I’m after someone measuring their VB box, I have one but its currently unobtainable, due to too much stuff stacked in the loft while we decorate. I am guessing the US & JPN boxes are the same size but if i can get dims for both that would be ace.
Anyway I am drawing up an aluminum & polycarbonate case to store the VB and thought i would make the inner dimensions the same size as the box, so the box could be stored in the case to protect it, or some foam inner could be fitted and the VB & parts be stored directly in the case, so I just need the box measured & I can finish off the case design to correct dims.

Thanks in advance to any kind soul who can help me out

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I’ll measure my JPN box when I get home.
I insist on giving measurement in mm though 😉

L___E___T wrote:
I’ll measure my JPN box when I get home.
I insist on giving measurement in mm though 😉

That would be cool thanks, mm is ideal.

FYI 25.4 mm = 1 inch, exactly, use this multiple and you can convert perfectly from one to the other, I use it constantly as i get tool drawings in both formats to work with, and here in UK lots of older companies use imperial.

Haha, I just hate imperial. As you’re in the UK I know mm are fine then 🙂

I didn’t get to measure last night I’m afraid in the end – but will get that to you later. My Friday evenings are filled with super exciting activities as you can tell!

Whenever you manage is cool.
I kind of have the design sorted and just need to tweak the dimensions to suit once i know them.

Now don’t get to excited with that kind of Friday night activity planned, you’ll be ironing your socks next.

Ok, here you go, as if looking at the front of the virtual boy image on the largest face of the box, the right way up.

I’ve measured with care, on multiple faces and sides but I can’t guarantee everyone else’s is the same, or that mine’s not warped etc.

Width = 375mm (could be 374…)
Height = 315mm
Depth = 150mm

Card is 1.6mm thick from what I can tell.

I’d measure the inners as well but they’re so warped it’s really not worth it.
You have the card thickness so you can calculate the inner space if you really want exact measurements.

Hope that helps, looking forward to seeing what it is you’re making!

Virtual Boy System Box Dimensions (U.S. Version):

(Looking at it in the same way that L___E___T did)

Width = 14.6875 inches = 373.0625 millimeters
Height = 12.50 inches = 317.5 millimeters
Depth = 5.8125 inches = 147.6375 millimeters

Looks like the U.S. version and the Japanese version were intended to be the same size.

My measurements were very tight on a box that is still in very good condition.

thanks fellas, a good set of dims to work with there, 5mm of clearance (2.5 a side) should work well, i’ll post when done.

Ok my design is done.
The case would take a VB box and protect it, or I am planning on working out a foam inner so i can store the VB & parts and a few games.
The case hinges open and is held closed with toggle latches.
Frame is aluminium and panels are polycarbonate, so its a pretty tough unit.
I was thinking it needs an outer handle, but i think it needs one that folds back, not something my work stocks, I need to find where i can buy one and fit it, but for now I’m happy with a closing solid case.

Renders show the case open and closed and the easm file is a 3D viewable model, the viewer is a free download from the Solidworks site, you need to find the eDrawings viewer and download it.
Those who viewed my previous models might need to update to newer viewer version as I have upgraded solidworks since those were done.

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That is an attractive case.

Be ready for requests from Virtual Boy owners to make them ones. 🙂

Hedgetrimmer, as we’re both in the UK – what’s the chance of making an extra one to order? If you did that, do you have an idea of what the costs might be? I’d be very interested in that, it looks like a great case from the render.

I’m reluctant to buy one of the US Blockbuster cases as the current going price (plus shipping to England) isn’t really an attractive deal.

L___E___T wrote:
Hedgetrimmer, as we’re both in the UK – what’s the chance of making an extra one to order? If you did that, do you have an idea of what the costs might be? I’d be very interested in that, it looks like a great case from the render.

I’m reluctant to buy one of the US Blockbuster cases as the current going price (plus shipping to England) isn’t really an attractive deal.

I have been waiting to be asked that by someone, it shocked me when i produced the BOM with the material cost, list price for just materials, cut and processed is £440, even with my staff discount its way beyond what i can pay, I’m gonna do a re-design, make it simpler, but i still think the price will be v.high, I’ll have to work out a deal with my boss if i want to go for it, or sweet talk the factory foreman to save me some off cuts and then I’ll have to process it my self in lunch breaks.
I’d love to be able to offer them for sale a reasonable price but it just don’t seem to be possible. Of course if you have the bucks and want one then i can get it done, lets see how the re-design comes out, I’ll use acrylic panels instead of poly & make a simpler case frame, I’ll post when done.

Nice (and expensive) case!!

I’m interested to get a case to protect my Virtual Boy anyway.

As am I, but at this rate unfortunately I’ll probably have to invest in a hardcase instead.

Slightly more realistic design, but the cost for a kit to make this would still be in the region of £180, and you would have to assemble it yourself.
I am gonna try and piece one together using end of bar material and offcuts, it will take a while to accumulate the material but could be worth it.
Renders below.

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If you want an acrylic/polycarbonate box just for display purposes, you could skip the framework and just cut, (optionally) bend, and glue it together. It might not look as cool, and it wouldn’t be quite as stiff, but it would protect the box from dust and dings and would definitely be a lot cheaper.

RunnerPack wrote:
If you want an acrylic/polycarbonate box just for display purposes, you could skip the framework and just cut, (optionally) bend, and glue it together. It might not look as cool, and it wouldn’t be quite as stiff, but it would protect the box from dust and dings and would definitely be a lot cheaper.

Yeah the frame practically rules out making another for anyone else, I will be able to hoard some material over the next few weeks and get one together for myself, it will actually be easier for me to make it with the frame, don’t really have good facilities to bend, hold and glue the poly. I did draw up a game case from poly with tapped holes to screw together and a slide on lid, will take a little machining but its possible. (render below is of a case design that will take either 14 or a bit longer, 19 games). I could always dimension up each piece if anyone wanted to make one too.
In theory it could be stretched and a similar design used to cover a VB box.

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For now, this is my VB box – a Millennium Hotels towel bag with a stylish set of VB shades to keep guard

L___E___T wrote:
For now, this is my VB box – a Millennium Hotels towel bag with a stylish set of VB shades to keep guard

Offtopic, but still: How come that 3DS looks pink? there is no current pink 3DS (at least not officially)

On-topic: a box to protect games is also a great idea

I keep my games in a box as well, just a cardboard one.

That pink 3DS is the world’s first pink 3DS – a prototype made up in a different shade of pink, not all the inside is pink though. It doesn’t get much use right now, but there are some great games around the corner.