Where to find blueprints to use or modify?

[craiganater03]

I've been jumping from step to step while I build, but i think for now I'm going to try to stick to planning and building the cabinet.

For the time being I am not sure if I want to build a full size cabinet, or modify plans to fit them on top of a bar fridge, to make a full sized cabinet, or even modify one to sit the barfridge inside the cabinet. I don't know if I want to add a drawer into it for a keyboard, or just use a wireless bluetooth one I can keep inside of the door, long sorry short, I haven't 100% decided on what kind to build.

Having the final plans will help me overcome a lot of other problems I am having a long the way, to do with coin mech as well, if I need one.
I am feeling really lost and helpless during all of this and I feel that at least having the cabinet planned or built will clear a way through a lot of other problems.

So, is there a place i can find that has plans I can look at to use or modify either using sketch me or just on paper?
Any help I can have along the way would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Generic Eric]

get wireless keyboard
search the forum for plans
setup computer for mame now with your front end etc.
build a "fight stick" to play while you research the cabinet type that is right for you.

Start small.  What you learn in fitting your parts in a bartop now will help your full size stay tidy when you do the interior wiring.

[craiganater03]

I want to buy a wireless keyboard and mouse pad in one kind of thing.
my desktop PC already has all my system and hyperspin and mame set up.
I've been using an Xbox hori fight arcade stick to use so far while I set it up.

I'll have a look through the forum for plans then and see if i can find any to edit.

any build I build will pretty much just be a built pc set yup inside the cabinet, rather than buying real arcade cards and setting up a single machine.

[PL1]

Check out Jakobud.


Scott

[keilmillerjr]

Nothing beats the experience of standing at an upright cabinet and playing a game. Planning and purchasing parts have been taking a long time for my first build. I am not very experienced with cabinet building yet. However, I can say with confidence that you should build exactly what you want the first time or you will just be wasting money. I learned that with car builds. Doing something because it is cheaper only leads to you later spending even more money when you want the better part, or some thing else entirely.

[craiganater03]

You're right, I am worried about the money side of this, which thought the point of me building is to give me something to do while unemployed but anything I try to cut, is just taking it out of what i have dreamt for, for years.

There are a few things I am hesitant about though like adding LED controllers and what not, but not much i can do about it untill i jump in and try them out.

[paigeoliver]

You're right, I am worried about the money side of this, which thought the point of me building is to give me something to do while unemployed but anything I try to cut, is just taking it out of what i have dreamt for, for years.

There are a few things I am hesitant about though like adding LED controllers and what not, but not much i can do about it untill i jump in and try them out.

I built up a 21 room gameroom while unemployed. If you are out of work then you are ready to get the good craiglist deals. Get up early mon-fri and check craigslist every half hour or so. Before you know it a killer deal will pop up and you will get it because all the other collectors are at work.

LED controllers are a recent distraction to the hobby. Check your craigslist a couple times each morning until you can bring home a broken late model golf cabinet for $100. This is both your best value for a rebuild and belongs to a category that most collectors would set on fire given the chance. If you get lucky then you will get a working 27" VGA monitor. Even if you don't get lucky you can get a good $50-$100 back on the monitor and boards even if they are dead.

[michelevit]

I'm not sure why its so important to "build exactly what you want the first time".
You cite 'wasting money' as the reason.
You always have the option to build a second, third or tenth video game cabinet. The first cabinet is often not that last one you are going to build.
The money isn't wasted. I've had no problem selling my cabinets at a nice profit when I wanted to upgrade to something different. Even if  for some odd reason you couldn't sell it, the parts (joysticks, buttons, encoders) all are more than robust to be re-used.

As someone who has built a multitude of cabinets, my advice is to build the cabinet you can today. That may be a small bartop single player. If you get bored of that, sell it and make another.

I don't think the custom car analogy crosses over to arcade cabinets. 

Nothing beats the experience of standing at an upright cabinet and playing a game. Planning and purchasing parts have been taking a long time for my first build. I am not very experienced with cabinet building yet. However, I can say with confidence that you should build exactly what you want the first time or you will just be wasting money. I learned that with car builds. Doing something because it is cheaper only leads to you later spending even more money when you want the better part, or some thing else entirely.