That’s right, the arcade cabinet has a name! LUNACADE. Inspired by my good friend Chris Luna, the arcade has taken on a space theme. It’s amazing how much time it took to make these graphics, but they’re done. My great brother-in-law Paul has been kind enough to help me print them. We can finally start working on the controls! For bigger pictures check this out. The image on top is the "marquee" which goes across the top of the machine. The other image is the control panel overlay, which goes where all the buttons and joysticks are.

Well my brother and I spent some more time this week working on the cabinet.

1) It now rests on wheels and rolls around great. All four wheels have locking mechanisms to keep it in place.

2) We “routed” the edges of the cabinet to prepare it for t-molding. Gives it a cool professional look.

3) We made holes in the speaker panel where the speakers will mount. My brother ordered a couple grills to cover them.

4) We measured and installed the monitor shelf where the TV will sit.

5) We assembled the core of the control panel. Just waiting for the joysticks and buttons to arrive so we can work on that more.

The next step is to paint the whole thing. Hmmm, maybe I go do that now.

New pictures start after the guy in the box.

This Friday Stacie turns 27! Wow, she’s so old. I’m just kidding. In fact, I need to apologize for blaming her for getting me sick. Though it’s true she is the one that shared her cold with me…I can think of no one I’d rather share one with.

So Stacie is turning 27 and I don’t know what to do for her birthday? You guys have any ideas? Maybe take her to Golf-n-Stuff? She’s been dying to go to Cold Stone, so maybe that. I told her we can work on the arcade cabinet together, but she didn’t seem too excited about that one. So help me out, I used up about six months of romantic creativity back when I proposed. Thanks.

Lately I’ve been spending far too much time at Lowe’s buying arcade cabinet parts. I went there three times…TODAY! First we had the wrong screws, then the wrong size heads, then the brackets were too big. AHHH! Finally we had all the right pieces…but it was 6 o’clock and we were beat. We did get some things done and hope to have the whole thing standing up by tomorrow. Once it starts to look like an arcade cabinet it will get real exciting. New pictures will be up soon so you can see the evolution of the beast.

I think even we’re surprised that not only does the cabinet stand up, but it’s quite sturdy. Next up is putting on the wheels, and getting the shelf for the TV all set. Then we get to paint! I’m also taking suggestions on what to name it. The best so far was from my sister: Lunacade. Check the image gallery for more pictures.

Just wanted to let you know that work on the arcade cabinet is still very much underway. This week was spent planning the controls and ordering all the parts we need to finish it off. The plan this weekend is to put together the cabinet’s skeleton and stat painting it. We’ve got a nice high gloss black paint we’re going to use. Stacie wanted purple, but I thought black would be a more “neutral” color. I’ll post more pics as I get them!

Dragon’s Lair with unlimited retries = freaking awesome! I always hated that game in the arcade because you’d lose all your lives before you even figured out what you were supposed to do! :-p

Over the weekend the work on the arcade cabinet started. We’ve got all the pieces cut out. Go over and take a look at the work in progress.

Arcade Cabinet Gallery

On Friday my brother and I went to Lowe’s and picked up the supplies we needed to start the construction of the arcade’s skeleton. I spent today figuring out precisly what our measurements would be, how the controls would be laid out, and Andrew bought the speakers we’re going to use. Hopefully by next weekend we can get everything cut out and partially assembled.

Now I just have to make sure I don’t get behind on school.