Old Centipede cab - need some input

[skippy0420]

First off I am new to this board but have been lurking for a while. I picked up what I believe is an old Centipede cab that was converted to Armed Formation F at some point. I also believe that the Centipede artwork is still under the paint(see last pic). After reading all of the yay's and nay's about when it's alright to MAME a cab and when it's not I thought I would put this question to the masses. Please remember this would be my first attempt at an arcade cab.

If you had EXACTLY what is pictured below and you have already spent the $ on the Encoder, buttons, joysticks, CPU's and PC monitors would you.....
A) MAME it
B) Restore it
C) Other
....please explain

[TelcoLou]

MAME that sucker! I picked up a similar cab; was a centipede that got converted to a Neo-Geo, then gutted .. cost me all of $50.

Here's my progress thus far:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76724.0

Congrats, BTW and welcome to the forums

[TheShanMan]

Looks very much like my centipede cab, so I would agree with that assessment.

There is very little "centipede-ness" left. I say MAME it. However, I would also suggest restoring the original side art if indeed it is there and in good condition.

My cab was fully centipede but didn't work. I decided to MAME it (this was before I knew about the morality of converting, BTW) but I also kept everything except the non-working monitor with major screen-burn, so I could always convert it back if I want. I kept the centipede theme though (side art, bezel, marquee, MaLa layout, and will go with that theme for my custom control panel as well).

If that's literally all you have, you would have some serious work cut out for you to get it to be a working centipede again.

Good luck, have fun, and welcome to the boards!

[CheffoJeffo]

Here we go again ...

EDIT: Add mandatory link to mmmPeanutButter's tasteful MAMEing of a Centipede

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=21390.0

[skippy0420]

Yea, I spent $45 on mine.  

I think that I will leave all the "stuff" that is in there as it is and work around it for my MAME stuff. Just in case I get the extra $ and change my mind down the road to on refurbing the Centipede. Pick up the parts here and there......

[skippy0420]

CheffoJeffo...I know what you mean and I am not trying to get the good vs. bad argument here. I am just curious what people would do...

I feel like I don't have enough 'parts' to justify a refurb at this point but I might want to in the future so I'm not going to tear it apart by any means!

[TelcoLou]

By the looks of it, there's nothing left to "tear apart" anyway 

[skippy0420]

That is true but I am not going to Benihanna the Cabinet is what I meant!

[RayB]

Mame it. All you have is a box.

[hillbilly]

you could always go for a centipede themed mame machine. I would try some paint stripper and see what the side art looks like. Centipede has some sweet side art.

[Level42]

I say restore it !

[skippy0420]

Thanks to all. I am going to go forward with the MAME for now but I am going to leave all the wiring and parts that are in the cab alone and in their place. I am going to go for the:

MAME now and RESTORE later process.

Once I am able to get all the parts needed for the restore then I will look for another cab and start the process over.

[Level42]

MAME now and RESTORE later process.

Yeah right.

[skippy0420]

Is this a lofty goal on my part?