Xarcade Tank Stick Help.

[JJRambo]

Hello,
 i am not good with tools and would never be able to builde my own cabinet for my XARCADE tanks stick.
My question is what old game cabinet would be best fit to gut for this controler and my PC? Also, how if the cab comes with a CRT monitor.....do i hook it to a computer video card? i am pretty new at this stuff.

Most importantly though, which old coin op is best.

[Vebbo]

Hello,
 i am not good with tools and would never be able to builde my own cabinet for my XARCADE tanks stick.
My question is what old game cabinet would be best fit to gut for this controler and my PC?

I think there are different solutions to fit xarcade, try to search this forum

Also, how if the cab comes with a CRT monitor.....do i hook it to a computer video card? i am pretty new at this stuff.

ArcadeVGA from Ultimark http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html

Most importantly though, which old coin op is best.

Oh man, that u have to figure out yourself 

[Donkbaca]

You might want to think about simply making your own Control Panel and then transplanting the Xarcade guts into it.  Its real simple, just make a plain wooden box and drill some holes into it. Then pain it to match the cabinet.  That's what I am doing.  It will make your cab look better than just sticking the x-arcade into it.

A lot of people bash x-gaming stuff on here.  I love their stuff, its what introduced me to this hobby.  You would be amazed how easily you can change out buttons/joysticks.

good luck!

[eds1275]

Yeah the x-arcade isn't as bad as people make out. It's not amazing that's for sure.

I kind of equate it to my other hobbies - for example, my $200 bicycle works just fine... and I ride it A LOT. I ride more than anyone I know, and my bike is the cheapest of all my bike riding friends. But if I were to ride a $2000 for example, by comparison my bike would be a clunky POS.

[Donkbaca]

I actually like the X-arcade sticks.  Look at the reviews for it, it has good diagonals, which I like for the fighters, and I like my joysticks to be "clicky"  I swapped out my buttons though.  I think the encoder is also pretty decent. 

[Cleverone]

Find a cabinet thats 25 inches wide or just build your own. Use google it really helps gett'in started out. Tankstick is what I'am using and have had no complaints, it's holding up really well and it would have cost me more to build my own so I didn't see the savings side of it. There's nothing wrong with the tankstick w/trackball set up in a cab, check out my pic's at arcadecabs.com  there's quite a few designs with the Tankstick-set-up.

[JJRambo]

Thanks for the help everyone........

Also, i tried asking in the maximus arcade forum.....but no help.
How can i get ATARI800XL to work in Maximus? i tried everything
here is my post on other forum for info if you can help

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=106919.0

[JJRambo]

Bump...

 Still checking to see, since no way can or will i build my own, whats the best cabinet to modify for my Xarcade tankstick?

been lookin on craigslist and found a bunch that are under $200. Any suggestions?

[Donkbaca]

Honestly, none, any cab with an x-arcade stuck on it looks like garbage.  I was going to do this at first, but then ditched the idea because I never saw one build that used an x-arcade on it that didn't look out of place or half assed

[markronz]

Ok, to echo some sentiments people have already discussed.   I think Xarcade stuff is ok.   Certainly not amazing, but definitely passable.   Their encoder is fine too, unless you think you'll have a need to remap key presses the buttons are set to.  I don't think there is a way to do this (last I checked anyway).

I would also agree with others that slapping an xarcade onto an arcade generally does not look good.   If you're not into looks and just want a stand up arcade machine that's playable, then go for it, slap one on there.  But then you need to ask yourself why you'd building a cabinet to begin with.  Why not just set the tankstick in front of your monitor with two chairs there.

Regarding what is the most optimal arcade cabinet to use however, there really is no easy answer.  There's no clear winner.  There's many many different arcade cab shapes.  It's really up to you to look at the tank stick, look at the cabinet, and think about how you would attach it.   Most often it would seem that the easiest solution would be to cut the existing wood on the cabinet and make a "shelf" to rest the tankstick on, and then bolt, screw, glue, whatever you want to, to hold it on there.    So you really need to look at the shape of the cabinet and decide for yourself.   Obviously the oether consideration is the desired screen size.   Be sure to get a cabinet that's big enough to hold the desired monitor.      

Also, just another little piece of advice.  $200 is a lot to be asking.   I personally have never paid more than $60 for an empty cabinet (and I thought $60 was even a lot).   The one exception was that I bought a 4 player cabinet that was $100.    Generally you want a gutted cabinet, and hope to pay $50 or less.

[markronz]

Just to give you a few images to illustrate this shelf concept.

Here is my last arcade I made, in it's original shape:


Then here it is after I cut a shelf for my control box to rest on:


That's another thing you may find helpful, to browse around the site (project announcements is a good place to look) to see what other people have done.   Here is a link to my build log as well:
http://www.markronsman.com/arcade2.htm

[Donkbaca]

You don't even have to cut a shelf, just cut out a new top piece and drill the holes and transplant the x-arcade.

I like the x-arcade a lot, I just don't think it looks right as a CP, it always sticks out like a sore thumb

[BobA]

They work great for some people but there a quite a few haters due to the look.  Here is a pic of a cab with an x arcade cp.  Now if you could cover up the big X it might look ok.

Link to Cab Build

[spystyle]

For me "X" always marked where to dig. I always want to thrust a spade shovel into those panels.

Or at least swap the noisy micro switches out for Happ Cherry switches  

[markronz]

You don't even have to cut a shelf, just cut out a new top piece and drill the holes and transplant the x-arcade.

I like the x-arcade a lot, I just don't think it looks right as a CP, it always sticks out like a sore thumb

This is true.  If you are ok with the original sized control panel, you could definitely just make the top CP board and put it in there.   I however wanted more room, so that's why I did what I did.  And it sort of sounds like he may not want to transplant the innards.   I personally would definitely transplant them too, if it were me.   There's really no way to escape all woodworking, and making a CP is mostly just getting the right sized wood and drilling holes.   But if you still don't want to do that, the shelf idea is one fairly easy way of attaching it.

[markronz]

They work great for some people but there a quite a few haters due to the look.  Here is a pic of a cab with an x arcade cp.  Now if you could cover up the big X it might look ok.

Link to Cab Build

You could always just order some artwork from GameOnGrafix or whomever, and cover up the top of the tankstick too.

[markronz]

Additionally, you could search the forum to see if others have come up with artwork to cover that ugly X.  There's probably someone that's asked or done it before.

Here's one thread...though I didn't read the entire thing.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92263.0;all

[BobA]

You could cover the top of the CP with adhesive vinyl.

vinyl

[taylormadelv]

I understand what you are asking, as right now you probably do not have the ability to drill and mortise a trackball opening and/or joystick openings and button holes. So you want an "easy out" and just slap the x-arcade on a finished cabinet. Many of us, including myself, started off with x-arcade stuff and usually "move up" to the ipac, keywiz and other parts.
The only cabinet I can think of that might work with the tankstick is a big Midway MK type cabinet, remove the cp and install your tankstick. If you look around, you will see many examples of attempts to make something like this look good and it has a limit. It will only look "so good" and never be as nice if you figured out a way to transfer the guts to the cp already on a game but like I said, not everyone has the cababilities to do all kinds of arcade stuff when you first start out. Good luck!

[JJRambo]

Thank you so much people!
 I have a place to start and can start searching. I defiantly do not have the time or knowledge to transplant controls and i don't really care if it doesn't look perfect. Gonna paint the cab black, get some decals and call it day. Right now it's sitting on a nightstand and the monitor is on a dresser. Anything is better than that. So i really only care about the FUN and playing it.

[BobA]

Another xarcade cab.   Black is good. 

[Donkbaca]

I just don't understand, if you are going to go through all the trouble of building a cab, spend the extra hour and a half and build a CP box

[Hoopz]

I just don't understand, if you are going to go through all the trouble of building a cab, spend the extra hour and a half and build a CP box

Bump...

 Still checking to see, since no way can or will i build my own, whats the best cabinet to modify for my Xarcade tankstick?

been lookin on craigslist and found a bunch that are under $200. Any suggestions?

If people really don't like the X-Arcade logo, then take the buttons and joys out and put an overlay over the top or paint it another color.  Or don't worry about what anybody thinks.  Just put the CP on there and have fun.  That's the real point of this hobby!  

Edit:  I missed BobA's post about this earlier.... 

[Donkbaca]

Its not the logo, its the fact that the box looks out of place in every build I have seen.  It always look like it was stuck on a cab as an afterthough.

[Hoopz]

Its not the logo, its the fact that the box looks out of place in every build I have seen.  It always look like it was stuck on a cab as an afterthough.

Meh, who cares?  If it works and meets the OP's needs, who cares if it looks funny or out of place?  It works, it plays games, and it's fun.  Those are the important things. 

[Donkbaca]

You know what Hoopz I CARE, because I have a big heart and care about people.  You shouldn't be so selfish and think about others for a change!

In all seriousness do what you want, just know that it will look like ass. If you are cool with it, then hey, good for you.

[spystyle]

I'd like to compare the price and quality of the X-Arcade panel against a DIY. I am under the impression you could build your own for less money using better parts.

[Donkbaca]

Nah, it would probably be about the same.  I think the x-arcade is quality stuff, but its a desktop CP, not somehting meant to be mounted on a cab. IMHO