UPDATE: 2019
I've finished putting the computer together. I polled some people on reddit r/cade/ and the prevailing thought was that I should start fixing the wiring first. So, naturally, I worked on the computer.
I updated the computer from Maximus to hyperspin. Was a bit of a learning curve but I have it as playable as I can get it short of integrating LED wiz and mapping the controllers on every platform. I put the computer in and played around on the existing control deck. I figure the remaining changes to the computer will be the last part once all the other things are done on the cabinet.
This week I had some time to started attacking the tasks on upgrading the cabinet.
Goals:
Sand and laminate (glossy, matte, or satin finish?)
Install screw in nuts in the CP with a close hinge to allow it to open easier.
install hinge on the back. Possibly piano hinge. Or something easily accessible
possibly put handle on back, wheels on rear
Possibly more design elements into side art area
install fans in the top and air vents in bottom (air filter?)
replace the gold T-molding with silver t-molding
replace the gun hoses and the dowel rod holsters
install an LCD marquee (glass cover?)
Install lighting elements in the side art and in the CP
Rewire CP, quiet the buttons and
Down the road: redo the CP completely.
The paint job has always bugged me. It's spotty in some places and very rough. I going to cover the outside with laminate black laminate. My old CRT cabinet had matte finished black laminate. Not sure if I should get glossy or matte. Maybe glossy would go nice with the chrome joys? Maybe satin?
I removed one piece from the top where the USB fans will be installed. I sanded the piece and can already tell the wood was scrap as it had previous cuts and holes that had been painted over. (nice)
Previously there were black rubber garden hoses used for conduit for the AIM track guns. The hoses were rigid and would sometimes push the guns out of the dowel rod they were perched on if they were turned the wrong way.
I got official holsters from HAPP to properly hold the guns to replace the dowels and I'm going to use old pay phone handset tubing as the conduit.(I work in telecom and found some randomly) The USB cable fits with a little give allowing it to move nicely