New CP layout

[ultrageek]

Ok, just looking for some advice and/or criticism here.

I have a cabiinet built around the UA II plans from 4 or 5 years ago. Every time I open the CP, I am greeted with a nasty tangle of wire, switches and terminal connectors that loosly resembles the spaghetti I had for dinner last night.

I have decided to rebuild my CP from scratch and I am eliminating the 3rd player. I think I've had 3 people on my cab once since I built it. I really want to get it illuminated with the LED-Wiz I've had for 2 years but never used (see the newly opened "inventory thread").

But the thought of adding all the lighting wires and led's to this mess is frankly, quite frightning.

Here is a pic of what I have, laid out in the basic 2 player configuration.

<updated> www.leeandlori.com/mame/mamecab.html

I'm amazed how little room I have for everything, considering it's only 2 players, and the CP is 18" x 48".   I could eliminate the Opti-pac and use the TT2 Pico-wiz for my TB interface instead, but the opti pac provides +- 5V connections too that come in handy.
Some additional buttons will be added for mouse and dedicated enter / escape function sinice P1/P2 are so far apart.

Once I get this thing done, and a stable version of MAME installed and running (somewhere between .97 and .104 I think) I'm never changing it again. I'm tired it it always being in an incomplete state. No flames please. It's all about personal taste, right?

  UPDATE: Link with pics in the 4th entry below. I settled on a layout and went with it.

[Stobe]

Looks like a decent enough setup.  The 2 extra button-tops eat up a little room, but I'm guessing theres a game you really like that needs that setup (battlezone?)

Another question, which hand do you "spin" with?  Just asking, because I'm curious what buttons you planned on using with the spinner.  P1 buttons?  That would be a wide arm stance.  I would try that out for a while and see if it fatigues you too much.

-Stobe

[ultrageek]

I use one or both BT's for Battlezone, Wiz Warz, Mad Planets...  I know there a few others as well, just not coming to mind.

I spin with my right hand, and you may have a point.

It's tough to find a layout that would work well for both right and left handed folks.  I suppose since it's my cab, and I use it more than anyone, setting it up for my own comfort is the best bet.

[ultrageek]

update

I finished the wood work, CPO, and hardware installation.

www.leeandlori.com/mame/mamecab.html

(poor web page quality, but I don't do that for a living :-)

To Do: connect wiring to LedWiz, I-pac, and opti-pac, and pico-wiz.
May still drop opti-pac and use the pico-wiz for TB as well as spinner.

Ultrageek

[jban4us]

(poor web page quality, but I don't do that for a living :-)

yeah, and you spelled "picture" wrong four times 

Looks pretty clean. I don't really like giant panels (I might catch some criticism for it when I post up my panel, 4 players at a whopping 17" x 38") but I think yours looks good.

(I noticed a few objects in the bottom right of the first two pictures. I think you posted in the wrong section of the forum. Woodworking might be more suitable  )

[Lilwolf]

looks great!  I was worried that the 4way would be behind the 8way, but your finished pictures look good.

I would have moved the joystick closer to the buttons to give you some more swing room on the trackball, but a bit too late now    

[ultrageek]

yeah, and you spelled "picture" wrong four times 

Corrected.  I guess cut/paste has it's drawback.  Thanks for pointing it out.

(I noticed a few objects in the bottom right of the first two pictures. I think you posted in the wrong section of the forum. Woodworking might be more suitable  )

My rockets? The two that are visible are that absolute worst of my collection.  Figures huh?
Thanks for the feedback.

[shilmover]

I love the Donkey Kong blue wall to the right of the machine!!