The Base – Little Adds, Big Upgrades

Instead of just throwing a bunch of 2×8 brick around the perimeter of the base around the computer, I want to do more. Little adds, big upgrades.

External Power Supply

The first thing I decide to add to the base was something for functionality. I’m hope to bring this to shows, and when you’re at a show, there’s always a struggle to find power. So, I figure bring power to the arcade and then supply an additional 2 power outlets and 3 USB charge ports off the side. This way others can plug into it for their own displays. Or I can plug into it for my own displays. Beside that, if someone needs a quick charge for their phone, plug it into one of the ports will be much quicker than a slow wireless charge on top of the control panel.

First, I build a space for the power supply to sit. Next, stack 2×8 brick around it to hold it in place. Finally, to hold it tightly in there, I had to do a little bit of SNOT technique.

Photo showing the back of the external power supply, held in by 2x8 brick below and on top of the supply and some studs not on top pieces to the side. — Just some studs sticking out the side and then closing off the gap with tiles

I strategically placed some 1×1 brick with 1 stud on side. Then using the Microphone piece, secured the power supply in its place.

Photo of the external power supply. A great add to the base - little adds, big upgrades. — Fits on the side nicely, I think

Ventilation and Design

Design – That Wicked 80’s Flare Again

I’m trying to build this while adhering to some sort of theme. A theme that hopefully not only represents the 80’s, but that I can also accomplish with pieces LEGO^® today makes. For the control panel, I really wanted vibrant neon colors that were commonly used in the 80s. Magentas, neon pinks, electric blues, acid yellows were all fun bright colors used in the 80’s and I wanted to capture this the best I could with LEGO^®. However, when trying to incorporate these colors into the control panel, I quickly discovered that LEGO^® just didn’t make a lot of pieces in the colors I needed.

Dark azure was a color that really struck me as a nice bright and vivid color, and at the time a lot of LEGO^® elements made in this color. So I used alot of this around the parimeter of the control panel. From there, I made tried to go for a Tron look. I cover a lot of this in my Wicked 80’s Flare – The Top Complete blog post.

Photo of control panel, completed and buttons lit up, with tv behind it running the game system. — The current design of the control panel with the chargers built-in

Next, I want to extend this design into the base. I decide to cover the Technic holes on the side of the 16×16 brick with 1/2 Technic Pin. Then I slap 1×8 dark azure tiles around the perimeter of the base, like I did the control panel.

Ventilation

From here, I build up. After thinking about airflow for the computer, I decide to incorporate a sort of ventilation system in the front of the base. I wanted something clever, not just cheap out and use Technic. So after playing around with a few different ideas, I tried to stack 2×2 45º slopes next to each other in an alternating pattern.

When using the slopes like I did, they made this very cool arrow pattern. And at first, I thought building a PC that all lit up and stuff was silly. Back in my blog post Building of the Computer for the Arcade, I briefly touch on not really needing all the frills of LED lighting as the computer would be inside the cabinet.

Photo of the completed base. The way the ventilation was put together with brick created an arrow pattern along the front of the cabinet. Dark azure tiles are stacked up on both sides. Looks like more than just a box. — Fun arrow pattern on the front of the cabinet

Well, I stand corrected. Once the vent was complete, I quickly hop into the computer configuration and changed the LED lights to glow a nice “dark azure” blue!

Photo showing the computer resting inside the cabinet base, with the fans and the CPU inside the case shimmering a nice blue color. — Not quick dark azure, but will have to suffice

Little Adds, Big Upgrades

Prememptively starting the next cabinet section, you might see my plan with the design. The dark azure tile perimeter will represent each detachable section. This way, when disassembling the arcade for transport, I can easily determine where the sections seperate.

Photo of arcade base, with a new layer of 16x16 Technic brick resting on top and a horizonal line of dark azure 1x8 tiles along the perimeter. — Showing the beginning of the next section, divided by the dark azure horizonal tiles

Closeup photo of the arcade base showing a corner and how the arcade will be built upward going forward. — A closeup shows the contined trend for building supports at the corners for the arcade

The Base – Little Adds, Big Upgrades

Behold, the Arcade base!

Photo of finished arcade base, showing the front, lit up behind the ventilation by the glowing LEDs of the computer. — The Arcade Base – Little Adds, Big Upgrades

I’m very pleased with the turnout here. And while the path wasn’t really clear as I was progressing, it became clearer as I approached the finish line. It’s difficult to make a box not just a box. And while I have other ideas floating around in my head, I think those might be best for the next tiers of the arcade cabinet to come.