Determining Cab Dimensions & Monitor Placement

[teetu]

I searched for sometime for detailed info on different interal frame design or monitor support, but I couldn't find anything very specific because there are many ways to describe it.  I would greatly appreciate any help, since I'm finally going to be starting my first full sized cab after discovering this website years ago.

I have already made a 2/3 scale galaga replica, but because of it's light weight I only needed to use dowels and glue (all it had was a 4in1 with a very light 13" TV).  Now I'm attempting to make a full sized cab (think something along the lines of lucid or UA2) and I know I can't get away with simply screwing & gluing panels.

My first issue is that I have a WG K7400 with a universal mount that I'm not too sure on how to "hang" in the cab.  I actually built a temporary housing for it in so I could get it running with mame since it's taken me years to actually getting around to building a cab.  I have attached a picturefor reference, and it kind of speaks for itself.  Is this the approach I should use?  I have 2X4s behind the face frame the monitor is bolted to.  I would REALLY appreciate any better ideas or suggestions with a universal mount type monitor.

Secondly I also have a happ controls monitor bezel, and have no idea how to determine the width of my cab in the monitor area.  I know you can cut down the sides of the monitor bezel, but its hard to tell how it will look since it sticks out from the monitor and I can't really judge the cut off points.  I know this might not make sense, but I'm having difficulty describing it.  Also I can't determine how deep the monitor should be, since its difficult to judge how far out the bezel sticks out from the monitor.  I guess the bottom line is that i can't find an EXACT fit for the bezel- it can kind of shift around slightly and I'm not sure how to center it perfectly and take measurements.

LASTLY, i have noticed several design approaches when it comes to the internal structure of a cab.  I really want to keep the weight of this thing down (i'm gonna use hardboard on the back instead of MDF) and I know that a extensive 2X4 frame can really weigh alot since thats what happened with my WG monitor frame that I mentioned above.  Can i attach 2X4s flat on each half of the cab, then use 3/4" plywood as the horizontal supports between the two halves?  I think I've seen that done here, but don't know how they hold up.

Any help is appreciated since I want to get this thing up and going since its been about 3 years.

[c64rulez]

How much does your tv/monitor weigh ?
How wide will that shelf be ?

[teetu]

i don't know exactly how much the k7400 weighs, but it's a decent amount (not extremely heavy and not light either).

I'm just very frustrated with myself, simply because I don't know how to determine my cabs dimensions based on my monitor size and the happs 25" bezel.  I dont know how deep it should be, how to transition between the bezel and panel under the marquee etc.  Help!!!

[c64rulez]

i don't know exactly how much the k7400 weighs, but it's a decent amount (not extremely heavy and not light either).

That's pretty evasive. Is it a female monitor ?