Tiny project and tiny artwork request

shirkle

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I'm using my 7" LCD monitor to make a tiny version of a Ms Pacman.

I'm building a cabinet for it out of 1/2" MDF to exactly match an original Ms Pac, but on a much smaller scale. I was going to scale it all to the size of the monitor (7:19), but I decided to make it a tiny bit smaller and used 6.5:19 instead. So, it's 34.2% of the original's size.

I'm almost done constructing the little cabinet and now I need some artwork for it. Can anyone here help me out? I'm looking to purchase small versions of the sideart, CPO, and marquee. I'm tempted to try some tiny stencils, but the black parts would be awfully small.

Anyway, if you think you can help out, please PM me. If you have suggestions, post away!

I'll keep this thread alive by posting my progress as I make the little cabinet it.

To start off, here's a terrible picture (phone!) of the drawing on MDF:
photo.jpg
 
I was planning on doing the same thing with one of my extra lcds. I was thinking about tetris for mine. Try mamemarquees.com ,they can probably print that up for you.
 
A little progress today: routed the sides and cut some additional pieces. Apparently my 1/2" MDF is slightly bigger than my 1/2" router bit. I'm guessing the mdf is off by about 1/64 or maybe 1/32. Either way, it's enough to not fit. So, I have to file the grooves a bit and then see if they fit better.

The whole project is supposed to just slide together...add a little woodglue and clamp...and it's done.

Pictures:
photo2.jpg


photo3.jpg


Bad pictures again...but you get the idea. a whole 23" tall!
 
I have a mini joystick that's about an inch tall. It's actually a "red-ball" joystick....I stole it off of a handheld game.

I'm not sure what other solutions there are. I really want the entire thing to be exactly to scale, so that meant small joystick and buttons. The only thing not to scale is the actual wood used to build it; it should be 1/4" thickness, but I went with 1/2" so that it was a little more sturdy and I could put in t-molding.
 
This is just awesome. I love it. This inspires me to try something similar. Maybe even a mini pinball running PinMAME (would be a lot cheaper than a full sized one)...
 
Sorry it's been a while since updating. Skip ahead for pictures!

I ran into a problem and had to recut the sides. I forgot that when I would cut the T-molding slot, it would slice into the grooves that held the top and front in place. The cabinet is just so small that the cuts would hit each other.
So, I recut it and just used glue and dowel rods to hold the front and top in place.

I've assembled it and wired it up (it works!!!) and recently primed it.

Tonight I will paint a coat of Ms. Pac blue and when it dries I will put on the side art.

I'm still not sure what to use for a control panel. It has to be 2"x2" at 90 degrees. That's what I've planned for. There are pieces of that at Home Depot, but only in 6 or 8' lengths and at $37...I don't want to spend that for my mini CP.

Pictures:
photo5.jpg


photo4.jpg
 
Here is my mini cab that I made, its 4 ft tall, 2 ft deep, and 18" wide.
You can PM me about the artwork. I did a custom control panel for a 60in1 and regular size joysticks and buttons. I also did replace the Super joystick with a pink ball top. That was what I had at the time. I laminated the sides with Formica counter top I bought at my local hardware store. I didint laminate the from and just put the artwork on wood and got wrinkles, so I pulled it off and reprinted a new piece and put it down on laminate.

-Jake


http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/billybob2236/mini cabs/

DSCF1454.jpg


DSCF1823.jpg


DSCF1465.jpg
 
I've been planning on something similar, but CANNOT COME UP WITH which cabinet to shrink down. I want a vertical monitor game...have considered the Pac style, maybe a Pac cabaret, maybe a DK cabinet..can't decide. I'm thinking now that Galaxian might look great shrunk down for the little LCD?
 
Got a lot done tonight....
Next up: mount the monitor.

Finally...figure out what to do for the control panel.

photo6.jpg



As a side note, yes that's Zeke from Zookeeper on my front door.
And, ignore the little piece of white tape holding on the marquee. Just wanted to see what it looks like lit up.
 
I wouldn't have done anything till I figured out how the CP would be done...
 
Well, I know how it will be done as far as size and shape. I just need to find the right material to make it. I'd rather not use wood, but I know that's an option...so I'm not afraid of it not working or not fitting, just not being the material of choice.
I'm open to thoughts on what to use, though. Like I said earlier, it has to be a 90 degree bend and 2" x 2".
 
Almost finished.
This project has been slow going. I used a piece of aluminum ($3!!) for the control panel.

It is fully working except for one odd thing, it will not start a one player game. I thought it was the wiring, but then I touched the ground to the actual contact on the board and it still didn't work. The two player game starts just fine. I'll look into it some more tomorrow. It was working fine earlier today.

A couple pictures are below...you'll notice the player 1 button is still missing from the CP, but that's about it.

photo10.jpg


Also, I decided to give it a clear plexi back door. I figured people would enjoy looking in and seeing what's inside:
photo8.jpg


And another just for scale.
photo7.jpg
 
Ha! That's awesome looking! What do you plan to do with it? Just for decoration, or maybe a mini-cab for newborns? ;) Are you gonna put a coin door on it, or a sticker that looks like a coin door maybe?

DogP
 
I originally had the idea a few years ago. I teach middle school math and during the unit on proportions I had the idea to build this scale replica of one of my games to bring in as an example of using proportional reasoning to build something.
I also just kind of wanted a fun project to see if I could do it.

In the end, I think it will just be a funny little conversation piece that sits in the corner of our gameroom or in my fiance's art studio and gets played just once in a while.

I swear, though, it was harder to build than a full-sized game (which I've done, too!).

Also, I have no idea what to do for a coindoor; it's currently on free play.
 
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