New here, planning my first cabinet with a Namco game unit

[y2kgtp]

After going over to my neighbors house (who has 5+ full size originals in his basement, a Ms pacman & tapper cocktail tables, pinball, etc) I got the itch to build something myself.

I have a couple of those Namco TV games =    and thought it would make a good stand up.  After looking at different cabinet styles, I think I like "William's Defender Stargate 2&1 cabinet" for my first build.

I was just going to wire in a couple happs buttons & joystick for the controls to the game controller board, just not sure what to do about pole position just yet.  I have yet to pull apart the control, so will see on that....

This is going to be built with a 20" TV I have laying around collecting dust, as I don't want to dedicate my old 26" TV just yet (saving that for a MAME or N64 project cabinet perhaps)

Are there any plans for a slightly scaled down unit, or should I just wing-it off some measurements from the TV?

Also, it's a pain for me to get 4x8' home, as I have to pull every seat out of the wife's van.  Are there any plans out there that I could get a initial cut done first at the store, to make it easier to get home?

Thanks!

[Turnarcades]

I've seen a fella do a similar thing with a stand-alone pacman tv game, built into a mini-mame size cab. We build a fair few mini cabinets so I can reccommend a few dimensions, but what I've found is the best thing when planning cabinets is to build round the display you have. As specs, dimensions and cabling access differs by display, a fixed design may look pants with your chosen TV, so work off that. We use 17" monitors in our mini machines and worked off those dimensions to come up with our 50" x 20" x 24" deep dimensions. I'd say a 20" is way too big for a mini build though, and you would be better going for something a little closer to our 'Master' cabinet dimensions, which house 19" or 21" monitors. Click the link in my signature to have a look and see the dimensions we use.

[y2kgtp]

Thanks for the reply.  I like the look of that bar-top unit, and it would allow me to make a separate base unit thus making it easier to build (for me) and to get the wood home from the store.

I like the idea of the smaller cabinet, I was going to make it standard height, but I think my 4yr old would appreciate a height accommodating to him.

[y2kgtp]

This also gave me an idea....  http://home.austin.rr.com/shumate/unicade/design.htm


Since this will be from scratch, perhaps I should build a frame first, install the TV & controls....then build a cabinet after the internals are complete.

[y2kgtp]

I was thinking of a seperate top\bottom cabinet to make it easier to build, and give a couple
choices on where the game was put.  (table, freestanding, etc)  just a thought...

[y2kgtp]

Will just ramble on a bit as I come up with thoughts.

If I can keep the cabinet dimensions under 2' in depth this 10 mil vinyl from parts express looks great.  about
20$ for 18'x2' roll.  As I really don't like to paint.