Cab Kits... Would anybody be interested?

[thatguy_247]

I took the time to draw up a CNC program to produce cabinets in the 'lusid' type style.  Seems like this is the most popular design for most builders and i was wondering if anyone would be interested in pre-cut, ready to assemble cabinet kits?  I could offer them pre-laminated with a variety of finishes (flat-black, textured-black, or even over a dozen metals) and all necessary hardware or as unfinished.   Still have to figure out the price but seems like most similar kits go for around $500 before shipping.  I'm sure i can do better then that but for now i was wondering if there is even a market for this sort of thing and what would people want to spend?  We have been in the furniture business for over 50 years and you can check out our company at www.globerinc.com.    Drop me a PM or respond here, thanks for the feedback.

Dan

[divemaster127]

Something that would be cool to see would be a driving arcade kit, these do not hardly exist where regular cabs kits you can get from several places
dm

[shardian]

Something that would be cool to see would be a driving arcade kit, these do not hardly exist where regular cabs kits you can get from several places
dm

Well I haven't seen many wood driving cabinets in my day. They are usually some sort of molded plastic body over a frame.

[PoDunkMoFo]

I always thought that if you could keep the price reasonable a SW cockpit knockoff would sell like crazy.  Especially if you could tweak the legroom and dash area to allow for driving/flying controll configurations.

[divemaster127]

that would sell great, im planning on at least 2 cp's for the driving cab im planning it cp for driving & 1 for space based games
dm

[twitami]

I agree with the Driving cockpit. Kind of like a Quasicade but one made for driving -- plug in any Game System (or PC) and the steering wheel of your choice (make a universal Steering wheel mount..ie, a flat peice of wood that sticks out ). I actually have a few friends who are going to Arcade auctions ot get broken/cheap sit-down cabs to put their XBOX 360s in.

In fact, something like this:

http://custom-arcade.com/roadragegallery.htm

But in kit form, and not $5k

[Fozzy The Bear]

I always thought that if you could keep the price reasonable a SW cockpit knockoff would sell like crazy.

Absolutely have to agree!! A Star Wars sit down cabinet would sell really well (At The Right Price Point). Everything else has been pretty much covered by other cabinet makers.

The above, with the usual disclaimer that, the market a a whole is not huge and you'd have to understand that you wouldn't be selling thousands and making a retirement pension off them.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[thatguy_247]

i would need some kind of example and also what price point are you thinking of?  i looked around and found several differant star wars arcades including multiple sitting models.  sounds interesting though,

Dan

[PoDunkMoFo]

i would need some kind of example and also what price point are you thinking of?  i looked around and found several differant star wars arcades including multiple sitting models.  sounds interesting though,

Dan

This is what we are talking about.

I actually own an original and might be able to get you some measurements if you are not in a hurry.

[Bill Mote]

Those SW cabs pictured are *exactly* what I want, but for driving.  I was going to build a cocktail cab, but the Mrs. said she wanted a sit-down driver.  Something prefab would be outstanding!

dot

[thatguy_247]

thanks for the pictures.  that helps alot!  im sure it can be done but i wouldnt be able to handle any of the artwork obviously, the cab could be done with a flat black finish or unfinished completely.  what kind of a price are you guys talking about?  im sure it can be done and im not looking to make any major money on this, just have to cover materials, equipment time at the shop and a little labor.  thanks again for all the feedback!

Dan

[quarterback]

i was wondering if anyone would be interested in pre-cut, ready to assemble cabinet kits?  I could offer them pre-laminated with a variety of finishes (flat-black, textured-black, or even over a dozen metals) and all necessary hardware or as unfinished.   Still have to figure out the price but seems like most similar kits go for around $500 before shipping.

I know that people seem more interested in a SWars cab than in an upright, but I wanted to respond to your original question.  I'd say that the answer is 'yes', there are definitely people interested in ready-to-assemble cab kits but there're already some players in that field. 

If you could offer kits at a substantially lower cost, then I think you'd be good to go.  Having a pre-laminated kit would certainly save people the time and effort to paint-sand-paint-sand-paint their cabs or to try and deal with doing their own laminating.

But, for the most part, I don't think BYOACers are interested in $500 cab kits.  I got my cocktail cab kit for ~$225 and that included the shipping costs.   It's a great kit and well worth the $225, but there's no way I would have paid $500 +s/h for it.   

Come up with a cab-kit price that's in the $200 range and I think you'll have a hot item on your hands.  Offer one that's $500 and you'll probably lose to the likes of www.arcadeshop.com ($365 for an upright cab) www.mameroom.com ($459 for an upright)

[PoDunkMoFo]

thanks for the pictures.  that helps alot!  I'm sure it can be done but i wouldn't be able to handle any of the artwork obviously, the cab could be done with a flat black finish or unfinished completely.  what kind of a price are you guys talking about?  I'm sure it can be done and I'm not looking to make any major money on this, just have to cover materials, equipment time at the shop and a little labor.  thanks again for all the feedback!

Dan

Price would be up to you.  I would suggest you figure out what it's going to cost you and what you want to make.  Put the price info out there and see what people say.  I think the upright and cocktail market is covered.  I also think the Lusid design (while the impetus of this whole thing) has become dated.  If you do an upright do something nobody else does.

I think the problem with selling something like an upright is most do-it yorselfers can find old junk cabs fairly readily.  Something like the SW cockpit is not easy to find and not cheap if you find one.

Good luck.

[Bluedeath]

i would need some kind of example and also what price point are you thinking of?  i looked around and found several differant star wars arcades including multiple sitting models.  sounds interesting though,

Dan

This is what we are talking about.

I actually own an original and might be able to get you some measurements if you are not in a hurry.

Please do it

[stephenp1983]

For my next project I would definately be interested.  I dont really like the design of the two peice designs at mameroom, but a two peice design might be necessary for a kit.   Does any one know if it would b e feasible to have a kit that was in the design of a 1 peice unit?

[kelemvor]

Are yo talking pre-made stuff like Sauder Furniture where you just open it up, pop some dowels or metal posts into some holes and slap it all together?

I think sturdiness is going to be big.  Target (or someone) had some upright cabinet they sold a year or so ago and most people tried it and thought it was crap in the quality department.

But for most DIY'ers here, you can get the MDF and such for cheap at any Home Improvement store for much less.  But having everything precut and drilled and marked and everything would be a big draw for people that just don't have the time or ability to make the whole thing themselves.

[Bill Mote]

I used 2x2 blocks to build my "box" and it's incredibly sturdy.  I have thought a little about how to get that same strength when the inside of the box will be exposed.  I've considered using a 2x2x2.8 triangle piece.  That would fit into the corners nicely to glue and screw to, but wouldn't leave a big block of wood exposed.  With putty and paint you could make it look like a pre-molded piece.

Thoughts?

dot

[Sprucemoose]

I would be very interested. 

[DrumAnBass]

Yah I would definitely be interested in a sit down driving/cockpit prefab cab that is reasonable. And I have a lot of friends who don't have woodworking skills etc who would love one as well.