Classic Video Game Chess Set

This is a chess set and carrying case themed from classic video game characters and structures. I wanted the pieces to still resemble, as much as possible, regular chess pieces so that playing on this board wouldn't be confusing. The games included are Castlevania, Donkey Kong, Mario and Peach (from the classic side scroll Mario Bros.), Pac- Man (Mr. and Mrs. Versions), Zelda and Link (from a variety of games), and Sonic and Knuckles (from the Sega game). The lighter side of the pieces is the Mario and Peach side, while the darker side is the Link and Zelda side.

For the figures themselves, I printed out a variety of pictures of these figures and simplified the structures so that they would be easier to sculpt. These figures can be molded as simply or as complexly as a person likes.

Supplies
Figures
- Oven bake clay, I used Sculpey, but any brand will work
- Sculpting tools (these are optional, small knifes, toothpicks, etc. will work, I use a cheap plastic set I got for $3)
- Ruler
- Bottle cap (I found that this was the best size and shape for making the bases of the figures, anything will work, as long as it's between 3/4" and 1" to fit on each chess board tile)
- Pictures to use as visual references
Board and Case
- Wood (I just bought a piece of pre-treated paneling at a local hard ware store so that the wood would already have a straight edge, and also needed is a flat piece of wood at 1/4" thick (the dimensions for all the wood pieces are in the next step)
- Glass tiles at 1"x1" (I bought mine at a local hobby supply store in packs of 48 in black and white colors)
-Stain, I used an oil based stain in the shade of light oak
-Hinges
- Fabric to line the inside of the case (I used an old shirt)
- Glue (I used an all-purpose glue so that I could use the same glue for the wood and glass tiles)
- Grinder or file
- T- square
- Scissors to cut fabric for liner
- Wood glue or fill if there are any small imperfections in the case after the case is assembled
- Sand paper, also to smooth out any perfections in either the case, or the figurines after they are baked

*Note, that if a person has figurines or toys that can be used, I encourage him or her to use those, which would make the chessboard cheaper to make. Also, to save money on the tiles, a person can paint them on the board or use wooden squares.
 

Step 1 Making The Carrying Case

The dimensions of thecase and board are as follows:
-The bases of the board itself (which holds the tiles)- 4"x8 1/4"x 1/4" - need two of these *Note, that there is an extra 1/4" on each side so that the ends will fit in the dado joints snuggly, the true dimensions should be 4"x 8 1/2"x 1/4", but when my tiles were measured, 1/4" was lost, and thus the former dimensions are the true dimensions.
- The short sides of the case, which hold the board- 4"x1 1/2'x1/2" need four of these with a 1/4" wide and 1/4" deep dado groove at 1" high so that there is 1" below and 1/4" of wood above the joint
- The long sides of the case, which also hold the board -7 3/4"x 1 1/2" x1/2" need two also with a dado groove that is identical to the grooves on the short side
- The inside sides, these are the sides of the board that go under the board and hold the hinges so that the chess board is continuous when opened and doesn’t have any wood in the middle- 7 3/4" x 1" x 1/2" need two of these pieces

Then assemble these pieces using all- purpose glue. The flat board simply slides into the dado grooves, making sure that the sides without dado groves go on the inside. After the glue dries, file or grind out the space where the hinges will be, I grinded mine to approximately 1/16." An optional step here is to make 45 degree cut at a depth of 3/16" at the corners of the board. Then screw the hinges in, depending on the wood being used, these holes may need to be pre-drilled.

Finally, apply the lining to the case; the best way to do this is to cut the fabric out in a rectangle, and then remove the corners by cutting squares in them. This way, the piece of fabric will lie down in the box and line the sides, but there will not be any excess to bunch up in the corners. The dimensions of the liner should be 7 3/4" x3 3/4 " with the squares cut out of the corner being 1"x 1"
 

Comments

[Attmos]

very cool idea

[builderkidj]

Wow!

[kitfisto30]

Thanks for the high rating, I really appreciate it!