Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Building A Marquee  (Read 2546 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Majoraslayer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 24
  • Last login:February 27, 2024, 08:26:04 pm
Building A Marquee
« on: May 18, 2008, 03:11:07 am »
Work on my Defender cab is still going really smooth.  Today I painted it and fit the monitor inside of it, as well as mounted the coin mech.

The biggest eye sore at the moment is the gaping hole for the marquee.

This cab has a bulb holder for a backlight, but I didn't get the original marquee with it.  Once I have a good marquee designed, what would the best strategy be to build and install it?  I would like to make use of the backlight so that it glows.

leapinlew

  • Some questionable things going on in this room with cheetos
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7919
  • Last login:June 29, 2025, 08:37:44 pm
Re: Building A Marquee
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2008, 01:48:51 pm »
Design it and have someone print it using the proper backlit material. I've used backlit vinyl from Kinkos and after a year of use, the artwork is starting to crack. I have Mamemarquee's print my marquee's now and it has been holding up great. I sandwich the marquee between two pieces of plexi.

I would replace the bulb with a fluorescent to cut down on the heat and juice.

Mount it with some angle iron, or marquee holders from Happs.

www.mamemarquees.com

Freelancer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
  • Last login:May 19, 2008, 06:27:56 pm
Re: Building A Marquee
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2008, 06:01:55 pm »
I second the www.mamemarquees.com work, they printed my marquee up and it looks great.

As far as mounting goes, I purchased some L shaped aluminum from Home Depot, cut it to size, painted it black.

I then JB welded the bottom bracket and screwed the top bracket into my cabinet (the screws are on top the cabinet so you don't really see them).

Also I originally went with a fluorescent fixture, but apparently I got a cheap o one and it hummed a lot, drove me crazy.  I ripped it out and went with Nova Matrix LED Marquee lights (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=307)

I takes 2 of them to light up my marquee, I know it's not the cheapest solution but power wise I don't have to feel guilty about leaving it on 24/7.  Also it looks great, is silent and puts off zero heat.

« Last Edit: May 19, 2008, 06:03:40 pm by Freelancer »

shardian

  • Saint is the evil mastermind
  • Trade Count: (+23)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9218
  • Last login:August 21, 2015, 03:11:31 pm
  • Friends don't let friends build frankenpanels...
Re: Building A Marquee
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2008, 11:42:56 am »
I had a standard $2 2-way light socket with two CFL's in my Dynamo and it worked great. I will always got that route because it is easy and cheap.

Jdurg

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1127
  • Last login:October 04, 2020, 09:26:27 pm
  • A young guy feeling older than sin......
Re: Building A Marquee
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2008, 12:09:54 pm »
Not to mention that the CFLs last forever it seems.  When I bought my house last September I replaced ALL of the incandescents with fluorescent replacements and have been happy ever since.
Donkey Kong High Scores:
1): 49,500
2): 35,600
3): 30,100
4): 29,400
5): 28,200

shardian

  • Saint is the evil mastermind
  • Trade Count: (+23)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9218
  • Last login:August 21, 2015, 03:11:31 pm
  • Friends don't let friends build frankenpanels...
Re: Building A Marquee
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2008, 01:31:37 pm »
Not to mention that the CFLs last forever it seems.  When I bought my house last September I replaced ALL of the incandescents with fluorescent replacements and have been happy ever since.

Depends on where you put them. CFL's work HORRIBLY in ceiling fans. I can't even use them in the living room because they flicker. Several have blown in the bedroom fan. They also don't work well in enclosed fixtures. I had one blow after a year in a hallway fixture.

I put recessed lighting in my basement, and there was no way in hell I was gonna use the dimmable CFL's at $13 a pop.

leapinlew

  • Some questionable things going on in this room with cheetos
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7919
  • Last login:June 29, 2025, 08:37:44 pm
Re: Building A Marquee
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2008, 02:14:22 pm »
Socket CFL's! Doh! I didn't think about those. Thats a good idea. How very "green" of you.