(Topic ID: 32330)

Light box for arcade marquees?

By billsfanmd

11 years ago


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  • 101 posts
  • 32 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 4 years ago by ibenaiah
  • Topic is favorited by 18 Pinsiders

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    #2 11 years ago

    Yep I do. I'll post pics of some of my work tonight.

    #5 11 years ago

    Popeye:

    DSC00331.jpgDSC00331.jpg DSC00328.jpgDSC00328.jpg DSC00327.jpgDSC00327.jpg DSC00332.jpgDSC00332.jpg

    #6 11 years ago

    Donkey Kong/Kong Off:

    DSC00186.jpgDSC00186.jpg DSC00183.jpgDSC00183.jpg DSC00182.jpgDSC00182.jpg DSC00185.jpgDSC00185.jpg

    #7 11 years ago

    ATARI (from Blade Runner):

    DSC00429.jpgDSC00429.jpg DSC00428.jpgDSC00428.jpg

    #9 11 years ago

    I got your request for TRON. And did you mean this blue T-molding?

    DSC01637-1.jpgDSC01637-1.jpg

    1 month later
    #11 11 years ago

    Well after the holidays and several other vendor and postal delays, I finally have your TRON marquee box mocked up and ready for assembly. These pics are in progress, it still needs T-molding, a light fixture, a power switch and wiring. I'll use my TRON arcade marquee for test fitting and final photos hopefully after this weekend. This gives you a good idea of how it is looking so far though:

    DSC02522.jpgDSC02522.jpg DSC02526.jpgDSC02526.jpg DSC02523.jpgDSC02523.jpg DSC02524.jpgDSC02524.jpg

    #14 11 years ago

    Thanks guys. They're all hand-made, so they aren't factory perfect, but they do look nice.

    #15 11 years ago

    Base price is $175 shipped. That price does not include a marquee or shipping outside the continental US. If you want any other special features added, the price goes up accordingly. They take about a month to complete and I only like to work on 2 or 3 of them at a time so it doesn't get overwhelming.

    #19 11 years ago

    Got the slots routed and one piece of T-molding on. Test fit light fixture and marquee. Everything is coming along nicely:

    DSC02543.jpgDSC02543.jpg DSC02547.jpgDSC02547.jpg DSC02545.jpgDSC02545.jpg DSC02542.jpgDSC02542.jpg DSC02541.jpgDSC02541.jpg DSC02539.jpgDSC02539.jpg

    #21 11 years ago
    Quoted from jwwhite15:

    Wow, very impressive!
    So do you take delivery of the marquee and then install before shipping or do you build and ship without needing it? Thanx,

    I have done that before, but it's not necessary (I currently have a Kong-Off II marquee that was drop-shipped to me for this purpose). If I have the marquee on hand, I just use it for test fitting, if I don't, I just need *accurate* measurements of the marquee you need a box for. I try to go about 1/16" - 3/32" larger width-wise so there are no surprises when the buyer goes to install their marquee.

    #24 11 years ago
    Quoted from Jeff_PHX_AZ:

    WOW! Those are awesome looking! I made of few light boxes out of the left over wood after building my MAME cab. I just need to get some marquee's printed and light. Using the peg board in the back does it have light leaking out? Nice work!

    Thanks. Yeah light would leak out if they were set on a table, but mine are meant to be mounted on a wall, so the wall stops the light leaks. Light does leak out of the air vents on the top and bottom, but it's a cool effect.

    1 week later
    #25 11 years ago

    TRON is done and ready to ship:

    DSC02569.jpgDSC02569.jpg DSC02565.jpgDSC02565.jpg DSC02566.jpgDSC02566.jpg DSC02567.jpgDSC02567.jpg DSC02568.jpgDSC02568.jpg

    #26 11 years ago

    And the Kong Off II box just awaiting side art (the original vector file has been nearly impossible to source, so it may have to be recreated):

    DSC02575.jpgDSC02575.jpg DSC02574.jpgDSC02574.jpg DSC02577.jpgDSC02577.jpg DSC02578.jpgDSC02578.jpg DSC02576.jpgDSC02576.jpg

    #28 11 years ago

    Here's the T-shirt graphic I mentioned:

    KONGOFFSHIRT(1).jpgKONGOFFSHIRT(1).jpg

    It might work with some tweaking. It would fit better if we rotated it.

    1 week later
    #30 11 years ago
    Quoted from billsfanmd:

    My Tron box arrived today. It looks awesome. Great Job! Looks great in the gameroom.

    Excellent. Thanks again for the business.

    #33 11 years ago
    Quoted from zippydapinhead:

    Not as professional looking as Phetishboy's, but i thought the rustic look went better with this theme. BTW - if you can't find your woodburning tool, a soldering iron cranked up works almost as good.

    You nailed it. Daddy Like. I love that Barb wire look. I think even John Wayne woulda hung that in his hacienda with quiet pride.

    1 month later
    #34 11 years ago

    Hey guys, I received your artwork in the mail yesterday (finally). I should be wrapping these 3 boxes up by the weekend. Appreciate the patience. Tron guy, here's your box sans art and T-molding:

    DSC02759.JPGDSC02759.JPG

    Just need to decide on a T-molding and bracket color. I think all blue would be nice, but orange or even black would work as well. I left the brackets brushed aluminum for the time being:

    DSC02762.JPGDSC02762.JPG

    And lit up:

    DSC02764.JPGDSC02764.JPG

    #35 11 years ago

    And with artwork installed:

    DSC02771.JPGDSC02771.JPG

    DSC02769.JPGDSC02769.JPG

    Just need you to choose a T-molding color from the 3 you see in the first pic, or you can go with black. I'd just PM you, but I can't attach pics to PMs.

    #36 11 years ago

    OK, Nintendo guy, your box is done, just need you to choose a T-molding color. White, Red or black.

    DSC02773.JPGDSC02773.JPG DSC02772.JPGDSC02772.JPG

    #41 11 years ago

    OK, Litz, Kong Off II finally done:

    DSC02777_zps2e407e25.jpgDSC02777_zps2e407e25.jpg DSC02778_zpsdce0821b.jpgDSC02778_zpsdce0821b.jpg DSC02783_zps2e6ce7b3.jpgDSC02783_zps2e6ce7b3.jpg DSC02780_zpscd862ad2.jpgDSC02780_zpscd862ad2.jpg

    #42 11 years ago

    Chi Town, here's your box, finished just like you like your men, all Black and slightly Lit:

    DSC02786_zps9ba12acf.jpgDSC02786_zps9ba12acf.jpg DSC02787_zps059fe15a.jpgDSC02787_zps059fe15a.jpg DSC02791_zps08045696.jpgDSC02791_zps08045696.jpg DSC02790_zps74f83097.jpgDSC02790_zps74f83097.jpg

    #45 11 years ago

    TheBaron, your TRON box is done:

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    #46 11 years ago

    Couple more:

    DSC02808_zps049b958f.jpgDSC02808_zps049b958f.jpg DSC02807_zps70107d3c.jpgDSC02807_zps70107d3c.jpg

    1 week later
    #48 11 years ago

    Hey guys, due to the post office raising rates and getting careless with packages, I need to bump my shipped price to a flat $175 in the CONUS, which will include insurance.

    #51 11 years ago
    Quoted from chi-town_stop:

    Also Phetish, just got the marquee in and fired 'er up. This is so incredibly awesome!!! I'm an architect/design guy AND a perfectionist, and I could not be more pleased. I only threw in the architect thing because I think the design is perfect, it just oozes class and arcade retro. Thanks so much for your hard work. You are amazing!

    Thanks man. Did you get your issues sorted out?

    1 month later
    #54 10 years ago

    Hey guys, sorry for the delay on posting progress pics, but I finally have some boxes nearly complete. In addition to real life and trying to find a new job, I have also been having trouble getting in contact with my printer, or I'd have these done and ready to ship. He was the tatooed guy who had the Fix it Felix Jr. game in the basement at MGC if you were there. Well anyhoo, in the weeks leading up to and since that show, he has been busy and sporadic with communication. I will let you all know when these are ready to be paid for and shipped out. In the meantime, a few progress pics:

    Dr. Jeff's Pacman:

    DSC02967.JPGDSC02967.JPG DSC02966.JPGDSC02966.JPG DSC02965.JPGDSC02965.JPG

    #55 10 years ago

    Laseriffic's Robotron:

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    #57 10 years ago

    If you drill a 7/8" or 1" hole in the bottom of your box frame, then mount your switch on a metal plate with a smaller hole drilled thru that, you can recess your switch pretty easily. Just mount the plate on the inside of the box with the switch centered in the hole you drilled. For marquees, I just use an 18" fluorescent fixture like the original games did. I drill small 1/4" air vent holes in the top and bottom panels for releasing any heat. Here are some pics of a Movie Poster Light Box I did where 2 fluorescent fixtures were used:

    DSC02533.jpgDSC02533.jpg DSC02529.jpgDSC02529.jpg DSC02532.jpgDSC02532.jpg

    #59 10 years ago
    Quoted from flynnibus:

    Very nice touches there with the reflective tape(?) and grounding.
    I see you used a toggle switch. I was torn because the sides are not thick enough to recess the entire switch.. but your mounting plate suggestion addresses how to mount it further back. I like the idea of the push button switch.. I just wish this one was 'softer' - when mounted to the wall it would be possible to knock the box off center or even off the wall if one wasn't careful. I might have to try your method on the next one.
    I also opt'd to make the top removable on mine.. originally thinking it would make it easier to swap out translites... but I found at least with the ones I have on hand.. everyone is different size
    Having the removable top complicates the build of mine as I need to support the 'box' structure without the top, and I built it so both the backboard and translite are removable.

    Very innovative with the removable top. I actually keep refining my designs as I go. The reflective tape was an experiment. It works well in the larger enclosures, but isn't needed on the smaller boxes. I was asked to do a box for a pinball translight, but have stalled on some of the details as the guy who makes pinball stencils is having serious health issues, and I planned on getting mini stencils for the side panels. I planned on using LED rope lighting for mine, but I have no idea what I would use as a sequencer. Your Christmas light idea may be what I end up going with.

    #61 10 years ago
    Quoted from flynnibus:

    I had aspirations of offering to build them for people... but the raw materials cost just seemed prohibitive. Even buying material to do 3+ at a time.. the acrylic has significant waste and the small bits cost adds up.. never mind any labor costs. I was hoping they could be built for like $75 or so people would buy them easily.. but costs were not much less than that! Obviously people have paid for your marques at the higher price.. so maybe people would be willing to pay $150-200 for them.. but then it seems like a much harder pitch.

    Tell me about it. I can't stress enough how expensive and time consuming these are to make. The marquee boxes cost around $50-55 in materials and another $20-35 to ship. Light fixtures ($15 a piece), power switch ($7 with mounting plate), wood ($7), aluminum angle ($5 - 7), art ($10-20 per box), pegboard ($5), t-molding, mdf panels, etc. It's real hard to ask enough money to make it worth while and still keep people happy with the price. I had been charging $155 shipped, and am upping it to $175 shipped.

    1 week later
    #62 10 years ago

    OK, have a few more of these finished. First up, Pacman:

    DSC02987.JPGDSC02987.JPG DSC02989.JPGDSC02989.JPG DSC02990.JPGDSC02990.JPG

    #63 10 years ago

    Next up, another TRON:

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    #64 10 years ago

    Finally, Robotron: 2084:

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    #66 10 years ago
    Quoted from drjeff112:

    Wow those came out great
    Thanks so much for doing these! I really like the side art. The Pac-Man looks like a mini cabinet and the Tron chicks - well they are the Tron chicks Need I say more ?
    I cant wait to see what you have in store for my Ms. Pac and Galaga.
    Great job !

    Thanks Dr. Jeff. Both of yours turned out great. Time I crafted a few of these for myself.

    #68 10 years ago
    Quoted from myork82:

    Wow man those are awesome!!! I'm tempted to buy one!

    Thanks brotha.

    #71 10 years ago

    Just got pics of my most recent box, Super Mario Bros. I only had a Dr. Mario marquee to test it with, but you get the idea:

    SMB_Light_Box_1.jpgSMB_Light_Box_1.jpg
    SMB_Light_Box_2.jpgSMB_Light_Box_2.jpg
    SMB_Light_Box_3.jpgSMB_Light_Box_3.jpg

    #75 10 years ago

    Thanks guys. Just finished my latest, Q*bert.

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    #77 10 years ago
    Quoted from Trident:

    These are bad ass. It's one of the coolest Ideas i've seen. Great Work!!!!

    Thanks man. I've got another cool one in the works. Should be ready for pics by tonight. One of my favorite vids for sure.

    #80 10 years ago

    That Q-bert is another work of art! I love the side art on these, they look like mini arcade cabs, sure brings back memories of hanging out at the local arcade dropping all my quarters on these games.

    Thanks Jeff! And now for one of my favorites. I just finished this one tonight. I give you,

    Moon Patrol:

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    #81 10 years ago

    And I thought I mentioned it in this thread, but I musta just been typing It in pms. Just so there is no confusion, I DO NOT PROVIDE A MARQUEE, you do. Either you have a marquee from your favorite vid already, you buy one off of ebay or you get a repro from Arcadeshop.com, Thisoldgame.com or Phoenixarcade. I merely build you the box, wire up a light fixture and power switch, provide marquee mounting brackets and finish it with art and Tmolding. Can you imagine the sheer volume of different original arcade marquees I would have to have laying around, just to anticipate which marquee somebody may want a box for? If I didn't have one, I'd have to drop anywhere from $20 to $75 shipped to get one for you. Price and availability of original marquees is too much of a crapshoot for me to procure one for you. So please, if you want a box, make sure you secure a marquee first. Thanks!!

    #83 10 years ago
    Quoted from LTG:

    They look so awesome. Great job !
    Can you do pinball size translite boxes like that ?
    LTG : )

    Thanks Lloyd! I could do them for back glasses/ translights, yes. A gentleman asked me to do one for a Centaur back in like January, but I couldn't get ahold of the pinball stencil guy. Soon after i found out he had had a stroke and may never be back, so the project kinda stalled. I wanted to get the head stencils resized to fit a shallower box, say around 3.5 ". I'd just try to do graphics, but I don't think they'd do a Centaur back glass justice.

    #84 10 years ago

    Latest, TRON with Chrome T-molding:

    DSC03059.JPGDSC03059.JPG DSC03060.JPGDSC03060.JPG DSC03054.JPGDSC03054.JPG DSC03056.JPGDSC03056.JPG

    #86 10 years ago

    Can anyone tell which box is the most popular? My word.

    4 weeks later
    #90 10 years ago

    Thanks for the endorsement Jeff and I'm glad everything worked out the second time around on TRON. Next up, Galaga (too bad I only had a Galaxian Marquee to use for pics). Just imagine the background of the marquee black instead of white:

    // Error: Image 110342 not found //// Error: Image 110341 not found // // Error: Image 110340 not found //

    #91 10 years ago

    Not sure if this thread should be moved to marketplace or not. Anyhoo, if anyone is still listening, here's Ms. Pac. I think this is my favorite one so far. I didn't have a real Ms. Pac marquee, so i just printed one out and stitched it together for the pics:

    DSC03243.JPGDSC03243.JPG DSC03244.JPGDSC03244.JPG DSC03245.JPGDSC03245.JPG

    #92 10 years ago

    slightly different angle showcasing the side art:

    DSC03246.JPGDSC03246.JPG

    #94 10 years ago

    Thanks man. Next up, another Ms. Pac and a Joust.

    2 weeks later
    #96 10 years ago

    Back from vacation and my printer finally came thru. Joust is complete:

    2011-11-24_00.25.17.jpg2011-11-24_00.25.17.jpgjoust_right.jpgjoust_right.jpg2011-11-24_00.25.30.jpg2011-11-24_00.25.30.jpg 2011-11-24_00.26.19.jpg2011-11-24_00.26.19.jpg

    #98 10 years ago

    Final one in this batch, Ms. Pac with yellow T-molding:

    // Error: Image 115295 not found //// Error: Image 115296 not found //// Error: Image 115298 not found //

    And with that, I am finally caught up and all orders have been completed. For anybody else that wants one, I will start building these again in mid August. You can place your order now or wait til then. I will take up to 5 orders with a deadline of August 15th. I will either stop taking orders when I hit the 5 or the 15th, whichever comes first. All of those orders (if there are any more) will be completed sometime in October. Cost for each box will be $150 + actual shipping, packing materials & ins.

    1 month later
    #99 10 years ago

    OK, Mid August is here and I'll be starting a new run of these babies. Cost for each box will be $150 + actual shipping, packing materials & ins. (usually around $175 shipped total) If you want one quick, I have the art and parts to do a Pac or Ms. Pac Box. I've also got the art for a Super Mario Bros/ Nintendo box. The Ms. Pac T-molding comparison:

    Ms_Pac_Pink.jpgMs_Pac_Pink.jpg Ms._Pac_Yellow.jpgMs._Pac_Yellow.jpg

    #100 10 years ago

    Last chance, ill be starting the next run this weekend. If you want one, PM me.

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