final decision- control panel

[dcninj4]

I have no more than $200 to spend for my control panel... I definitely want different color sticks and buttons on it than black... debating on a trackball

any premade 2 player control panels for 200 or less?

I know about xarcade...

worst case scenerio - xarcade 2 player for 130 - order new buttons for it, paint over the shell and clearcoat so it matches the rest of my cab....

I'd rather have a prebuilt two player setup instead tho, other than xarcade... but I might have to go that route...i dunno...

i could order the $75 shell, get buttons and sticks, and wire it up with an ipac or something, but how much would that cost? Also how do you mount the joysticks and buttons in the shell? I've never built my own and mounting the buttons and sticks properly seems like it'd be hard.

so help me figure out what to buy. also does the ipac come witht he cord from the ipac to the pc? do different buttons mount differently? Do I have to buy wiring, do the wires clip on? I cant solder...

I wish xarcade offered custom buttons and sticks. blah

so many choices. help. gonna order something tonight.

[DaveMMR]

so many choices. help. gonna order something tonight.

You're a little "all over the place".  You have about fifteen questions that need answering and a limited budget but you want to order it "tonight".  That's a one-way ticket to a poor purchase.  Some research is in order before dropping coin.  Buying the wrong item will end up costing you more than $200 in the long run.
 
At any rate... I really don't know anything about the x-arcade but if you're looking for something quick, I suppose you could do worse.   But the problem with the pre-fab joysticks, as you pointed out, is the lack of customization options. 

Building your own will offer you the most versatility and if you shop smart (hint: check eBay and the BST forum), you can certainly bring the total in under $200.  But the downside is you won't have it done as quickly. 

[Turnarcades]

You'll struggle to find a factory-made solution for under 200, though you could order something from the guys on here like Kaytrim's Customs or similar. Failing that, if you really are on a budget and wantit how you want you're gonna have to go down the self-build route. It's not that difficult to throw together a panel or wire a set of controls, so make your own and have it to your own spec.

[dcninj4]

i figured the rest of the cab is all black so i'll go with the all black xarcade anyway... i had the original 2 player in there before a long time ago... i sold it... i'm getting the tankstick now so I can have a trackball with it... it won't be much longer so it should fit with little or minor modification... now I just need some help figuring out a marquee and sideart... i have an old school inkjet taped together one I made before...trying to keep it simple... i might just do a coat of paint all black and just get a marquee... i dunno

[jeffremiller]

I have used a tank stick for over a year now and never really had any issue with it in terms of quality.

It required a little adjusting, bending levers on the joystick micros.  I've also noticed that the top outlines of the player 1 button wore off pretty quick with all the use.

Other than that, a pretty good setup for $200.

I'm thinking of selling if anyone is interested... partout my old cabinet for a new Quad UA2.

[dprush83]

i figured the rest of the cab is all black so i'll go with the all black xarcade anyway... i had the original 2 player in there before a long time ago... i sold it... i'm getting the tankstick now so I can have a trackball with it... it won't be much longer so it should fit with little or minor modification... now I just need some help figuring out a marquee and sideart... i have an old school inkjet taped together one I made before...trying to keep it simple... i might just do a coat of paint all black and just get a marquee... i dunno

After you modify your tankstick would you mind posting a picture?  I am using a tankstick and it's the only letdown I have.  Not necessarily the performance (though the joystick leaves a little something to be desired), but I'd love to see how somebody customized the panel.  I ordered custom buttons and some new joysticks, but I hate seeing a company logo across the board.

Good luck on your penny pinching! 

[dcninj4]

i think i'll leave it stock for now... tomorrow i need to cut the wings off my cab with a recpricating saw so i can sit it in the cab, thenfigure out a way to mount it... then once that's done and it functions... then i can worry about artwork and marquee lighting and customizing the thing when  I have more time and money is less of an issue