Cabinet recommendations for X-Arcade XXL Control Panel

[danp]

I've reviewed it and I don't feel I'm quite up for building my own panel, unfortunately.  I don't want that to keep me back from having a great MAME setup, though!  I ordered the X-Arcade XXL control panel and would like to know if anybody knows of any cabinet plans based around this panel, or any particular game that is easier to make a few alterations to encompass the panel? 

[severdhed]

you should be able to attach one of those to just about any cabinet...some may require a few modifications, but it shouldn't be too bad.  however if you are looking for cabinet plans, does that mean you are planning on building a cabinet from scratch?  if so, you should consider building your own control panel.  it really isn't as difficult as you would think, and it is a great experience.  way easier than building a cabinet from scratch.

alot of people will tell you that the x-arcade stuff is not great.  i have their two player unit that i gutted and installed those components into a panel that i built.  i am pretty happy with them, however the wiring is a pain in the butt if you want to move the controls apart.  that xxl panel is nice, but the controls are pretty close together, with alot of wasted space on either side.  just be aware that it could be a little crowded with two adults trying to use it at the same time.

i have been using my x-arcade stuff for a while and it has been working just fine, however i want to make my panel a little different and i dont' want to go through the wiring mess again, so i am buying an ipac and happ sticks/buttons this time around....if i had it to do all over again, i would have skipped teh x-arcade and went right to the good stuff.  however if it weren't for the x-arcade stick, i may have never found this site and may not have my own cabinet right now.

so since you already bought it, use it for a while, i'd be willign to bet that after a while you will want to build your own panel, at that point you can always sell your x-arcade on ebay or something like that.

[danp]

True, I think I would prefer to find a current cabinet, install a Monitor and mount the control panel.  Once it's operational I can redo the decor over time, is there a certain cabinet type I should be searching for, though?

[Fozzy The Bear]

True, I think I would prefer to find a current cabinet, install a Monitor and mount the control panel.  Once it's operational I can redo the decor over time, is there a certain cabinet type I should be searching for, though?

Yes.... A generic Jamma cab or previously butchered conversion cab or a totally empty cab.  Any of those will do.  Generally speaking it's frowned upon to go destroying a complete dedicated arcade machine to build a Mame machine with. So no buying a complete machine and ripping everything out of it, even if it's not working.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[severdhed]

i agree totally with that.  Find yourself a generic empty cabinet, or a bad conversion to start with...don't destroy a perfectly good working unit.  i don't know what it is like where you live, but around here, i found a place locally that services arcade machines.  i called the guy up and asked if he had any empty cabinets lying around, i picked up an old midway cabinet (not sure what it was originally) that was converted (poorly) to golden tee 2.  he let me have it for $20.  it had a junk monitor in it, but it also had a working coin door, marquee retainers and light, 3 buttons, and a slighly damaged 3" wico trackball that i easily repaired.  If I were you, i'd check the phone book for "amusements" and see if anyone in your area works on these things.  it has been my experience that these people often have alot of stuff lying around that they will sell you for very little $$$