After Hours

Build a Pac-Man arcade machine costume for Halloween

By · October 11, 2007, 12:00 AM PST

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  • What you'll need

    By Ken Keesling

    This guy made a wearable arcade machine for Halloween last year. Learn how he did it, and maybe get inspired to build a geeky Halloween costume of your own.

    Here are the supplies you'll need:
    3/4" x 1-1/2" Ferring Strips
    1" and 1-1/2" Long Drywall Screws
    1/8" Thick Plywood
    Plastic Bathroom Corner Trim (slides on to the end of paneling)
    1/2" Long Finishing Nails
    Spray Paint
    Plexiglas
    Laptop



    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Side panel

    Cut the side panels to the size and shape you want for the final product. You'll use these pieces as guides for the rest of the project. Remember to make it big/small enough for you to fit in comfortably. You'll actually be wearing this thing.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Sub frame

    Use the drywall screws to assemble the frame. Pre-drill the holes or the wood will split.

    You'll make two pieces like this for the top and bottom. Use the measurements from the side panels. Make sure they're square or it'll throw the whole project off.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Frame

    Measure and cut the four uprights, using the plywood as a template.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Laptop lip

    This is the lip at the bottom of the frame where the laptop will sit.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Laptop fit-up

    Checking the fit of the laptop. As you can see, he has also started building up the front. Just continue measure and cut according to your side panels. Make the joystick pocket small enough for the joystick to fit fairly tight, but still be able to be removed easily.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Laptop brace

    You'll need to install a brace behind the laptop to keep it in place. Put it high enough to secure the laptop, but low enough that you can get the laptop in and out without problems.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • USB connector on joystick

    The joystick connects to the laptop's USB port. Depending on where the USB ports are on your laptop, you may need to cut some of the wood away to make room. Or you could buy an angled adapter.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Marquee layout

    The next thing to work on is the marquee. Once again, just measure and cut according to your side panel guide.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed frame

    This is, more or less, what your completed frame should look like.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Bezel fit-up

    Now you want to fit the bezel in. He found the authentic Pacman images online. It's a great touch!

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Assembling the plywood

    Secure the paneling to the frame with finishing nails. The smaller nails are used so that you won't see them after it's painted.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Paneling and trim

    Use the bathroom corner trim on the edges of the paneling. This not only gives it a nice, clean look, but has the added benefit of covering uneven cuts.

    On a side note - check out the original NES sitting next to his TV!

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Painted

    Sand the whole thing down and paint. He used one coat of primer and three coats of yellow. Make sure you paint in a well ventilated area.

    After the paint's dry you can install the plexiglass for the screen and marquee. Use a utility knife to cut the glass and screws with washers to attach them.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Laptop lid fix

    The laptop lid didn't stay tight against the frame, so he used the ultimate fix-all: duct tape. Perhaps you could find a more elegant solution.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Marquee light

    The marquee light is just a simple battery operated light.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Shoulder straps

    He was running out of time, so bungie cords wrapped in duct tape and towels would have to do for shoulder straps. Once again, this is begging for a more elegant (and attractive) solution.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed, 3/4 view

    The graphics were attached with double sided tape and covered in plastic laminate.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed, front view

    The coin box is a nice touch!

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed, side view

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed, marquee

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed, screen

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Completed, joystick

    The joystick he used had a removable ball, so he replaced it with a large yellow ball from a craft store.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Q*bert

    This isn't strictly a Pacman machine. The laptop is running MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator), so you can play other classic arcade titles, like Q*bert.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Wearing, front view

    Wearing the completed project!

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Wearing, 3/4 view

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • Wearing, side view

    © Webshots rluzinski2

  • At the bar

    At the bar with his friends the psycho doctor and Mr. T.

    © Webshots rluzinski2

What you'll need

By Ken Keesling

This guy made a wearable arcade machine for Halloween last year. Learn how he did it, and maybe get inspired to build a geeky Halloween costume of your own.

Here are the supplies you'll need:
3/4" x 1-1/2" Ferring Strips
1" and 1-1/2" Long Drywall Screws
1/8" Thick Plywood
Plastic Bathroom Corner Trim (slides on to the end of paneling)
1/2" Long Finishing Nails
Spray Paint
Plexiglas
Laptop



© Webshots rluzinski2
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