Building CP now, need last minute layout advice

[willhs]

Heya,

I'm in the process of drilling my CP right now.  I have already penciled in the fighter configs, and the whole thing will fit.  Quick summary -- my CP is an amazing 23" slim (to accommodate easy transport/storage, and to make it the exact width of a pinball machine).  It is 12" deep.

I've provided a cheap visio interpretation of my CP, but that's not what it'll actually look like.  I used bfauska's button layout for the fighters, and the joystick is closer to the buttons.  This visio is also 28" wide, so you can't really get an idea of how I scrunched it all together, but trust me it works.

Anyway, the point is, I'm still not set on where to put the 4-way and spinner (the green button is a spinner).  My main question is to the trackball lovers out there -- do I need to totally clear the path for the trackball, or can I put those buttons that go with the 4 way kind of in the way?  I am thinking I'll center the spinner over the 2p fighter setup so I can use the joystick for shifting in racing games.

Any thoughts would be great.

[javeryh]

I think you might be trying to cram too much in a tiny space...  Did you do a cardboard mockup to see how everything feels?  As for the trackball issue, it depends on where your monitor is and the layout of the rest of your cab.  I like to play on cabs with a totally clear swinging lane for the trackball but the screen also has to be far enough away so you don't smash your hand into it.  If you aren't going to be able to take a full swing at the trackball anyway then I don't see a problem putting the spinner or 4-way above it because your arm will be forced to stop anyway.   My $0.02. 

[SavannahLion]

I'm in the process of drilling my CP right now.  I have already penciled in the fighter configs, and the whole thing will fit.  Quick summary -- my CP is an amazing 23" slim (to accommodate easy transport/storage, and to make it the exact width of a pinball machine).  It is 12" deep.

You're not trying to copy this machine... are you?

Nothing against your layout. I just never really understood why people want to put a double row of controls. As soon as a short woman with big tits or a guy with a huge beer gut wants to play your cab, they're going to be bumping into all those controls while they're reaching for the ones in the back. 

[kiddk1]

this is how I laid my trackball out and I still find myself hitting the coin and player select buttons when I play golden tee so you may want to make more room.  I placed the spinner on the mid right side.

[willhs]

@kiddk1:  I like your spinner placement, I think that's what I'm going to go for.  I made a few cardboard mockups, but not of my final design, actually.  I know that's not the best approach, but I'm just going to go for it.  I can always get more wood if this doesn't work out (and I'm out of cardboard anyway).

@SavannahLion:  In a way, my CP will be somewhat similar.  But, since I'm not using a mounting kit for the TB, I can fit the whole fighter setup straight across.  I will be putting either a full lockdown bar (for the pinball feel) or just the corners on mine, though.

I should clarify, though -- this isn't for a cab, it's a desktop cp.  That's why I was so set on making it 23" (after trying out several other layouts).  I mean, yeah, it will look a bit crowded in, but I'm kind of taking a utilitarian approach here.  I want to make this as functional as possible so me and my friends can play as many arcade/pinball games as possible.  It'll be way easy to transport, too.

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys.  Any other advice is also welcome.

[Dervacumen]

My CP is 23.75" wide, and here is my layout.  I don't think I was able to get six buttons for P1 and P2 laid out like you have.  If you can get them crammed in, I think it will be okay.  The layout I have is comfortable enough for two people.
The 4-way is upper left, spinner is upper right.  The other joysticks are 8 way supers.

[leapinlew]

I would clear away anything as much as possible from the CP. We play bowling, golf and shuffleboard and people manage all the time to hit the 2 buttons or the joystick.

[willhs]

@Dervacumen: Your pic didn't show up, but I did a search on the forums for it and found it.  That's really pretty close to what I'm doing, but I think I squeezed some efficiency out of bfauska's fighter button layout to cram it all in.  Do you have problems hitting the 4-way when you're using the trackball, and also does the 8way get in the way of using the 4way?

@leapinlew: I am trying to avoid that by putting the trackball level with the fighter setup.  Thanks for that pic, it helps.

[Dervacumen]

I don't have any problems hitting the 4-way when I use the trackball.  If anything, the depth of my CP makes it harder to avoid hitting the monitor plexi (and admin panel, as on my machine) I would probably move the 4-way over to the left about an inch farther than I have it now, so my arm clears the 8-way better.  It's not entirely uncomfortable as is.
Sorry about the pic.  Here's one that gives a better idea of how close the trackball is to anything that's going to get hit when you give it a good roll.

[willhs]

I'm thinking about lining my 4way up with my 8way, but otherwise my panel will be very similar to yours, I think.  I won't have any problem with hitting the front since it'll just be a free-standing desktop CP.  Thanks a lot for the input, guys.

[leapinlew]

Really, when it comes down to it - the problem isn't the placement of the trackball. It's

this:

[diverdown]

mmmm just gone 08:23 am.
Is it too early for one of those yet..... wait I am in luck I see it's actually 6:25 pm in New York and a Sunday to boot...... I better crack one open then

[willhs]

Haha, true enough.  I guess that's another advantage of a desktop CP -- I have plenty of space for the beer.  In fact, my mini fridge is right next to it.