Is this a good deal??

[Sinner]

I was in a store today, and the guy had a "Killer Instinct", and an "NFL Bltz 99"...both were stripped of their PCBs and monitors...he's asking $100CDN each...
I was looking to build from scratch, but after finding these, I think I could make a decent 4 player out of one them...

There is already a bezel, speakers, coin door, control panel (I could use the parts)and glass...all things I would need to buy for my "from scratch" cabinet...

What should I look for?

[Sinner]

Now that I think about it, the fron of the cabinet where the coindoor is, wasn't flat on the NFL Blitz...it was made up of 3 pieces and stuck out a little...maybe it wasn't an orginal...

[AlanS17]

Depending on their condition, that's a very good price. The condition of the cabinet means everything, though.

And building a 4-player control panel for one would be a snap. The control panel on there is modular. It unbolts and you can add a newer, bigger one with iimal effort. Just make the new one fit where the old one went..

And some Midways cabs come out like that and some don't. For instance, Killer Instinct had a flat front, but the Mortal Kombat series had 3-piece fronts. They're all Midway cabinets though, and they're all good.

[CheffoJeffo]

Which store (is it up in North Etobicoke, by chance ?) ?  How's the artwork ?

Personally, I don't think C$100 is all that bad if the cab is in good shape ... there are those who will say it is too much, but I don't think you would be getting ripped off so long as the cabinet is solid.

Cheers.

[AlanS17]

Those cabinets are premium. Otherwise, think of it this way...

Fully functional Killer Instinct in perfect condition = $800
Game board and hard drive = $150
monitor = $300

That leaves a cabinet worth $350 if it's in great condition. That's probably alot for what you want it for, but I think $100 is a great price. And those cabinets, even without sideart, are perfect-sized and solid.

[CheffoJeffo]

Those cabinets are premium. Otherwise, think of it this way...

Fully functional Killer Instinct in perfect condition = $800
Game board and hard drive = $150
monitor = $300

That leaves a cabinet worth $350 if it's in great condition. That's probably alot for what you want it for, but I think $100 is a great price. And those cabinets, even without sideart, are perfect-sized and solid.

Agreed, and I would probably buy one at that price (Sinner's got dibs, though) ... the only reason I am not 100% gung ho on the price is that big solid cabs with good monitors and parts have been going for under $200 at auction here recently.

At the last Starburst auction (which I missed due to my wedding anniversary ),  Hit The Ice went for C$150, Virtua Fighter 2/3 for C$125, Simpsons for C$125. Granted, these were probably rather worn (but I believe they were all working ... RayB, were you there?? GGKoul?? Menace ??), but if you can pick up a working 25" monitor for an additional $25-50, that is not a bad deal ... and then you can sell the board to recoup some of that.

Now, of course, the next auction will have nothing but lousy, expensive cabinets ... that would be my luck.

Cheers.

EDIT: Having said all of that, reading the current Dreamcast thread and seeing the cool games, then looking at the 25" TV in the living room  ... I realize that I really need a Dreamcast cab and that all I have to do is buy a DC, a bigger TV for the living room and one of the cabinets above.

[AlanS17]

Keep in mind that a 25" TV will probably not fit into most 25" cabinets. The case would be too large. If you don't mind de-casing, though, go for it.

[AceTKK]

that's a very good price if the cabs are solid (no water dmg, etc.).  Especially considering it's in Canadian dollars.  You should buy both, make two MAME cabs, and sell one to recoup the costs of the one you keep.

-Ace-

[RayB]

I disagree that a fully working KI is worth $800, but anyways, $100 is not too bad. Just look for structural damage, water damage (which is "puffyness" of the wood).

Basically if you look all around and you feel comfortable with it, and when you push it, it doesnt feel like various parts are wobbly and loose, then go for it.

[Sinner]

Which store (is it up in North Etobicoke, by chance ?) ?

[CheffoJeffo]

Which store (is it up in North Etobicoke, by chance ?) ?  How's the artwork ?

Personally, I don't think C$100 is all that bad if the cab is in good shape ... there are those who will say it is too much, but I don't think you would be getting ripped off so long as the cabinet is solid.

Cheers.

Yeah, that's the place...the artwork isn't too bad on KI, but the other has been painted over...you can still see the artwork through the paint though...

Heard about it, but haven't made my way up there yet ...

In any event C$100 is a good price, and even better if the art is OK (and you like it) and the cab is solid.

Or you could take you chance at auction, but that can be a crapshoot, particularly with The Kid bidding everything up (although he hasn't sold much recently, so maybe he's going to take a break ... I can only hope).

Cheers.

[Sinner]

Which store (is it up in North Etobicoke, by chance ?) ?

[CheffoJeffo]

I hate that guy...last auction I went to, he ended up getting everything I bid on...I ended up grabbing both...they're supposed to drop them off at my house today...should be there when I get home...I hope it's not too hard to make a couple of decent machines out of these...

Yeah, he's outbid me a few times ... I'm still watching for those machines on eBay ... I would LOVE to get it for less than he paid.

Those cabinets should be great -- it really is lovely how the CP pops off, to you can build you own, if you wish.

Congrats ... look forward to the pictures.

Cheers.

[Sinner]

I hate that guy...last auction I went to, he ended up getting everything I bid on...I ended up grabbing both...they're supposed to drop them off at my house today...should be there when I get home...I hope it's not too hard to make a couple of decent machines out of these...

Yeah, he's outbid me a few times ... I'm still watching for those machines on eBay ... I would LOVE to get it for less than he paid.

Those cabinets should be great -- it really is lovely how the CP pops off, to you can build you own, if you wish.

Congrats ... look forward to the pictures.

Cheers.

Thanks...my wood working skills aren't the best, but I think I have an idea of how to start...CLEAN THEM...it's gotta be the first thing...with my luck there'll be dead animals in them, or worse, live animals or bugs...
I'm going to try and add castors and keyboard tray...the CP will be the most difficult, as I'm not really that good with wood...
So far I've collected:
IPAC4
OPTIPAC
2 x T-Stik
2 x T-Stik Plus
Hundreds of buttons
TB or 2
Wiring kit
A bunch of 21" monitors, though my plan is to use a 27" TV
MiniPAC
5 x HAPP Supers
Wico balltop
A bunch of black t-molding

I want to pickup a spinner and maybe a flight stick...

[Sinner]

I got the cabinets today...they're in pretty good shape...I'll clean up the garage, so I can move them to get some pics...I found out it's not an NFL Blits, but a converted "Hit The Ice"...I really like the shape of this cab...I think I'll start on it first...the KI I think I'm going to try and restore the cabinet...the artwork is in good shape...I dunno what game was in it, but the CP has a hole for a TB...

[EDIT] Added pic of cab.,,I like the shape of this one...

[AlanS17]

They put a trackball hole in a KI? 

Did they ruin the overlay?

[Sinner]

They put a trackball hole in a KI?

[M3talhead]

Heh. Until now I hadnt realzed that the "Hit the Ice" cab is almost the same shape as an original Gauntlet (which is what I used for my first MAME cab).

-----Goes back to playing Xbox.

[AlanS17]

That Hit the Ice is huge I bet it sticks out 4 feet from the wall.

[M3talhead]

That Hit the Ice is huge I bet it sticks out 4 feet from the wall.

It does. 

[Sinner]

It's visibly taller than the KI, but not quite as wide...I think it's much deeper though...rightnow these things are just shoved into the garage...once I can move things around, and place them so I can work on them, I will post some pics...

[Sinner]

So I took a look tonight at the KI...they made it into some bowling game...
The other CP, from the HTI has 4 49way sticks in it...now I have to see what I can do with them...I think I can make a flight stick out of one of these, if I remember correctly...