First project control panel advice needed!

[Germs]

So first off I want to say hello to everyone on these forums since it is my first time here.

I picked up an old Killer Instict cabinet last night for free and want to restore it/convert it to a mame. My question here though is about the control panel and how I should go about doing it. Since there's already a previous control panel on the machine and underneath the current art slip on the CP there are still the cut holes for the old Killer Instict machine, I thought i'd just purchase my own parts and install my own joysticks/buttons/ect.

I could also just go the X-arcade route and have it be all said and done. As far as price goes, would buying my own buttons/sticks be more costly than an xarcade would? Would I be able to build something of much higher quality if I bought the Happ stick/button parts myself? I take it i'd also need a board like the I-Pac to connect everything up.

If anyone can offer a newcomer some advice on control panel options it'd be very much appreciated!

Here are a few pictures of the current CP layout (note that you can only see the holes from underneath the CP because I need to remove the current art slip from the top of the CP of which is covering the holes).





Thanks everyone I appreciate the help!

[Brian74]

You have to ask yourself if you want it to look original or not. If you do, do it yourself. Its not that overwhelming. You can have the buttons go with the color of your theme if you want. You could go with mag-stick plus so you can switch between 4-way and 8-way. That way you dont have to have a dedicated 4-way.  I did mine, but now I am swapping out my i-pac for 2 ps360+. That way I can play dreamcast, xbox, xbox 360, ps1, ps2, ps3, pc games and emulators.

[Ozzy_98]

Funny KI cab, they were 6 buttons like the street fighters.

I'd go with customizing it, with your own parts.  Buttons are cheap, happ joysticks are around $8 for low-end ones, iPAC or the GPWiz being the most expensive item, so all in all they're pretty much always cheaper than x-arcade.  I like the x-arcade stuff for stand-alone joysticks, but for a cab, just wire your own up, it's simple and cheaper.

[BobA]

Remember you are not getting quality parts with the X arcade.  They are knockoffs of real Happ controls.  Some people like the feel and others hate it. Their interface gives you lots of options (other consoles etc) but at a cost.  Do not buy from Happs as the shipping will kill you.  Buy from one of the good venders in Buy and Sell. 

To get a real quality control panel build you own for very close to the cost of the X arcade and you will have the knowledge and pride that you built it yourself.

[monkey puzzle]

I would definatley buy my own parts and start from scratch. The wiring is much easier than you think, and the quality is better. Also you might want to think about cutting a piece of ply-wood and making the control panel from scratch. That way you can have the button layout the way you want it.

[Yenome]

yea thats the Mk layout. tho they do tend to be in the same style cabs. I would say buy you an ipac2. and some buttons and sticks, you will be much happier later than buying the xgaming gear. not that they have bad gear its just of a different level than buying happ and ipac. i bought the xgaming sticks and button set and a xinmo from GGG and im happy with my cheap stick but im sure later ill be upgrading to an ipac and some happ sticks.  man im jelly wish i could get a ki cab for free.