My first Cabinet Build - Imperial Arcade - lots of pics

[Ford Fairlane]

Hi Everyone,

Rob from Australia here and i just want to share my first build with you guys. Its knievel inspired with an imperial twist. Hope you enjoy!! All comments and feedback welcome!!




Side profile. Using 18mm mdf. The holes in the sides are 12 inches diametre. They look out of alignment cause i was sitting on a step but am very happy how it turned out. The holes are for neon speaker rings...



View from the back. You can see my dodgy set up of saw horse and such to try and get the level at which my 68cm tv will fit in. Im keeping the tv cased because im a newb and dont want to electrocute myself



I wanted to post this photo of the tmold groove cause its the first time i have used a router and im very proud of the result. If i can do it, anyone can ...



This is my improvised circle jig. Basically took the base plate of the router screwed a 6mm piece of mdf onto the base and used a jigsaw to cut out the basic shape. Used the router bit to drill now into my jig. Then measured from the very edge of the hole i just made and measured 6 inches down to the bottom of the jig. Put a screw into the bottom hole and screw the jig into the side wall of the cabinet. Started about 6 mm deep and worked it around anti clockwise. 2 more passes and it was a perfect circle.



Coming together a treat.. Oh by the way, this was made from 2 1800 X 900 sheets of mdf. ( icant fit bigger pieces into my car and havent got a trailer. To make it taller will put another base on it.

Base of the unit and tv base have a horizontal brace through the middle. Quite stable but will reinforce as i go.

Another couple of photos which shows the back cover on and the inside where i have the tv base angled for good viewing.

Sweet






Basically angled the marquee box slightly and also found a bit of smoked glass around the back and mounted that. The white angle (will paint it black later of course), sits nicely on the cross piece. The blue t mold is just there for effect




Put the black vinyl on and the blue molding.







Imperial Arcade is ready to get a workout..

Sorry about the photos below because im not much of a photographer. Any questions? more than happy to answer them!







Left to do

1. I only printed on normal sticker vinyl (marquee) just to get a feel for it. Will get it printed professionally on translucent vinyl soon.

2. May redo the control panel, maybe with some artwork, maybe make it a little smaller, maybe use stainless steel with etched artwork (like imperial logo).

3.Still need to put a fan/s for cooling

4. Aluminium angle under the glass to finish it off

Thanks guys, hope that the post wasnt too long and boring!!!

[javeryh]

Looks nice!  That vinyl must have been tough to put on.   

[ivwshane]

Looking good! I like the shape a lot!

[Thebeast]

You have made a very nice arcade sir. Congratulations.

[Ford Fairlane]

Thanks for the comments guys!!

I was really worried about the vinyl but i found it very simple to put on. The trick is to make sure you use a glue that doesnt set instantly. start at one end and "roll" the vinyl on. It helps if you have a second person who can smooth at the air bubbles and reposition as required.

[Ford Fairlane]

Hi Guys, just wondering if someone can help me... I've been playing my mame cabinet and i love it except...

I'm sick of having to open the front of the cabinet to press the on switch of the computer. What i would love is to rig up a joystick button on the outside of the cabinet that i can press that will turn my computer on. Its an old p4 glx260.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[DaOld Man]

Thats a great looking cab..
I like it!

Check out this thread for answers to your power button question.
(There is a link in there to my website showing how I did it.)

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77598.0

[severdhed]

very nice cabinet...good job

[retrofuture]

Nice cab Ford. Well done for lifting 2 1800 X 900 sheets of mdf, my 2400 sheets are near impossible to lift on my own. It's not the weight so much as getting purchase on the things.

Where in Australia do you buy your arcade supplies? I've bought stuff from down-under before now as you seem better serviced than the UK.

[Ford Fairlane]

Nice cab Ford. Well done for lifting 2 1800 X 900 sheets of mdf, my 2400 sheets are near impossible to lift on my own. It's not the weight so much as getting purchase on the things.

Where in Australia do you buy your arcade supplies? I've bought stuff from down-under before now as you seem better serviced than the UK.

Thanks!! and yeah 1800 x 900 were a pain but i was lucky that i got them cut down to 1800 x 900 for free 
As to supplies, we have a couple here in australia but not sure if they ship internationally. One is http://www.in2amusements.com.au/ and the other i get stuff from is www.ozstick.com.au.

The only bad thing about creating more cabs here downunder is the lack of T-mold... ozstick once carried the light blue as seen on my cab but he cant get anymore due to supplier insisting on large orders only.. I have tried the tmold from t-mold.com but the spine is thinner and the material a lot more rigid. Not much stuff here in oz so i need to find overseas suppliers myself. Im thinking of redoing my control panel and adding a blue led trackball to act as mouse..

I guess im not finished yet 

[jimto]

Very nice!

 

[cboy]

what kind of  Vinyl did you use? do you have a link?

[Ford Fairlane]

what kind of  Vinyl did you use? do you have a link?

Well here in oz we have a chain of craft shops called spotlight and thats where i got it from http://www.spotlight.com.au . Unfortunately it doesnt look like they ship o/s. Cost $14.95 per lineal metre (1.37m wide). Because my wife is a "VIP" member it only cost me $9.95 per metre. It is kind of thick bit it took the tight corners easily. Fantastic creases in it makes it look really old school!!I have samples left over if anyone wants to see it up close. Not sure how i can send more if you like it though, postage may be the killer?

[Ford Fairlane]

Hi a new question for you guys. When a game asks for you to enter "OK" or left and right on the joystick, the left right option doesnt work. I have to pull out the keyboard and use that which is not ideal. Any tips as i am using EMU Mame?

Thanks guys!

[Chicken McNobody]

Is the joystick wireed to the left and right arrow keys?  If not, that probably is the problem.  Try using the arrow keys on the keyboard and see if that works as well.

Oh, and by the way, love the design!  Simple yet effective, and as a Star Wars geek, it is very cool indeed.

Tall, dark, menacing, and more machine than human.  Just like Lord Vader himself. . .