Detailed Instructions

These instructions are for the Retro Funbox shown above(console version), feel free to build from and customize to your preferred size,style, colors etc. Just keep in mind that some of the products and steps may differ from your own build. With that being said it is pretty straight forward and you shouldnt have too many hiccups along the way. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

If you are brand new to retro game emulation, then the first step would be to familiarize yourself with the Raspberry Pi and the operating system that is going to be powering your build. If you are a beginner I would suggest an OS like Recalbox for a more user friendly experience, and if you are a bit seasoned and prefer a bit more customization then RetroPie would likely better suit your needs. Links below for all products and Youtube videos.
Make sure to take a look at all the required items at the bottom of the list and purchase wherever you do your shopping. I found everything needed at Amazon.
The next step would be to decide on a case to house everything. Get creative and choose one that fits the tailored feel and aesthetic that you are going for. I personally like the military,rugged vibe so I found two options that fit this style perfectly. Be sure to check Ebay too, this can grately lower the cost of the build.
The TOYO STEEL T-360 and the Nanuk 910.

4. Now that we have all the products needed, we can start putting down the velcro strips in all of the correct locations, see photos.

Back of monitor

Bottom of Rasp Pi Case

top/bottom of case

Top of battery bank

Bottom of battery bank

5. Now this part is optional but highly recommended. This will involve drilling out a 1” hole on the right side of the case and will allow you to access the power button to the battery bank. This will prevent you from needing to pull out the battery each time you power on/off the unit. With that being said, if you do want to purchase the imuto battery bank, Just make sure the one you choose is the correct MAH (25000 or more),and also has the power button on the right side.

6. Now place the battery bank inside your case taking note of where the power button meets the inside of the case, make a mark and this will be your center point for drilling the hole, if you are not comfortable with drilling, it would be a good idea to put some masking tape over the area to avoid scratching the surrounding area. Once you are satisfied with the hole, make sure there are no sharp jagged edges, and file down if you have to. You can now fit your 1” rubber grommet in that hole. This makes for a finished look and feel,allowing you to access the power button.

7. The next step is to arrange all the components in the proper place, and get ready for cutting our foam piece to fit the empty space. Put down the battery bank first, then the raspberry Pi and case on top allowing for the battery screen to be visible. Place your monitor in the top lid compartment pushed all the way to the left side, this will allow for the future cord inputs to have the space needed to plug in and access smoothly. Cut the foam to size using a utility knife and a straight edge.

My measurements came to approximately 11” wide X 8 3/4” tall

8. Depending on your desired controller choice, trace the outline of the controler, and carfully cut all the way through. Keep in mind that you will be utilizing half of the cutout piece to place back in (see picture)

10. Now its time to Flash the Operating system of your choice onto your Micro SD Card. I have included Youtube video tutorials for each of the Systems for complete beginners to follow along.

The basic steps are:

Format your SD card to FAT 32 format.

Install a program to write the .img file to your card. (Raspberry Pi Imager) balenaEtcher

install the Operating System of choice

Flash download .img file to SD card.

11. Now that you have Your SD card Ready, just plug in all your appropriate power cords utilizing the USB ports on the battery bank, the micro HDMi port on the raspberry pi, your 90 degree USB, 90 degree type C on the monitor.

Plug into the Raspberry Pi and power on.

Let the OS boot, may take a min or two.

To add games, gather your desired games (Roms) from your backup files or wherever you get them….A Google search will get you there, add the file to the Rom folder on the SD card that matches the console name.