Need plans for a short cab, (not a mini)

[bsoder52]

Hi all!

It's been years since I've been on here.  I was an active member on this site for awhile while building my full size Arcade cabinet which was based of Lucid's design.  As the years have gone by my life has changed and now instead of entertaining friends with parties and the full size video game being the center of attention in our party room I now entertain my two daughters and the Arcade machine made it's way to the garage due to lack of space as it's a monster cabinet! 

My oldest is now 4 and I'd like to introduce her to gaming but there just isn't room for the cabinet in the house.  I'd like to construct a new cabinet, a short version so the kids don't need stools to play it.  I tried searching the forums but all I could find were mini cabs.  I don't want to build a mini cab, and I don't want to build a bartop cab.  I need plans for a cab where the control panel is about 2 feet off the ground.  Space is at a premium in our house right now so plans with a small footprint is ideal, but sturdy enough build so the cab won't fall over on the baby. 

Thinking down the road I could build a base for this type of model and have it turn into a fuller size cab perhaps?

Control panel will most likely be a Street Fighter set-up, although playing the 4-way controlled games has always bothered me a bit.   So perhaps for the kids I might just build cab with 4-way games, although it would be cool to see them play together so uncertain.

Thanks much for any help or pointing me in the right direction!
Bsoder52

[DeLuSioNal29]

Sounds like you could use a Vigolix style cab.

Here's one that I built:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141778.msg1467318.html#msg1467318

Here's another that Dr. Chek built (Here's the SketchUp file for the version he built.)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,119909.0.html

And of course, the original by Vigo:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=119533.0

It's made mostly from a single 2' x 4' piece of either plywood or MDF.


Good luck!

DeLuSioNaL29

[bsoder52]

Interesting!  That might be a great design to go with for a full stand-up model later.  Right now with little kids I think I need something closer to the ground, like this perhaps...
I appreciate the idea and would like to see some other ideas if possible.  Also, I think for this one I'm going to go simple with a 4-way joystick and minimal buttons, more old school games.  I see there are now Jamma boards out there with games, do these have front ends built in?  I also see kits out there with wires that are ready for quick installs which is great!  I remember spending HOURS wiring my first cab (and many sore fingers).    Any advice on which kits to go with for a simple system are appreciated as well!  I'm now thinking of trying to make a set-up for my 4 year old for xmas!

[Generic Eric]

Look for Louis Tully'so and shrunken masters latest builds.  Or maybe you want a cocktail?

[BorgDog]

You say in your first post

I need plans for a cab where the control panel is about 2 feet off the ground. 

I think DeLuSioNal29 nailed it with the Vigolix, did you see this pic?  I think it could easily be attached to the wall so no fall over danger.



Many more in this thread. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,140348.ms

Or maybe something like this would work better, no chance of it falling on the baby:



Thread here:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,128666.msg1315226.html#msg1315226

[nitrogen_widget]

That last one has "step here" written all over it.
Could never leave that on the floor with my boys and the dog.

But still looks pretty cool.
Like a cocktail bar top.