The aim of this Blog is to chart my progress as I attempt to build a fully functioning, retro Arcade cabinet. When its finished, it will look just like this...
...honest.
Everyone I have told about this project so far have laughed - a LOT... but I think I am starting to win people round with my shear optimism. You see, I have never really been into the whole DIY thing, a besides putting together some odd MFI wardrobes etc (many of which are still standing) I have never really been compelled to saw two pieces of wood and nail them together.
After a chance visit to a gaming forum recently though, I read a post by someone who had built an Arcade Cabinet and posted his glory on YouTube. 2 minutes and 13 seconds later, I had a 'road-to-domestos' moment and knew I HAD to do this!
I was brought up on holidays at the English sea-side and as the old folks did the whole boring sitting on the beach thing, I was drawn to the flashing lights and jingly music of the amusement arcades on the other side of the road. To stop my nagging, my mum would pack me off with a bag of 10p's and I'd spend the day in the arcades.
(sorry, this is dragging on a bit now!)
Annnnnyway, I LOVED the arcades. I loved the sound, I loved the sights and if I was blessed with a fully functioning nose, I'm sure I'd love the smell (or maybe piss-stenched arcades off the coast of Kent dont smell so good? I wouldnt know!).I loved Track & Field, Karate Champ, Kung-Fu Master, Tekhan World Cup, Main Event, King of Boxer and all the rest - I grew up and still loved the arcades, but now it was all changing, the moving cabs of Power Drift and Afterburner turning simple games to 5-minute mini fairground rides. Still the games kept coming... Virtua Fighter, Daytona, Hat-Trick Hero and Virtua Cop.
I took my last family holiday to some random caravan park in the South of England in 1991 and though the odd weekend trip to Southend with my friends kept my Arcade fingers twitching, I rarely got the chance to have those great experiences again.
Until now! Ok, enough waffle, lets get down to brass tacks.
A trip round the interweb showed that so many had gone before me - mostly amateur builders with a dream. Surely I could do this? Ebay next and I found an American guy called Craig selling what appeared to be a very comprehensive guide to getting to work and building one of these things.
£5.00 later and I was on my way - Craig sent me the guide and his assurance that as I was a man, it was in our DNA too build things god-damn it!
To get more of a background, I've also ordered what is considered the 'Bible' of arcade-cab building called (not suprisingly) "Build Your Own Arcade Machine". All of that seems to be enough documentation to make a start.
Whilst I wait for that book to arrive (should be tomorrow), I have been busy planning and creating my shopping list from Craigs guide.
As I mentioned, I have no DIY experience whatsoever, so hence I have no tools! So top of the shopping list is a drill, jigsaw, sander, workbenches and safety gear (yea, I'm a wuss). To my surprise, none of the tools are particularly pricey and trips are planned for tomorrow to Argos, B&Q and Homebase.I'm going to be creating the cabinet from think MDF with timber supports and the rest of it will be adlibbed as we go along.... bit of tape here, piece of metal there... Ha! No problems!
Ok, so thats it - Day 1 (actually Day 0 technically). You now know what I'm doing - the authorities have been notified, my will has been written and my next of kin notified. The street has been cleared, the shops have their shutters down and its SHOW TIME!
(if I havent bored you too much, please check back as this mess unfolds - if only to learn how it SHOULDN'T be done!)
8 comments:
Good luck Paul but remember,Rome wasn't built in a day.
With your talent i'm sure you'll succeed though.
oh good bro...just remember your little sis when you make a million!! can you make chucky egg?!?
you can only learn by your mistakes just don't involve A & E.
I thought Met. were good but Foooooo.......perhaps I AM getting old.
BBC Screwed up by cutting Metallica and Beastie Boys. Foos were good and YES you are getting old!
Your Dad's right Paul, Rome wasn't built in a day...but then you weren't on the job!!!
Go on, rev those power tools up and make some noise!!!
Seriously though - and I can't emphasise this enough - do wear some safety goggles!!!
Cheers Welly!
"Ahhhh deez Gogglezzz... zay do nuthinnnnng"
Are you doing this for work??You seem to have a lot of time on your hands!
No I'm not you cheeky monkey!
I'm doing it in the evenings and weekends.
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