{"id":8504,"date":"2025-09-19T14:15:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T12:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.fh-kaernten.at\/ingmarsretro\/2025\/09\/19\/miniarcade-machine-from-paper-model-to-retro-arcade-machine\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T14:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T12:16:11","slug":"miniarcade-machine-from-paper-model-to-retro-arcade-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.fh-kaernten.at\/ingmarsretro\/2025\/09\/19\/miniarcade-machine-from-paper-model-to-retro-arcade-machine\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"MiniArcade Machine\u2014From Paper Model to Retro Arcade Machine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some projects arise from a spontaneous idea, while others develop over months. Our mini arcade machine definitely belongs to the second category. It all started on a cold winter day when my son and I sat down at the kitchen table to start another little craft project. At the time, we had no idea that a simple paper model would eventually turn into a working mini arcade machine. But that’s exactly what happened\u2014and in this post, I’d like to take you step by step through how we implemented this project.<\/p>\n

The inspiration: a paper arcade machine
\n<\/strong>The idea to build a mini arcade machine came to us quite spontaneously. A few years ago, I built a tabletop or bartop arcade machine, which my son regularly monopolizes and plays with. At some point, he got a very small \u201cmini arcade machine\u201d (which you can buy in the Far East for less than 10 euros). However, due to its very small dimensions and screen size of just under 5 cm, it only provides short-lived enjoyment. The quality of the pre-installed games is also somewhat borderline. As he was playing with the little thing again, he asked, \u201cCan we make something like this out of paper?\u201d Of course we could! So we found an old shipping box that was left over from a delivery from a large online retailer and began to draw the first designs.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Sketches and planning
\n<\/strong>Using a ruler and pencil, we drew the outline of the machine directly onto the cardboard. We based our design on the dimensions of the small arcade machine: a display tilted slightly backward, a wide base, and a front panel with space for buttons and levers. The proportions were simply scaled up… My son had to take measurements and put the multiplication skills he had learned at school into practice…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Step 2: Cutting out and gluing together
\n<\/strong>We cut out the individual pieces using a ruler and a carpet knife. This wasn’t as easy as it sounded, because the cardboard was thicker than we had expected and we wanted the edges to be as clean as possible. Once all the pieces had been cut out, we glued them together using hot melt adhesive. Hot melt adhesive was ideal because it cools quickly and creates a strong bond.<\/p>\n

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the cut-out cardboard pieces<\/p><\/div>\n

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and that’s how they are arranged<\/p><\/div>\n

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The parts are glued together with hot melt adhesive.<\/p><\/div>\n