Need a tiny bit of advice before getting started...

[Jeff AMN]

Ok, I'm about ready to get started with my project, most likely I'll have the cabinet cut out and painted before the weekend. Where I'm really hung up is on the control panel. 

Below I have an image of what I'm looking to create, but I'd like to see if any experts out there notice any major faults or even things that could become minor annoyances. I'm pretty happy with the design here, but I'm open for suggestions that could lead to some changes.

NOTE: This is a rough Illustrator sketch of the panel, the artwork hasn't been implemented here...

[Farmboy90]

If I did mine all over again I would not have a dedicated ESC button.  The built in IPAC shift key works fine.  I would definately NOT have a setup button either.  Don't do it enough to justify a dedicated button.  Again the shift key works fine.

I would also remove the two buttons under the trackball.  I have a similar setup to yours and just use the two buttons to the right of the spinner.  Works great with less clutter.

Oh, a defiantely no reset button.  Not even sure if I have ever used that functionality.

[yugffuts]

Unless you're playing very delicately with the trackball, I would get those 2 mouse buttons out of the way, or I would be pressing them accidentally all the time.  My brother would probably break the spinner after following through on the TB while playing golden tee, too.

[Jeff AMN]

Ok, so taking in account the recommendations, I would end up with something like this (below):

Does this look good, any other suggestions?

[ssc arcade]

here is a pic of my CP.

I personally like having the mouse buttons above the trackball.  I definitely would not like them below.  I definitely would not have anything taller than a button directly above the trackball.

I don't mind having my spinner off to the side.  I would also recommend having the service buttons on another surface.

[Lilwolf]

I would add a unthroddle button to replace the reset.  I have this to both unthrottle AND showfps both set to the same button.  So when I press it, the game speeds up and shows the fps (so you know its going fast... sometimes its not obvious).

Anyway, I use that more then I use the pause button.  Enough that I keep wanting to make it closer to the finalburn version that will only run when the button is pressed... but that would require modification to the input I don't know about.  My final 'perfect' version would be while the button is pressed, it changes it to frameskip maxed, unthrottle and show the fps...  Then when you release it goes back to the previous frameskip, throttles and hides the fps (if it hid it to begin with).

And agree with much of the above.  But consider buying some cheap press board and building a temp control panel.  Get it wired up and use it for a week or two...  Then do the real one...  Press board is super cheap... and you might change your mind... want extra buttons... find you never use others... find thta you want more space around the trackball for some game...ect...

[AtomSmasher]

I disagree about not having the hidden buttons for the setup menu, I like having the buttons off there.  Granted their not used too much after you set everything up, but I find myself playing new games every once and a while and I'd probably think twice about doing that if I had to dig out the keyboard everytime I didn't like the default setup of a game.  I agree the reset game button isn't needed, instead I made that key an "enter" key so I could navigate the setup menu.  If you like using the shift mode, then I suppose they're not needed, but I like making my control panel idiot/kid proof so you don't have to worry about pressing 2 buttons at once and having something unexpected happen.

[leapinlew]

Ok, so taking in account the recommendations, I would end up with something like this (below):

Does this look good, any other suggestions?

I just used a slikstik that had the spinner above the trackball. I just about broke my finger playing world class bowling. Moving it off to the side could save you a lawsuit... Sure, you may not have a large follow through on games, but I do. Your choice - game play vs. asthetics.

[Jeff AMN]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I had just pretty much decided what I wanted until I got a phone call about 10 minutes ago. Apparently a buddy of mine tracked down a WORKING and pretty clean Killer Instinct cabinet.

Now my project plans might have changed from build my own cab to doing a simple PC2Jamma project. I would miss the trackball and spinner support though...

Ack! Decisions, decisions...

[yugffuts]

I would keep the KI and continue with your MAME plans.  Then again, I like KI and want to get one, but the right deal hasn't come along yet...too bad you're in Utah...