G2 Fabrication Engineered to Create
Finished mini retro TV in a home setting playing a personal video on its screen

Project

Mini Retro TV Gift Build

Build Date:

This tiny retro-style TV was built as a gift. The case is 3D printed, but the inside is a working little video player built around an LCD and a Raspberry Pi.

The SD card holds videos that play on a loop, so the content can be changed for movies, family clips, or whatever fits the gift. It powers through USB, and the volume knob is wired through a potentiometer so the control actually does something.

Printed Case and Electronics

The first stage was proving that the printed case, speaker grille, LCD, Raspberry Pi, SD card, and wiring could all fit into something that still looked like a tiny TV.

3D printed mini TV case shell showing the speaker grille before electronics were installed
Printed case shell with the speaker grille.
Raspberry Pi, LCD board, SD card, and wiring prepared for the mini TV build
Raspberry Pi and LCD hardware laid out.
Loose LCD screen connected to the Raspberry Pi during an early boot test
First boot test on the loose LCD.

Playback and Controls

Once the Pi and screen were talking, the build moved into playback and controls: getting the video loop running, then working the screen, wiring, and potentiometer hardware into the printed shell.

Loose LCD screen playing video during an early mini TV playback test
Loose LCD playing the first video loop.
LCD, printed case, wiring, and potentiometer control hardware laid out on a cutting mat
Screen, wiring, and control hardware on the bench.
Mini TV case assembled around the LCD while the Raspberry Pi boots
Early assembled case during a boot test.

Final Assembly and Gift Reveal

The finished version keeps the retro TV cues visible: antenna, screen, speaker grille, USB power cable, and the control knob. The small size is the charm, but the real payoff is that it plays custom videos like a tiny dedicated gift screen.

Inside of the printed mini TV case showing the Raspberry Pi, wiring, and screen assembly
Final wiring packed into the case.
Assembled mini retro TV on the workbench playing a video loop
Video loop running in the assembled TV.
Close view of the mini TV front with LCD screen, speaker grille, and control knob visible
Close-up of the screen, grille, and knob.
Finished mini retro TV with antenna, screen, USB power cable, speaker grille, and control knobs
Finished TV with antenna and USB power.
Finished mini retro TV in a home setting playing a personal video on its screen
Finished gift playing videos at home.

It is part electronics project and part keepsake: a tiny 3D-printed TV body, a real Raspberry Pi video loop, and a finished object that feels personal instead of just technical.

Resources:

Tools

Materials

Software

Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase.