Game On: Excited to Add a Big Video Screen

It’s finally time to add a major part to the arcade, I’m excited to add a big video screen. Basically the plan is to build the TV inside a box of brick.

Building the Platform for a Big Video Screen

The video display that I have is not only big, it’s also heavy. I need to build a shelf for this display to sit on that can hold the weight and not just break apart. LEGO^® brick is strong, but is it strong enough to hold a TV?

My thought for the base is to use the same technique I used within the control panel. I begin by sticking together 21 of the Technic, brick 16 x 16 x 1 1/3 with holes pieces with Technic pins. Next, I add the lattice pattern using 2×8 brick across the entire base.

Issues Right Off the Bat

I quickly run into my first issue. I have all these darn cables coming out of the back of the control panel.

Photo showing a bunch of wires sticking out of the back of the control panel — Wires sticking out of the back interfere with sitting anything behind the control panel

This means, I can’t just set the base of the display down, I’ll need to make a raised shelf. So for the first time, I begin to add brick under the Technic 16 x 16 brick. I continue until the structure sits nicely on the back of the arcade cabinet, while sitting just above the wires coming from the control panel.

Photo showing brick built below the display base, demonstrating cut out section for cables from control panel — Cut out shown here for the cables

Photo showing the edge of the base just fitting over the cables coming out of the control panel. Nicely cleared! — Fits nice

Sitting the Big Video Screen Down

Time to figure out how to sit this big video screen onto the base. As I recall, most arcade cabinets have their screens laying back at an angle. I plan to do the same. How can I do this with LEGO^® brick?

It just so happens that LEGO^® made a very nicely angled brick that could be stacked on top of one another, the slope 53° 3 x 1 x 3 1/3 with studs on slope.

However, the brick was only made for a few sets from 1992 to 1998, and would be a bit pricey to acquire any in bulk. The issue with these brick quickly became apparent, the studs on slope never would line up to allow for tiles to run up along it as shown in the photo below.

A New Problem Emerges

As soon as I sit the display onto the base, I have a little bit of a duh moment. How do I close off the back when I have cables coming out of the video screen?

Photo of base, but no where to run cables — I need a place to run cables through

So, I end up tearing the base apart and building in a hole at the back of the base.

Base torn apart in two with big video screen sitting behind it — First the base is torn apart in half

Then using a combination of Technic brick and plates, I build myself a new 16 x 16 brick with a hole in the middle of it that will replace the previous 16 x 16 brick perfectly.

Photo showing the 16 x 16 brick removed and replaced with a new combination of brick and plate. — New part with hole for cables

I build back up the base and onward to slopes, angles, or hinges!

Photo showing the base complete with hole at one end. — Now a place to run cable

Slopes, Angles, or Hinges

After a few more trials with existing slopes that didn’t pan out to provide a nice smooth angle running all the way up the length of the big video screen, I decide to go another route. I’ll lean the big video screen up against brick behind it and then using hinges build a front facade over the screen.

Photo showing the screen leaning against and being held up by brick behind it — Leaning against brick may be my only option

After leaning the display up against the brick, and running the cables through the hole, I work on building a front facade to sit over the screen.

Photo showing facade built and laying around the big video screen — The facade sitting nicely around the screen

The dark azure border around the big video screen is done on purpose. I’m hoping this border will provide a nice guide for the light guns to know where the edges of the screen are in order to provide a more accurate shot.

I don’t yet have plans for the studs on the front of the facade and the sides; however, maybe eventually I’ll add some artwork there using tiles to provide instructions for using the arcade.

Behind the facade, I build up the sides little by little, while utilizing wedge plates to close off the sides while maintaining the angle of the facade and screen.

Photo of brick built up the sides of the screen — Building up the sides

Finishing the Build

After this, I just continue to build up, closing off the big video screen entirely.

Photo showing the big video display resting nicely inside while I build up the surrounding walls — Building up the walls

In this part of the build alone, I ended using over 3,000 brick with more than 2,000 of those being 2 x 8 bricks. Setting it on top of the arcade, this thing is really starting to look pretty awesome!

Photo showing the arcade built fully with the screen sitting on top. — How’s it looking?

What’s Next? Big News!

Next, I plan to fix a few things. The height is too short, so I’ll focus on building up the storage shelf on the arcade. I’ll add holsters for the light guns. And I’ll start preparing for the marquee to finish it off.

I also plan to update a lot of my Studio.io files which is the software I’ve been using to design this build. That will allow me to get back with some fun info like how many pieces total.

The big news? I have officially signed up to show this at the 2026 Brick World Convention in Chicago, IL this coming June! Get your tickets and come see it in person!

Exciting updates to come! Make sure to subscribe below to get notified when I push out new updates!