What cab type/brand/model is best for a Mame conversion ?

[Mamezilla]

Hello,

I'm in the early planning stage for my cab.  I've browsed thru a lot of the free plans available everywhere on the net, but since I do not have any woodworking skills, I guess my easiest way around would be to buy an empty cab, and to repair and convert it.  My soldering skills are not bad however.

About 45 minutes from here, there is an amusement machine supplier who told me he had a few empty and/or stripped cabs, at prices ranging between $50 and $200 canadian, depending on the model.  I'm hoping to get one that still has a coin door and a good working monitor.  I'm also hoping that he has a StarWars yoke that he would sell me cheap, but I do not have high hopes for that...

Since I want to get a cab before winter comes (since I don't wanna bring it home in the snow), I'm planning to go to that amusement place in the next few weeks.  

I've seen examples of cabs converted to Mame with some Atari, Midway old style and Konami cabs.  I like how the Konami cabs are designed (a little bit like this one http://wamadeus.tripod.com/frm_en.htm that was made by a fellow Quebecer).  

I plan my control panel to include 2  8way sticks, one 4 way, a trigger, one set of 6 or 8 buttons, a spinner and a 3" trackball.  I've not made my CP layout yet, but I'm checking thru examples of others BOYACers.  The only thing that worries me is that the width  of the cab must not be more than 32 inches, which is the width of the basement door.  I could always plan to make the CP removable anyhow, if that part of the cab makes it more than 32 ".

So, I would like to know what type/brand/model of cabinets you guys used for your conversion.  Also, any suggestions about which one I should look for when I go to that amusement place will be appreciated very much.

[SirPoonga]

Well, if you want control panel space, which you will need if you want all those controls on one panel, look for a midway cabinet.  The cabinet the Simpson, TMNT, NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat was in.

[jakejake28]

i always thought that the sega gremlin looked nice to put a good sized cp on...

[paigeoliver]

You won't be able to make ANY choices about which cabinet you get if you want that many controls. Frankly you will be lucky if they even have a cabinet with a panel large enough to take all that stuff.

There really isn't much any difference between the assorted 4-player (you will need a 4-player sized panel for all those controls), cabinets. There are not a lot of cabinets that are wider than 32", and most of those that are wider can get narrower by removing something or other.

Deluxe cabinets that size with working monitors are the machines least likely to be sitting around the operators warehouse waiting to be parted/sold.

Now, if you can live with a standard type cabinet, then my first suggestion is simply to get the nicest looking complete cabinet with decent controls that they have.

If it is a huge place with many choices, then look for a Defender (or former Defender). They have wooden rectangular control panels that are simple to replace, they use a nice monitor shelf that makes installing a replacement monitor very simple, and they are built like a tank.

Pac/Galaxian cabinets are also good choices, not because of high build quality, but because you can buy brand new metal control panels for them (replacing missing metal control panels can be tough).