Time to update my MAME Cabinet, need advice?

[excaliburlives]

   Hello, it's been over 10 years since i've done anything to my cabinet and i want to upgrade. I'm upgrading to windows 10 and a complete restart. I also want to install all new LED buttons and maybe one of those signs that go on top of the machine displaying the game name. I have a few questions about this upgrade.

1.) Where can i get quality led translucent buttons?

2.)  Should they be a solid color or clear with changing colors?

3.) Do they make lighted joysticks like Happ 8-WAY COMPETITION JOYSTICK? Or is it just ball top joysticks?

4.) Have they perfected LED T-molding yet?

   i Would welcome any and all advice, Thank you.

[Howard_Casto]

1.  You can get translucent buttons of a decent quality, but they aren't as good as happ.  GGG has the electric ice and you can find translucent leaf style on ebay.
2.  That's up to you.  Obviously if you are using RGB leds they have to be clear/white.  Just remember that rgb leds take up three outputs on your controller board, not one. 
3.  Yes and no.  You can buy illuminated sanwa style joysticks and get translucent bat tops for them.  They obviously aren't happ style though. 
4.  Hell no... that stuff looks like garbage. 

[JRobATL]

Ultimarc also has several LED button options. At the moment, I'm deciding on which ones to get myself. ...leaning towards the chrome surround, white RGB buttons.

[excaliburlives]

   I didn't think the t-molding was ready yet. Now i need to decide how to pick the buttons, My vision or hope is to set it up like this.

    I wanted clear white buttons so  that i could preset the colors,  lets say... Mortal Kombat, and then go over to Defender and have the button color change to that game. Is that at all possible with the controller card? If, not then i'll just go with the colored LED ones.

   I couldn't find any clear concave buttons. Happ only has solid concave buttons not LED's. My last question is, should i get an actlabs light gun? I have a 25"  Wells Gardner D9400 CRT Monitor. WI want it ill it work well? Is there a btter option out there for me?

I would rather have Happ's light guns but i'm not sure if they can be hooked up without a jamma board. Money isnt an issue in this upgrade.


 

[Howard_Casto]

It's possible, but you'll need a software solution as well.  Ledblinky or mamehooker should work. 

Folks those chrome surround buttons are for redemption machines... they don't feel good for gameplay.  Groovy gamer gear is the only place I know of that sells translucent white concave buttons... I'm sure Andy has an ultimarc equivalent though. 

The current act labs guns are really a "well it's the best we've got" solution for lcd monitors.  If you are going to use a crt then you'd be much better off getting a traditional light gun.  If you could find the old style act labs for crts that'd work great.  I'm not familiar enough with happ's guns to be of any help there. 

[excaliburlives]

OK, looks like i'm going with Ultimarc for the buttons. Only thing left to do is figure out a way to use actual arcade light gun on my monitor. Thanks for all the help guys.