Anyone converted an MK cabinet? - Updated

[kelemvor]

I have a lead on a Mortal Kombat cabinet someone is getting rid of for about $40.  It doesn't include anything like a monitor or what not but it's still cheaper than I can build am empty cabinet for.

Has anyone worked with one of these to know how they are laid out and if they work well for Mame?  He said it's solid and in decent condition.  I'll probably just paint it anyway so I'm not too concerned about that.  Just more of the construction of these cabinets and if there's anything to look out for.

Thanks.

UPDATE:
OK.  I stopped by after work today to check out the cab.  It was apparently converted to a Carnival King game and that's what's on the side art.  This means I'll probably just paint over it and come up with a theme of some sort.

The cabinet itself seems to be in very good condition.  Very sturdy, no water damage etc.  The guy selling it works for an arcade repair type place and that's how he has ended up with a bunch of extras.

It has a CP but just with 1 button and a holster (no gun).
It has the glass covering where the monitor goes.
Also has the marquee area with just a black front but probably has a light behind it.
Has a nice looking metal grillwork type piece below the marquee where the speakers are.
The whole back comes off in pretty much one piece.
It doesn't have a coin door but he has one with the mechs that he said I could have for $15.

I think I'll see if he'll take $50 for the cab and the coin door and go from there.

[HaRuMaN]

I have a lead on a Mortal Kombat cabinet someone is getting rid of for about $40.  It doesn't include anything like a monitor or what not but it's still cheaper than I can build am empty cabinet for.

Has anyone worked with one of these to know how they are laid out and if they work well for Mame?  He said it's solid and in decent condition.  I'll probably just paint it anyway so I'm not too concerned about that.  Just more of the construction of these cabinets and if there's anything to look out for.

Thanks.

I have a dedicated MK and it's pretty much built like a tank.  For 40 bucks, I'd buy it.  Especially if you like the cabinet style (I do).

[Jack Burton]

yep, definitely go after it.  I just got done converting mine to a MAME cab and it was a breeze.

You will have to cut out a 26" x 24" piece of plywood or MDF to put in for a shelf for your monitor if you plan on using a pc monitor.

But please don't paint it.  Dedicated Mortal Kombat are famous games.

[Sidgoop]

I'm using a MK 4 cabinet as my MAME. (Don't worry, the side art was heavily damaged, and the boards were fried - it got caught in hurricane Katrina) - but the monitor was salvageable.  After repairing the water damage, it turned out to be a great cabinet.  The thing's built like a tank, and it'd designed to have a removable/customizable control panel.  I believe it's pretty much the same cabinet used by Bally/Williams during most of the 90's for all of their uprights.  I agree, if you have one in good condition, keep the artwork.

[XtraSmiley]

At $40 it may not be a dedicated cab.  If it is, it's well worth it and will hold the tri-sync monitor rather well.  The CP is easy to convert into a 6 button style as long as you grab some plexi to go over the top.  Another easy thing to do is try to buy a Killer Instinct cp which has the 6 button layout.  I think it will be a drop in swap, but it's been a few years since I had my hands on one, so don't quote me on it.

[kelemvor]

Well I'm not sure what condition the side art and such is in which is why I'm assuming I'll just be painting it.  But if it's nice, then I might keep it.  And I plan to make my own CP anyway which I already have the supplies for.

I'm hoping to go check it out in person as soon as the guy emails me back so I'll let you know how it goes.

[AwesomeAlbert]

I have a Mame MK cab.  The cab had been converted to Tekken2.  The artwork was painted black, i tried to save it but it was all scratched up, i pulled the vinyl off and it was all smooth underneath, repainted it black. It has a nice textured look to it.

I made a 7 button layout with some plexy like XtraSmiley mentioned and a posterboard to hid the middle hole (mk3 template ontop of sf). Take the metal plate off the cp before you drill ( i didnt know there was metal  ). I kept all the original wires for the coindoorlight and marquee. rewired the joy/buttons/coindoor to work with ipac. Added Esc and pause bottons on oppose top corners on cp. Added two hidden credit buttons on the corners underneath the cp (the design of the front of this cab makes a good location for my hidden credit buttons. Put an RCA connection on the stock speaker to work with my computer speakers setup.

I put a $15 dollar tv i got on ebay as its monitor on a shelf i made from the side of a Donkey Kong cabinet  .......relax, it was a parts cab.  The power supply had an outlet, all i had to do is plug the tv in (toothpick trick).

If its a real MK cab i would buy it for $40. You cant buy MDF to make a cab with $40.
(the cab even has wheels on the back so it can be moved)

[kelemvor]

Here's the picture he posted.  Can't really see much as it's not the greatest but it looks like the right type cab when I compare it to klov.

The picture is the bottom left one at this site:
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/sys/499438629.html

[Jack Burton]

Yep, looks like a MK cab that has been converted to something else.

I didn't bother with the old control panel.  I went to lowes and bought an already painted piece of 3/4" wood in the section with countertops and doors for bathrooms.  I think it was supposed to be a door for a bathroom sink or something, but it worked wonderfully as a control panel after I sent it through the table saw and drilled my holes.  Came sanded and finished and everything.

[XtraSmiley]

Ug, that things been through heck.  I say check it out in person.  It's only worth $40 if it's in non-water damaged condition.  The art looks like crap as does the cp.  Hard to say what its worth now.  I've seen better looking cabs given away free, but it's all in where you are when.  Good luck and post pics of the progress you make.

[AwesomeAlbert]

its might be a mk2, i cant see the hump.  If it doesnt have water damage, its should be ok, just pull of the vinyl (if it has it) and ill  be brand new underneath.  You might consider one of the other arcades he has there, they might be smaller but are more complete (coindoor, marquees/lamp, bezel), these things add up.  Just change or modify the cp, stick a 19/21 inch computer monitor and you make an easy and cheap mame machine.

[Sidgoop]

The game on the left looks like a ghetto claw machine...

[kelemvor]

Updated the OP

[kelemvor]

ANyone have any thoughts now that I added the actual description and such?

[Jack Burton]

sounds like you have a very good candidate for 40$.  I would pay the extra 15 for the coin door.

Making the control panel is a breeze.  Don't worry about having to use the old one.

Plenty of room inside for a pc and jamma stuff. 

Go for it!

[kelemvor]

OK.  Got him to take $50 for the set.

Picking it up Wednesday after work.

Family is coming over Tuesday for Christmas so I guess I have my work cut out for me to get it up and running by then.  I don't care what it looks like but it would be fun to at least be able to play it.

[gjm]

Nice find.
I actually just started a project on my MK cab. It was converted to a tekken tag but they painted over all of the art. I had to strip it down. The jamma harness has been hacked pretty badly so I might be ordering one as well.
Heres the link to my WIP
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=74063.0

Good luck with yours!
Now if I can just find a way to make a drawer for the keyboard and mouse. I think I might just put a hinge on the end of my CP so it can flip up to the right.