HELP with a control pannel for a BIG project

[matt.e]

I have just started work on a new cabinet (my first), i have built the cabinet shell but i could use some help building the control pannel. i would like to use it on my PC (win XP) aswell as my cab (and share the monitor but thats sorted) ANYWAY...
can anyone help me on how to build the control (4-player, 1 joystick per player (2 for player 1), 2 trackballs (for use as a mouse aswell), 2 spinners and 6 buttons per player)
seems like a lot but it's a VERY BIG cabinet (2.75m x 2.25m x2m with a 60" plasma screen [non-commercial], when i can afford it)

[Apollo]

Um, didn't you already say in another post that you had finished this machine and that the control panel was 32sq feet?

Confused???

[tmasman]

well...
Build a box out of 3/4 MDF with "L" brackets inside, put a hinged top on it, drill some holes, add some parts & wiring, have fun!

How much detail are you looking for?
What kind of details are you not sure on?
Give us a few more clues as to what you need help with & we'll do our best.

[unclet]

Do a search on "Scott's Unicade Mame" and you will find his site detailing how he built he cabinet with nice pictures on how he built his control panel box.  The trick to building a nice well built control panel is to use wood glue and screws.

[Daver4676]

I had the same desires for my CP but after talking to a few people here (very helpful), viewing dozens of examples and, finally, working a layout on my own -- I learned that a bigger CP doesn't really help.   You make the control panel too deep and no one can reach the back contols.  Too wide and no one can see the TV.  

You may want to look at plans for a rotating panel or a swappable panel (www.1uparcade.com has good designs for his own rotating panel plus links to others with slightly different modifications).  That advice was given to me in my original post.  I'm designing a panel that's partially rotating (i.e. players 1 and 4 are always on board off to the sides while the center switches - plans on that common soon).  

It may be just me but if I was to get a plasma TV I'd use that thing for my entertainment center in the living room.  Putting it in a cab may be overkill.   Unless you're making one of those modern arcade games simulators that takes up half the space of the room.  But since I can't envision the dimensions of one of those accurately I'll let you be the judge.