Plan it! (at least roughly)

I like the kind of planning which is as detailed as possible to start with, but flexible enough to alter as the project goes along. Gather as many of your thoughts down on paper at the start enables you to have fewer "balls in the air"

The order of tasks:

1. build the carcase
   
   
   
   • design the carcase
   
   
   • buy/prep materials
   
   
   • build the sides
   
   
   
   


2. build the control panel
   
   
   
   • as this is something I think it's relatively complex and time consuming I want this done first - the controller is already built (see my posting on Keyboard Hacking)
   
   
   • buy the joysticks and buttons
   
   
   • design and build the panel
   
   
   • prep/paint/finish
   
   
   • install harware
   
   
   • test
   
   
   
   


3. build the monitor panel
   
   
   
   • buy/acquire the monitor
   
   
   • design the panel to the size and shape of monitor
   
   
   • cut/prep/paint panel
   
   
   • install monitor into panel
   
   
   
   


4. build the speaker panel
   
   
   
   • buy/acquire speakers
   
   
   • de-construct to raw components
   
   
   • design panel to components
   
   
   • construct and install components
   
   
   
   


5. build the marquee
   
   
   
   • design the marquee
   
   
   • install marquee backlight into carcase
   
   
   • install the marquee
   
   
   
   


6. build the remaining panels


7. deconstruct the PC into necessary components and install


8. connect everything together


9. attach all the remaining panels together


10. test


11. construct lower stand/housing

Easy, no? (ahem!)