Sooooo…. I never really talked about this on my blog yet but a while back I got the most crazy desire to build my own arcade machine. I spent a lot of time learning about it and drawing up plans then I went out and started buying up things. So far I’ve spent just a little over $500 and I’ve got to say, its coming along REALLY well.

I’ve decided that I am going to start making posts showing the progress of it for those that are into this kind of stuff like I am. I’ve already purchased all the wood, the controllers, buttons, tv and all the other techy stuff that it takes to build it. I had to buy something called an iPac to convert the signals of the buttons to signals the computer could recognize. Its going to be sweet! I’ve even got the computer that I am going to use to run the arcade software.

When its done I am going to have a fully functional arcade system with basically every single arcade game you can ever think of on it. Im going to have all this custom artwork done to it, fancy lights and everything, so basically it’ll become the ultimate dream for someone like me who is still a child at heart.

Last night we finished the cabinet. I am so blessed to have a brother (Alex) who has some MAD skills when its comes to carpentry. He seriously is the freaking man. My Dad who is also amazing helped a bit and definitely gave us some amazing ideas/suggestions.

Here’s what we did yesterday.

Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the very beginning so this is the earliest picture I got of the project. The base and the sides are already up:

Here’s Alex. We put in the TV to make sure everything was sized right and in the picture he was checking how he was going to mount the control panel.

Here’s Alex and my dad sanding and in-setting the screws to make them all flush with the cabinet.

Here’s my baby so far. Its all sanded and ready for some primer and then paint!

After its painted there will be a lot of details that I need to work on. I need to get a mesh covering that will cover the hole we made in the roof to act as a vent. I’ll cut holes in the back and embed a USB fan that will run when the computer is running to vent the whole box to prevent it from overheating. I am also going to buy a coin door (that will actually function to give you credits) to mount on it, oh man! I’ve got tons of plans.

I’ll just keep posting pictures and updates as things progress. I’m getting really excited though because its all coming together so nicely, this really is going to be one of the coolest things ever when it is completed.

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