original arcade cab vs. new control panel cost comparison

[Cartouche]

I'm trying to decide between purchasing a dedicated cab or building my own driving control panel to use on my mame cab. For an accurate cost comparison (and aesthetics aside), am I missing anything from this list of parts to build my own? My favorites are Roadblasters and APB, so I know I need....

360 wheel
pedal
a few admin buttons
analog interface (probably A-Pac)
wiring
some MDF

The one problem I can see is finding a 360 wheel with buttons on it. I think Roadblasters would be a drag with the buttons on the panel. Also, how does one navigate the FE with driving controls? I use Mame32.     

[DaveMMR]

Well right off the bat, Roadblasters used a 270 degree steering yoke (IIRC).   I really never tried those types of driving games with 360 degree wheels so I don't know if it will hinder it or not. 

The one problem I can see is finding a 360 wheel with buttons on it. I think Roadblasters would be a drag with the buttons on the panel. Also, how does one navigate the FE with driving controls? I use Mame32.     

I don't think you'll find a 360 wheel with buttons.  Think of it as basically an oversized spinner.

Anyway, nitpicking aside, it's hard to tell what's the better choice.   Did you construct your mame cab so it's feasible to swap panels (don't forget pedals)?  There are different types of driving set-ups so you may have to build a couple of driving set-ups.  If you have one type of game in mind (Roadblasters and APB are two different set-ups entirely), you may be happier with a dedicated.

[u_rebelscum]

Well right off the bat, Roadblasters used a 270 degree steering yoke (IIRC).   I really never tried those types of driving games with 360 degree wheels so I don't know if it will hinder it or not. 

Err, Roadblasters used a yoke that was a cross between a 360 & a 270 wheel:  it had physical restrictor to limit the turn, but an optical encoder instead of a pot.  Since mame doesn't have a special input type for this, mame treats the input as a dial.  This is closer AFA the data signal (read "electronic hardware emulation") is concerned, but not player UI (POT, aka absolute analog, controllers don't translate well to dial, aka relative analog, inputs in mame).    [shrug]

The one problem I can see is finding a 360 wheel with buttons on it. I think Roadblasters would be a drag with the buttons on the panel.

I don't think you'll find a 360 wheel with buttons.  Think of it as basically an oversized spinner.

There are a couple ways.  Wireless is the easiest; it could be wireless mouse or game controller.  You'll need to map accordingly. 

But as Dave said, unrestricted turn wheels don't have buttons.  In spinners "with buttons", the spinner itself was the button that you pushed or pulled; not sure if you could do that with a wheel without making it feel weak.

..There are different types of driving set-ups so you may have to build a couple of driving set-ups.  If you have one type of game in mind (Roadblasters and APB are two different set-ups entirely), you may be happier with a dedicated.

Ditto.  Considering RoadBlasters is pretty unique (yoke with buttons on a restricted turn wheel with optical encoder), it will be hard to find a match for it.

[bfauska]

You could do buttons on an unrestricted wheel.  If you look for or have seen the way some folks around here put LEDs in their joysticks you could do the same technique with a headphone plug.  With a stereo connector you could have two buttons.  It would require a spinner with a custom shaft, but it wouldn't actually be that much work.  I kind of think I like the idea, maybe I'll add it to my list of pipe-dream cab ideas.

[Cartouche]

Thanks for all the great info.
After some research, it looks like an original Roadblasters machine is the way to go. I've seen some decent ones sold for 200-500 bucks, so I'll just wait till I see one available in  my area.
I am able to swap panels, so perhaps I'll build a 360 panel, for APB and others. I'm still wondering how to navigate Mame32 with a spinner/driving panel.  I could just have a mouse sitting on the panel, I suppose.

[u_rebelscum]

I'm still wondering how to navigate Mame32 with a spinner/driving panel.  I could just have a mouse sitting on the panel, I suppose.

Might want to go to another FE.  If you check out this PolePosition thread, you'll see a few skins designed for wheels.  (I haven't used any myself.)