similar approach on a budget bartop I am building for my brother. 

Also, have you considered clear coating over the posters with a varnish?  Sort of like decoupage?  I just wonder if the poster material will tear easily

Mod podge you can get it in any craft shop or eBay. You can coat over the top and even sand it. It's obviously never going to be as tough as normal at work but it was cheap. Cost me £13 with shipping plus mod podge £4 so £17 all in all.

For a budget it perfect but if I had the ££ I would get the posters scanned and put on vinyl but I did this as a budget build to get it past the wife 

[reptileink]

Gotta love anything comic book related. I do have to say that it's a bit busy, but get what you are going for. Looks like a fun build, and I am sure you'll enjoy many hours on it! Welcome to the boards!