New MAME cabinet underway

[johnmartin]

Hi all,

I am new here and am just about to start construction of my new MAME cab with the blessing of my wife (it was her idea to actually do it BTW).  Mind you I am complete newbie and have a very limited budget but I have read a lot on this site recently.  I love many of the cabs on here and plan on emulating what others have done.  So far I have ordered the following already:

- (2) Happs Competition joysticks for my 8-ways
- (1) Happ super  for my 4-way
- (1) each P1 and P2 buttons
- (22) Happs competition pushbuttons
- (1) Turbotwist Arcade Spinner with BYOAC Spinner knob top
- (1) I-Pac from Ultimarc
- Set of ROMS

I recently acquired a 21" monitor from work that was getting recycled that works perfectly and am trying to track down a PC to use.  Although the monitor is not as large as I would like it will do nicely until I can afford something bigger and may be fine even when I can afford a new one.  I know there is better equipment out there but what I ordered will have to do since budget is a concern.

I am trying to figure out what I want in a CP right now.  My wife likes Frogger, Pac Man, etc, so a dedicated 4-way is high on the list.  I am more partial to games like Galaga, Asteroids, Sinistar, Defender, and Tempest and Mortal Kombat and Dragon's Lair.  So an 8-way is is planned for P1 and P2.  I can't afford a trackball right now so that will have to wait.

Here is my first attempt at a CP layout



At the top are in order: P1, P1 coin, spinner, PB, PB, P2, P2 coin

Next row is in order: P1J, P1 PB, 4Way, P2J, and P2 PB

Comments on this layout are appreciated so I can down to the business of making the CP. FYI, the 4-way is where it is so my 5 y.o. daughter can access it easier for playing.

John

[EwJ]

If a dedicated 4-way is a high priority, it would be worth getting a real one.
You could check with ponyboy or divemaster on a Ms.Pac/Galaga reunion or
if you're lucky, find a Wico.  Someone is making a replacement for a Nintendo
(think it's mike's arcade).

Layout looks good but
it's impossible to read the dimensions as posted.

[ahofle]

Or just get one of these to make your Super a true restricted 4-way:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=310

[johnmartin]

Or just get one of these to make your Super a true restricted 4-way:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=310

I saw that and wondered how it mounts.  I don't want to lower the stick and further down on the CP unless this mounts inside the stick base somehow.

John

[ahofle]

I would imagine it mounts on the bottom of the stick and therefore would not affect the stick's mounting depth.

[EwJ]

Nice find. Nice price.
Can anyone confirm how/where it mounts?
and/or a pic mounted?

[johnmartin]

I'm going to order one today so I'll post a pic once I have it installed.

John

[Turnarcades]

If you're going for an i-pac from Ultimarc anyway, get two of the easy-switchable 4/8 way sticks from them. They are very good, easy to switch (there are top and bottom switchable sticks available) and will save you money/space/time on building your control panel.