help needed on control panel please

[J-Rod]

I have started on my "mancave" project for the winter, dedicated vertical cabinet. Everything is going well, but I am not sure what to do about this CP situation. I would like to put in 6 buttons and a joy for each player, but as you can see the template holes aren't going to allow for that. I had thought about mounting a new piece of sheet metal overtop, and using that to drill my holes in, but if I put the plexi on top of that, it'll be higher than the t-molding.

I also breifly considered trying to make another one myself from sheet metal, but that's too many angles and bends I'd need to make in another place, I have a feeling I'd get it home and have problems. Sooooo...

Does anyone know a better way to attack? Maybe there's a place online that sells replacements in this style?

[TheShanMan]

Not sure if this helps, but I have a centipede cab with a similarly shaped metal cp. I wanted more space so I made a cp with just 1 bend. So rather than a "U" shaped piece, it's more of a "V" shape. It extends beyond the side wood in the front (at the point of the "V"), so I welded in some small pieces to close the holes on each side.

I made it have the exact shape as the original (in terms of the angles), but just extended it out. So it was easy to verify that I had the right shape/dimensions, because I took the original cp out and took it with me - the new one just slides right over the old one and fits like a glove. Now my original cp is just collecting dust in the garage.

[DaveMMR]

Quick question:  Do you have a vertical cabinet that you are converting to horizontal or is your cab strictly vertical games?  Just want to make sure I'm not misreading because if it's the latter, you wouldn't really need six buttons anyhow.

[J-Rod]

The cabinet will be for strictly vertical games. 6 buttons is overkill? Well in any case, that template is really only practical for two buttons, and I will surely need at least 3, maybe 4? I would prefer them to be mounted in a slightly slanted fashion, look at my machine in my sig to see how I have setup.

[DaveMMR]

Six buttons are mainly to cover the fighter genre (SFII, Killer Instinct, etc.), which are mostly, if not all, horizontally oriented.  It's not just overkill, it's completely unnecessary as you'll never, ever use them.  You really only need three if it's all going to be vertical games.   

Granted, you can "play" horizontals on your vertical, but it's going to be compacted and cramped and sub-optimal.  If you're looking to play these types of games, consider switching to horizontal display or planning a second cabinet.

[J-Rod]

Yeah I understand the ramifications of the vertical monitor. I just didn't do my research on the amount of buttons I'd need. If it's only 3, I might try and live with the way the CP is now, I dunno. There will be another machine to play the horizontal stuff, wife doesn't know about that one yet though.

[MaximRecoil]

I can't think of a vertical game that even uses 3 buttons. Space invaders does on the Midway cabinet because they use buttons in place of a 2-way joystick, but the Taito cabinet has a joystick and one button.

Does anyone know of a vertical game that uses more than 2 buttons?

[J-Rod]

I'd like to know, cause if it's only two, I obviously have no problems.

[FrizzleFried]

I can't think of a vertical game that even uses 3 buttons. Space invaders does on the Midway cabinet because they use buttons in place of a 2-way joystick, but the Taito cabinet has a joystick and one button.

Does anyone know of a vertical game that uses more than 2 buttons?

Gun Smoke
Super Breakout

...that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[FrizzleFried]

According to MAWS there are 235 vertical games that use 3 buttons...but that includes clones, etc.

Here is a short list:

Ajax
APB
Alpha Mission
Air Gallet
Acrobat Mission
Battle Bakraid
Battle Garegga
Blades of Steel
Blast off
Blazer


BAH...there are a ton.  Simply go to www.mameworld.net/maws then click on DELUXE SEARCH at the top.  On the left indicate "3" for the number of buttons and "VERTICAL" for orientation...there is your list...probably isn't nearly accurate but it gives you an idea.

[J-Rod]

Yeah, MAWS was exactly what I was looking for, thank you very much. This will help me gauge how many buttons I really need for the vertical games.