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My first bartop arcade build


ragdoll23

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Hey all so just decided I will post up some pics of my bartop arcade that I'm currently building. This is my first real cabinet so I wasn't expecting it to be amazing but I'm happy with how it has gone so far. So just to clarify I really have never had any experience with building of this sort before hand, granted I've done a bit of wood work in my life but nothing major. Majority of the items I have been able to source for either quite cheap or completely free. The monitor, pc, speakers, neons, xbox controllers, were given for free as they were no longer needed. So far the build has cost me roughly $70 if that and with finishing it off I'm hoping to end it around the $100-150 mark. The vinyl for the control panel was designed by myself and as my father works as a screen printer he was able to print it out for no charge, so I'm quite glad for that :)

So yeah just seeing what people think of it so far and if they would be able to give me any advice on what I might have done wrong or what I could have done to better the build, so I can use that information on my next build.

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$150??? Wow. I've priced mine and hit close to five grand. *sighs*

You have a unique build. You have gone away from classic looks. The panel itself almost feels like a Viewlix with big open spaces. The screen being housed without a Marquee is definitely a little different for a Bartop. Seems a little square for me but this is your build so it's what you like the look of.

Actually for $150 I think you did bloody well. :) Nice one bro.

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To be honest, most of this was just winged, there were definitely plans and sketches involved but not everything comes out how you always plan.

$150 is just a estimate, it could end up being waaaaay more but we will see how I go haha. I still need to get the rest of the buttons, another joystick, I-pac, panel to cover the front, volume control, and a few other little things.

I actually had to look up what a viewlix was as I had no idea of that type haha, now that you mention it, it does have that slight look.

The only real reason I decided not to have a Marquee is because all of the panels have been cut with a hand saw, no power tools (apart front the holes) so I decided to save time (and effort) buy not including it. Kinda wished I didn't as I reckon it would have looked better, but oh well, I'll make sure to have one in the next build.

Thanks very much for the comments man, will inspire me to keep going and build better for my next one :)

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Well if you want a nice simple classic build http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/drawweecade.htm that is definitely one. A hand saw does make things a little more time consuming. :)

Basically the main thing is that you had fun doing it.

*chuckles* And yeah not many people know what a Viewlix cab is. There is actually a couple of Viewlix builds on this forum that are pretty sweet.

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Well I might look into doing that then as that was the reason I built the bartop, purely because I don't believe I would have the space for something like a full sized cabinet. I'll have a look up on some plans for them and work out what I'll do. Thanks for the idea man :)

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Check in this forum. Dudes are build them and they are so helpful ... actually I've been doing a bit of helping myself as my Dad owned a sawmill on his 1200 acre property os I have a lot of experience with wood and tools since I was old enough to hold a hammer. :)

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I'll have a good look around and get some ideas when I start the build as I probably wont be able to get around to it for a few months, but defiantly will when it comes time to it. Wow that's pretty cool, wish I had that kind of experience as a kid. Best I had was wood work in high school, and that didn't go to far haha.

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