Tough decision for cabinet design

[Arcade82]

I can't design whether to make my cab (which I'd want to house a real arcade monitor 25-27") a Midway style cabinet or a Dynamo Street Fighter generic style cab...


or


Both are what I'd consider classic early 90s arcade style.
For a long while the Midway one was my favorite but I've really grown to love the Dynamo as well. The dynamo cab definately has the believable generic arcade cab look I want to go for and it looks like it'd be more practical for a home situation, but it looks like the control panel wouldn't be able to fit more than two sets of buttons/joysticks and that's it. The Midway cab has a much roomier control panel but looks like it's a lot fatter/less practical for a home situation, maybe too fat to fit through a door even?

What do you all think?


Midway cab: was a favorite of mine for a long time but I've grown to love the Dynamo look.
Dynamo cab: generic looking like I want to go with my cab
Midway cab: big and fat and may not fit through doors?
Dynamo cab: more slim/less fat, better for a home?
Midway cab: Nice roomy control panel
Dynamo cab: might only fit two sets of buttons/joysticks and nothing else.

[Crowquill]

The Dynamo cabs that held a 25" monitor had 26" wide control panels if I remember correctly. I'd think you could fit 2 6-button layouts and a 2-1/4" trackball (or spinner) in there. It might be a bit tight, but it wouldn't be to the point of being uncomfortable to play.

If you want a Dynamo cab, I'd check around with arcade distributors and auctions to see if you could just buy one. You could probably buy one with a working monitor for less than the cost of a new monitor. There are a lot of them out there. Of course that takes away the fun of building it though 

The MK design would definitely be more flexible as you could adjust the control panel to be whatever size you want (4-player even). Fitting through doors shouldn't be a problem if you make the CP removeable. One thing I always really liked about the Midway cabs is that there are plenty of places for artwork. If you have a good theme/artwork, then you can make a really sharp cab. I think that's also part of the reason the Midway cabs are so memorable.

[shardian]

The MK midway cabinet is what the Lusid design is based on. The Project Arcade book gives you a complete step by step guide in building it with scale plans and all. If you don't have the book, it is definitely worth your time and money to get it.

[mrserv0n]

I think the midway cab looks cooler with the larger CP, but your right as far as the dynamo looking "classic" it doesn't get much more generic than that cab if thats what your going for.

[horseboy]

The MK midway cabinet is what the Lusid design is based on. The Project Arcade book gives you a complete step by step guide in building it with scale plans and all. If you don't have the book, it is definitely worth your time and money to get it.

That isn't quite right.

Check out HC's post and Lusid's response.

They are extremely similar, though.

[Hawkypro]

Arcade82,

I would use the Midway cab design, the controll panel flips out towards you which is very convienent, this is just my opinion though. I cant comment on the Dynamo.

[shardian]

The MK midway cabinet is what the Lusid design is based on. The Project Arcade book gives you a complete step by step guide in building it with scale plans and all. If you don't have the book, it is definitely worth your time and money to get it.

That isn't quite right.

Check out HC's post and Lusid's response.

They are extremely similar, though.

That's why I said "based on".

[horseboy]

The MK midway cabinet is what the Lusid design is based on. The Project Arcade book gives you a complete step by step guide in building it with scale plans and all. If you don't have the book, it is definitely worth your time and money to get it.

That isn't quite right.

Check out HC's post and Lusid's response.

They are extremely similar, though.

That's why I said "based on".

I gave the link to show that it wasn't "based on" the MK cab. Just a coincidence.

it's by pure coincidence.