Inspired by Adam Savage Blade runner box I thought It would be fun to build my own box to store something cool, and nothing is cooler to me then the Playstation 2. This was the console of my adolescents, and as I had a birthday coming up soon I thought it would be a nice gift to my self.
I started by measuring everything I wanted to put into the box and laying it out on a sheet of paper, this sheet of paper ended up turning into a full sized paper model of the finished box.
having a full sized model allowed me to easlly figure out what size stickers should be.
based on the paper model I made adjustments to the mechanics of the box. From that I made a cut list.
I drew them up in illustrator.
I copied my cutting guide over to the sheet of 7mm thick 1200x900mm BC grade ply wood.
I don’t have a proper shop at this point, so I had to make due with a circular saw and a make shift fence. Having a table saw would have made this go a lot quicker.
I assembled the box using butt joints and tacks, it’s not the best method of wood working, but it’s fine for this project. I pre-drilled the nail holes as to not split the plywood, not good wood working, but it’s surprisingly strong.
With the box done I began to experiment with fittings, My options were limited, the handles and fasteners all came from a brief case I found at an opshop.
With the box built I now I had to figure out how to secure everything inside, I came up with an elegant solution.
I raised the trap door so the play station and the controllers were at the same height, A bar in the lid comes down and holds them both in place when the lid is closed, the bar also holds games to the lid.
With the internal design settled I begin wrapping the out side in vinyl and the inside in a blue felt that matches PS2 game cases.
The wooden bits at the back hold the screws for in the hinges, in hindsight I should have come up with a better option, maybe shorter screws into the ply might have been good enough. Wrapped in felt you don’t really notice them.
The outside logo is based on the Fat PS2 despite the box containing a slim PS2, the logo on the bottom right is a CERO (Japanese rating organization) for a demonstration, I like the idea that this box was a prototype for a toy show or trade fair.
I matched the fonts and recreated the factory seals.
The back has bar-codes at appropriate the seals of safety organizations.
Nice semi ornamental hinges, I originally planned to use piano hinges, but these were easier to work with, rubber feet
I actually designed several iterations logos for under the handle, before settling on basic PS logo.
The locking inner hinges taken from a brief case means it works as a display case. it holds 3 games two controllers, memory card and cables under a trap door.
I designed an old-timey logo, I am not sure if it was right thing to do.
The memory card holder is foam wrapped in felt.
Little felt wrapped wooden spacers ensure the controllers are always in the right place for the box to close. A small gap in the wood lets you tuck the cord under the trap door.
I want to make a black velvet bag with red piping. My efforts at sewing haven’t been as good as my efforts at woodworking.
I had planned to have little engraved brass plates saying ‘player one’ and ‘player two’ in that space under the controllers but didn’t make them due to cost.
JT
JT Lowry 