GGG TT2 Mini-Racer Wheel Owners?

[XyloSesame]

I'm trying to design a CP and would like to include a TT2 with wheel and have a few questions for existing owners; I haven't ordered yet, so I can't include this in a mockup (I'll try to fake it with a toy wheel).

How close can the outside of the wheel be from joysticks on your CP? I would assume you shouldn't place the spinner too close to a joystick as you would want enough room to grasp the wheel, but how close is too close?

Also, I've got a young son with little friends and relatives that I know would go gaga if I had a steering component in an arcade. I know GGG has a good rep for durability, but would you recommend I hide the wheel when younguns come over? It seems like a sitting duck for over-exuberant 5-7 year-olds, and I figure you probably shouldn't yank on the wheel or place too much downward-pressure on it, right?

And, last, I am interested in the 7" wheel (I still think in 7" 10" and 12"), but the 5" or 6" would make for easier placement on a panel where every inch counts. Any opinions on the sizing? I'd hate to regret my purchase if I went for the smaller wheel.

Thanks to all...

[XyloSesame]

Any TT2 mini wheel users out there?

[Donkey_Kong]

Check out squirrellydw cocktail cab. He uses 2 mini racer wheels on one small CP. I'm a fan of this cause I'm building a CP that will be similar...
http://www.theseashore.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=115


PM forum member squirrellydw here and maybe send him a link to this thread...
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=pm;sa=send;u=9391


You might want to take the wheel off if you have kids coming over that like to hang on stuff. Well mannered kids might be responsible enough to use the wheel for its intended purpose.

Good luck!

[scotthh]

I have the 5" wheel. It's a lot of fun, but it's never going to be confused with a 10" or 11" dedicated arcade wheel. I tend to use it with one hand. 

Obviously, the 5" wheel needs 2.5" of clearance to not bump into things. I think I'd want 5" from the center of the joystick to the center of the TT2 to handle the wheel. When I'm not using the wheel I keep a spinner top on it, and there's no worry about knocking the wheel when you're using your joystick. If I had the 7" wheel, I'm thinking I'd want a minimum of 3.5+2.5= 6" from center to center.

If you yank on the wheel, it comes off of the spinner post. If you press straight down on it that shouldn't be a problem, as you are putting pressure on the top of the spinner case which sits on the CP. I'd be most concerned about someone putting diagonal pressure on it which might put pressure on the spinner's post.  I think a 7 year old would need to hang his whole body on it, or really try to break it for this to happen. If you think someone is going to do that to your TT2, I wouldn't let them near your joystick either.

[XyloSesame]

Check out squirrellydw cocktail cab. He uses 2 mini racer wheels on one small CP. I'm a fan of this cause I'm building a CP that will be similar...
http://www.theseashore.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=115

Thanks for the link - I'll definitely be PMing sqirrellydw to ask his opinion...

Obviously, the 5" wheel needs 2.5" of clearance to not bump into things. I think I'd want 5" from the center of the joystick to the center of the TT2 to handle the wheel. When I'm not using the wheel I keep a spinner top on it, and there's no worry about knocking the wheel when you're using your joystick. If I had the 7" wheel, I'm thinking I'd want a minimum of 3.5+2.5= 6" from center to center.

Thanks for the tips, scotthh. I'm hoping to get that mockup started today and I'm sure the hands-on test will answer quite a few of my questions. I found your 1P CP with wheel - have you used the wheel in any other CPs?

[scotthh]

I found your 1P CP with wheel - have you used the wheel in any other CPs?

That's all of the TT2 experience I've got. I removed the wheel from the spinner and held it above the right-most buttons that are right of the joystick. I felt that I could live with it there, and that's how I came up with the 5". I always remove the wheel if I'm playing a trackball game.  And f I had to do it again, I'd put seven buttons next to the stick because it gives you the Neo-Geo set up along the bottom row.